doc benway

“For me, trees have always been the most penetrating preachers. I revere them when they live in tribes and families, in forests and groves. And even more I revere them when they stand alone... In their highest boughs the world rustles, their roots rest in infinity; but they do not lose themselves there, they struggle with all the force of their lives for one thing only: to fulfil themselves according to their own laws, to build up their own form, to represent themselves. Nothing is holier, nothing is more exemplary than a beautiful, strong tree... Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life." ~Herman Hesse

The three most difficult things for a human being are not physical feats or intellectual achievements. They are, first, returning love for hate; second, including the excluded; third, admitting that you are wrong. Anthony de Mello

Greetings Bums, I've made the decision to step back from moderating. I feel a need to prioritize other commitments in my personal and professional life. To be clear, this has nothing to do with the recent changes related to Covid discussion and PPD's. I support Trunk and his compassionate efforts to balance freedom and social responsibility here. I know that he is listening to all points of view and has pure intentions. I'm proud and grateful for the work of the current and recent moderators and admin to foster a civil and supportive forum. I deeply appreciate the support I've received from so many of you including @Trunk and @sean. It was a privilege and a pleasure to work with @Apech, @thelerner, @ilumairen, @liminal_luke, @Bindi, @zerostao, and @dwai over the past 16 months. Stepping back is bittersweet but necessary for me right now. Like it or not, I do plan to continue hanging around...

To me, words and the feelings of others count. Nothing to do with political correctness in my mind, that's simply a blanket excuse for a lack of empathy and civility. I'm not personally offended by your comments but I have this protective instinct that often leads me to engage when I feel others are being targeted, especially vulnerable groups - in this case women and the LGBTQ community. This forum was filled with misogynistic loud-mouths with over-inflated spiritual egos for a long time who made it an unpleasant place to share and interact with people. I think this is why I'm a bit reactive to a few of your recent posts. I joined the mod team a year and a half ago to change the tenor here and I think we did a good job. It may be slow and quiet, echoey even... but I think there are those here who value a safe space to share intimate and profound feelings and experiences on their spiritual path. For me that is a worthwhile trade off. Whether you stay or go is of little consequence to me really but I'll respond as I see fit.

No interest in change or growth?

Not meant to be insults, not even veiled, just direct pointing out of your offensive, misogynistic comments. I don’t appreciate them and want to let you and the community know that. Already living in the promised land… Thanks for the advice.

Not meant to be insults, not even veiled, just direct pointing out of your offensive, misogynistic comments. I don’t appreciate them and want to let you and the community know that.

Warning. Misogynistic trolls don't last long here. I suggest your "seeking" will soon lead you elsewhere.

We are no deeper or purer than those we denigrate... Yes "they" do... It is good to practice with a mirror

Similarly, I tend to classify SLD as a simple subset of LD. While there is certainly great merit in being able to turn LD into spiritual practice and ‘networking’ they are not necessarily more vivid or significant than LDs. Lucidity has varying degrees in dream and in dreamless sleep, as well as in waking dreams or visions. I think there is a continuum of lucidity throughout all levels of waking, sleeping, and dreaming states.

Snow Leopard, Himalayas

@old3bob - you should now have access

They are very specific and integrate well with other Bön practices (in particular the tantric and dzogchen practices). I suspect they can be a valuable support to non-Bön/Buddhist practices to varying degrees.

Yes They are from the Bön Mother Tantra

Daily meditation …disclaimer, for me this also means 9 breathings of purification and tsa lung, powerful energy practices. When I practice very consistently, it is almost as if time stops. I feel more youthful despite the occasional health issue, far more available energy and far more peaceful. Inner tension is a primary cause of poor health. With daily practice a domino effect occurs relative to diet, sleep, hydration, use of intoxicants, drive to exercise, and so on. Health issues and death of this body are unavoidable but can be far better integrated and allowed to move through. Wonderful to do what we can to prevent, ameliorate, and cure maladies. Equally (more) important is to find a healthy relationship to the one grasping at health and life when sometimes an alternate perspective is transformative or transcendent.

But it can happen that a phrase intended to indicate a state beyond concepts just becomes another concept in itself.... Chögyal Namkhai Norbu

Humans are idiots, for sure, and lots of other things too - loving, kind, scared, confused, conditioned, cruel, greedy, ingenious, awake… lots of things. Often my heart breaks… and often it soars.

I’d give Mak a wide berth…

I tried a little acting in college, helping theater/film friends with projects. Acting for me was FAR tougher than expected, especially on film. A little easier in front of an audience.

Hi Friend! No Yes Ego may be the closest thing to a me you’ve got right now, or not, that is for you to observe and determine with certainty. Can you or are you being something other than ego at times? If so make a relationship with that! That’s the ultimate source, the guru. Just some thoughts of my mind your thoughts jiggled… Dilemmas are the absolute best times to turn to the inner stillness and silence, to space. As the beautiful poetry of John Donohoe invites us… And if you want a point of departure for this new journey of soul, don't choose an intention, don't choose a prayer, don't choose a therapy, and don't choose a spiritual method. Look inwards and discover a point of contradiction within yourself. Stay faithful to the aura and presence of the contradiction. Hold it gently in your embrace and ask it what it wants to teach you."

Nice to see you DreamBliss, I offer my ear and hope you find a bit of healing and refuge here. 🙏🏽

芳ばしい and fragrant

Sailor

Just finished Midnight Mass on Netflix. It’s an interesting twist on a familiar theme, compelling but at times a bit long-winded. Nevertheless, my partner and I enjoyed it and there is a nice “enlightened” soliloquy in the final episode.

“The best thing you have learned from TDB?“ How attached I can be to my own opinions.