Apech

Sorry you feel this way and will miss your contributions. You gave me some help with the liver thing for which I am grateful. I see the discussions as people working through what is on their minds and although its sometimes boring and painful its still a useful process. I suppose sometimes posting their thoughts on TBs might make people dwell on their delusions - they usually get a response which either has some wisdom or wakes them up a bit. So all to the good. Hope you come back after a break. Cheers. Apech

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=jisYcREevf8 http://www.youtube.c...h?v=jisYcREevf8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JEdf7XsV5g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po09lcDxXIA

Why not ask her? You've already connected.

What exactly did you do to the Niagara Falls??? Have you turned them off??? Yours European and worried, Apech

A heightened sense of danger helps. You can avoid a lot of conflict and beatings up physical and mental as well if you see them coming at you. I'm very quiet about practice these days but I would say the muggles project a lot on you if you have any personal power. I'm saying this from the point of view of any energy practice not necessarily shamanism. From the old days ... "To dare, to know, to will, to keep silent." Still rings true for me.

I have an honours degree in Physics from Manchester University (England) if that helps reassure you.

Is there a legitimate debate to had about evolution and ID? Yes I think so. Is there any point in attempting to psycho-analyse another poster and reduce any debate to someone's 'issues'. No I don't think so. I think the question we should be debating is - 1) Is there anything about evolution theory which conflicts with Taoism (or mysticism generally if you prefer). ???? 2) If so does ID solve any of the problems thrown up by this conflict? My answer to 1) is there might be but this is not because the idea of things evolving is flawed (because that is quite Taoist) but because we place value in mind or consciousness and therefore individual will and decisions. My answer to 2) is no. Because ID is just Deus ex machina ... it just solves everything by positing a God action (creation) without saying anything about possible mechanisms.

Sorry that's not a theory. If its ET then where did they come from? It just puts everything back one step. If things are designed then there still has to be a mechanism by which it happens.

Not really because there is no understanding of the way in which the ID works - its just God did it - that's it. Its actually a block to understanding.

Its not that they are lacking exactly its more that adequate theories have not been developed. Some of this is because some scientists prefer to rule out consciousness from the equation because it involves difficult philosophical problems. HOWEVER this does not debunk evolution theory it merely points to more sophisticated understanding in the future ... just as current understanding goes beyond that of 19 Century science. Throwing out evolutionary theory and replacing it with ID or any approach that involves beliefs rather than evidence and knowledge just will not wash and is actually a way of preventing proper understanding.

Maybe like a tree. More and more subtle like the branches and new leaves, more and more profound like the roots. If there is one criticism of the biologists it is that they do become narrow minded and although science is supposed to be based on pure empiricism they refute ideas that don't fit too easily. That's why new scientific theories have such a hard time initially until they become accepted. Evolution makes logical and intuitive sense to me and is in no way anti-spiritual (unless you have a naive concept of spirit/God whatever). But what it lacks is a theory of consciousness. Where does that come in and how does will or decision making by individuals play a part. I am absolutely sure that in the future this area of science will give us all a few surprises - and look forward to them. I don't want a harsh monolithic orthodoxy, I want open, inspiring and startling truth. And I mean this from both sides, science and religion.

Then my God is a TaoBum.

Your thoughts might have evolved???

You Win. I think. Life is a game of two halves. In Estonia.

I know what you mean but I don't quite agree. Its an intermediate stage to have higher and lower consciousnesses. Ultimately they are non-dual. The high mind and the ow mind are one. I mean this in a functional way as well as a pure way. The real master would be the best in the market place.

*** Mod Message *** After careful consideration Bodyoflight has been suspended for 7 days so that he can think about forum rules. This has been done reluctantly after several warnings. He and everybody else has the option to report posts which he finds offensive or otherwise unacceptable and the moderation team will look at every report in detail. As this is not really Taoist Discussion I'm moving it to Off Topic. Thanks. Apech for Mod Team **** Mod Message ****

Nothing easier ... if we met you'd know straight away.

"Put Buddha in the driving seat" ... would make a great car sticker ....

Hi Steve, I was basing my statement on the idea that enlightenment means consciousness knowing its own nature ... or similar words of your choice and that this is a permanent state. But I did say 'I Think' to show its just my view ... of course I'm not enlightened and so I am just talking about ideas about enlightenment ... as you say only one way to find out ...

Probably an enlightened state Shaktimama - but real enlightenment is permanent in that the consciousness is not lost (I think). My previous comment was based on the fact that I know that Buddhists use the term omniscience in a specific and technical way.

Marbles, Hey ... it was a link to a bUddhist website. Vajrayana would say that 'all phenomena are pure beyond elaboration' is that good enough. The Manifest and the Mystery are 'not-two'. A.

I think omniscience here is being used in a specific way to mean being able to see through to the reality behind all things. Specifically being able to see the emptiness of all forms. It is not omniscience in the sense of knowing everything such as who won the superbowl in 1976 or what is the capital of Estonia or whatever.

OK. Have you been there already?

Which part of India do you imagine is free of women and screaming kids? Population graph below, not sure what percentage are women or children but its a lot! ?