Eviander

Actually, your wrong. The main goal of the greatest scientists and their breakthroughs in science have been done under the stance of understanding the works of the creator. Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Einstein, and countless others where mystics who firmly believed in god and interpreted reality from a scientific sense. The atheists you speak of have no merit in the evolution of science and ignore a bigger half of what is now known as quantum physics...which is heavily mystical. In fact the whole paradigm of old science is slowly falling with the newer theories slowly getting more attention.

I've read a few different places, on Buddhist sites and blogs in the past, that Buddhism is not atheistic but is non-theistic. It has been placed into an entirely separate category from atheism because atheism is much different. Atheism generally denies anything except for the material universe, while Buddhism denies everything but the mind (from my understanding) and claims the material universe is an illusion..this has nothing to do with atheism..which believes in nothing such as enlightenment nirvana, reincarnation etc..which are all supernatural claims..which again..have nothing to do with what atheism claims. A religion is not atheistic in this sense, but rather it can be non-theistic...as for atheism it is generally opposed to not just the god part of religion, but also of its claims of anything other than the material world.

Well, it seems Buddhism doesn't follow any form of logic which as we know by now, makes it hard for some statements to be taken seriously in a philosophical discussion. Let me put it this way, what is coming from outside your cognition, those vibrations, have actual effects on you whether you deny their existence or not. As well, you have been organized through years of evolution to the adaptation of atoms that at the base of your components is you. All this was not done through you..it was done through an independent agent that I am calling god. Again, atheism sees this process of life blossoming as the adherence of coincidence...Buddhism says it is emptiness (which cannot explain what science has found by the way) and I am saying this is the work of a supreme intelligence. Apparently not, you can't explain it to well so I am questioning if you even know what your talking about. I certainly would love to have the time to read some suttas. The fact is though Buddh-ism is still an ism with traditional racial values that turn off the un-secular. Thats what I plan to do with my life. That would be wrong. Certainly the soul consciousness or consciousness, if you would have it, can transcend the brain, but we are still limited by the body and the brains anchoring to the material world. Thats good, you should be open to science then without filtering it through Buddhism. It has nothing to do with you, I am not using ad-hominem attacks, it has to do with your arguments..some of them don't make to much sense? From being empty of self essence only leads me to conclude that their essence is of god, from my interpretation anyhow. But again, I am heavy on science as a means to find the answers, both physical and metaphysical. I am open to studying Buddhism, I just haven't the time to at the moment, and no, Buddhism, like anything else, is not without its holes and leads different analyzers and knowledge bases to different conclusions. Yep Well I would suggest you come to terms with science if you haven't already. which ties deeply into the fabric of religious claims...and what we are discussing now..a modern review of such things clears up a lot of mythology and false geographical dating with many religious fantasies.

The whole is conceived as the supreme being, god, universal consciousness, call it what you will. That being is the multi-verse which is far from being inanimate. Well yea, it is all potential, it is the essence which gave you substance allowing you to contemplate what realness is. As far as its realness goes it is more 'real' than what we perceive now, which again is only our interpretation of what is there . It in itself is the only cause, our existence the measure of its effects. And no, studying Buddhism is just as important as studying all religions, to me. This is not a self projection, it has nothing to do with self or such ideologies, it is simply the measurement of what is there. Only counting material bodies. It is not the collective unconscious it is simply the vibrational field that is outside us, that we interpret as the physical universe in our subject frames of reference. Such is the reference to the astral planes, which are still limited in experience because we are incarnate in a physical body with a limiting brain, we can only traverse so far without having to come back to the body. I could say the same to you about other schools of thought. But in this sense I am not attaching, I am simply assimilating my knowledge to assess the soundness of other bodies of knowledge. Do you drink spoiled milk? thought forms have their dependency within self fulfilling belief cycles. If you go into it without thought or thinking of a right view you see things as they are. All of these paradoxical statements might make sense to buddhists, but to me they seem rather avoidant of direct responses and immediate results. Likewise you should study the mathematics and the sciences to understand how the physical universe operates and how that reality ties into understanding metaphysics. And just as well you should study all religions to see the ever apparent unity that unites them to end suffering and gain insight.

If your trying to point to experiencing everything in intervals then we would still experience it all as separate bodies perceiving fragments of a whole. I'm not sure if that is what you where referring to though, if not then please elaborate. No, finding it would prove we are Dependant upon it.It would create breakthroughs in science and human understanding, and its in the ball park of the next 20 years. Actually, its already proven that what we perceive is a vibrational field that is constantly pulsating outside of us. It is simply the way in which we form the image of the vibrations on our retina and inverse it in our cerebral matrix that is Dependant upon our own mind. The material world is completely objective and outside of us. This is no attachment, this is a simple assessment of the countless mysteries that modern science provides us, which leads to the source of this vibrational field of our reality havening its origin in a intelligence beyond the scope of it conceivably being inanimate. My bad, I got confused with the Hindu definition of nirvana. This I agree upon, but It can not transcend the faculties that the human brain gives one, it only allows what psychic function is available for it to perceive. There are certain aspects of Buddhism and other meditative schools that are universal to most other traditions, for example, though you may disagree as a Buddhist, I perceive your religion to be similar to many forms of Hinduism, taoism, Jainism, ect. And though again, you might not see this, but your search for insight or the ultimate reality is the same mystical quest that other traditions go through. If you take out the traditional values you simply have mysticism..you as a Buddhist just use different semantics or words such as Dependant origination, ect, to explain the same phenomenon that is universal. You don't explain it to well Likewise with the same intent and same results I could go deeper to verify the fact that they are fabrications of the human mind. Just remember Buddhist are not the only ones who have entered deep states of meditation and explored the hidden dimensions of existence. I practice a non-secular meditation along with other methods, though I see how Buddhism is essentially the same intent as other mystical paths.

It's easier to conceive of us as being objective expressions of this energy if we are looking at a working scientific model of phenomenon. If we where what was emanating this energy we would experience everything at once. Yet we are limited to our bodies for experience, therefore we are part of and Dependant of this energy for food, air, the light of the sun, other bodies ect, we are emanations of it. You certainly don't have to call it god which is why I emphasized it as 'god', it can be conceived as the supreme being, the universal consciousness, ect. Of course we are extensions of this principle, we are powered by it, modern physics is looking for it in verifiable data and it is considered the "god" particle. but yet we are speaking on a objective level here. For it is through objective measurements in which the scientific method gave rise to computers to allow material bodies to surmise about such instances of creation and thus measure the separation in 'oneness'. And in my original post I directly said we where the consciousness and matter that is the circuit board but yet we are powered by the source which gives light to the circuitry. Certainly. All mystics have had experiences pointing out that at a subjective level we are connected and may connect back with the oneness that is god, nirvana, have it what you may. As in this case I am not arguing in a single material entity as god, I am arguing from a modern pantheistic view which purports everything is of the essence of god, or is within the body of god. Again, semantics play a big role in any philosophy, but I stress that whatever you call this this energy, it certainly has an intelligence far surpassing the limits of human contemplation. Well, the Buddha was not an atheist since he founded his own religion, but I would like to open you to the view that he was not the only enlightened being to tread this planet. There where countless mystics who received such a light from the depths of their being and had abilities such that the Buddha had. Its emptiness is what makes it easily filled. This is the kind of primitive belief that defines a religious faith. Unfortunately you failed to define any truth, only easily debated Buddhist philosophy

Whoops

Mine is a conglomerate that circumscribes the cosmos. I believe enlightenment can be likened to permanently harmonizing with the rhythm of the universe.

Came in a bit late and didn't read the whole thread but.. I don't see how the argument of Dependant origination has any weight against the argument for god. If reality is dependently originated it requires the independent agent to power it. In this case our world of matter and consciousness can be likened to a circuit board which is dependent on the constant energy powering it which comes from a divine source, or 'god'.

Yea I practice them as well. I don't how they work in technical energetic terms but they certainly are better than hatha yoga poses. In fact I would like to learn more Tibetan yoga which I believe is still concealed to monks rather than adding the five rights to the end of my hatha yoga practice. Anyways I get a very calm and centered feeling after finishing the 21st spin..it does feel like it might work on the psychic bodies better than other forms of yoga.

I just read that Shakyamuni died from eating poisoned mushrooms to the extent. Though other sources say he died of old age, I doubt that is the case. Also, why would he eat poisoned mushrooms intentionally, and why would someone feed him this if they did not intend to kill him? The sources that claim he died from poison make it seem like it was an accident but the facts don't add up. The question is then..was he potentially assassinated?

I mean in our industrial fast paced coffee driven culture, is it possible to be seriously into meditation aside from all the fashionable merchants who claim they know how to meditate in the western world? Just wondering..

I guess its just a personal thing. Because I subjectively never see myself getting past the threshold while living in society. I am already planning on taking many 6 month or maybe even year on end meditation retreats..just so I can actually get somewhere. Again it could be just something that effects me, but I feel like I am unable to "get it" in my current life situation.

Neither are infallible. I don't listen to the bulk of Buddhas teachings personally because he likes to make you think you have to reincarnate 8 times as a monk to attain enlightenment. Bashar sounds more practical and less religious.

Very much agreed. You see your spirit world while I perceive a completely different way of life and illumination. For example..since you believe in hells they manifest in your subjective phase of consciousness regardless if they objectively exist. Or since you believe in reincarnation you re create it for yourself. Your eye witness is in fact your exploration into your own inner dream state. While you live off imagined past lives and necessary reincarnations..I live off of creating my own essence and realities as I move through change. Your eyes are much different than mine

There are New Age bullies, Taoist bullies, Buddhist bullies..and bullies in general

So basically I have 3 options for my first Tai Chi instruction. I am not really that informed about the different styles and how to spot good teachers ect, but would like to start ASAP considering there are 3 schools in my area. I would just like the humble opinion of the bums so I can go ahead and lay down the cash down for a session. Michigan Tai Chi center This one is a Yang style traditional Tai Chi class and to me looks pretty solid. Wu style This is a Wu style, which even though I have read the difference between yang and wu I guess I really don't get it besides the style of the forms. This one also seems pretty solid to me. Peaceful dragon. This one does not specify a style, so I was a little skeptical but it is the cheapest one. Though to me it seems a little more like pop Tai Chi.

Just was wondering what some good books where for beginners in buddhism. I have read some of a tibetan dream yoga book, but other than that I have no solid grasp in the foundations of mindfullness, meditation, ect, ect. Also I have not decided what school I am going to practice (therevada, mahayana, or vajrayana). So I would like some recomendations to some books which cover there differences (or summaries from those with knowledge)

Another thing...I have perceived a reptilian female entity(s)that looked inter dimensional many times on a few different entheogens. One of the times it (or they) carried with them profound fear and the thoughts of damnation and burning in hell... Also on my latest shamanic quest I perceived the reptilian inter dimensional looking female and it at first brought fear of hell..fire..ect..then slowly turned into a sexual feeling and mixed emotions before the perception went away. (it was green during the less lucid visions...then it was green and turned purple in my latest and most lucid vision) I have seen these female inter-dimensional looking reptilians on a few occasions on certain entheogens(psilocybin and salvia to be precise)..and was wondering what you taobums think..if I am actually for a limited duration in contact with an inter-dimensional being(s) ( I thought it was a demon the first few times I saw them or it). Because these thoughts keep coming up (you are going to hell..ect hell hell) and for a certain period of time I thought that these demons might be attacking me or be evil.. Now I am a bit more well versed in snake symbology and think it might be my minds projection of kundalini shakti (if others have experience it also could actually be an inter-dimensional being I don't know) but I did not know that kundalini could actually be symbolized by visions of inter-dimensional looking female snake beings..if anyone has information or sources on predecessors who have had the same visions or just has a well educated opinion on this strange phenomena I would like input..

Also I had a shamanic journey the other day..where a python and then female serpent beings where the common visions..(followed by other unexplainale shamanic stuff). Again this female serpent being keeps bringing up hell...does anyone know what this symbolizes or stands for or has encountered this?

I did get some misty light pop out of my hand the other day while playing guitar. I also sometimes see flashes of light while trying savasana...

I am not doubting the fact that most people on this forum probably follow many eastern esoteric and mystical traditions..that being Taoist and Buddhist primarily (I have not seen to many following Hindu but I might be wrong). Anyways..I have for reasons unknown to me been slowly dragged towards the eastern mysticism as opposed to the western mysticism which I was initially interested in. Now I am not trying to start another which is better 'this' or 'that' thread, but I would like peoples opinions on the two branches of mysticism and which is ultimately more complete and older in practice. The one thing that I have read from hermetical writings claiming that the knowledge of the pharaohs, which is supposedly passed on from the times of Atlantis is in fact superior to any form of eastern mysticism and the level of illumination achieved by the pharaoh priests is at a higher cosmic state of enlightenment than the eastern traditions have achieved. Now it is possible for those with little knowledge on the two to say they are the same or they are simply 'one'. But this is not true..since western mysticism expounds upon the astral plane and being born into that plane instead of focusing on reincarnation ect..which is truly a big difference for serious initiates into any tradition.

Sorry I have no clue what your talking about. Whether the hallucinogens did or not is irrelevant I guess...the real consideration is that my kundalini has been activated..its been well documented this energy takes the symbol of snake imagery in your third eye... I just discovered that my lack of feeling love has blocked it at my heart chakra...or w/e you want to call it and now I am starting to feel better because I am feeling this love..

I just sort of had a 'kundalini break through' today. I realized that I was actually causing a blockage in my heart center area by making excuses not to feel deep love for the whole of existence. Weird because now I am starting to feel strong sensations of a sort of love that is beyond the personal self..