C T

Haha very good! Thank you for sharing...

Here's one worthwhile meditation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKgDNBlTUrQ

Thinking about what you said, Scotty, i recall a commentary of the Satipatthana Sutta which dealt with the subject of anger (and the rest of the defilements in a like manner). It says: "Indeed, wrong reflection on an object of resentment produces anger. In this connection, anger itself, as well as the object which causes anger is called the resentment-object, or the sign of resentment. Wrong reflection has just the same character everywhere, and when it occurs much in the resentment-object or the resentment-sign, anger arises. Therefore, the Blessed One said that intense wrong reflection on an object of resentment is the cause of fresh anger and of the increase and expansion of anger already existing. By right reflection of the liberating thought of love, the thought of love that frees the heart indeed, anger gets cast out. Right reflection has the same character throughout. When it occurs strong in the thought on love, anger is removed from the heart. Towards the end, the commentator quotes the Blessed One as saying, "There is, o bhikkhus, the liberation of the mind through love. Intense right reflection on love is the condition for keeping out new anger and for throwing out anger that is already in the heart." ps - i know this is thread is not about Buddhism - no offense intended.

Maybe thats because mastering spiritually advanced states is subtly different from being actually spiritual? Where i come from there are plenty of folks who claim mastership over all kinds of psychic and clairvoyant abilities, have hoards of people seeking their services to get in touch with dead relatives, get lottery numbers, love charms, amulets, ward off 'evil influences', etc, yet they are no more spiritual than their customers. To them, its a business, just not as tied to the physical world, thats all. There are plenty of folks who became gifted as a result of their neurotic tendencies. Great poets, composers and scores of famous writers in history all have their own demons. Maybe instead of grappling and analyzing their shit, they simply learnt to befriend their dark side? Once befriended, it aint so dark anymore... then they can channel that energy and make some use of it, to write haunting poems, literature, sonatas, plays and what not. Just because they have a dark side, does that diminish our enjoyment of their works?? But when it comes to spiritual matters, somehow, a different set of values apply? I think its good to appraise fairly if one feels so inclined. Twinner, Buddhism does not teach one to numb one's emotions. Nothing wrong with emotions... if one becomes a victim of the same habits generating the same negative emotions, then there are ways with which one can use to investigate why these patterns are recurring, and whether one wants them transformed. It does not say that if they are not worked upon that one is condemned to a life of misery. It says if they are not addressed then they will fester and lead to more unwholesome states... Unwholesome states in themselves are not issues, they only become issues when they are rejected or allowed to torment a person. Most of those who can accept fully their unwholesomeness actually enjoy very sane mental health, and thru this complete acceptance transformation can be effected gracefully, without force.

Jack Kornfield explains over 12 ten-minute YT parts what Buddhist psychology is. Please explore and form your own conclusion: Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVvBxffvzkk&feature=relmfu

Buddhism teaches that desires and suffering do not arise without cause. It also teaches that through contemplative exercises, one can access the deeper recesses of intelligence, not so much to analyze and uncover the causes, but to cultivate patience and all the other necessary qualities so that one can begin creating a new set of causes leading to a new set of result, which when applied, would eventually disband and dissolve the older, unwanted habits and tendencies. This is why i see Buddhist psychology as more effective than contemporary psychoanalytical methods.

Ah, thats wonderful, MH... See, a little nook in the world has just become a little prettier. Soothing...

Perhaps terrible for the fleas, not so for the cat.

No, i dont believe you're crazy, but i know i am ( ) , because what i would do would be to put the whole lettuce, with the flies, out in the garden and leave them to their obvious indulgence. ...but that's just me... though on some level, i think you did the decent thing. Imagining the numbers, i'd say it must have been a good exercise in mindfulness and patience? (late edit 4 typo)

I did not mean instant transformation, MH! Let me give an example... A person in mental anguish looks at an aquarium, filled with colorful fish, and likely can only be occupied by his angst, maybe even thinking that those stupid creatures are partly responsible for his turmoil. Another person, mentally at peace, collected in spirit, sees an empty glass tank, and will naturally be drawn to imagine how wonderful it would be to create a space-world for some fish and share the beauty with others, and then sets about making it happen. When it comes together, there is delight everywhere! So, that's how one's basic mind can affect others and oneself. Its just a very simple example, but i hope the meaning is somewhat there.

Dont try to change the world - instead use your time, energy and intelligence to transform your mind. Then both you and the world will change accordingly. Cooking up stories about mass vibratory resonance or pervasive synchronization of ascended beings and all that nonsense aint gonna do one bit of good if one's mind has not been 'tamed'.

Thumbs up X 2!

What about this guy Chen Hung Lieh, http://hkmdb.com/db/people/image_detail.mhtml?id=3364&image_id=103458&display_set=eng Villain of villains... i think in those days, people were actually as excited when they hear he will be appearing to play the villain in a movie! (doesnt he resemble some contemporary hollywood actor? Think Matrix!) My first visits to the cinema, back in the late 60s, was to watch a series of Wong Fei Hung movies played by this man http://hkmdb.com/db/people/view.mhtml?id=1391&display_set=eng ... aaah, my very first martial arts hero...

Seeing this list made me all nostalgic.... I think the classic of classical sword-fighting movies must be the One-Armed Swordsman with Jimmy Wang Yu. Remember him, Dainin?

*That did not appear evident in your earlier posts. Definitely agree with the last para.

What Vmarco does not realize is that training well in relative bodhicitta eventually enables one to help others before they even realize they are about to get into trouble, or help others to avoid potential mishaps. This is called preventive compassion, something very useful in everyday living. Having generous empathy is good, but equally good is preventing spills so that empathy's not even an issue, as too much empathy can also be quite draining. Tis better to ensure a kid puts on a helmet prior to riding his/her bike on the streets, rather than doing one's damnest in seeking the best possible medical care after the kid's been knocked over.

Perceiving an attack is as harmful, if not more, than being actually attacked. Why? Because you are imagining and plotting all sorts of stories in your head, while in actuality, imo, no attack nor vicious intention did Scotty have in posting that. Vmarco should take a step back, evaluate her response, and abide by her own advice because some of it is actually very proper. If you truly abide in the absolute (as claimed) then how do you reconcile your reactionary responses with all that you espouse? It all appears very contradictory. Funnily enough, having observed thus, i already (almost) can feel what you will say to this.. You are quite predictable by now, seemingly hemmed in by your own inflexible, absolute and extreme position.

This is one thriller of a fight... why i picked Donnie Yen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAP4DmiaCxc

For me, the guy with the juice is Donnie!! Hey, how come Yuen Biao's not on the list?

Well said.

Of course its ok to talk about it... that is obvious, and that is what others have been trying (exhaustively) to tell you, but what is exasperating is that you switch from one aspect to the other, then switch back and forth, which simply adds confusion and unnecessary head-banging off walls. This is why its not at all useful to engage with you. Another thing, why do you always assume that rebuttals arise due to emotional reactions in those who debate with you? Strange characteristic you have. Not pleasant at all. Only saying...

I know better than to try to persuade Vmarco to assume otherwise. Since the absolute is beyond the realm of the intellect, its no wonder written words can at best only serve as 'tracing paper' towards pointing to that level of reality on the other side of the relative.

Thank you sir... that is highly relevant.

Anyone seen this movie? Looks like a gem for shaolin buffs: (maybe its not released yet. no info found) late edit: film will complete production only in 2012. cant wait for release!