simple traveller

Good day I have heard that the lotus sitting serves an energetic purpose. It serves to lock the energy in during meditation, sort of an infinite loop. This helps in the grounding for your energy. Also there is the heaven energy above and earth energy below. When lying down the potential difference, within the body, between heaven energy and earth energy is the smallest. Standing produces the greatest potential difference, sitting is somewhere in between. So it all depends what your intention and goal is during meditation, at least from the energy point of view. Thank You

Good Day All of this is based on definitions which stem from points of view from fixed points of reference. When you change your point of reference then your point of view changes and this the previous definition may no longer be valid thus you need to re evaluate your definition. We constantly define stuff and seek out definitions in our endless states on inquiry. You need not look very far to see this. This post is also a place where definitions are being sought. So If you see that definitions are based on points of view from points of reference and thus change when the points of reference and points of view change then you see that definitions are illusion. If definitions are illusion then nothing is anything and everything is everything else. Thus "I am, you are, we are". Thank You

I believe in the experience of 'speaking in tongues'. There are other names for it as well. Yes it can occur spontaneously especially while chanting mantra. Some mantra can produce this quite quickly. Yes I agree it can be translated. In my understanding the expression of this phenomena and the translation can be developed. It is like the 3rd eye experience. Some people get visions during meditation, some get visions without meditation, some develop their 3rd eye capabilities so that they can 'see' all the time. This is much the same. It is based on an energy center in the body and when this particular energy center opens up the the 'new language' emerges. Sometimes not all the time but with proper development it can emerge more often. For some at their discretion. Thanks

First let me say that I wasn't expecting anything specific from anyone specific and have enjoyed all the quotes shared here. I personally like the quote you have shared here. As I move along my journey I have found inspiration in sometimes, what could be called, the most unlikely places. If you open your eyes, open your mind, and open your heart then you can be inspired form almost anywhere, anytime, including movies, music, and books of all kinds. The journey is not limited in its form so why should the inspiration be limited in its expression. Thank You

You are seeking a definition for that which cannot be readily defined. You are seeking words that help to conceptualize, so that your mind can find some sort of foundation. These definitions and words will only serve to limit the existence of what your seeking. Stop looking, stop defining, leave the names behind and exist and you will be what you seek. Thank You

Perhaps you may like this, it is a bit long but worth the read; One day it occurred to a certain emperor that if he only knew the answer to three questions, he would never stray in any matter. What is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times? The Emperor issued a decree throughout his kingdom announcing whoever could answer these questions would receive a great reward. Many who read the decree made their way to the palace at once, each person with a different answer. In reply to the first question, one person advised that the emperor make up a thorough time schedule, consecrating each hour, day, month and year for certain tasks and then follow the schedule to the letter. Onyy then could he hope to do every task at the right time. Another person replied that it was impossible to plan in advance and that the emperor should put all vain amusements aside and remain attentive to everything in order to know what to do at what time. Someone else insisted that, by himself the emperor could never hope to have all the foresight and competence necessary to decide when to do each and every task and what he really needed was to set up a council of the wise and then act according to their advise. Someone else said that certain matters required immediate decision and could not wait for consultation , but if he wanted to know in advance what was going to happen he should consult magicians and soothsayers. The response to the second question also lacked accord. One person said that the emperor needed to place all his trust in administrators, another urged reliance on priests and monks, while others recommended physicians. Still other said to put their faith in warriors. The third question drew a similar variety of answers. Some said science was the most important pursuit. Others insisted on religion. Yet others claimed the most important thing was military skill. The emperor was not pleased with any of the answers, and no reward was given. After several nights of reflection, the emperor resolved to visit a hermit who lived up on the mountain and was said to be an enlightened man. The emperor wished to find the hermit and ask him the three questions, though he knew the hermit never left the mountains and was known to receive only the poor, refusing to have any thing to do with persons of wealth and power. So the emperor disguised himself as a simple peasant and ordered his attendants to wait for him at the foot of the mountain while he climbed the slope alone to seek the hermit. Reaching the holy man's dwelling place the emperor found the hermit digging a garden in front of his hut. When the hermit say the stranger, he nodded his head in greeting and continued to dig. The labor was obviously hard on him. He was an old man, and each time he thrust his spade into the ground to turn the earth, he heaved heavily. The emperor approached him and said,"I have come here to ask your help with three questions: When is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times? The hermit listened attentively but only patted the emperor on the shoulder and continued digging. The emperor said "You must be tired. Here let me give you a hand with that." The hermit thanked him, handed the the spade, and then sat down to rest. After he had dug two rows, the emperor stopped and turned to the hermit and repeated his three questions. The hermit still did not answer, but instead stood up and pointed to the spade and said,"Why don't you rest now? I can take over again." But the emperor continued to dig. One hour passed, then two. Finally the sun began to set behind the mountain. The emperor put down the spade and said to the hermit, "I came here to ask if you could answer my three questions. But if you can't give me any answer, please let me know so that I can get on my way home." The hermit lifted his head and asked the emperor,"Do you hear someone running over there?" The emperor turned his head. They both saw a man with a long white beard emerge from the woods. He ran wildly, pressing his hands against a bloody wound in his stomach. The man ran toward the emperor before falling unconscious to the ground, where he lay groaning. Opening the man's clothing, the emperor and hermit saw that the man had received a deep gash. The emperor cleaned the wound thoroughly and then used his own shirt to bandage it, but the blood completely soaked it within minutes. He rinsed the shirt out and bandaged the wound a second time and continued to do so until the flow of blood had stopped. At las the wounded man regained consciousness and asked for a drink of water. The emperor ran down to the stream and brought back a jug of fresh water. Meanwhile, the sun had disappeared and the night air had begun to turn cold. The hermit gave the emperor a hand in carrying the man into the hut where they laid him down on the hermit's bed. The man closed his eyes and lay quietly. The emperor was worn out from a long day of climbing the mountain and digging the garden. Leaning against the doorway, he fell asleep. When he rose, the sun had already risen over the mountain. For a moment he forgot where he was and what he had come here for. He looked over to the bed and saw the wounded man also looking around him in confusion. When he say the emperor, he stared at him intently and then said in a faint whisper, "Please forgive me." "But what have you done that I should forgive you?" the emperor asked. "You do not know me, your majesty, but I know you. I was your sworn enemy, and I had vowed to take vengeance on you, for during the last war you killed my brother and seized my property. When I learned that you were coming alone to the mountain to meet the hermit, I resolved to surprise you on you way back and kill you. But after waiting a long time there was still no sign of you, and so I left my ambush in order to seek you out. But instead of finding you, I came across you attendants, who recognized me, giving me this wound. Luckily, I escaped and ran here. If I hadn't met you I would surely be dead now. I had intended to kill you, but instead you saved my life! I am ashamed and grateful beyond words. If I live, I vow to be your servant for the rest of my life, and I will bid my children and grandchildren to do the same. Please grant me your forgiveness." The emperor was overjoyed to see that he was so easily reconciled with a former enemy. He not only forgave the man but promised to return all the man's property and to send his own physician and servants to wait on the man until he was completely healed. After ordering his attendants to take the man home, the emperor returned to see the hermit. Before returning to the palace the emperor wanted to repeat his three questions one last time. He found the hermit sowing seeds in the earth they had dug the day before. The hermit stood up and looked at the emperor. "But your questions have already been answered." "How's that?" The emperor asked, puzzled. "Yesterday, if you had not taken pity on my age and given me a hand with digging these beds, you would have been attacked by that man on your way home. Then you would have deeply regretted not staying with me. Therefore the most important person was myself, and the most important pursuit was to help me. Later, when the wounded man ran up here, the most important time was the time you spent dressing his wound, for if you had not cared for him he would have died and you would have lost the chance to be reconciled with him. Likewise, he was the most important person, and the most important pursuit was taking care of his wound. Remember that there is only one important time and that is now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. The most important person is always the person you are with, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future? The most important pursuit is making the person standing at you side happy, for that alone it the pursuit of life." Hope you liked this and perhaps it may answer some questions. Thank You

1) The exact definition of enlightenment. I think that enlightenment is not a destination but a journey. Enlightenment occurs in stages. We can have enlightened experiences that add to our enlightened state and they can be cumulative. The mind can become enlightened and then the 'light' can always get brighter. Our body can become enlightened, then can always become brighter. And our soul/spirit can become enlightened and always become brighter. Enlightenment is not an end to a journey but the beginning of a new journey. How do we define it, I don't think that it is fair to define it. Defining it would put restrictions on what enlightenment was. Each of us is unique and all have different points of view, saying enlightenment is one thing for someone could say that is not available for someone else. Each of us, can experience enlightenment in unique ways. 2) Reasons for why enlightenment (as we define it) either is or isn't an experience. Again I don't think definitions can really apply. Is it an experience, that all depends on your current point of view and point of reference. As your point of view and point of reference changes so do the definitions change. Reality and illusion are based on point of view and point of reference, change these and reality and illusion change as well. 3) What else it could be besides an experience. Anything and everything. 4) Reasons why people think it's impossible to fall from a state of enlightenment. I don't know about this really, but I remember something my Master once said, "A saint can become a monster and a monster can become a saint". This teaching stays with me and encourages me to always be aware of my thoughts, actions, and words. Thank You

Good Day I have met Dr Sha. I have known him for a few years now, and have been to many of his teachings, workshops, retreats. I have read most of his books as well. I know that many think of his teachings as high pressure. I have seen this at times as well, but you have to understand somethings. This is not to make more money for himself. He is very generous. I have been to his home. He lives simply. He has at times paid for some to travel to be at his retreats. I have seen his generosity and compassion countless times. Yes at times he can be intense, but that is to wake us up. He feels that we are in transition time and there is urgency in his teaching. He has such great compassion. I have witnessed this many times. He genuinely cares for all his students. You see he is trying to convey a message. And he has to convey it to our society as it is, not as we may wish it to be. So he has to work within the confines of our society. This is no different from any other teacher in history. They all had to deliver their message to the society of their time, within the confines of that society, using the methods that that society could accept. He knows that most people can't necessarily travel to see him, he does not have a main center. He travels to see the people. He travels all around the world and all this costs. He has a team that work for him and he pays them as well, so yes he charges for his services. This is how our society is based, what doctor doesn't charge for their services. I personally have never heard him say you must do anything, and I have heard him tell some to stop spending and to make sure that they take care of their family. His foundation teaching is all about love, care, and compassion. This has not changed in all the years that I have known him. I have seen many benefit from his teachings and healings. And yes some have not been healed and some have died. Dr Sha always says, I will do all I can do for you and I have seen him spend much effort to help so many, not always is this part advertised at the workshops, sometimes his efforts no one knows about. But ultimately, he teaches that it is up to the Divine, the results are always up to the Divine. As with anything you must make up your own mind. Keep an open mind, look deeply before you pass judgment. There is an old saying that goes something like this,' If you want to know if the fruit is sweet or not, you have to taste it.' Thank You

Good Day Good day to all on this forum. I am grateful to have found this forum, and to begin my journey here as part of this community. There seems to be so many with like minds here. I look forward to exploring the richness of this community and sharing when I can. I am a simple traveler along my journey. I make no claim to any title and share from my heart. Thank You