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[Maha Ghosananda and the Dalai Lama] "Great beings receive their pleasure in giving gifts. In order to avoid harming others, they practice the five precepts. They practice non-indulgence in order to perfect their virtues. They practice meditation in order to know what is good, and what is not good for living beings." -- Maha Ghosananda

:: "E ma! Dear intelligent friend, If you are eager to know about the view, I, a simpleton, will tell a bit of what I've understood. If there's bias, that's not the view. If there's clinging to things as real, that's not the meditation. If there's accepting and rejecting, that's not the action. If there's hope and fear, that's not fruition. "Then what is it?" you may ask. The view is empty awareness, without any source. The meditation is empty clarity without any concepts. The action, like the path of a bird through the sky, is without any trace. Whatever arises is freed, just as it arises. The fruition is samsara and nirvana, complete within mind itself. Does this suit you, dear friend?" :: ~ Tendzin Nyima Rinpoche's "edifying song" to Lama Shabkar, Tsogdruk Rangdrol

Living an Appearance-Emptiness Life : You know the supreme path that is free from coming and going, And you teach the true nature of all phenomena, While never leaving a single being out of your compassion’s embrace, Great mother, noble Tara, I bow at your feet. Since all phenomena, outer and inner, are dependently existent mere appearances, They have no inherent nature, they are just appearance-emptiness. If you know how they resemble dreams and illusions, All comings and goings will be open and relaxed. Since appearances of friends and enemies are dependently existent, Both are appearance-emptiness, like rainbows, and if you know this, That is called, "meditation on illusion." Within openness you will achieve inner peace. A planet and a particle are equal, An aeon and an instant are equal, the Buddha taught. If you gain uncontrived certainty in this, Within spaciousness, any work you do will come out alright. When you are expert at studying your own mind All that appears becomes your guru, And even your enemies become friends of your Dharma practice - E ma! What a wonderful miracle! : ~ Khenpo Tsultrim Rinpoche

and mudras are outer expressions of inner mindscapes. Gestures of liberation, so to speak.

"Dzogchen is the highest teaching, therefore beings connected to Dzogchen are the most fortunate of the fortunate. We have this connection, so we have every reason to be delighted. Let’s use our time wisely and study and practice this teaching as much as we can. Results will certainly come. By studying and practicing Dzogchen with great joyful effort, many diligent practitioners attained enlightenment within their lifetime. Some even attained the wisdom rainbow body. They recognized and appreciated their connection to the teachings, and built on it. They practiced and persevered. They did not allow circumstances to deter them—they completed their spiritual journey. If we do as they did, we can definitely achieve the same result." Always a Very Important teaching: Practicing Dzogchen Meditation, Ngondro, and Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind to the Dharma ~ Venerable Khenpo Rinpoches The Beauty of Awakened Mind: Dzogchen Lineage of the Great Master Shigpo Dudtsi (pg 106)

signs, omens, fate eeny meeny mynee mo abra ker debra

some subtleties of prostrations explained in this vid. The palms together placed at the forehead (or crown) symbolises purification of body; at the throat it symbolises purification of speech, and at the heart, purification of mind.

nope... but its a good debate so far, and adding the video does not really jeopardise it. It is hoped anyway. I'd be inclined to say 'yes' to vaccinations, but can't be a hundred percent certain that non-vaccination is harmful. Whether it brings benefit... thats another thing to ponder over. I suppose there are inherent risks any which way.

anyone seen this video yet? It was on Irish media today. (adding some fuel to the debate )

Here's a link that thoroughly explains all the benefits that prostration will yield to the practitioner (from a teacher's pov) http://www.lamayeshe.com/index.php?sect=article&id=837 Personally, i do it as an integral part of my daily practice. Besides keeping me in really great physical health, it is also very useful as a whole-body grounding exercise. Taoists love to connect their feet to the earth, well, those who do prostrations connect with the whole body! Hah! A number of Western Buddhist friends of mine who practice Vajrayana are really dedicated prostrators. I think people struggle with the idea initially because they usually misperceive the whole intent behind the act, thinking it makes them subservient to a guru, or it diminishes one's status, etc. but actually its not accurate to think this way. In fact, the greater the aversion to prostrations, the more we should try to incorporate the practice into our routine. It really helps to bring ego under a tight rein. Prostrations are made to one's own higher, nobler essence, or buddha nature, which im sure you have heard mentioned here many many times. With each one we do, it becomes an active reminder that we are connecting with that pure essence within us. This pure essence is usually represented by either an image or a figure of a buddha, or Buddha Shakyamuni, but it is not an act of worship as such. It is a physical and spiritual endorsement of our own worthiness as potentially enlightened beings, equal in deservedness of mastering our negative traits and habits so that in time we too will embody the attributes of enlightened beings everywhere. As for dedicating the merit of each practice session, this is vital for preventing any 'leakages' as the dedication is meant to seal the practice, as a sort of blessing to ensure that all the good derived are shared with others. This creates in our mindstream such qualities as generosity, love and arouses our 'heart of enlightened mind' or Bodhicitta. Each time a dedication is made, it strengthens our resolve to obtain the fruit of practice quickly - so for a Mahayana student, this fruit is of course enlightenment, but remembering always that enlightenment only becomes meaningful when others can be helped by it, so acquiring the habit of dedicating the merits of one's practice is very compassionate-bound. It also gives a lot of meaning to the practice overall.

A Song of Joy ~ All appearances are vast openness, Blissful and utterly free. With a free, happy mind I sing this song of joy. When one looks toward one's own mind - The root of all phenomena - There is nothing but vivid emptiness, Nothing concrete there to be taken as real. It is present and transparent, utter openness, Without outside, without inside - An all pervasiveness Without boundary and without direction. The wide-open expanse of the view, The true condition of the mind, Is like the sky, like space: Without center, without edge, without goal. By leaving whatever i experience Relaxed in ease, just as it is, I have arrived at the vast plain That is the absolute expanse. Dissolving into the expanse of emptiness That has no limits and no boundary, Everything i see, everything i hear, My own mind, and the sky all merge. Not once has the notion arisen Of these being seperate and distinct. In the absolute expanse of awareness All things are blended into that single taste - But, relatively, each and every phenomenom is distinctly, clearly seen. Wondrous! ~ Shabkar

hold on, I'll get her she used to weigh sixteen stones one day, she found God

Therefore it is said we must have sati. If we have sati we will see the state of our own mind. Whatever we are thinking or feeling we must know it. This knowing is called Buddho, the Buddha, the one who knows... who knows thoroughly, who knows clearly and completely. When the mind knows completely we find the right practice. : So the straight way to practice is to have mindfulness, sati. If you are without sati for five minutes you are crazy for five minutes, heedless for five minutes. whenever you are lacking in sati you are crazy. So sati is essential. To have sati is to know yourself, to know the condition of your mind and your life. This is to have understanding and discernment, to listen to the Dhamma at all times. After leaving the teacher's discourse, you still hear the Dhamma, because the Dhamma is everywhere. : - Ajahn Chah -

Biblical prophecy taking shape? For those who missed the news back in 2014 http://topinfopost.com/2014/01/22/all-european-newborn-babies-will-be-microchipped-from-may-2014

For body, my fav practice is doing prostrations for speech, it is chanting (or listening to) mantras for mind, i do visualisations, a combo of shamatha/vipassana, and reading/contemplating texts and commentaries sometimes the above are all integrated into one session - at other times there would be more focus on a particular practice, depending on various factors and also intent, like time, space, increasing inspiration, healing, auspicious dates for practice, and so on. Always end with dedication of merit!

Sometimes we do get a sense when we are not yet ready for something - the wise thing to do is usually to wait - this requires patience, and not many people know how to generate this quality in order to enjoy the fruit appropriately. i think the protector deities have looked kindly upon you.

"'Without compassion the root of Dharma practice is rotten'. If you somehow ignore compassion, even if you experience signs of progress in your Dzogchen meditation, your practice will become fragile, wither, and could even die. Therefore, in the beginning generate compassion, in the middle meditate on the absolute truth of the Dzogchen state, and in the end dedicate the merit. Practice like this in many short sessions with great joyful effort. If you have all these beautiful components, and your meditation is still not as strong as you would like, don’t force yourself too much. Take a break and relax. Do other meritorious activities, and then return to meditation. If you keep practicing like this, with a gentle and balanced discipline, your meditation will become increasingly strong and stable. Eventually, the length of time you can abide in the absolute state during the daytime and while you are sleeping will become equal. You will naturally and continuously remain in the natural state. This is called the “full circle of day and night.” In Dzogchen this is called the “supreme state,” or namja chenpo. In Mahamudra it is called the stage of “non-meditation.” Remember that at any time, different experiences can arise, such as visions. Do not be distracted. No matter what happens, until your realization is very stable, continue to cultivate bodhichitta, devotion, joyful effort, courage, and commitment, along with your Dzogchen meditation. Keep practicing the union of the two truths." Venerable Khenpo Rinpoches Pointing Out the Nature of Mind: Dzogchen Pith instructions of Aro Yeshe Jungne (pg 134-135)

a rightful Goddess demands obeisance from all so does a rice bowl

Crystal Cave supposedly available (waiting list apparently) from Rangjung Yeshe Gomde California.

YO!

biomolecules stuff that tends to stick around quite like chewing-gum

illumination the glow of streetlights at night put eyes on my feet

Renunciation (which is a better term imo) is related to the Dharmakaya aspect of the path; immersion is related to the Sambhogakaya (or enjoyment) aspect; In the Nirmanakaya aspect, the various form manifestations that arise and cease, all mind activity, confuses those that reflexively grasp at these thinking they are graspable when in reality nothing is, but the same, being seen as mere displays of buddha activity for the bodhisattvas, are spontaneously transformed into their pure forms, cognizant, yet empty at the same time, and thus can be expressed as wisdom and compassionate action without effort. Not being bound, attracted or repulsed by any one particular 'realm' is called the dawning of the Svabhavikakaya in the mindstream. When activities of body, speech and mind no longer entail karmic consequences, one is said to have attained Abhisambodhikaya (perfect kaya of complete awakening). The above would be the logic i would apply to the OP's enquiry.

That would sort of ring a bell for anyone starting on a new regime of practice, be it spiritual or otherwise. Bagua, for example. Wouldn't you agree? Someone says, hey, Bagua is extremely powerful - you should try to bring it into your life... As a beginner, we really wont know how potent the practice is until we do the forms for some time. If we trust the person who encourage the practice, then we will do as suggested. If we don't, most likely we wont. Do we know how its going to help as we begin the routine? Not really, but the longer we stick with (any) practice, if its really good, we will get a sense of its goodness, in time, due to that inborn intuitiveness that you mentioned. As the results are gradually being felt, it would generate more enthusiasm and determination to pursue deeper and practice harder. That growing determination, based on that intuitive knowing, is, imo, what faith is all about. In this context. There are of course other contexts, but irrelevant to mention here.