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Would you happen to know which specific Tantric & Tao traditions detail that Kundalini is conducive to spiritual awakening? Links, articles, commentaries that support your statement will be much appreciated.

Its great this was brought up because similar thoughts had occurred to me, and i was actually contemplating and mentally preparing to write a note to Sean as regards to Flo's competency as a current member of the moderating/admin team. Its not just what transpired in the latest debacle and farce of a thread she started and later had it deleted without so much as given a moment's thought of the consequences of such an irresponsible move but a stark, almost blasé tendency to do as she pleases with member's posts that brings into question her competency. While i can sympathise with her personal issues, it would be very much appreciated if she could demonstrate a certain level of maturity required so as to understand clearly how not to allow that to cloud her judgement so as to be able to retain her sense of duty as a mod, which i know is a thankless task at the best of times, but this is besides the point. And to compound this latter development (wrt to that thread she started) we have Dawei and Soaring Crane stepping up to the plate to defend an apparent oversight, not one which draws attention to her personal difficulties that might justify the deletion of the entire thread, but one which props up a glaring discrepancy: Since there were no rules broken, no insults made, no threats exchanged, etc.. and posters were all behaving within the boundary of TDB regulations, on what grounds were found reasonable cause to delete mine and other members' posts other than those of the OP (as per her request)? Even the manner in which Rex's thread were locked by Soaring Crane after putting in the last word (calling into question participants' motives and implying that we are not fit to argue for the thread to remain accessible) is dubious, to say the least. I have been a member of TDB since 2009, and this is the first time that i find it necessary to actually confront an issue of this nature, for the very reason that i value the continued good name that TDB has as a forum for spiritual discussions and information exchange.

Useful link for more information on the 100-syllable Vajrasattva Mantra http://www.wildmind.org/mantras/figures/vajrasattva-mantra

Its sounds a little odd that you put up a thread for discussion with a clause that says any opinion so given (herein) should not be taken too seriously since, in your opinion, no one has the credentials (monk) to offer unprejudiced input. But you still maintain it may lead to a good discussion.

Was listening to the track this morning, like 3am, and thought i heard the 100 Syl, it was very faint, so wasn't too sure. Thanks for the confirmation, Seeker. Good job! I have not come across that Liberation Sutra mantra before.

Yet another unnecessary justification, which is to be expected, given the basis and momentum of the less than ethical move to obliterate the thread and now whatever is said points to nothing but attempts at covering up and weak explanations. Prime example of being stuck in pride and unable to lower it enough to apologise for messing up, as though all that matters is your own well-being, two fingers to all the whiners who should just shut up and get on with it. What utter disregard for goodwill and integrity.

All threads can trigger in unexpected ways. That was quite a weak reason to employ as a justification. I wish there was more honesty here, and less feeling sore-arsed for being called out for chopping an entire thread on a whim. And seriously, i dont appreciate being called a 'whiner'.

Well, like i said, you made an erroneous call this one time, Dawei.

This, Dawei, would be one of the rare occasions where i'd have to disagree with your call to 'vanish' this particular thread in its entirety. As Michael said above, it shows a disrespect to those who have made the effort and for others who took pains to contribute to it, precisely due to the rather 'sensitive' nature of it. While it may have been started by the OP, i dont think he or she 'owns' the whole thread, and his or her impetuousness and indecisiveness post-OP should at the very max see certain 'too personal' parts be edited out, or at the very least, have the courtesy to pm the various contributors in consultation, and to seek understanding in allowing the whole thread to be obliterated. Moreover, i have no recollection of any content within it that appears to be 'highly personal', and if there was, it begs the question, 'In whose eyes'? Such a practice as this (by Flo) is totally inappropriate and unbecoming of a member of the admin team.

This move to hide the thread in question without any explanation is out of order. I am guessing Flo hid the thread for whatever personal reasons, and if this is the case, it brings into scrutiny his or her position as part of the admin team. Abusing privileges should not be a practice here.

Dream Bliss, I am not devaluing your experience in any way, and if it came across as if, then i apologise. My point is, from reading your posts, it feels like you are trying to justify and convince yourself of speculative insights you have garnered thru intellectually probings into this profound practice (of sex transmutation/sublimation), whereas there are established practitioners who may have reached a different level of cultivation, and have valuable and practical methods to share for everyone's benefit. If acceptance is the level where you are at, and it works for you, then well and good, but don't forget that its an evolutionary process which does not end there, that there are subtler levels of application which lead to even greater and more lasting results. For you to assert that acceptance is the best way seems to me a bit limiting, and because of such tendencies to fixate on simply this as your ticket to freedom, you are closing up other possibilities - thats all I'm trying to convey to you. I don't see why you need to be so defensive if you truly believe in the workability of something as mundane as 'acceptance'. Turning an enemy into a friend does not mean free-fall indulgence in the activity of the enemy. It does not mean you go to the enemy's camp and surrender to the enemy's demands - what it should mean is to meet the enemy in the middle and show it that your virtue, knowledge, and discipline far exceeds its feeble activity, and in so doing, the enemy is converted into an ally that helps you to soar even higher on the path to freedom from the mundane.

Dream Bliss, Learning to utilise sexual energy for spiritual growth requires years of dedicated discipline and self-control, which, btw, is not the same as repression. You have jumped to conclusions hastily, and its clear why. You are right about repressive tendencies being negative, but it will perhaps surprise you to learn that acceptance does very little to root out those tendencies. You may also want to consider that your understanding of renunciation and a yogi's understanding of it may be different, and it would do you well to perhaps not jump to dismissive conclusions too quickly if you want to expand your openness to include the possibility that there are members here whose cultivation level far exceed yours, and such individuals may actually be able to integrate and utilise sex energies freely for enhancing their enlightenment potential without being told they are being pent-up and repressive, especially from one who attempts to grasp the subject speculatively, as you have here.

Vajra-mantra interlude

One can master the sexual energies and gradually learn to re-channel same in a peaceful, harmonious process without bringing harm to anyone. Motivation is very important, and working with a supportive teacher and yidam is of immense importance, in my experience. Choose the wrong yidam, or approach this work with arrogance, or get filled with conceit, and there will be endless obstacles strewn on the path. In Vajrayana, there are peaceful and forceful deities for obvious reasons. Why people tend to choose the forceful ones when it comes to working with sexual energies i cannot understand. Mastering these energies is not akin to forceful elimination - the latter has too many unpredictable outcomes, so best not to take that approach.

spare your meek people two strays are one too many said Jim to Porky

you can call me a Bao Dum. Thanks. I love baos.

lol some misunderstanding there, dear friend. That was a little spoof on Harry Potter i made there... Hely Kop Ter Harry Potter Helicopter Get it now? hehe...

Isn't it wonderful that to really practice Buddhism it can come down to something as simple as a resolute dedication to nothing other than one's breath? Just this one practice alone is sufficient for attaining the fruit of the path, yet many naysayers who plain refuse to acknowledge its profound efficacy. Just anapanasati, with no other supplementary practice, for 10 or 15 years, and enlightenment is there for the taking. Seriously? get outta here....

is that taken from the Thai movie, Hely Kop Ter??

This you have said for the umpteenth time, 3bob. Thank you once again. Looking forward to the next reminder in another few months.

worlds are born and die in spring, the dead come to life what is autumn for?

If one didn't start on the Buddhist path, then no such speculations need to take place.

On some level it is, on others, maybe not so - mostly depends where one is at on the path. "If not for the doctrines..." does not hold water here because there's no denying the usefulness of contemplating the teachings. Key word being 'Contemplating'. The Buddha said clinging and aversion are very troublesome, and that covers just about everything in life.

Buddhism places more vitality on practice than doctrinal arguments, but this certainly does not equate to tossing out anything.

"When you are abiding in the nature of mind many different thoughts arise. Thoughts arise because your mind, in addition to being boundless and inexpressible, is full of power and energy, and that power and energy creates, displays, and dissolves thoughts unceasingly. Your mind is active and busy—this is part of its nature. But even though thoughts keep arising nothing changes regarding the nature of your mind. The nature of your mind is empty, and the nature of thought is empty too. If you look into the heart of any thought that arises that thought will dissolve on the spot. Even if you don’t do anything at all the thought will still dissolve. That is why the great master Guru Padmasambhava said that thoughts move through the mind like wind moves through the sky. The wind moves through the sky, in different directions and speeds, stopping and starting, always unpredictable. The wind cannot be separated from the sky, and the sky remains unaffected by the wind. Therefore the high capability practitioner of the highest caliber experiences no difference between abiding and movement. When the mind moves it is fine and when the mind is still it is fine. There are no categories and no choices to be made within and for the minds of such practitioners. Observe this for yourself. When you are meditating, how long can your mind abide? Then, when your mind moves, does that movement disturb you or not?" Venerable Khenpo Rinpoches Pointing Out the Nature of Mind: Dzogchen Pith Instructions of Aro Yeshe Jungne (pgs 29-30)