C T

:lol: (To be fair, he did admit to being trans-gendered.) not that i know precisely what he meant by that term. surely not transcended, i hope.

If Vmarco lived in your neighborhood, would you give him a spare pint of milk if he comes a calling? Surely, i believe, 99 percent of those here who had vocalized objections would not refuse when asked. In our everyday interactions, i am sure we also have within our circle of friends and relations those whom we are not too fond of, and yet we would hope to learn to be quite accepting of their behavior and views, and would not be bent with purposeful intention to dismiss or diminish them, or to turn a blind eye should they ask for something which we know is not that hard to give. So what happens here is not a reflection of how just or unjust one is. Its a forum, and forums are (mostly?) places where communication takes place. Some would be beneficial, some not so, which is to be expected. At the very least, there is some level of interaction. But when no communication can be had with someone, then of what other purpose or motive would a person choose to come on board (and post)? Again, its my view that 99 percent of folks here who posts regularly have good hearts. The other 01 percent? Well, these would be the agents of disinformation, or aliens, or both. Or simply, knuckleheads who refuse to take hints.

There is an idea about the art and science of communication. Apt communicators are prone to be flexible, adapting each response to suit immediate situational interactions. This is a useful skill generally, but more useful if one aspires to teach, or is gearing oneself to be a people manager. No one likes aggressiveness when its not needed. Just ask around... many corporate folks in positions of leadership gets stuck in a rut not because they lack the professional qualifications and knowledge in applications (the science) - its more because they are lacking in dimension with which to inspire team 'players' to achieve corporate goals, and this, as cliched as it may sound, requires tact, coercion, motivational skill, exemplary actions - these skillsets are all classified as the art aspect of management. Those who prefer not to engage as a team player seldom succeed in group environments - they get segregated and are avoided, and often wonder why its so. In spiritual pursuits, there is a similar dynamic involved. Same in the Martial Arts/Science as well, i believe. And same with parenting too. Art is when one applies soft compassion, for example, some do this by drawing inspiration from the likes of Guan Yin, Avalok, or some other personification of kind heartedness. Science is when one knows when to cut thru all the bullshite and apply a bit of logic and tough love when necessary. Hard compassion - useful during emergency situations. For this reason, practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism get to work not only with the 'nice' deities, but also the wrathful ones like Heruka, Yamantaka, Singdongma, Dzambala and so on - this facilitates the learning of assertiveness, alertness, awareness, etc, and when one has learnt to personify these warrior qualities, one gets to see others and self without any filters - just the bare facts are laid out in plain sight, fearlessly. Learning to work with the wrathful aspects does not mean cultivating aggressiveness - aggression is delusion-based, something which is not promoted in the Buddhist path. Therefore, in self moderation, its not enough to be all nice and polite and offer words gift-wrapped in niceties - its knowing when to absorb, and when to punch. Sometimes when you willfully 'absorb' something said by someone without reacting even though in your heart you want to say something to counter the assertions, it helps them to gain confidence in their wisdom, and this could lead them to awakening. At other times, when a punch is needed and activated, some stubborn and dormant qualities awaken suddenly. Naturally, performing these two functions comes with experience, and TTB, i feel, provides an ideal setting to hone such skills. So yeah, self moderation can be a very enlightening process.

Hi Miss K, Kwik qwestion - Are you saying its okay to go hunting for the kind of love that people think is what's missing, and upon thinking they have found the 'perfect' love, that it somehow completes them? Or did you want to mean it some other way? Its an interesting thing to mull over, nonetheless. Are you also saying that all love is conditional?

In my opinion, love is the energy, when clung on to too tightly, begins to create an opposing force, and together, sustains the entire spectrum of cyclical existence.

Nice point to consider too.

Did you mean 'besides'? Well, it all depends on which particular school or lineage organizes the retreat. Are you thinking of enrolling for one?

Ah! I now see where you are coming from... within! This makes it clearer. Domo arigato.

I practice breathing with the 100 syllable mantra. One breath one complete recitation. Works well. Aspiring towards two beads per breath. An example here - - When a full cycle (generally 108 recitations, or one round of the Mala) is completed, for a while, there is the feeling as if there is no need to breathe at all. Now, imagine one's state after doing this 10 X 500,000 times, which is roughly what a retreatant accomplishes in a 3-year retreat.

Somehow i sense a presence here similar to a past poster that went by the handle Ronnie Drew Mahalingam. Spooky...

I am reminded of a saying, "The whole world's a stage..." On the macro stage outside, which is also reflected on this micro stage we call TTB, occasionally, someone comes along and insist they want to play the part of "Muhammad Ali", because he says in fact he is Muhammad Ali, the greatest. This is pure fantasy of course, and could easily rouse objections from those who are not afraid to speak up. I think Sunya and others are doing what they know is necessary to raise awareness of a one-person campaign of propagating ill-informed information. Quite appropriate, under the circumstance.

Mung beans is great, though, i remember when i was growing up, the Chinese elder folks would often remind the younger folks that those with skin dysfunctions should avoid any consumption of mung beans as it seems to aggravate conditions. Especially of note is that it tends to cause flare-ups and terrible itchiness in the problematic areas, and also the non-problematic areas, especially around the neck and around the backs of the knees. Apparently, excessive intake of cooling foods are also said to be avoided. It brings on a condition called damp heat. One way to detect this is when stools become small and watery, and motion gets painful. I think Westerners simply lump this as 'constipation', but there is more to it.... apparently. (sorry for diverting off.)

Trust me, MH, there is absolutely no ground for comparing your style with this guy. There is much he can learn from you in terms of relating with others in ways that both or more parties will find beneficial. You asked that i go easy on his droning... i am being very accommodating, thus far. And so are many others. Maybe its not even correct to say accommodating - more like, there has been revelation after revelation of the limits of his sight and capabilities. How could you get annoyed anymore when there is this gradual realization that someone is rather slow? Its not worth getting frustrated over this. Really. Funny thing is he keeps asking why others do not engage his ideas in debate... implying what, i wonder.

Try getting lost in the desert, and see if hope is associated with duality. Or suddenly pushed into a stream filled with ferocious alligators. Are you stuck simply in one-dimensional delusion, i wonder. Just going around in circles, repeating the same worn message over and over, like a broken gramophone.

Encourage her to visit a genuine Ayurvedic healer. Get references prior. I have heard many positive feedbacks from people who have used Neem oil in tackling this. Worth a try maybe. http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-oil-eczema.html

What you have effectively achieved is you have given yourself a day pass to freedom. A fractionated taste, a glimpse, into the unconditionable nature of mind. Sustaining this thru familiarization is the next step. The key is to be as mindful and present as possible, without needing to cling to this new found tool of surrender. Surrendering is good as a bridge to cross the raging rivers of emotional turmoil, yet its not so good when things are quite calm and collected. What do you do when things are flowing along smoothly? When positive fruits starts to bloom in your garden, are you going to surrender them too? In my experience, surrendering is a fetter, not surrendering is also a fetter. Which is why i like the idea of Impermanence... in this realization, there is nothing to grasp, and nothing to reject. Here i am speaking of states of mind that arises, and mindfully looked at, without any stickiness involved. Some people tend to take this concept completely out of context. This is where some issues may sneak themselves stealthily in the door. If understood thoroughly thru personal investigations into its efficacious nature (concept of Impermanence), such issues will never arise. Three useful links here that may contain some relevant tips to further your journey - - http://www.purifymind.com/ConImpermanence.htm http://www.thebuddhadharma.com/web-archive/2003/12/1/fully-engaged-in-body-speech-and-mind.html http://bdtest1.squarespace.com/web-archive/2011/5/16/beyond-all-attachment.html If you have any aversions to Buddhist teachings, then i apologize. If not, these contemplative words may yield some valuable insights. Wishing you continual inspirations!

How you relate this to workplace gossip i have yet to fathom. Perhaps at some stage, upon deeper reflection, something familiar might lend a spark and the connection will show itself. But then, i am not sure if its even worth the trouble to think this over. This is a forum, where people exchange insights and ideas, and learn to relate with one another in the process. Its a sort of fraternity. The older posters kinda have a useful understanding of this relationship, and thru time, the rough edges gets worked upon, smoothed over by compromise, not of personal convictions and beliefs, but rather, a compromise where strangers get to form some kind of bond of acquaintanceship. This is only possible thru a mutual willingness to relate, a term mentioned by Steve F, one of the more insightful Bums on this board, and i fully agree. Its not about being judgmental of another - its about learning and making the effort to apply a very basic human communication agenda, one which Vmarco does not seem to have in order, but if indeed he has the capability to be more adaptive and accommodating, he has been very miserly in showing such qualities so far. Personally, i do not take issue with posters who present their own ideas and paradigms - quite a handful, in fact, do this constantly, and you can check my record - there is hardly any indication where i oppose this in the least, so this says that i do not make it a habit to go looking for conflicts. On the contrary, i prefer to show appreciation whenever i come across posts that sparkle and finds its way to form some connection with the heart, which is where inspiration takes form, for me, anyway. How does your inspiration arise? Surely not from reading the same material, quoted verbatim, in almost every single post someone makes? I am not making false accusations here (you are encouraged to go thru his post history, if you can savor it), nor am i applying any subversive tactical maneuver to oust Vmarco from this board. The way things are going, he seems to be showing himself the exit door, with hardly any assistance at all. Wu Wei at work, perhaps.

Touche! Here - you have just described your very own inner self to a 'T'. Shows a deep level of self-knowledge, one which few possess.

Its okay, i completely understand from which place this is coming from. You think its so easy to make someone into a guru? Hmm.... Perhaps if i knew you on a deeper level, certain positive traits could also be attributed to you, but currently, i am assuming you are going to say, "No thanks, dont bother, not interested." But if ever you change your mind, show yourself to be more accommodating and approachable, less cynical and attacking, and more appreciation will be forthgoing - of this i am sure, and from various human and perhaps divine quarters too.

Ok then. Wishing you the very best.

Naturally, this is your choice and your right. Its good to have a clear designation of which path fits your present needs, in fact, not only is it good, its the only proper way for anyone. Yet, it is not wise to ignore VJ's encouragement, for he has your best interests at heart. He has nothing to gain from this, and because he has also been thru the fire many times, i think he knows what the pitfalls are, and is merely here to point them out. Its entirely up to you to take heed. Dont assume the journey is going to be all cosy, that's all he is saying.