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I am a fan of noble endeavours! Go for it if there is acceptance from your soulmate. Its not that difficult after the first year. Mine lasted 9 years, so i believe you can do it. Its natural for people to have difficulty wrapping their minds around this. All the best to you.

Actually one can live happily regardless. Letting go of attachments and neglecting one's health are not synonymous. People with exceptionally healthy bodies can still suffer mentally, and vice versa. Buddhism is about finding balance, achieving results that do not bring harm to self and others, and not control as implied.

Yes, that scenario is not that difficult to imagine. Good point!

This teaching by Kalu Rinpoche clearly addresses the OP.

From the Mara angle, it is simply grasping/ignorance. Below is my limited opinion on how negative forces repeatedly binds us to the wheel of rebirth: When something is seen (or heard, tasted, etc), whatever it may be, in this case, this malevolent thing you speak of, there is always, always a minute sort of neutral space which arises like a shadow of whatever is perceived, before the mind can actually form impressions and assign preferences based on individual conditionings, do you agree? Its there, in other words, before grasping/aversion, or dualistic tendencies, are set in motion by nothing other than our own habitual responses. That little gap, in Vajrayana, is what is known as 'Clear Light'. This Clear Light is not to be confused with a brightness of any degree, rather, consider it as absolute potential. Adepts of Vajrayana have mastered the art of arresting this Clear Light, and have trained to lengthen resting in that space longer than their less experienced counterparts. Some can remain longer, some less, for others, it comes in spurts, some days its there, other days, no matter how hard one tries, nothing happens. It all depends on maturing the recognition of it thru devotion and meditation. This same Clear Light becomes extra palpable at death, it is said. Its appearance becomes much more amplified at that point because of the collapse of the elements. At this point the mind gets a short respite from past fears and future hopes, and those who have the necessary affinity backed by right understanding can use this momentary reprieve to attain rebirth in the pure lands. If it is missed, the mind experiences extreme confusion, identical in intensity to the experience of total liberation, except manifesting as its samsaric opposite. What follows subsequently is the mind will undergo the rigmaroles of the bardo process, setting in motion (once more) the twelve links of interdependent origination, leading to rebirth in one of the 6 realms. Its the same now, maybe just a difference in degrees and levels of delusional conditionings -- in every moment there is this Clear Light present - if we are mindfully aware, we get to remain within what is perceived without grasping or averting whatever proceeds from that perception, in which case non-dual awareness redirects the mind back towards itself, which ultimately is empty cognizance suffused with wisdom and compassion (same as moving in a counter direction of the mundane 12 links, or it can be seen in some ways as a flow-reversal); if not, we will have failed to recognise the Clear Light due to habitual reactive tendencies and once again get carried away by the currents of past tendencies built by ignorance, and this begets the next link and the next, and this keeps on repeating over many lifetimes (or many moments, its the same thing), like a hamster in a wheel. The above in some way explains why some masters say that there is fundamentally no difference between samsara and nirvana - the only difference lies in the direction with which we allow the mind to flow the instant we perceive a thought, or a feeling. Phenomena is one - but the potential of the senses to interpret arisings of it is limitless. If we learn not to interpret with the senses, but to rest nakedly in the reality of awareness itself, then it can be said that we will have vanquished the jail-keeper, even if its just for a day or two. With practice, who knows, one day victory becomes permanent. edited.

It is fairly embryonic alright, but its reaching to a big audience, which is good to note. Looking at Nour Foundation's website, all their scheduled talks are sold out. It means people are becoming more aware of the need to understand the mind better.

Its an emerging science, one which is helping many who are just beginning to evolve and develop along this particular path of understanding - to say that it lacks a certain emphasis, or an absence of emphasis on spirit & the limits of being bound in space/time is quite irrelevant. Thats like saying one cannot learn to cook Italian in a French cookery class.

16.18 Again, you must understand how, due to this cause, Because of men's faults, the cycle of doing goes on, So that they succumb to death who are afflicted by the dust of the passions and by darkness; He is not reborn who is free of dust and darkness. 16.19 Insofar as the specific desire exists to do this or that, An action like going or sitting happens; Hence, in just the same way, by the force of their thirsting Living creatures are reborn -- as is to be observed: 16.20 See sentient beings in the grip of attachment, Dead set on pleasure among their own kind; And, from their habitual practice of faults, Observe them presenting with those very faults. 16.21 Just as the anger, lust, and so on of sufferers of those afflictions Give rise in the present to a personality trait, So too in new lives, in various manifestations, Does the affliction-created trait develop: 16.22 In a life dominated by anger arises violent anger, In the lover of passion arises burning passion, And in the predominantly ignorant, overwhelming ignorance. In one who has a lesser fault, again, the lesser fault develops. 16.23 Seeing what fruit is before one's eyes, One knows, from past knowledge of that fruit, the seed it was in the past. And having identified a seed before one's eyes, One knows the fruit it may be in the future. 16.24 In whichever realms of existence a man has ended faults, Thanks to that dispassion he is not born in those realms. Wherever he remains susceptible to a fault, That is where he makes his appearance, whether he likes it or not. 16.25 So my friend, with regard to the many forms of becoming, Know their causes to be [the faults] that start with thirsting And cut out those [faults], if you wish to be freed from suffering; For ending of the effect follows from eradication of the cause. 16.26 Again, the ending of suffering follows from the disappearance of its cause. Experience that reality for yourself as peace and well-being, A place of rest, a cessation, an absence of the red taint of thirsting, A primeval refuge which is irremovable and noble, 16.27 In which there is no becoming, no aging, no dying, No illnesses, no being touched by unpleasantness, No disappointment, or separation from what is pleasant: It is an ultimate and indestructible step, in which to dwell at ease. 16.28 A lamp that has gone out Reaches neither to the earth nor to the sky, Nor to any cardinal nor to any intermediate point: Because its oil is spent it reaches nothing but extinction. 16.29 In the same way, a man of action who has come to quiet Reaches neither to the earth nor to the sky, Nor to any cardinal nor to any intermediate point: From the ending of his afflictions he attains nothing but extinction. (from the Cantos, or Kavyas, of Saundarananda) Nagarjuna summarises thus: saṁsāra-mūlaṁ saṁskārān avidvān saṁskaroty ataḥ | avidvān kārakas tasmān na vidvāṁs tattva-darśanāt ||MMK26.10 The doings which are the root of saṁsāra Thus does the ignorant one do. The ignorant one therefore is the doer; The wise one is not, because of the act of reality making itself known. avidyāyāṁ niruddhāyāṁ saṁskārāṇām asaṁbhavaḥ | avidyāyā nirodhas tu jñānasyāsyaiva bhāvanāt ||MMK26.11 In the ceasing of ignorance, There is the non-coming-into-being of doings. The cessation of ignorance, however, Is because of the bringing-into-being of just this act of knowing. tasya tasya nirodhena tat-tan nābhipravartate | duḥkha-skandhaḥ kevalo 'yam evaṁ samyaṅ nirudhyate ||MMK26.12 By the destruction of each, Each is discontinued. This whole edifice of suffering Is thus well and truly demolished.

Here you go: Many of us go through daily life on autopilot, without being fully aware of our conscious experience. Neuroscientists Richard Davidson and Amishi Jha join clinical mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn to explore the role of consciousness in mental and physical health, how we can train the mind to become more flexible and adaptable, and what cutting-edge neuroscience is revealing about the transformation of consciousness through mindfulness and contemplative practice. Wednesday, February 6, 2013 The New York Academy of Sciences This event is part of The Emerging Science of Consciousness Series, which brings together leading experts from various fields to discuss how the latest research is challenging our understanding of the very nature and function of consciousness in our daily lives. http://www.nourfoundation.com/conscio...

'Stolen' from a friend's blog: "Dzogchen is what we are – cognisant nature, empty essence and uncontrived compassion. It is the very essence of the teachings. It is not a theoretical practice: it directly cuts through all concepts/ obstacles. All we have to do is recognise. The hallmark of realisation is compassion, expressing genuine, fearless warmth…love!" (Buddha in the Mud) All we have to do is recognise.... to express repeatedly, until it becomes habit. Tibetans dont have a word for 'meditate' - there, among those who practice Buddhism, the term used is, "Gom", which literally translates as, 'getting used to...', hence, Gompa, or meditation hall, points to a place where one learns to familiarize with one's true nature. So the aware nature, that aspect which knows, in some sense is also one's Gompa, an open space or ground where the virtue of getting used to laying aside actions (karma) take root. Actions are the root of samsara, therefore the advice of 'simply resting without contrivance' or 'non-doing' (wu wei?) is rendered more significant.

Being in China, have you had a chance to savour steamed fish with hot yellow-bean paste and ginger? It looks something like this... and really, reaaally delish!

leading to our home a feeling of contentment sat at the fire...

3.1 For ascetic practice, then, he left Kapilavāastu -- A teeming mass of horses, elephants and chariots, Majestic, safe, loved by its citizens -- And started resolutely for the forest. 3.2 In the approach to ascetic practice of the various traditions, And in the attachment of sages to various restraints, He observed the miseries of thirsting for an object. Seeing asceticism to be unreliable, he turned away from it. 3.3 Then Ārāda, who spoke of freedom, And likewise Uḍraka, who inclined towards quietness, He served, his heart set on truth, and he left. He who intuited the path intuited: "This also is not it." 3.4 Of the different traditions in the world, he asked himself, Which one was the best? Not obtaining certainty elsewhere, He entered after all into ascetic practice that was most severe. 3.5 Then, having ascertained that this was not the path, He abandoned that extreme asceticism too. Understanding the sphere of meditation to be supreme, He ate good food in readiness to realise the deathless. 3.6 With his golden arms fully expanded and as if in a yoke, With lengthened eyes, and bull-like gait, He came to a fig tree, growing up from the earth, With the will to awakening that belongs to the supreme method of investigation. 3.7 Sitting there, mind made up, As unmovingly stable as the king of mountains, He overcame the grim army of Māra And awoke to the step which is happy, irremovable, and irreducible.

total omnitude wish i knew what that word means right now, its a blank!

Vegetable carving is an art in itself! Some 5* Asian restaurants have their own carving Sifu who gets paid almost as much as the head chef, just to carve decorative vegetables into dragons, phoenixes, rabbits, fish, all kinds of flowers... Amazing to watch! For example...

Mmm... i love miso soup tooo!! Mine would always have white tofu cubes (about half inch squared ones) and mushrooms, either dried shiitake (needs soaking and slicing after), enokitake or shimeji. The texture of the tofu & mushrooms plus the flavours of the miso and seaweed is divine. Some spinach leaves is great too. Sometimes i'd also add some glass noodles (chinese clear or glass vermicelli) and garnish with 2 or 3 drops real sesame oil, fresh scallions, deep-fried shallots, and/or a tiny bit of roasted sesame seeds. Yum yum!

Sushi rice!

http://www.amazon.com/Taoist-Cookbook-Michael-Saso/dp/0804830371 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_cuisine interesting pics here: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/wudang/2012-07/26/content_15620275.htm http://www.china.org.cn/english/LivinginChina/238578.htm http://daoistgate.com/nutrition/ http://www.taopractice.org/dragonfly/3/03-CookingTao.html Above are some useful sites that hopefully you will find interesting and helpful. I just found this vege patty recipe a short while ago - sounds really simple, practical and delicious. http://ambikaskitchen.com/?p=2691 Good luck with your nutrition plan!

The ending fight scene between Yang Luchan and the Bagua grandmaster is superb! Thoroughly enjoyable.

Many here will enjoy this movie i'm sure... TAI CHI 2 - The Hero Rises. In HD and English subtitled. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhqldX4eW4c (as yet haven't been able to locate part 1 yet) Have fun!

May i ask what useful, on-topic input you have contributed thus far?

You wouldn't be so uppity if Creation had taken upon himself to correct all the misinformation re: Dzogchen presented in this thread by the likes of you & Mr Zoom.

It seems that your buddy Ralis has implied that you have wasted much time and effort for nought, looking for the elephant in all the wrong places when all you have to do is follow his thinking that... "The primordial state is so damn simple, most entirely miss the point. Furthermore, transmission can come in ways least expected." (Ralis - post 144) You might as well sit back with a cup of tea, relax and forget about all the research you have done and/or planning to do henceforth. When you least expect it, the transmission just pops, and voila!! there you are, a fully accomplished dzogchenpa! No need for any work, its that easy (according to your buddy). His line of thinking implied that you are overdoing things despite your best intentions. I'd imagine that instead of wasting more precious time, you should now put aside those 50+ Dzogchen-related books (they are unnecessary, sorry you wasted all the money) and basically start grokking the easy-peasy simplicity in obtaining your version of the rainbow body.

One without the other can be called many names, but not Dzogchen. However, you are right, ultimately, there is no separation, but simply recognizing/glimpsing its nature is not the same as having a developed, stable, robust, and all-pervasive awareness of the nature of mind.