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Please dont make it a habit of misquoting such serious matters, Aaron. There is karma involved, however it manifests. Imagine the negative vibes already directed at the chief abbot in Sri Lanka. Poor man.

There are some good points brought up here, Aaron. Failed to find a link with news about the indictment of the abbot in Sri Lanka -- could you please point in the right direction? I did hear of a case in England recently of a senior Sri Lankan monk being accused of sexual misconduct, but could not find any information regarding the Sri Lankan incident which you have highlighted. I am personally interested to know the facts because i have Sri Lankan roots. Thanks.

Dont be so naive. Countless people who find themselves thrusted into the monastic environment dont even have a clue what the heavens they are doing there! Its a fact that a large number of those who enter monasteries do so out of desperation and lack of options, so, in this instance, its good to remember that desperate people will do desperate things, and being inside this very buffered zone somehow gives these bent individuals the extra bit of opportunity and bravado to experiment with behavioral licentiousness. The reasons and causes for them to act thus are as varied as there are types of mushrooms. And like mushrooms, some folks are essentially prized for their nature, while others has to be treated with varying degrees of caution, regardless of the setting they are in. Those who fancy picking them, or picking on them, well, knowledge and discernment is key.

Talk to someone who can show you the proper ways to channel your extreme zeal, Tulku. (wish i had your drive and energy... ) Seriously, brother. Your posts are getting more bizarre by the day. (sorry, just dont know how else to get the message across.. no offense meant) _()_ I get an uncomfortable feeling that your line of reasoning could actually lead to harm, both to self and others. Woe be to those new on the path reading such things and going, "Yay -- found a kindred spirit at last!". Not a pleasant wheel to set in motion.

Zis alwight... you still got a +1 !

I dont think you're strange.

+++ This is it. +++

:blink: You can... but best stick to those proven to be efficacious lest you could happen to tap in to, or attract something undesirable with your own composition. As this link http://www.visiblemantra.org/ will show, mantras are rather intricate, complex, with varying connotations. Used correctly, they can be excellent tools for mind-transformation. Otherwise, some mantras when used haphazardly can be a source of much grief.

There are many ways to express one's sexuality. Yes, some ways can be quite coarse and selfish. Then there are the more refined ways stemming from mutual respect, blissful devotion, and seeing the divine in one's partner. Its all part of the cultivation process -- one where lessons in learning to transcend the coarser, self-cherishing traits are amply present, coupled with the bonus of discovering each other in a nurturing, trust-filled environment. Personally, i find having a partner to be much more conducive to my practice. Thru this togetherness, the opportunity to practice caring and sharing is ever-present. Also, with a partner, one can avail of lots and lots of special time to practice transmuting sexual urges into mystical, creative and divine energies. Lastly, by no means the least, whenever i get lackadaisical about things, the trust is always there that my partner will surely give me a gentle kick to wake me up. Its definitely more than just the sex. In many ways, its much more fulfilling than enforcing upon oneself a spiritual chastity belt. Those days are long gone. As you say, human beings have evolved since, and forevermore.

If someone cultivates to gain merit for themselves, then whatever merits gained will diminish over time. True cultivation should descend to others equanimously. Not by intention, simply by the force that arise naturally when the cultivation is virtuous, without pride, full of generosity. This is how peace and prosperity descended on the land, when it did in years gone by, thru the silent, self-effacing effort of authentic Taoist adepts. JMHO.

But he is alive. In fact, there's 2 of them. Blimey! Australia, above... Peurto Rico, below... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRBhvKnUc5Q&feature=related Who's who?

Definitely, MH. Tigers too!! Give Peace a chance i say. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=717pJ4A2CTk&feature=related

Calls himself Maha Vajra. His website: http://www.mahavajra.be/ His YT channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/MahaVajra?ob=0&feature=results_main

Peace, healing and happiness to all!

When one lives long enough, one gets to hear more true accounts of horrendous and some almost incredulous tales of good things turning bad, animals, humans, tools even... Not surprisingly, i have heard and seen chickens being bred to be vicious. Cats can attack too, right? Bulls? In Ireland, the odd time a farmer gets killed by one. I am sure its the same everywhere else. And, btw, dont ever get bitten by a rat... or, if avoidable, mosquitoes for that matter. Who to blame? Just because an animal has the potential to inflict harm is not a reason to discriminate against their nature. Or is discrimination always the rule only where monetary matters and legal implications are involved? Try banning rats. Sue the mosquito for its potential to inflict malaria? Even so, a truly compassionate person would not even kill one or the other. With right understanding and mindfulness, in most instances, potentially hazardous situations that could lead to harm could be avoided. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose to cultivate wisdom.

I am quite certain he has his merits. For example, hearing him chant mantras from various traditions (Buddhist/Hindu/Christian/Jewish) one could easily be impressed. But such are mere external displays, which any one, given enough time and interest, could learn up, so it could also mean nothing in the final analysis. I am rather skeptical of 'gurus' who do not show authentic lineage affiliations. Its difficult to feel a guru's energy without being in his/her presence, but that's just me. The only exception was when i saw Sri Anandamayi Ma's picture for the very first time, years ago. Tears of joy spontaneously welled up. Never once had this happened prior to 'meeting' her, and not once since that 'meeting'. Live meetings, yes... for example, each time i engage with my teacher, i simply melt in her presence, even if its just having a chat with her over the phone.

Depends what your idea of meditation is really. For some people, meditation is the state of being after putting aside formal meditative practices. Perhaps heightened awareness in daily activities is one way to look at it. I know... some would equate meditation with 'doing' -- some others say meditation is when 'doing' ceases, first, with practice, then refinement, and finally, a spontaneous sort of poise sets in, without much effort at all. Take your pick.

Intelligent, fact-based articles (NOT those fouling on sensationalization) to help Vmarco be more well-informed: http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Rebuttal/813909 http://for-the-pits.blogspot.com/2009/04/correlation-does-not-mean-causation.html http://bullynation.org/the-pit-bull/myths-facts/ http://www.topix.com/forum/city/tallahassee-fl/T456CUP8PTCJMMVVG (read the comments!!!) http://www.realpitbull.com/ps.html http://companionanimalsolutions.com/blogs/are-pit-bulls-inherently-dangerous/ and there are innumerable other write-ups and articles which educates people and eradicate ignorance about so-called 'dangerous breeds' -- if only people are not so fixated on, and comfortable with, their own conditioned responses. Wise up.

"There's no need for religion... the first one to throw out the window is Buddhism." (Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche)

One whose ego has been extinguished -- does such a one still feel sympathy, i wonder. Even for those who have not succeeded in seeing past ego displays, will spontaneously eat when they are hungry, drink when thirsty, likewise, its been said the actions of an enlightened being in regards to the suffering of others is similar, yet not the same. If compassion has reached the stage of spontaneous/effortless arising, of what use are the grosser feelings, which all stem from the emotional view that there is still an attachment to a self which feels? However subtle this may be. Naturally, for the fledgeling bodhisattva, its always advised to practice the effortful and virtuous act of turning the heart again and again to steer it towards altruistic intentions and actions.

Odds of being struck by lightning in the USA (est total deaths + injuries) - 1 in 775,000 For reported deaths + injuries, the odds are 1 in 1,000,000 A person is 6 times more likely to be struck by lightning than to be killed by a dog of any breed. Breaking it down further, the odds of being killed by a pit bull is approximately 1 in 145,000,000 A person in the land of the free is 4 times more likely to be killed by a cow than any breed of dog, much less a pit bull. These are facts. If you will bother your ass, do a search, and stop MULLING over your agenda based on sensationalizing untruths. MULLed to death... indeed. He was perhaps ripe too.

I think the most extreme place to meditate is the little room in our hearts filled with nothing but pure light. Once in a while, we find it and we sort of stumble in, and all concepts of good and bad, this high level and that low level, simply melt away, and then we think "Ah! I have found it, now i am enlightened" -- pride sets in, and poof! in an instant, we lose the connection. Masters of meditation can go anywhere, and their very presence brightens up the darkest places -- even hearts hardened by unspeakable evils have been known to soften up a wee touch. Maybe its because these wise folks have cultivated, over time and practice, to share the sanctified space in their hearts with all beings, irrespective if they were good or bad, have physical shapes or those which exist purely in the phantasmagoric, other dimensional realms. And they do so with the utmost humility and respect -- in some instances, where nagas are met and felt to be an impediment, they would be 'invited' by ritual to leave for a better abode elsewhere. Its not like, "I am an immortal, your master, subjugator of beasts great and small, i command you to leave this place NOW!" Such demos of aggressive, egocentric behavior only happens in movies and in those who have no clue about the truth that all things, regardless, have their own place in the grand scheme of things.

"A bodhisattva who does not know the true meaning of solitude, even if he meditates for many years in a remote valley full of poisonous snakes, five hundred miles from the nearest inhabitants, would still develop overwhelming pride." -- from the Phagpa Dudpa Sutra

Why look at the spiritual path from an impoverished position? "When i get to this point... when i reach this state... when i attain Nirvana...", these sort of ways of expressing, in terms of the ultimate view, is of course not wrong, but then they originate from lack. Remember, the mountain is mountain from the foot to the summit. Not that there are two mountains where one is whole and the other only has a summit... there is only one mountain, from beginning of the journey right thru to the end, only one mountain. So for those who have developed this wider view or approach to their spiritual vocation, then the path becomes nourishing. I encourage everyone to read the book Mount Analogue -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Analogue