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Its a no vote from me. Too many things could potentially go wrong when opening up the body-mind to remote manipulations. There are too many unknown factors that could impact and thwart the desired outcomes of such impersonal exchanges. Not to mention the absence of protective shielding, quite an important preparatory ritual, considering the limitless number of wandering entities in the ether-realms. Some may not have the ability/knowledge to exorcise possible contaminations and lodgements of negative energy from potentially brushing up against these entities while engaging with what appears like a safe exchange. Perhaps allowances could be made if two or more individuals have already been actively practicing (in person) together for an extended period, and all the proper precautions are in place. Other than that, I think such practices are irresponsible and unnecessary, but that's my own subjective view which anyone is free to disregard. I could probably write an essay on this matter, but i think most of what could be said have already been said on various threads relating to the subject, so if anyone is interested just search the TDB archives and also do some serious homework first. Its important to be sceptical in all matters related to the spirit world. One could never be too careful. There are safer, authentic alternatives available to those who are insistent on surrendering their minds to such manipulations - a common sense approach would be to seek out these alternatives and work with them instead. I dont mean this as a put-down of anyone or group. There's such a thing as free will, and through it many life lessons are there to be learnt, so its a wonderful thing. Its good to know what the risks are so that preventative measures rather than ignorance can be effected. Vigilance and awareness helps, and should always be at the forefront of one's mind when going down this road. I apologise should my words get across as lacking subtlety.

yes, Mandrake... quite sad. Happened a while back, maybe a couple of years. There was a notification here somewhere.

BUDDHA SPEAKS Of all things seen in the world Only mind is the host; By grasping forms according to interpretation It becomes deluded, not true to reality. All philosophies in the world Are mental fabrications; There has never been a single doctrine By which one could enter the true essence of things. By the power of perceiver and perceived All kinds of things are born; They soon pass away, not staying, Dying out instant to instant. ~ THE AVATAMSAKA SUTRA ~

Delighted to hear that beauty is slowly flowering again in your world, Barbara. May the awareness of the joy in simplicity grant you peace always. _/\_

Thanks Michael. Im sure all kinds of Western validations can be found on a diverse range of theories involving chakras. Maybe some source validations from authentic yogic and tantric lineages will be helpful to balance the perspectives. What do you think? All the best to you too.

My point, once again, is not that those ancient people told literal stories, and we are now smart enough to take them symbolically, but that they told them symbolically, and we are now dumb enough to take them literally. ~ John D. Crossan ~

Schiff assembles the pieces around the events that prompted the Intelligence community to launch its on-going investigation into probable Russian meddling in the last elections. His account of this starts around the 35.0 mark. The whole speech/interview is interesting, but quite lengthy. Notice the absence of notes and other prompts.

thanks for the replies guys. Its probably valid from your perspective. I can appreciate that.

I know im breaking my word about not getting involved here, and I humbly apologise... Its statements like the above that sounds a bit too far out, so much so it becomes rather ostentatious-sounding and implausible. This undermines some of the benefits of doubt that is usually reserved when i hear or read declarations of this nature. Maybe it just needs to be reworded, i dont know.. but i have never encountered any proposals of similar unification theories anywhere. I dont claim to be extremely well-versed but I have read quite a bit, met some really knowledgeable teachers, and been in numerous discussion groups with seasoned practitioners, but so far nothing ive encountered would suggest the possibility of moving beyond the 7 chakras, not because it cannot be done, but i think (no offence please) the premise for making this statement is inaccurate and not based on conventional understandings of chakras and their significance. (reset abstinence from posting)

Whether wholesome, unwholesome or neither, whatever is manifesting in consciousness in the ineffable "here and now"; that is to be taken as the object of one's mindfulness and the subject of one's path of practice. ~ Paramito Ladakh ~

Due to its historical facets and the heavy symbolisms involved being so closely woven together belabours the task of accurate definitions by conventional means. We have some idea that tantra originated primarily through vision and revelatory explorations rather than textual ones. In all the buddhist tantric sadhanas theres always mention of the origins of each specific tantra - without exception, the birth of any tantra is preceded by a highly accomplished meditation adept (could be a yogi, dakini, siddha or a ngakpa/ngakma), man or woman, having experienced a vision (or visions) of a certain deity, then set out to formulate a practice (sadhana) with the aim of enabling in others the necessary 'tools' should they choose to pursue same, the caveat being that it cannot be undertaken successfully, and not only that, it could even be precarious without first securing a 'safe' passage through establishing a steady foundation in the preliminaries followed by specific empowerments (transmissions). This cannot be emphasised often enough. In Tibet and other places in the Himalayas 'tantra' also connotes the idea of a thread-like continuity where the belief is that all the inherent purity, power and sublime qualities (both of the sadhana and the deity) have to be guarded with extreme care to prevent contamination from negative forces, in order that these can be safely and faithfully transmitted to sadhakas without the possibility of 'leaks' as it passes from master to novice.

"In my next life I want to live my life in reverse. I want to start off dead and get that out of the way. I'd wake up in an old folks' home, and with each passing day I'll feel better and younger. Then I get kicked out for being under-qualified, which means I'll be eligible to collect my pension. When that money runs out, I'll get a job, gold watch, and a massive pre-retirement party, with benefits on all sides. I'd work at this for 40 years until Im young enough to enjoy my retirement. I'll have lots of options - I can party all night every night, and be promiscuous with no worries. Or travel the world, eat to my heart's content, and not worry about ill health. Then I'd attend high school, fool around again with the gals, followed by primary school, become a kid and act all nerdy. Eventually I become a baby until I am born. I'll spend the last 9 months of my life floating in luxurious spa-like conditions, with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day, and VOILA!! The perfect ending happens, and I finish off as an orgasm." ~ anon

says he who has notched up a post count in excess of 40k!!! if a practice is wrong, often that misplaced direction removes the possibility of dedication. Imo

then there is the consideration of what to do after this popular event called 'awakening'. As for the ultimate nature expressing itself in any situation, my thinking is that it has never been unexpressed, since it is ever-unfolding. Practice is part of it, and so is non-practice. Neither is good or bad - the question to consider, i guess, is how comfortable one is within each chosen state - does one struggle with practice? Are there struggles in laying aside practice? Then there is the consideration of what awakening means to the individual after the fact. That is only the starting point. What do you do assuming now that you're awakened? Or is it really an endless/beginningless evolution of the process of awakening? Aha moments are not necessarily awakening moments; conversely, becoming aware of awakening moments need not always be Aha moments.

In the main it shows whos openly spending the most time on the forum instead of dedicated practice

Not only will these deliver the goods... they are the goods make no mistake about this.. otherwise those who invest their life in practice without knowing this secret can become quite distraught (even bitter) in constant anticipation of the pear dropping (one day, and the next ad infinitum) without proper insight that the pear is already in the hand with the practice. In Buddhist teachings it is said that the harvest and the path (practice) are not two distinct events.

A regular martial artist struggles to understand why he or she must constantly keep on the side of good; An awakened martial artist is one who knows he/she can no longer keep to the side of the dark. Its the same with the view of what a compassionate person is: The common view is that one who cultivates compassion must always be obligated towards helpfulness and charity, whereas the actual meaning of a compassionate person is one who is no longer able to be unhelpful and uncharitable. The latter gives birth to wu-wei, whereas the former repels wu-wei. i think...

Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Noble Path, Three Characteristics of Conditioned Phenomena, Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, Thirty-seven Factors of Enlightenment, Six or Ten Pāramitās, Three, Six or Nine Yānas, Two Truths, And on and on; Eighty-four thousand teachings of the Buddha, All pointing to one thing alone— Mind realising its own true nature! ~ Paramito Ladakh ~

I wandered a bit into the ether forest and came back with this.. quite informative too. A COMPARISON OF SHAIVA AND BUDDHIST TANTRA http://www.sutrajournal.com/the-tantric-age-a-comparison-of-shaiva-and-buddhist-tantra-by-christopher-wallis

Apech - this might interest you. Not directly related to the topic, but at some point perhaps the info on this site might become useful. http://public.dha.ac.cn/content.aspx?id=598699867894

Not sure how relevant this is, but apparently only the Chinese meticulously dated religious texts. According to a source, the earliest literary usage of Vajrayana mantra (in this instance the Sarvatathāgata-tattvasaṃgraha ) was discovered in China around 723CE. It was an Indian manuscript found that was translated into Chinese by Vajrabodhi, an Indian Buddhist monk and master of Buddhist esoteric teachings during the Tang Dynasty. Significance of the Tattvasamgraha Tantra -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattvasaṃgraha_Tantra

Its quite clear to me that the doctrine of dependent origination (Paticca samuppada) taught by the Buddha in the first turning is the very fabric from which Buddhist tantra came to be. This doctrine cannot be realised merely through intellectual investigation; some of the early practitioners who were guided by this doctrine knew about that, and subsequently devised practical and esoteric means towards the actualising the realisation of infinite regressiveness, which is basically what the dependent origination means, imo. These means later coalesced and congealed to form what is popularly known today as buddha-tantra. That remainderlessness clearly alludes to infinite regression and refinement that ultimately leads to a complete calming of all discursive and dualistic patterns in the mental continuum. What makes buddha-tantra special is the assertion followed by a clear path of practice that enables a diligent practitioner to attain to a state where he or she has the ability to permanently remove subtle 'links' in this mental continuum - this in itself would be sufficient to cut through deluded mind and reveal the primordial side of mind, the very nature of mind itself, in its entirety. Hence, i would subscribe to the view that the Buddha had amply presented followers with the scope of tantra right from the beginning, but had kept the esoteric understanding 'secret' for obvious reasons. Im speculating that doing so is in keeping with his belief that we are all heirs of our own karma and therefore our individual freedom and emancipation lies nowhere and with no one except in the one who applies the methods and in the process fully embodies the Dharma by developing a trust and willingness to take full responsibility for the safe arrival to that other shore.

The Dorje https://somathread.ning.com/groups/buddhism/forum/dorje

Rex! Haven't been posting for a while now.. Rex.. if you see this, hope all is well with you. _/\_

yes, got that. now i have to go check the sheath. I think its meant to share a similar appearance to a lotus bud.