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Aah, thank you so much, Walker. Your life experiences are fascinating. I like that observation you made about having affinity or otherwise with Vajrayana practices. This is a key point, poignantly highlighted by your account of the Taiwanese Buddhist nun. Not wanting to let this important thread be divested of its intended purpose, I shall follow up with posting a link entitled Meditators' Wind Imbalance (on that Buddhist textual studies thread i have up). Its an interview between a student and Tsoknyi Rinpoche covering with greater authoritative insight on what we have lightly touched upon here. In said interview, Rinpoche offered many considerations on how to properly approach the Vajrayana practices for those (especially Westerners) who may want to explore the path further.

One actually has to do the work, post digestion of youtube vids and other materials, to effect subtle body purification. The accumulations of prostrations happen to be one such work, and one that Im quite certain even Tsoknyi Rinpoche will agree is the least complex while yielding unmistakably exceptional results towards that aim. It may seem like a white knuckle approach at first, but after the first round of 100k, upon palpably noticing the transformative changes, that perception will disperse and eventually evaporate. Vajrayana practices all offer either the long approach to cultivation entailing complicated mudras, mantras, visualizations and so on, and then there's always the option of more compacted essential practices for those who for whatever personal reasons may find difficulty keeping to strict samaya protocols - these condensed sadhanas are all classified under the umbrella term "preliminaries", but the fruition is no less assured. If anyone has the good fortune of meeting an adept with a million or so prostrations accumulated, one will not find an individual who brashly announces his or her 'juice/power', but in all likelihood find an unassuming character who tends towards easeful, gentle self-deprecation, full of glowing energy, and in complete harmony with all aspects of outer, inner and secret bodywork.

This seems like a trend thats universally becoming more prevalent. The theory according to some is that there are forces being concerted towards the eradication of the middle class, with the ultimate aim of having it replaced by AI controlled by the Haves who then use AI as a means to control the Have-nots, all of whom would have been so disempowered by then it eradicates the potential of resistance in all its forms. I'm watching Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 at the moment, and the part where he talks about a proportion of US teachers barely able to sustain even a basic livelihood thus having to seek dependence on food stamps is really quite disturbing. At one end of the spectrum, there are 1st and 2nd level teachers who are financially and otherwise challenged constantly, and at the other, there's this totally absurd & unviable system of entry into tertiary education where students and their families inevitably find themselves in huge debt just to get a qualification, howsoever its cut, just doesn't add up.

China denies human rights openly, while in some countries, its done covertly. Not sure which is more sinister.

foes' corpses float by straw dogs, each and every one immortals, no less...

~ Mahasi Sayadaw ~ A bubble bursts soon after it has been formed. A mirage conjures up an image of reality which disappears on close examination. There is absolutely no substance in either of them. This is common knowledge. As we know their true nature, so also must we know the true nature of the phenomena. When a meditator acquires knowledge of concentration through the observance of the dissolution of the aggregates (khandha), he will discover that the known object and the knowing mind are all in a state of flux, now appearing, now vanishing. They are transitory. There is no essence or substance worthy to be named "mine" in them. They signify only the processes of becoming and dissolution.

dont work - seize the day! don the garb of a hermit run a fool's errand!

A haiku stalwart departs. Farewell... It was good while it lasted. There must be more than 575 reasons you could have stayed Instead, you left because of one.

where did they all go? now she has no customers time for some congee...

Singapore Changi Airport

when the moment comes some will cry "Hallelujah"! but I dont know why....

customers welcome dont forget to wipe your feet as you tell the time....

~ Paramito Ladakh ~ Much of our discontent and dissatisfaction arises from our habitual concern with the maintenance and control of what is inherently uncertain.

What we think we know, we act accordingly. Timely discussion, and definitely one that's vitally highlighted by such demanding displays of wanting the rules of engagement to fit snugly within the comfort of one's dictates. Too bad the world doesn't always yield to our demands. Thanks, bye.

Me hiding? lol never... You reacted sarcastically because thats exactly how you have been wired to respond. My point about making attempts to get intimate with our reference points is precisely for the reason of understanding why we respond to things the way we do, and whether loosening the wires will lead to expanding one's perspective on things.

Good points, except that a tree is much more than a tree, and a person.... infinitely more so. It would be quite a waste if one looking at a magnificent sunset and simply offer a cursory passing remark, "Oh another sunset." Jadedness and cynicism leads to ignorance and dismissive attitudes, which in turn lead to all sorts of blockages. The beauty of things that can be described, or have a name, i think, arise from the nuances around each of those things. But there is also a formless kind of beauty that is quite subtle and tender, and in trying to ascribe names to such exquisiteness can, in some circles, be seen as a letdown to both the observer and the observed. The mystery is not just in trying to make sense of and attempting to understand why formless wonders exist, but how such wonders unfailingly inspire curiosity, creativity, and artistic expressions.

mewling hopefulness let the dice roll, come what may sleep beckons, good night....

Yes, this work, the search, is the relationship I mentioned earlier, which wandelaar found impressive. Had there been more flexibility, he wouldn't have been so easily impressed. Being impressed is usually a sign of the end of openness, of inquiry, of discovery.

Glad you think so. You would not be as impressed had your reference points been less rigid.

It means exactly that - what we think we know is determined by how each individual relates to his or her acquired reference points.

But thats still 3 ways! Further distillation required.

Im only being nosey because i did not see any mention of how one's relationship with numerous reference points can have an impact on the subject.

I think the way to gain true insight is to gradually establish the discovery of self-imposed perimeters around a subject and the thoughts that follow, acknowledge the limitations and biases within that, and then begin to loosen the reference points until one finds a comfort level that enables one to be objective with secondary inputs (as in information gathering and exchanges). Only then can critical thinking serve its purpose. Where these reference points are found to be overly rigid, I cannot imagine any real understanding to occur. my2grains of salt.

Yes, etymologically it would be right, but practically it may cause some confusion to say they basically mean the same thing - at least thats me confused, hence the need for clarification. Cheers.

Its just that when the link's opened, it says photo subject to copyright. Hence the cautiousness. Thanks!