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If karma was a simple, linear process, everything would be certain, but it is not! There is always an element of uncertainty, which is a product of the ineffable matrix of interdependent interactions that are at play in any given moment. If karma was a simple, linear process, everything would be certain, but it is not! There is always an element of uncertainty, which is a product of the ineffable matrix of interdependent interactions that are at play in any given moment. If karma was a simple, linear process, everything would be certain, but it is not! There is always an element of uncertainty, which is a product of the ineffable matrix of interdependent interactions that are at play in any given moment. ~ Paramito Ladakh ~

Sometimes the student listen prematurely... if that's the case, surely its not the teaching or the teacher who's to blame. The authentic teacher is always ready, and respond to teaching only at the request of students and followers. Otherwise i think most would prefer not to teach because interacting with students where most usually carry with them a certain amount of negativity and neuroticism will shorten their lifespan. Problem is a lot of 'followers' don't follow as devotees, but clingers. They put hooks into the teacher(s) and literally chain themselves to the teacher(s), showing up wherever the teachers go, and mistake that for devotion. So its not hard to imagine the load teachers carry with them - its like being weighed down with sacks of people's neuroses. The worst thing is then getting blamed for their efforts. Yeah, and all these clingers tend to declare they're sort of realised. They tend to act realised too.

submerged ruins (i see) the old gives way to the new backwards and forwards

hope springs eternal an everlasting fountain of sauvignon blanc

“Whereas the tourist generally hurries back home at the end of a few weeks or months, the traveler, belonging no more to one place than to the next, moves slowly over periods of years, from one part of the earth to another. Indeed, he would have found it difficult to tell, among the many places he had lived, precisely where it was he had felt most at home.” ~ Paul Bowles. The Sheltering Sky ~

forget now, just be laments the goat on the hill while chomping some ferns

Stories... .... cant live with them, cant live without them. In drama or acting school they teach the aspiring actors and actresses not to get emotionally entangled with the roles they play, and yet, at the same time, to feign authenticity. In real life, i guess some people get so emotionally entangled with the stories that they can no longer not take everything so seriously. Ironically, its that very seriousness that churns out more stories, and as it all wears thin with time, and it will because there's only so many new angles one can generate before the plot gets all fumbled and blur, so does whatever authenticity they had in the beginning begin to wane. How much simpler and interesting life would be if we truly understood that we possess nothing in fact. Not even this body. Nor the mind. Zero. Absolutely nothing to claim ownership over. When we finally come to see the truth for what it actually is, we will probably burst out in laughter. Why not... that would be the ultimate freedom, after all.

Yes, maintaining the observer status can be very helpful most times, so your teacher is obviously very wise. Of course in theory it sounds quite an easy task, but in practice it may prove challenging - even for seasoned practitioners. Also, in Vajrayana it is encouraged that one who notices the observer will then try to 'unfollow' even that mode after it has been found that the observer only exist as the observed, and both are dependent on each other. Traleg Rinpoche points to equanimity as the discovery of beingness that eventually replaces any dependently arising notions which is very helpful to avoid being stuck in observer mode. Any form of stuckness can impact on the sustenance of dualistic views.

In order to cope better with our own roller coaster of emotions, the starting point is to develop equanimity. In the Buddhist tradition it's not a question of contriving or manufacturing equanimity. It's nothing to do with positive thinking, or blotting out the negative, or making affirmations. Equanimity is a discovery. It is discovered to be ever present. Underneath our roller coaster experience of pain, pleasure, happiness and dissatisfaction is the basic ground of our being, which is equanimity. Equanimity means the absence of evaluation. Usually we are unable to look at the situation or deal with anybody without superimposing our own value judgments or subjective evaluations. We never see situations as they simply are. Our value judgments colour our understanding of the world and other people. Usually when we meet someone, even while we are in the midst of conversation, we are drawing our conclusions. Then we go away with a fixed impression that he is like this and like that. We project onto people rather than relate to them as they are. From the viewpoint of equanimity, no one is a downright enemy, or an everlasting friend. There are no real ultimate friends or enemies at all. As long as we look for friends we are bound to have enemies. The two exist simultaneously. We want to possess and have friends, which is why we create enemies. It is because we have the attitude of enmity towards others, we can have friends as well. So equanimity is the key which unlocks the whole toolbox of spiritual development. It gives us access to the enormous diversity of tools available to anyone who wants to be more effective, capable, loving and compassionate. Equanimity is the start of the spiritual path. Equanimity is not apathy. It is not a fatalistic indifference to what is going on. Equanimity is being completely open to reality so we can directly experience things as they are, rather than interpreting everything and making it into a second hand experience. ~ Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche ~

The Mahayana emphasizes the need to understand the complete nature of all phenomena. It is a view of “wholeness.” Ordinarily, the mind merely connects with appearances: the appearance of forms, sounds, thoughts, feelings, and so on. We then make assumptions based on how things appear, how they sound, how they feel. This is a very subtle moment: this moment of grasping at some impression, clinging to it, and in that grasping and clinging, immediately articulating an assumption. Simply put: If we do not take time to fully understand what we see, hear, think, or feel, then our understanding will tend to arise from fleeting moments that can only produce assumptions, all of which are based on what we stand to gain or lose in the moment. This builds up sediments of deluded perception which further obstruct the view of things as they are in their true nature. It is not the sights, sounds, thoughts, and feelings that are deluded; you create delusions, through the speed of making biased assumptions. When the mind has no time to open up to the wholeness, or completeness, of appearances, the sediment of delusion settles into “good” and “bad” assumptions. And at that point, every form, sound, thought, and other sensation you relate is dominated by ego’s personal preferences and convenience. The Power of Perception. To understand Mahayana, know that we are talking about perception. What is meant by the “complete” nature of perception? What makes a sound or thought “whole”? Are they merely what you imagine them to be, or is there more to it? Our judgments and opinions about appearances are very powerful, in that they become causes that bring about effects. The karma we create builds a sphere of experience for ourselves and for the world at large. Karma is propelled by our opinions and judgments, and when those opinions and judgments are not sane, they bring about negative karma. No one intends to create negative karma. But a mind that does not perceive things sanely, or wholly, churns out unending amounts of karma. And karma dominated by ego’s biased views, preferences, and conveniences becomes negative karma —simply by not seeing things clearly and completely. ~ Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche ~

do we need to know invocations and mantras when parachuting

Just remember to stay real and don't come away from the retreat with a false sense of accomplishment. Keep the mind open, receptive and supple as best you can. Take any doubts and discomforts that come up as incentives to stay present. Ten days will tend to seem longer if the mind is not allowed to find its own natural space. This being your first experience, chances are you will be rather overly conscious of everything that goes on. Thoughts will seem to magnify themselves in the first 3 - 4 days and nights. Look into these arising thoughts and find out, again and again if necessary, the essence or ground from where these thoughts arise. The more you look, the clearer it will occur to you that that they come from nowhere in particular, remain nowhere in particular for a very brief time, and then dissipate nowhere in particular. In time, you will discover that your awareness and control over the quality of your thinking will become rather prominent without having to do anything in particular other than the mere recognition of the ephemeral nature in the coming and passing away of each thought.

but its all just shit does it matter what colour some do it outdoors

magic and mirrors who is fairest among all? vanities run deep...

in this place, as one a natural mindfulness rest, observer... rest

I took that to mean if my foot hurts, then seeing a brain surgeon or a chiropodist would be equally helpful. Or both. Preferably in one go, to save time.

Its not really a big problem if we know the right cure and apply it with confidence and positivity. One of the chief causes of this sense of dejection and overwhelming flatness we experience sometimes is that we have allowed the forgetting of how to appreciate and be consciously grateful for the mundane everyday things we tend to take for granted, like flicking a switch and the light comes on, turning on the faucet and clean hot, cold or warm water gushes out, clean air that fills our lungs each time we pay attention to the breath, the vibrant nuances of colour even when things are gloomy and grey, the sound of raindrops that we are able to hear pitter pattering on the window pane... Sure, we experience some down moments, but within these lie the seeds of change. Grass seeds produce weeds and take a short time to complete its cycle... acorns produce oak trees, and they grow slowly and magnificently. The wonderful part about being human is this gift of choice that we have - what kind of seeds do we want to sow - this is important... very important in fact, because that which we sow, and the ground we choose to sow on, and the patience we apply in ritualistically tending to the process determines how we will like to wake up each morning.

If you feel positive about this scent, maybe a good practice to dedicate the merit of its presence (each time you catch its subtle hello) towards the good of all beings. Its something i do as part of my path for a number of beneficial reasons, and i thought you might like to think about it too. A simple practice which promotes mindful and grateful living for all.

Aha! you got trekcho'd!!

Thats your interpretation to which of course you have prerogative. I didn't see any sore loser mentality - maybe a touch of frustration only.

I would imagine first and foremost a terrorist would smell like any other human being. Its better to protest the deed and not the person, dont you agree?

suddenly the thread title takes on a new Shine!!!

At least there was integrity in returning to close off the thread with a summary (correct or not is secondary. Depends on whose considerations anyway) - something not often practiced here by other OPs.

I doubt Seneca's statement accurately reflects the Buddhist doctrine relating to non-attachment. The teachings encourage knowing how to assess what is of true, lasting value rather than chasing after fool's gold. Non-attachment highlights the virtue of cultivating a view that is not tainted by craving, which is at the root of many of life's problems.

You mean you actually witnessed impermanence first hand?? wow!