C T

Amazing! How was he brought back to life, VJ? Medically? YES! _/\_ -- om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung --

Its true. I have had the humbling honor of assisting in a dying environment (some years back) within a Buddhist context, and can vouch for it. I am sure the same form of dignified support is offered in many other circles and traditions as well, especially evident among indigenous peoples. Its hard to die alone. Very hard. A lot of fear and confusion surrounds a person as death draws closer and closer. The passing is very much helped when the dying person is given dignified and loving support all the way.

A mind is neither free nor bound.

Reassuring to see such understanding. Appreciate this, Bluefront. Reminds me of what Patanjali advised: Ignorance is the identification of the Seer with the instruments of the senses...

Small stone rattling Empty pockets, dried flowers Old age is sublime...

RECENTLY, A CURIOUS CHILD ASKED A CURIOUS QUESTION DURING A TALK... Child: What are you doing? Takuin: Speaking. Child: No, I know that. I mean, what do you do? Takuin: I remind people to look. Child: What does that mean? Takuin: (pointing up) Do you see those clouds? Child: Yes... Takuin: Most adults cannot see them. Child: How come? Takuin: When they should be looking, they are instead thinking. Child: ... (looking) Takuin: I remind them to just look.

A warm welcome to you! May your time here add extra meaning to your spiritual practice. All the very best!

Just read this on some guy's blog.. it seems appropriate to share it here: From Jed McKenna - "The you that you think of as you (and that thinks of you as you, and so on) is not you, its just the character that the underlying truth of you is dreaming into brief existence. Enlightenment isn't in the character, it's in the underlying truth! Now, there's nothing wrong with being a dream character, of course, unless it's your goal to wake up, in which case the dream character must be ruthlessly annihilated. If your desire is to experience transcendental bliss or supreme love or altered states of consciousness or awakened kundalini, or to qualify for heaven, or to liberate all sentient beings, or simply to become the best dang person you can be, then rejoice! you're in the right place: the dream state, this dualistic universe. However, if your interest is to cut the crap and figure out what is true, then you're in the wrong place and you've got a very messy fight ahead and there's no point in pretending otherwise."

The spiritual path is fraught with hard-knocking revelations. Decide what one wants from it, and what one is willing to forego and give up in exchange for spiritual growth. To grow in spirit involves facing up to a lot of demons. And most of these guys operate outside of personal boundaries.. i think the main reason they choose to operate from there is because they are usually the ones who help us put up these barbed rails in the first instance. What Otis said in the last paragraph of his post is perfect. Fear is a huge factor in determining how much we are willing to let go. Of course we have a choice to cling to as much as we want, in the hope of protecting what is deemed to be of value. But at the same time we need to remember that values shift, and as we traverse those roads of greatest resistance, the ground beneath our feet sometimes tremble, and the trembling can be good because it gives us the opportunity to reexamine how useful these values are, and unless we are willing to be pliable and soft, we might find it difficult to adapt to a newer and better set of values due to the fact that we have become so comfortable and secure in the old set.

It appears Mr Zambori has announced his re-entry to TTB with a bit of flair and panache. Welcome - may you stay a while this time, and enjoy the banter while the going is good.

...and may God Bless You back!

What about qualities like Patience, Persistence and Perseverance? Would these be Yin or Yang? In the old martial arts schools in China its quite common to find the term "Quietly Persevere and Never Hit Back" (YAN) emblazoned boldly on a plaque in the main hall. This deeply profound word in Chinese encompasses all the qualities of the 3 P words above, and is the hallmark of a true warrior. It may connote a fairly Yin meaning, but beneath the surface, at the level of potential, it is pulsating with Yang power. Meditate on this.... Chogyam Trungpa said, "Gentleness arouses courage and a sense of fearlessness. The gentlest person becomes absolutely fearless. Just like children, when they are very young, they have no fear in their vulnerability, and Nature responds accordingly. Courage is the appreciation of letting go at the root level. With such an attitude, very little harm comes to you. First develop gentleness - then develop courage, which is connected to how you express this gentleness to the world."

Silver fishy, shines Shoes polished, man hobbles on Clean footwear, clean mind...

I have no hang-ups if you (anyone) wish to label the Buddha a Christ or a Lao Tzu. After all, these are all respectful terms used in the acknowledgement of these sublime Teachers' transcendent qualities which we hope to emulate. In the Suttas, the Buddha generally addressed every person, without reservation, as a son or daughter of noble family... so why not attempt to cultivate a similar equanimous view with regards to our thinking? After all, spiritual cultivation is about developing an expansive spirit.

This clip (the whole series is pretty good imo) may hold some pointers with regards to your enquiry Jetsun... Rudolf Steiner's Philosophy of Freedom -

Not too long ago, i came across a poster here who said Buddhism has lost touch with humanity by being too focussed on personal liberation. Reading this blog below, which touched me deeply, my faith was restored in the fact that there are some Dharma Bums who proactively proof the nay-sayers wrong. Perhaps those who make a living from preaching about the highest compassion, among other lesser generosities, could learn a thing or two about what it means to get down and dirty with compassion. http://www.hmpstreetdharma.org/steet-dharma-blog/the-one

I concur, and share this view completely. Thanks for highlighting all the nuances involved, J. At the highest level (arhats/bodhisattvas) thru the deep realization of the 3 Marks, every action taken at that level arises from Equanimity, that is, seeing others as equally deserving or more deserving of satisfaction than oneself. At that point, all subtle dualities of self and other would have dissolved, so there is no possibility of ensuing mental complications. The motives would have been totally purified already.

This depends i think... whether one is merely observing, as in watching a movie, with no inner dialogue, or simultaneously one is also taking things in, absorbing, as in capturing sequential images and translating them into information as they appear. If the latter is involved, then it follows that gaps have to appear before information can be assimilated. In both instances, 'looking' is there. Its good to bear in mind that the sense aggregates, in this case, the eye aggregate, is also arising and dissolving with each object it cognizes. Its not so straightforward just to say there is continuity in the looking.

hot smoke and cold chills peace pipes and grilled aubergines quivering with glee!

Personal liberation could well arise from engaging in noble/virtuous deeds, one of the spokes that complete the Dharmacakra. Right Action. This is not about offering advice... its about doing something to make another's life a little more dignified. Its tough being homeless, and high wisdom is not a prerequisite to offering a hand (or two) where one can. I share Twinner's and H.E.'s position. Thanks guys!

You may have ventured down the alley to the valley of doom thru being misinformed. Its ok though... Buddhism says in life there are never any dead-ends, so anytime someone is ready, U-turns are there to be taken Some of the more inspiring contemporary Buddhist authors/thinkers whose works speak volumes in themselves - if you still have the appetite - Thich Nhat Hanh, Sogyal Rinpoche, Jon Kabat-Zinn, D.T. Suzuki, Norman Fischer, Donald Lopez Jr., Grace Schireson, and last but not least, HH the Dalai Lama himself... their books are anything but pessimistic.

In the house of God Father, Son and Holy Ghost shed tears for the child...

What a pretty web Spinning yarns of heated air dissolves all half-truths...

Its not that people are paranoid about money... its good to be skeptical because there are so many healers who disguise their service with implied spiritual connotations, and this gives cause for questioning their motives. Spiritual pursuits can be very healing, but healing pursuits are not necessarily spiritual. Its great to feel well, and to have optimum health, as long as as one is aware that the body will someday grow old and die. Enjoying optimum health by cultivating all the necessary practices is a noble, healing endeavor - Learning how to let go of the body is a noble, spiritual endeavor. Sounds paradoxical, but learning how to blend the two can lead to a fulfilling life. Some practitioners i know meditate on Death and its close proximity at least 6 to 8 times a day. It makes them feel so joyful and appreciative of life, and spontaneously become more open, giving and cherishing life all around. They feel healed from the gratefulness they generate through this practice.

Yes, being in nature often promotes inspiration, yet being inside a 'coffined existence' is what lends contrast, without which appreciation might be found wanting.