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Quite shocking statistics, but am not the least surprised. Its really crucial to have an awareness around this issue, and other major global issues too, so thanks for highlighting this GiH. We have screwed up big time through our own ignorance and laziness. The time seems near for a major overhaul, and i feel that the earth has begun initiating important preliminary steps to heal itself. We as a global race of humans have been offered ample opportunities to rectify the mess we have created, but instead of waking up, there appears to be a daily barrage of greater and more sophisticated inducements and 'entertainment' generated to keep us entranced, distracting us away from fundamental issues that we need to address in order to stop being puppets. i further believe that accountability from the 'powerful', the so-called industrial and technological gods have been given the boot. It looks as if the bigger the mess, the greater the opportunities they seize so as to consolidate their god-like status. Alas, this is very wrong, and very unfortunate. On a brighter note though, this impregnation of mass delusion looks like coming to a head, and the 'baby' is about to be born. Not that its going to be blessing - the bright note was in reference to the fact that this age of humanity is about to reach a profound turning point, and some major change is on the horizon, only this time, the responsibility appears to have been removed from our hands. We are no longer trusted as capable to heal our own wounds - not only that, we appear to enjoy creating more new ones. i am afraid Her patience has run thin. Good day.

Look like a newborn? Minus the nappies and such. That black tie looks worn...

1) Buddhists talks a lot. Taoists hardly speaks. According to some, they do not need to say so much. 2) That is why you often see Buddhist preachers hang out at rave parties, clubs and rock concerts. They chill out. 3) Buddhists do not have physical bodies, hence they have no need to 'target' such. Try archery sometime. Its good for the spirit. 4) Here is where the Taoists starts to overtake the Buddhists in terms of vocal expressions. 5) No attention directed to said differences because Buddhists do not recognize differences. Nice thread, by the way.

My phone and i-pod! Cheap gadgets made in Thailand lovely beaches though...

A harvest full moon the fragrance of lime blossoms fireflies aglow...

MH, I typed a long response to your post, but upon reflection, i decided to drop it. Just wanted to let you know, and to wish you a happy day!

And we're drenched with dirt like trees after a dust-storm waiting for the rains..

Hey Ralis if you can remember at what age you began to be aware of the cosmos, i would say that thats the year your cosmos came into existence. Prior to that, as far as you were concerned, there was no cosmos. So in a sense, you could say the cosmos and your initial awareness of it arose together, and one day, will also subside together. Your cosmos, and an astrologer's cosmos, is not the same one. Do you know why this is so? I am sure you do, and you would also know exactly where this difference lie. Its pretty obvious isnt it? So again, one could re-pose the question - where is your cosmos? Is it out there? Up there? Where?

Taomeow, My humble apologies! The old brain just chugged into life and have crystallized my mind somewhat, so before it runs out of steam, and it usually does after about 17 minutes, i just want to say that i remember the stove god now, and its name is Chao Xian (not sure if this is the right way to spell its name though), also known as the hearth or kitchen god! Very important figure too - how could i forget? Probably get a good slap in my sleep tonight for not remembering ! Yes, this deity is regarded as the family guardian and also acts sometimes as an intermediary with other gods and deities. Traditionally, each family sends this deity up to heaven once a year, just before the lunar new year i believe, to report on the activities of the family for the past year. This is done by burning the paper image of the hearth god that had hung over the stove for that one year, and very often, just before the 'sending off', sweets are offered to the deity as a form of bribe to 'sweeten up' the report, or some would smear a bit of honey on the image as a symbolic gesture to try to prevent the deity from reporting too much unnecessary information! haha Dei Chu is the earth god, the one that keeps the house and property safe, and a very convenient deity that parents sometimes resort to when the kids get overly mischievous. Whichever kid steps out of line would have to kneel facing Dei Chu and admit to transgressions (sounds serious but its not that, really) - and the more severe the mischief, the longer the kneeling session lasts. This i am speaking from personal experience, and mind you, my sessions sometimes last for days!! (just kidding ) Sorry for getting the names and deities mixed up. Perhaps i should find some inconspicuous corner and hide myself there for the rest of the night! Cheerio!

Black is no color so says the Blacksmith to me. I started to laugh..

Absolutely. Well said GiH.

The phenomena known to all as 'nirvana' is in essence void...

Hey Taomeow yvw! I forgot to mention Dei Chu Koong does not sit with the other Deities no siree.. It requires its own exclusive crib - always on the floor, somewhere inconspicuous but preferably facing the front main entrance to the home, if my memory is still intact that is! There is a specific arrangement for setting up the altar so if you are interested i am sure you would have your 'ways' to access the necessary info! Btw, i am very keen to see this image of the Buddha that you so cherish - any chance of loading up an image sometime, (only) when you are inspired to do so eh? Cheers!! Mind them tequilas... @Hardyg - one translation for 'zing'(cantonese) is 'star'. Another one is 'rise up'. Any help? 'Swoosh' i believe is the universal cartoony sound all loos make when they flush!! Ooops! Sorry i am not familiar with that word nor do i believe there is such a word in cantonese! Good luck!

In Cantonese this god is known as "Dei Chu Koong", trans. as Chief Guardian of the Abode. I think it resides in your stove because you have not made an altar to give it a home. If you did, i am sure it would gladly take up residence at the altar. Some loves sake!!

Funny guy!!

Darn! The Buddhas are not smiling on Ireland where Youtubing is concerned! Channel 4 have denied permission for the viewing of these videos here!!!! What utter BS is that??? How annoying. Maybe i should express my annoyance in that other thread "Tell me what offends you.." (Nah just kidding!! ) Would have loved to watch them though. Thanks anyway Gold. Nice of you to post them for everyone's benefit.

Good point. Seeing things through this way is to have transcendent insight, according to the Paramitas, a set of teachings on transcending our habitual and often neurotic conditioned responses to things that happen around us. For those interested, here's an explanation of the Six Paramitas as taught in the Buddhist suttas: http://www.abrc.org.au/sixparamitas.htm

Is this not the essence of profundity? I mean, you have 'accidentally' arrived at a space of absolute potential, vibrant with all possibilities.. Those who choose wisely, their actions create no karma. In a sense, all Buddhas never remember anything.. in a sense, that is. Well done, 3bob!! (When the ripples are gone, the lake does not recreate them just for the heck of it....)

"When perception is stronger than mindfulness (i take this to mean that when one is too caught up with objectivity), we recognize various appearances and create concepts such as 'body', 'cat', 'house', 'person', ('solid', 'empty') etc. On some clear night, go outside, look up at the sky, and see if you can find the Big Dipper. For most people that is a familiar constellation, easy to pick out from all the other stars. But is there really a Big Dipper up there in the sky? There is NO Big Dipper up there! (Although the diehards will still not understand how this could be...) The 'Big Dipper' is merely a concept. Humans looked, saw a certain pattern, and then created a concept in our collective consciousness to describe it. That concept is useful because it helps us recognize the constellation. But it also has another, less useful effect. By creating the concept 'Big Dipper' we separate out those stars from all the rest, and then, if we become attached to the idea of that separation, we lose the sense of the night sky's wholeness, its oneness. Does the separation actually exist in the sky? No. We created the separation through the use of a concept(like we do with everything else we call the objective world). Does anything change in the sky when we change our way of seeing that there is no 'Big Dipper' as such? No. (But that does not mean stars do not exist). --- JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN

Yes MH thats a great idea! I was telling myself last night that this year i am goin to enrich my life by infusing it with the wisdom of Pooh! Too much honey, too little time!! haha...

Or is that a 'thing'? A 'thing' is not what one thinks. Starve all of labels..

This is an excerpt from the profound teachings of Padmasambhava, taken from The Book of Great Liberation. It centralizes on understanding what "Mind" is, its absolute self-radiance, and how, through realization of Mind Essence, one can transform basic ignorance of one's true nature, instantaneously, spontaneously, effortlessly. Hence it should be regarded as a 'deeper' Buddhist teaching, but IMO, is most suitable for serious cultivators of Dao as well. This is mainly for those who, like me, believe that the Mind is the seat of all of Man's joys and sorrows, and whether we live in one way, or the other, is wholly dependent on how we 'tame' this thing called Mind. I guess it wont be for everyone, especially the younger Bums, so apologies there. For the others, even the seasoned Daoists, it will definitely prove to be a great insight into Mind Essence. Have a listen:

Well, you have to learn to accept that there are masses out there who find it hard to let go of the raft even long after the crossing(of the river) is made.. Its the raft that gives them identity. Keeping sharp focus on balancing this raft removes one to an almost trance-like state where the real world is no longer viewed with much importance. Some would even go as far as to delude themselves into thinking the raft has become the 'other shore' that they are trying to get to... Standing on one side of the bank, one can still view and speak about the grandeur that lies magnificently on the opposite side of the river...

A commentary on "Buddhism And The True Value of Reality" for anyone who may be interested. Its a one page document, and touches on some relevant points with regards to how objectivity is viewed from the writer's (a Vietnamese Buddhist scholar) perspective. This is presented just after the comments on the 3 natures of beings. http://www.psychwww.com/psyrelig/buddhism.htm