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~ YONGEY MINGYUR RINPOCHE ~ "Here's another secret: You know the real obstacle to resting meditation? It's too simple. There's no "wow" experience, there's nothing added, and there's no work to do. It's as close as the tip of your nose, meaning it's too close to see. Sometimes teachers tell us: "Stop meditating." This does not mean to give up awareness, but rather: "Don't use a flashlight in the sunshine." Assuming that we're inherently insufficient, we use the mind's equivalent of a flashlight to improve upon the sun. Open awareness is like space. We speak of space and refer to it, but actually we don't recognize it. We only see what is in space. When we do talk about seeing space, we usually mean the valley, table, tree, or something that brings definition or perspective to an area, but not to space itself. In the same way that we might not believe in the benefits of recognizing space, the practice of open awareness tends to lack credibility. We don't really believe in its benefits, like the idea that we do not value what comes free. We seem to need to pay a price to guarantee value. With meditation, we pay this price with exercises that actually require more work than open awareness does: awareness with objects. Here the mind cannot just rest with no job to do; it must extend itself to specific sense objects for supports."

Sweden's cases are not low by any measure. I don't understand what the writer is insinuating wrt Sweden. Their numbers, in excess of 5,000, is near enough to Australia's. Yet, there's just over 300 deaths there, compared to Oz's 24.

Here's an interesting stat: There's 1000 clergy living in the Vatican City, located smack in the middle of Rome. No. of cases - 6 (deaths: none). Its been 6 for days now. No. of cases in Rome as of yesterday: 14,787 Unless they have been messed with, its just strange that the numbers are what they are. Maybe its not as infectious as people are led to believe.

I get all that, but practically I doubt the technology is there yet. Maybe with 5G, but thats yet to be fully wired up. Lets move on. So not worth the back & forth.

~ DUDJOM RINPOCHE ~ As for View, Meditation, Action and their Fruit: Make freedom from attachment and aversion your View; Make the release of intellectualization your Meditation; Let freedom from craving and contrived deeds be your Action. Let your Fruit be the abandonment of the wish to attain anything, and thus realize the Dharmakaya which is spontaneously present always!

Thanks, Walker. That was well expressed, and I get your point. However, even though I'm Asian and half Chinese, Im not a Chinese sympathiser, and not taking sides. I've never felt victimised, traumatised, nor discriminated against in the many years I've lived in Europe. Anyone who tried found out how futile their attempt was. What I do think is, including the likes of Russia, and the alignments of some other rogue nations like the UAE, Iran, North Korea and Israel, they're all in a race for world domination, and therefore, this crop of muppets all have the same guy doing their portraits. Its a mad mad scramble to see who's gonna cross the line first. Surely you won't assume that China will take the finger-pointing from the US lying down. They're only protecting their own interests, which is nothing new nor surprising. What sets them apart in their dealings with the outside world is the absence of aggression, save for one small blip - Tibet. Pointing out this obvious active stance they're adopting does not a CCP supporter make. China have never invaded any nation in the modern era in a bid to dominate. Im sure you know how smooth and cunning they can be, and rather than force, they'd adopted a manner of conduct to get things done via negotiations, diplomacy and non-hesitation to win support by first stretching out their hands. This is something that really irks Trump, and typically, he feels threatened by what, in his eternal rigid self, he's unable to grasp that optional passive approach, nor the concept & its usefulness. The reason I'm choosing to remain curious about possible US culpability by citing the Sept '19 anomaly and how it was likely swept under the rug is because thats consistent with what this US administration's lack of transparency is famed for. I'm not buying what MSM dishes out, preferring to dig a bit to understand why they dish out particular things while covering up and hiding certain other things.

Instead of a condom, I keep a moist towelette in my wallet because I run into buffalo wings a lot more often than sex. ~ Anon.

Maybe these loyal patrons and other Trump muppets should direct their focus within their own circle and own the glaring incompetence there. Right in the middle of it is Trump, the biggest donkey of misinformation by a mile. I'd like to see them retrace their steps to September of last year and explain the sudden deaths across the country of over 200 people from a 'mysterious lung infection' which they conveniently attributed to vaping. Not buying that, at least not yet.

That's what I said - the phone can be tracked, but how can the tracker know who's near the infected person, and secondly, you claim they can send out reminders to others to keep a distance... That's waaay out there, man.

~ DIANA ST. RUTH ~ Happiness cannot be forced into existence, nor can it be forced out of it, but it can be held in abeyance. This is what we do when we hang on to things and people and ideas in our minds and refuse to let them go. The mind becomes blocked and the way is dammed up. Being alert, observing the movements of the mind and body in daily life, noticing what is taking place—as opposed to what one wishes would take place, or what one fears might take place, or what one grieves over as having already taken place—is a way of life that is completely free of all self-imposed restrictions and conflicting states of mind. Wisdom and compassion will be allowed to function freely under these circumstances.

While the phone's location can be pinned, its doubtful if its proximity to others can be known. Infected person could be in GS's house with a room full of pseudowizards one day, and the next day, he could return but with only one pseudowiz in da house. And the idea that others will get a warning is simply too incredulous.

Glad you are going out of your way to see the lighter side of things.

Newly Found Scripture Reveals Buddha Gave Remote Sermon, Struggled with A/V Issues

Its not so much a switch around, but more about resonation. This resonation comes about mainly through one's fundamental leanings - for example, one who's highly materialistic, or involved in commerce & business would venerate all the deities associated with good fortune & wealth; another who may be a cop, in the armed forces, security sector, or in the triads, may likely have Guan Yu as their main object of veneration; one who is compassionate and values kindness will venerate Guan Yin - but at the same time, they are respectful of all the other major gods and deities in the hierarchy. Most Asian Taoist homes will have images/representations of Guan Yin and one form or another of a buddha (Shakyamuni in some households, mine being one) as the main objects of veneration, and also will tend to have on the same altar the Jade emperor, the gods of prosperity & longevity, followed by Zaoshen, the kitchen goddess; the earth protector deity whose seat is on the floor directly beneath the main altar, and also a small shrine in the garden for the lord of the heavens.

No worries, yvw. Others may well provide different perspectives based on their own understanding, and I will do likewise. In its most idealistic expression, I'd say that most Asian Taoists (the masses) would aim for an auspicious rebirth thru their piety and close adherence to what they individually conceptualise to be divine guidance that leads to that fruition, while more than most Western practitioners would be unabashedly pivoting for immortality.

Taoism encompasses the ways of heaven, earth and man. Its vast. Incomprehensibly vast. How much time have we got? Okay, I'll try to contribute what little I know... normally I wouldn't participate in this 'room' as its not my path, but like it or not, Taoism is very much part of my life since I grew up partially immersed in this tradition by way of my mother, her parents, and her ancestors, who are all identified as Taoists. What this means is that their lives very much evolved around Taoism in all its infinite expressions. This makes it quite difficult to define what exactly is a Taoist, and maybe, this is precisely the beauty and profoundness of the Way - its indefinable, yet it can be lived through one's beliefs, attitude, morals, ethics, principles and so on. In general, the householder type of Taoism respects individuality in all its forms, including individual quirks and fallibilities, and makes no demands on conformity, other than some very basic observations that are common to whichever sect one's ancestors are aligned with. And there's something like 35 main ones, plus many more sub-sects, within which will also have their own divisions and sub-divisions, and so on. Back then, any practitioner who attains proficiency in any particular aspect of Taoism will likely establish some sort of following - this is true to this day. So its really quite complex. Despite this complexity and diverse paths, they all converge at some level and share some common important beliefs, major gods and deities, observances of certain auspicious dates and events, rituals associated with such dates and events, and certain customs. If I were to ask my mother and her sibling what Taoism means to them subjectively, I know for a fact that their answer will differ quite remarkably. My mom might resonate with Quan Yin as her main object of veneration, whereas her sibling may well resonate with the Eight Immortals. But the altar in her sibling's home will likely sit an image of Quan Yin, and likewise, the altar in our home have some representation of the Eight Immortals. This is in addition to various other significant deities that most if not all Taoist households will have set up altars for. Taoism is widely practiced throughout Southeast Asia, and not just China. There are many authentic lineages scattered all over these parts. Some are highly ritualistic and conservative, others more laissez faire. Some focus on philosophy, while others concern themselves solely with the religious aspects of it. Out of all these arise unique variances in cultivation techniques - expressed through art, qi cultivation, TCM, meditation, ways of worship, dogma, moral and ethical studies, and philanthropy. Thats pretty much what my mind can handle for now lol. If you have questions, I'd be happy to answer what I can based on what I know first hand.

"I'm not a schmuck. Even if the world is going to hell in a hand-basket, I won't lose a penny." ~ Trump Mark these words.

Chris Cuomo confirmed today he'd been tested positive. Some of the stern encouragements coming from Dr Gupta worth noting.

Did you train under this guy, GS?

~ DAKINI WISDOM ~ One day Saraha asked his wife for some radish curry. She prepared the dish, but in the meantime Saraha entered a deep meditation from which he did not emerge for twelve years. He then immediately asked for his radish curry. His wife was astonished, "You have been in meditation for twelve years; now it is summer and there are no radishes." Saraha then decided to go to the mountains for more meditation. "Physical isolation is not a real solitude," replied his wife. "The best kind of solitude is complete escape from the preconceptions and prejudices of an inflexible and narrow mind, and, moreover, from all labels and concepts. If you awaken from a twelve year samadhi and are still clinging to your twelve year old curry, what is the point of going to the mountains?" Saraha listened to his wife and after some time attained the supreme realization of the Mahamudra.

I've been told lots of great things about Borneo, and its on my bucket list. How did you find the place? And KL? Did you get to visit Batu Caves when in KL? If cave temples are your thing, next trip try to make it to Ipoh. Some pretty awesome ones there. The energies in some of them are quite astounding. Used plural because the palpability varies from one point to another. Quite profoundly too.

This looks like a useful website for those in the US https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2764137

Do you visit sometimes? I'm in KL often enough, visiting family and friends.

Mostly in the west midlands, around Perak state. Whereabouts are your connections?

Yes, it does seem very very odd indeed, and its not just America. Malaysia (where I'm now residing) just announced a $250 billion rescue package under the slogan, "Nobody will be left behind", but upon closer scrutiny, one will see how the same sector, comprising small traders, the cottage industry, the independent retailers and entrepreneurs, and other small-scale businesses are neglected. Just seems too much of a coincidence. Is this done with some kind of nefarious motive? My hunch says 'yes'.