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Ask and share is good. Goading, not so much.

If you are that keen, why not do some research to enable discovering the answer for yourself? Why do you feel the need to come here and seemingly goad others into presenting an answer to your question, as if you already know the answer, and would like to challenge another bum to see whose understanding is more or less superior? For your interest, i would begin by directing you to read "The Union of Mahamudra & Dzogchen" by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. Its a valid source to ease some of your discontent.

** I found this Wiki article (below) of the Romani people, especially the section on Religion, most interesting. The spread is indeed wide. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_people It says the Romani people continued to practice Shaktism even after a thousand years of leaving India. However, this has since evolved, and now, the majority of Romanies are either Catholics or Muslims.

Hmm...drama (again) eh? Just out of curiosity, i scanned the last few pages as well, and could not pick out any comments that were even near insulting or derogatory. Perhaps the mods can highlight to readers which particular comment(s) was deemed to have overstepped forum guidelines and needed pruning?

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/i/019pho0001007s3u00634000.html Since its Sunday , a little bonus of a humorous Sutra of the Leaves written by Baksheesh the Madman: http://www.american-buddha.com/sutra.leaves.htm

Healing energy does not 'reside' like a reservoir inside a body. To think so is self-deception. Engaging in the process of finding out or the gradual realization of what 'self' and 'body' really is, together with investigation into where source energy can be found, interesting answers will begin to emerge over time. Healing the self then takes on a whole new meaning.

Thanks for sharing the experience, Dmattwads. Its a blessing to have enough energy to share with other beings. Tonglen, if you study what it is, will give you a transcendent perspective on what giving and taking can do for a person, and release a little of the self-grasping so that you will actually feel more energized when the idea forms in your mind that others are taking your jing.

then forgive the wrongs practice like a jesus christ take on the world's pains...

Apparently the false side of the self loves to script dramas so as to assert credence over a person. If energy can really be sucked so easily by 'vamps', i think a lot of the more engaging teachers (from all the different traditions) would have been dried out by now hahaha! People somehow love to weave stories around their practice at the beginning. This takes away the boredom i guess. But they dont realize boredom is quite useful -- its like manure. So the greater the boredom, the better quality it is, the more fuel for practice. That means if thru patience and perseverance the breakthrough comes, it can shatter many many layers of conditioned mental states.

Buddhas have been around since time immemorial. Shakyamuni, as a nirmanakaya buddha, is the first to have a historical recognition. But the wisdom which underscores the teachings of Shakyamuni is not his formulation as such... other buddhas have been propagating such wisdom long before the historical Buddha appeared. Dipankara is one of these. He was preceded by Saranamkara. There were others in the past, and there will be ones appearing in the future as well.

Essentially, bodies dont suffer. Since the body is changing every single moment, there is no permanent body to experience suffering as such. And, no, the Buddhist term 'emptiness' does not mean to cleanse the mind and purify the body. That is only your personal interpretation.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche on 'View, Meditation and Action" -- http://multimedia.getresponse.com/725/68725/documents/6834.pdf

Rainbow Painting. The book.

Prehistoric assumption. Tulku Urgyen equates Hinayana to the View, Meditation to Mahayana, and Action to Vajrayana. The culmination of these 3 aspects = Dzogchen, or Maha Ati.

Some people believe Hinayana is like having a scooter instead of a Maserati. God (and i, and some Italians too) knows there are some paths where Maseratis simply become too awkward and useless as a means of traversing these narrow byways. ........................

Sounds like the goings-on in the world of horse-racing.... As for the OP... ...such kinds of exchanges in the martial sphere have been the norm since days of old, and i'm thinking it wont be any different anytime soon. If those who teach or come to this place to share information react sensitively to criticisms in such a manner as to cause a massive withdrawal just because of snide remarks and such, then their tenacity and magnanimity (which is a trademark of true masters btw) need to be cemented even more, in my opinion. In the world of business and politics, what sets leaders and others apart, among other traits, is the one where they have the courage to push on despite being assailed by insurmountable criticisms and challenges leveled at them every single day, either from within the organization or from rivals. One would imagine that in the martial and spiritual circles there would not be any significant difference. Wimpy teachers cry when it gets too much, and react like woosies when their actions are questioned, which is good, because i, for one, would know not to associate with such undignified individuals. And these kinds of reactive responses tend to be quite the norm where fees (handouts) are involved. Teachers who teach for free (not dependent on handouts) never seem to get bothered by such things, which is a good point to mull over. These rare individuals have their own enterprising quality which helps them to thrive hence not requiring students' money. Of course, there are those who come here and argue that free teachings are not valued... wanna bet? A real teacher with the oomph factor will never open the teachings to the masses. They are often not easily accessible, and when they are found, a student will have to undergo a number of 'tests' before they even get past the outer sanctum. Then its probably years of basic practices before the higher teachings are imparted. Nowadays, such virtuous principles are completely abandoned by modern so-called teachers who are more commercially-minded. Not saying its wrong to be this way, but as with anything, there is a price to be paid. If i was interested to cultivate some form of martial arts, i would seek out 'hidden' masters - i may not get accepted, but if i am genuine, then i believe when i do find one, he or she will be genuine as well. The OP mentioned something about being shot in the foot. The way i see it, those teachers who come here to recruit students or use the forum as a marketing ground are the ones who have shot themselves in the foot, and when the going got tough, they cry like sissies and threaten to leave because of being overly questioned or criticized. Imo, no loss to anyone. One would imagine that Eagles are never encumbered by the crumbs which sparrows fight over their whole lives. Apologies for the rant!

Can function with little sleep, and hardly need or think about sex. The hunger part, not fully in control yet..

If its any consolation, my son, 19 this year, is starting to show dramatic signs of a receding hairline. A bit early, but he's cool with it. I lost most of my top hair mid 30s. So i just bought a trimmer and started to trim my own hair, saving a ton of barber money. Never bothered me nor affected my social life. Women would come up to rub my baldy head, as if its some sort of lucky charm. Good laugh . My present partner is not a bit bothered by it, and she's 27 years younger, like mid 20s. Attracting women is not factored wholly by external appearances. No matter if you lose all your hair, just dont lose your sense of humor and ability to listen with your eyes (meaning, when in conversation, dont just listen with your ears, but let them know, with the eyes, that you are listening to them with 100 percent attention. This is the key -- women will always seek out the company of a man who knows how to listen to them, with a sort of unwavering attentiveness). Hope you get to master your anxiety. Stressing over it could well cause you to lose more in a quicker time.

Shamatha Meditation. Pointers by Trungram Gyalwa, PhD, Harvard.

Come to think of it, there was Snoopy, who did his bid to shape my world when i was 10 or so.... "My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, yet I'm Happy. I cant figure it out. What am I doing right?", bemused Snoopy. Another time, he told his friend, "If you put your supper dish to your ear, you can hear the sounds of a restaurant." Cool philosopher, Snoopy is. A real immortal.

Richard Bach was the first. Then the motivational lot, Zig Ziglar, Leo Buscaglia, OG Mandino, and a whole host of others came to the fore. This was the time when i was immersed completely in amassing wealth and having the right wind in the sail affirmed my ambition. After that, during the weaning phase, it was Alan Watts. Followed by Ma Anandamayi. Devotional phase. After that, met my root guru, Rinchen, who opened to me a world where i have never been before. For literary fun, i dig all buddhist works by the various adepts and saints, especially Thinley Norbu, Longchenpa and Lama Govinda. Nothing too sensational happened. No kundalini waves, everything just quite casually neat and collective, in fact. What about yours?

Nor do i.

Sounds good, SMM! Like you, i have been reducing meat consumption, and as the body age, i find it requires less meat to function optimally, so i just listen carefully, and act accordingly. There are obvious reasons why nature makes the teeth and gums less strong as one ages. Eat only what can be chewed properly is a good guide to follow. Some people in their forties can have weakened gums and teeth, so, if they are meat eaters, then they ought to prepare their meats in such a way where its more tender, whereas there are those in their 60s or 70s who still have very strong teeth, so perhaps they can eat more chewy meat if they want. Generally, the body is intelligent enough to guide itself -- for example, if a person's digestive system is diminishing, the teeth and gums will also loose some of its strength, and vice versa. We simply have to listen and flow with it. UnNaturally, people desire to reverse the flow, which explains all the fascination with immortality fantasies and preoccupation with all sorts of mystical practices. Bodies do grow old and lose optimal function, just as newborns grow up and gain strength - its a law of life, this cycle of physical ascension and descension. The ability to age with dignity and acceptance in itself is a wonderful elixir for a long and healthy life. People with a flair for this tend to look and feel young, and this attitude will accrue all the other benefits of mastery over fear, clinging and aversion. I have met a few Taoist and Buddhist hermits in my time, up in the caves and mountains in different parts of the world. Some of them are quite old, and toothless too most of the older ones. Not one of them talk about immortality and physical supremacy as an achievable goal. And when probed, a big grin usually appear on their faces, as if saying, "You're kidding, right?" Just some thoughts.

sayonara! 9

Dont be silly. The realization of your 'true self' is not separate from your existential needs. Spacing out wont bring anyone closer to self-realization. In most instances, it appears to prompt the opposite effect (only in the mind of the thinker. In actuality, nothing happens.) Because there is no false self, there is no true self to realize. Its just a heroic mythic adventure tale which people follow so as to bellow the fires of ego and to add interest to an otherwise dulled existence. In short, distractions are powerful stuff. Even the preoccupation with learning how to die, however noble it sounds, can be classified as one.