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http://magictransistor.tumblr.com/post/77757213712/tibetan-anatomical-chart

My teacher is incredibly kind and generous (ok, so I'm biased), and freely gives out all sorts of transmissions and teachings. However when it comes to Thogal he's very uncompromising. Don't read about the method, don't try it, wait until you've received the instructions from a qualified teacher. Given his generosity in other teaching areas, he's not being a meanie but being concerned for students' welfare, as he states that it's easy to misinterpret and appropriate the visions and instead of being a practice of liberation, they can lead to becoming further embroiled in subtle samsaric visions and ruin one's potential for that lifetime. Because he's so sound in other areas I have no reason to doubt him. Edit: typos

How enchanting! Thanks for sharing. Difficult to say if it was total fantasy - only you can distinguish beween how you experience self-referential fantasies and something which you couldn't make up. You could perhaps see if the vision contained any recognisable cultural elements that could link it to a particular tradition. If so, what is it about you that you recognise within yourself that connects with it, e.g. passions, interests, outlook, character etc.? Did you have a particular feeling during the vision? Without expectation why not recreate it with a heartfelt intention of reconneting and see what happens? You should be able to distinguish between real glimpses - feelings, sense of presence, images - and forlorn clinging shadows. Is this vision something that should be ignored because it'll stop you attaining 'higher states of consciousness'? It could be argued that it's blessing. You may not get another vision for years - reading accounts of some teachers receiving teachings in visions, they can be spaced out over a few years; but you could continue on whatever path(s) inspires you knowing that someone somewhere likes you and may be supporting you in ways unknown to you. You could also acknowlede this and send out gratitude and love to 'friends unknown'.

Is TTBs' fun amateurish egalitarian experimenting and sharing really compatible with the presence of quality teachers? Although we are all equal in the sight of God, spirituality, cultivation and development tends to be anything but egalitarian and natural hierarchies soon assert themselves. On one hand they'll be cults of personality and select coteries clustering round certain individuals (it's happened here before), and on the other there'll be ill-mannered ignorant scoffers belittling teachers and teachings worthy of respect and gratitude. At a pinch have closed sub-forums away from the open maelstrom. edit: tpyos, splleing, punctuation

Can you spot a philosopher in the street? For that matter, can you spot a Tao Bum in the street? Is philosophy a load of irrelevant bollocks? This says otherwise: "The nature of philosophy is, perhaps, best understood when we think of it as spiritual warfare. To be sure, the love of wisdom inspires it, and is the driving power of it; but the wisdom beloved by the philosopher is no accessible mistress waiting for the lover in safe places that are easily found. She is a guarded beauty who abides in her citadel, surrounded by high walls and embattled hosts, and must be won precariously, and kept when won, at the sword's point. Of the two forms of the philospher's warfare, the winning of the beloved and the keeping of her when won, the last is perhaps the most exacting. Knowing himself to be fallible, he lives in a brave uncertainty. To be worthy of his vocation as a lover of wisdom the philosopher must be a man of great courage." [source: L.P. Jacks & J.A. Stewart in their preface to Howard V. Knox's The Will to be Free.] Put in these terms a subsection would be right up TTBs' street.

Now that's what I call magic!

Couldn't the texts just be public exoteric manifestations of long standing esoteric oral traditions of practice? That is they impart the philosophy, view and underlying ethos but not the actual practice?

Thanks awfully!

Lin Ai Wai posted something a while back: http://thetaobums.com/topic/3938-the-law-of-karma-thread/?p=40183

Buddhism simply can't be pinned down. It adapts to cultures and times with each new geographical location adding its own cultural elements. For some it's a religion, for others not. For some it's a philosophy, for others it's not. It is even seen as a mental discipine and psychology of wellness independent of religion or philosophy.

Yes but more specifically I'd say that as part of the Four Thoughts that turn the mind towards dharma the teachings on precious human birth are designed to inject a sense of urgency, renunciation and diligence into one's mnd stream.

Isn't Gyatrul Rinpoche advising not to fixate on mental contructs as an element of cognitive control based on hope and fear will enter and condition that which shouldn't be conditioned? Edit: tpyos

The internet being what it is you've probably seen these: http://www.hermetics.org/pdf/TheArtofTrueHealing.pdf A view that the invoking ritual should also be done

You're welcome Taiji Bum. Thanks for your gracious response, the context of the text is much clearer now. If I had looked before leaping I should have twigged that it was written by you I think context of presentation is important. As seen from my feedback you will get different and perhaps more informed opinions from fellow Zen practitioners attending a Zen centre than you would from an open forum such as this. Intended audience is also significant and the text may have to be pitched to different audiences As a testament to you personal practice, drawing up all the threads of inspiration and weaving them into something of value to pass on to others it's sound. I think the issue for me was calling it a handbook of Zen Meditation which for good or ill sets up a train of particular associations and expectations in readers (first off Japan,not Korea flashed up in my mind). The coldness and rigidity in the meditation instructions for me were signalled by the absence of words such as peace, compassion and wisdom. This is also perhaps my reaction to Zen discipline and minimalism and certain aspects of Japanese samuari society that I find alien and harsh rather than the value of the instructions themselves (seen 47 Ronin?) How about doing two versions, a strictly Zen one and a personal testimony leaving in all the references to other traditions and call it something else? I liked the introduction about the Awakening experience - I missed the full significance of this on the first reading - though perhaps add a lead into the main text with something like, 'let me take you by the hand and guide you through the steps taken to experience this marvel' - a bit flowery but hope you get the drift. Zen discipline a bit like Catholicism? Funny that, I went to Tibetan Buddhism from Catholicism and still find statues, incense and threats of hell ... Edit: typos

This has got the informal tone of a no nonsense uncle speaking to his nephew. It appears to be quite idiosyncratic, eclectic with a bit of scientism thrown in i.e. not meditating when young because the brain hasn't developed which appears spurious as surely the younger the better to establish good habits and a foundation in formative years? Don't the Noble Truths mention suffering and not bondage? Can't recall if I've ever heard or read of the concept ascension in Buddhism (I know little of Zen) or newly minted buddhas or Ezekiels's wheel, let alone kundalini and alchemical transformations of the body. Why not decribe the fruits of a path in its own terms rather then alluding to other paths? Awakening to what? Surely after awakening there will no longer be the need for any instructions? The meditation instructions have a certain cold rigidity to them too. As can be gathered I don't particularly warm to this, but each to their own. Edit: typos cerctrod

There was the House of Wisdom a real civilising influence until it was destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th Century and ''the Tigris and Euphrates ran red with the blood of scholars.'' Just what is it with the collective of humanity?

Evaluation: I'm OK, You're Not Ok, Parent to Adult Elicited Response: I'm OK, You're OK, Child to Adult Meeeooowww! Evaluation: I'm OK, You're OK, Parent to Parent

[Evaluation: I'm Ok, You're Ok; Adult to Adult Elicited Response: I'm Ok, You're Ok; Adult to Adult] Come to think of it there probably was a sectarian backdrop to this. However when I was introduced to the term it was in the context of looking within rather without for an ism to provide truth. Although in practice one in all probability is following the ism of Buddha, there is the theorectical possibilty of an ism that has the same methods and goals of Buddhism but doesn't call itself Buddhist. The justification in this is that if a school of thought has the Four Seals present, then it is a Buddhist school irrespective of what it or others call it.

Combining Buddhism with Transactional Analysis (TA) gives a nice way of classifying and possibly understanding posts, their tone and the responses elicited. Responses may be based on the perceived motivation of the initial post. Four possibilties of perceived motivation here (TA then Buddhist equivalent - 'scuse male pronoun): 1) I'm OK, You're OK - One who works for the benefit of both himself and others. 2) I'm OK, You're Not OK - One who works for the benefit of himself and the detriment of others. 3) I'm Not OK, You're OK - One who works for the detriment of himself but the benefit of others. 4) I.m Not OK, You're Not OK - One who works for the detriment of both hmself and others. Examples: 1) "As a practitioner [or non-practitioner, apply as required] I really enjoy listening and learning from everyones perspective, even if I don't always understand or agree with them, I value the opportunity to clarify my own understanding." (I'm OK, You're OK) 2) "I don't need a teacher, as I get all I require from books and my extensive study of other spiritual disciplines. I tried Buddhism out but I considered the teacher false and a corruptor of teachings that sould be free. Oh yeah, the sangha were a bunch of rich losers too. All these internet 'Buddhists' are following a path unsuited for modern Western society and can't handle my rational, well expressed and considered evaluations - good luck in your deluded paths." (I'm OK, You're Not OK). 3) "We all don't know shit so what's the point in all this useless pontificating? Real spiritual practitioners wouldn't touch this site with a barge pole. Those who don't know speak, right!!!???" (I'm Not OK, You're Not OK). Responses can come from three places: 1) Parent: the high ideal to live up to, the controller, preserver and adminstrator of the high ideals 2) Adult: rationality and objectivity 3) Child: sheer emotion Examples (context and who is doing the speaking is everything so there could be different attributions based on the same declaration: "Practitioners shouldn't react to provocations" (Parent to Child). "Yes there are many apparent contradictions in what the different schools teach. Are any knowledgeable and expereinced representaives here from each school that could describe and clarify their position? (Adult to Adult). "Never mind emptiness, I piss myself everytime I read what you write. Your mind is vacuous, knobhead " (Child to Child). There are many possibilties and combinations. I might start including classifications in my replies, for example: I'm OK, You're OK, Adult to Adult Funnily enough this classification may be the ideal that all posts on all forums should be. (Parent to Adult ). edit: tpyos & cocrretoins

No. Some traditions don't call themselves Buddhist either and refer to themselves as Nangpas (insiders): http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Nangpa

Good point. People seem to expect more from Buddhists here.

Because Buddhadharma is said to be limitless with at least 84,000 different teachings directed at beings of different inclincations conditions and capacites it is all things to all people. No wonder it appears that there are people with PhDs in Wind Up posting here.

This might look a bit too new agey for some but I like the spirit and generosity and think there's some worthwhile prayers and meditations (supported by evocative background music): http://www.theangelsofatlantis.com/angels/

Well worth the read, thanks! The appliance of science to support this estimation: and to justify calling security to:

I must confess to having a soft spot for stuff like this. As it's about personal prayer and contemplation and not ritualism I tend to overlook apparently whacky titles (maybe they are known by different names in different epochs?) and mismatched correspondences. Orbs are interesting, don't know what they are: