rex

These may be of interest: Video of Chime Phakme Nyingtik Drupchen http://vimeo.com/34372057 Podcasts on a variety of topics http://www.khyentserecordings.org/namo/Podcasts.html

Any, all or none of these may be of use: Celebrating the Male Mysteries http://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Male-Mysteries-R-Stewart/dp/1873596014/ The Way of the Superior Man: A Spiritual Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Women, Work and Sexual Desire http://www.amazon.com/Way-Superior-Man-Spiritual-Challenges/dp/1591792576 Verbal Judo http://www.amazon.com/Verbal-Judo-Gentle-Art-Persuasion/dp/0060577657 The rough unpleasant stuff: http://streetfightsecrets.com/tailor-made-packs/ All the best. edit: tpoys

Well a big congratulations to hydrogen and ralis for dumping in the punch bowl - well done!

Rationalistic hubris is a significant challenge. Reason and logic are important but an unchecked, exalted rationalism which actively denigrates the very traditions that are the custodians, transmitters and source of this wisdom is corrosive. Edit:tpyos

There's this: http://www.qigonginstitute.org/html/papers/EightExtraordinaryMeridians-Qigong.pdf : )

All good advice given so far but what follows might not be. Don't be frightened, have a sense of humour (but don't be disrespectful), laugh at any outrageous suggestions saying they're having a laugh and taking the piss. State the reasons why. Or you could just ignore them: http://www.erikbohlin.net/logismoi.htm

When I moved to a new house I started getting clicking sounds when meditating. On one occasion these were accompanied by a gentle breeze with moving ceiling lights even though the windows were closed and it was still outside. I put it down to either a 'presence' who shared the same space or unseen visitors popping in to check the new interloper out. The clicking was accompanied by the distinct feeling of being buzzed by something.

Not from Buddha but from one of his card carrying representatives:- Foes are (as unlimited) as space, They cannot possibly all be overcome; Yet if you overcome the thought of hatred This will be equal to overcoming all foes. Where is the leather With which one can cover the earth? But (wearing) a leather sandal Is equal to covering the earth with leather. Shantideva

This is more of a rhetorical question for private contemplation and conscience. In times of clear and imminent danger when diplomacy and other peacful methods of conflict resolution have either been exhausted or simply not possible to engage in, what's the difference between using offensive magic and other methods of protection like martial arts? Here's an interesting case: http://www.inominandum.com/blog/field-report-attack-magic/ Check this out, Servilla curses Caesar and Atia

A few choice keywords like platonist, platonism, theurgy etc bunged in at Scribd is worth trying.

This is a trickey one as religion and magic can be clearly separated but then there's theurgy - 'pious magic' - the middle joining ground, seeking to serve the Divine through knowledge, co-operation, application and bridge building. Here magical rituals aren't performed but sacromagical ceremonies are. Magic also seems to sit in the middle ground between religion and science.

Do you carry a health warning? "Uninvited views of this person's tatoo(s) will have lethal consequences" (lol). Do the tatoos have to be maintined with regular prayer and fasting to maintain their power?

Do you use them Eskrimador? I saw a documentary where martial artists and law enforcement officers had charged protection stones implanted under the skin to protect from blade cuts. I'm sure this was in the Philippines, but could be mistaken. Do people use these along with anting anting?

Thanks for sharing, never heard of these before. The designs are intricate and intriguing

This essay entited It's a Mystery: Dysfunctional Behaviour & the Pagan Scene is germane to spiritual discusssion groups and as mentioned in the footnotes the shenanigans cited are evident in all traditions: http://www.flyallnight.com/khaire/Itsamystery.htm Apologies if this has already been posted.

Found the second part of this series: It's a Mystery (Part II): Healthy Pagan Groups and Individuals This is of related interest too: Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire: Dysfunctional Families and Group Energy

Anyone got a spare $40/£25/€30, patience, a willingness to take a chance and of course an interest in alchemy? Then there's this: Study Course on how to read Alchemical Texts edit: duff link

'There's nowt so queer as folk'. Cheers guys

Now there's a question, it can mean whatever anyone wants it to mean and this could change over time. When I heard this originally the teacher was talking about Christians following his teachings and he said not to worry about any apparent contradiction between following a theist and anti-theist path simultaneously. Personally I see a lot of similarity with the Buddhist view and some Western mystical approaches to divinity that don't conceive of God as an old man sitting on a throne, The Cloud of Unknowing and the Kabbalistic symbolism of the Ain Soph Aur and Kether being some examples. Edit: tpoys

I heard one teacher say once that while Buddhism denies the concept of God it doesn't deny the nature of God.

Celebs?

Some specialist occult publishers hold great store in their talismanic books - limited print runs, special materials, astrological timing in the production process, attunement rituals, printed sigils etc. Don't know if it's all a load of baloney and a con but given the nature of the spiritual contacts some of these books are dedicated to I wouldn't like to find out.

Good to see at last a glimmer of balance and perspective (however seemingly grudging) - this makes a welcome change from the thread's previous enthusiastic acceptence of the denouncer's side. Exactly! That's what the courts are for - there's nothing quite like an opportunity for a moral panic fed by righteous indignation.

Serious allegations indeed! http://dialogueirela...nd-the-thankas/

The particular method they used did require an initiation (obligatory) and a weekend's practice with the teacher (not obligatory but good if there's the opportunity). Some showed signs on the first day, some the next day while for others signs became apparent within two weeks. Considering all the distractions and possble interests that can claim our attention I think it's great that you've had a long term interest in PL, this shows sincerity. If you're not already practicing in any of the Tibetan traditions then you will at least have to be amenable to taking refuge and bodhisattva vows. Look out for dharma events where an Amitabha empowerment is being given, contact the organisers, though do some research on them first in case they're iffy, tell them about your interest in PL and see what they say. In the UK some teachers by prior arrangement give refuge vows to new people before giving an initiation. You won't necessarily have to go through a load of preliminaries first as PL exists for the benefit of sincere and unpurified practitioners. However don't take my word on this as authoritative it as teachers do have different requirements but your sincerity and a commitment to spiritual practice should hopefully hold you in good stead.