Josh Young

I know nothing of 2 point. My wife is a reiki practitioner. Reiki has no time limit or set amount, it can be done for a long time or be instant. People do not tend to want to pay for instant sessions, but that does not mean that they are not capable of the same result. Intent is everything, time frame is irrelevant.

If you examine the religious symbolism of Ge'ez Jews you will note vedic symbols that Buddhists often employ as well. Their rites are also interestingly close to those of several Hindu religions. I'd talk more about this, but I want to leave it for those who make more of an effort. There is no reason I can think of to share the details of this with those who will not consider it. No person who places value in their own preconceptions can open their mind.

what is this "self" that you speak of? There are two types of self, one is when it is, but is not when it is not. The other is not when it is, and is when it is not. The latter is self evident, the former prevents the self evident from being evident to self. The former is a burden, the latter cannot be burdened. you say that "your" self can teach you about the "self" ?? first of all, where is this self? does it really exist? Of the first self, it cannot teach itself, but tries to endlessly. Of the latter self, what can it learn that is not self evident? Where is the line between self and other? Find the line and you have your answer. There is no greater hiding place than the obvious. There is nothing more hidden from the former self than the latter self is. secondly, if it does exist (which it doesn't) how can the self teach the self about itself? lol, how can illusion teach illusion about illusion? Wonderful question. Is that not what every person here has been trying to do? This is why there is no way, because if there were a way it would not be the way. But words cannot explain, they can only hint at best. This is why nobody obtains enlightenment, just as Buddha said.

You know Chaos magic well!

Wuji-taiji-yin/yang emptiness/fullness nothing/everything Can emptiness be had without fullness?

I may be wrong but will share this view nonetheless: Suffering is a term, not a state. What suffers? I know pain well, but being in pain does not mean I suffer. I know pleasure well, but not being in pleasure does not mean I suffer. Is suffering something we choose or can choose to avoid? How can suffering be anything but a failure to accept things as they are? How can pain make one suffer if they accept it when they are in pain? How can loss make one suffer if they accept loss? What a sad delusion it can be to think that to end suffering means to become something not human. To believe that the end of suffering is rewarded at the end of life is to suffer from desire and attachment. Who will not suffer suffering? Who is sick of sickness?

How many forsake now for later? Wanting to reach a "higher" level. Be careful that when you reach it that you don't fall from the pedestal. Also be careful how you look "down" on people who aren't at your "level" After all ordinary people must seem so little from up there. Where is this mundane that people talk about? How is this world not miraculous and amazing?

Faith is not needed for that which is. Faith is what you need to believe that which isn't.

I agree, the pursuit of a perfect mind or body is an unrealistic waste. Too many people forsake what they have trying to be what they are not, like trying to become a god of light or some other ego inflated attainment concept.

Gez (Ge'ez) Judaism is a form of Judaism that exists today that has it's source in times when Solomons temple had yet to be destroyed. It is also known as Beta Israel.

It is never about a destination, to make it about that is to waste now. It is about now, to waste that is to be concerned with a destination. Attachment to destination gets in the way of many peoples enlightenment. Why be enlightened? for later? To escape rebirth and death cycles? What nonsense. If you seek enlightenment like a prize it will always be ahead of you, something you anticipate and do not have. If you count on being enlightened in this way then you have no room for enlightenment now. People do not need enlightenment for later. It is not a shiny gold star at the end of a long struggle. It is that which eases the burden, lifts the weight, here and now.

Thanks for that Xenolith. I too feel that there is no one size fits all approach, and for some people at least teachers are yet another obstacle to overcome. After all, teachers are only students themselves .

Perhaps more than anything Dharma is the reason why we should be humble.

Solomon was a very interesting figure. He is the subject of much myth. Are people here familiar with Gez Judaism? This is very close to the Hebrew tradition of Solomon, it is rather different than what is called Judaism now.

Can someone explain how the three insight aspects of vipassana are different? These would be related to the terms:impermanence, suffering, and not-self, though these formulations have their limits. They are 3 sides of the same epiphany to me, and totally inseparable at that. Be wary of lineages, they are sometimes more concerned that you wear that right color hat than they are that you become enlightened.Beware of group consciousness being sold as enlightenment, it only results in holier than thou mentalities that are anything but enlightened. Enlightenment cannot be had in a group setting and no group can guarantee it. Be wary of those who do not know what they do not know. Many people pass off faith as knowledge, this is most harmful. They will want to force you to do the same as a justification of their own position. And; be wary of being too wary. Learn to see things as they are, not as we think they are.

Dreams are messages to you from yourself. Only you can read into them, though others may offer insights.

Desire and attachment are states of mind. They bring suffering because of the dependence they entail. This even applies to the desire to cease desire. The role self plays has to do with the root of desire.

To be sure that is all it is. An opinion. I have enjoyed reading his books, but cannot respect what he did.

If teachers are required, who was Buddhas teacher?

well at least we got the chaos art down!

Having read the Book of Mormon and the Bible it occurs to me that many frauds are perpetuated by the feeling of truth found in the words being extended to the facts being true. This is emotional appeal for the most part. Just because one can feel the truth of words, does not mean that the context they are presented in is truthful. The facts around CC are simply to strong to ignore, there is a tremendous amount to suggest he "borrowed" spiritual teachings from many traditions and then sold them repackaged to an eager audience. There is a type of dishonesty in this that is not to be ignored. His work is worth reading, but the man did not achieve what his followers hope to. When the teacher is not an example of what he is teaching, then the teachings are not his.

Interesting concepts. Purslane and nettles come close.

Kip, Absolutely enlightening.

what is the least important thing?

This is like doing a taiji form, if you do one on the side of a mountain then you have to change your footwork, because the ground is not flat, level or barren. Do not let your form trap you. Question what you want and why you want it. If you are too invested it can blind and bind. The burdon of self-mind is very heavy. Let go but do not give up.