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Ignorance expresses itself as those tired, old habit forms, imbued with desire, aversion or indifference. Wisdom, on the other hand, expresses itself as vibrant, fresh and creative forms, imbued with compassion, power and purity. ~ Paramito Ladakh ~

The only allusion i made was to the idea that modern day psychology is still flawed and will continue to be flawed for a while, at least - I dont believe it was my intention to indicate that Buddhism was a more superior substitute for fixing chronic mental illness.

Buddhas (like Padmasambhava, for eg) can spontaneously appear without being subject to reincarnation. There are others in the Vajrayana pantheon who have similar capabilities. Those who get to choose auspicious rebirths are boddhisattvas with high attainments. So the tradition asserts anyway.

Im all for awareness.

If they know they are beating the wife then that action alone has karmic consequences. If they refuse to know, and in denial that they are beating the wife, that will also have karmic repercussions. What is hidden in his psyche can never be fully uncovered due to mind's basic empty nature, thus it would be a mistake to assume that his need to pummel the wife can only be neutralised when certain underlying factors or neuroses are sufficiently analysed. Of course if he is willing to be analysed it will perhaps help to an extent, but in a wider context, analytical exercises of this nature is a futile pursuit. In your own words, the unconscious extends beyond the individual.

Are you touting for the efficacy (beaver testicles aside) of contemporary approaches to mental health, then? Lets not speculate what Gautama had or had not, for that brings up unnecessary complications. As for rituals, they are still very much part of some cultures who depend on them for the protection/promotion of sanity, as well as sanctity, so one should not play down its importance with any degree of impunity. Most modern day folks have their own habitual and perhaps even superstitious rituals too. In some sense, the only difference is, in this day and age, they call it 'quirks'. As for demons, one need only to scan this forum to see that beliefs and imaginations (some could be real too) surrounding them is still very much alive and well, thriving all the same despite Messrs. Freud, Jung & co.'s best efforts.

I might actually want to disagree with you slightly on that point about causes being deeply buried/suppressed in the unconscious mind. There are lots of things that people know (are conscious of) that are not contributing to good, healthy overall well-being of body and mind, any yet continue to justify, by using the above tag line, in repeating the same patterns over and over. Its a common practice to defer one's limitations to things hidden in the deeper strata of the sub-mind. The Buddha never acknowledged this in his discourses. Buddhism, for example, is not a psychoanalytically-bent philosophy. The Buddha laid it down very clearly and simply that the root cause of suffering is attachment, and attachment's root cause is ignorance. Ignorance means not knowing, and also, knowing, but not doing anything remedially. He didn't mention anything about hidden neuroses that need to be rooted out by using methods that resemble analytical tools employed by modern day psychology. He merely said that if you want to address a short-coming, then you need to bring that into the light and see it clearly and fearlessly, and keep being aware that it is a self-imposed hindrance and an obstacle to the practice of the eightfold path, or the paramitas, or to the maintenance of equipoise.

Hi, and welcome to TDB.. Just to let you know that Rocco hasn't 'officially' visited the site since April, so you might have to wait a bit to get an acknowledgement from him. It could be anytime, really.

is actually a recognised debilitating condition. See 'Phobophobia'.

Have you encountered any materials by Livia Kohn? I think the book 'The Taoist Experience' will provide some insights into the subjects that interest you. Another likely resource that you might find useful - https://books.google.ie/books?id=EXVk1tr6lEYC&pg=PA659&lpg=PA659&dq=handbook+of+taoist+rituals&source=bl&ots=iJwHxVipVf&sig=hChW2ZL1tKgsaHf5mXBZZlO3uL4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8vrir0bTXAhVGXRoKHYcrBR4Q6AEIMzAB#v=onepage&q&f=false

Thanks, but this is a gift that i am unable to accept, thus let it remain in your good keep.

My sentiments exactly.

Your power of awareness is beyond astute, man! Not sure if a congratulatory or a commiseratory note is in order. Perhaps you would like to demonstrate how to step beyond the intellectual threshold in a discussion forum, eh? While you are working that out, you might also want to ask yourself, with some level of seriousness, when will you tire of appealing to condescension and passing flippant remarks in every single post you make here? Do you honestly live in the delusion that so doing will somehow magically add credibility to your online presence? Do you actually invest any time in doing some self-analysis to see how wonderfully non-effective and disorganised your views are? Personally, I don't take anything you say with any amount of seriousness, but to each his own, i guess.

Only seemingly so, at the initial novice-like stages. Upon mastery, the transformation happens so spontaneously that it will appear as if nothing had transpired. In Vajrayana, this is sometimes known as Liberation upon arising. Metaphorically speaking, one can imagine the gathering of dew on the surface of a lotus leaf... as the dew drops become denser and merge, they roll off the leaf by virtue of their own action and volitional force - the leaf exerts no effort at all, but merely retain its own natural state and resting in that. In this view, no alchemical process have taken place, but to the observer, it may appear that some intimate manipulation had occurred.

Only seemingly. Seeing only effects is like having jaundiced vision, or mistaking that a diseased tree can be cured by only trimming the branches. In uprooting a tree, trimming off the branches first might be seen as a waste of effort. Likewise, it is said that to eradicate the karma of a diseased tree the swiftest means is always to sever the roots. For the reconciliation of fragmented thinking, it is crucial to be aware that effects, in actuality, contain seeds of both the potential for liberation or a continuity in producing a repeat of the same effects... where dualistic view persists, then its the almost always the latter, sustained by the force of its own momentum, to continue producing the same habitually similar patterns . For example, rising anger can simultaneously contain the potential for further aggression and results thereof, or the concentrated energy that occurs in that moment can be used as a cause for liberation to occur instantaneously by cutting through and transforming that particular energy into its enlightening equivalent. The same applies to all other emotional arisings.

like this.... Explained in English here...

even now is an illusion, according to some...

In addition to what is consumed, one should cultivate the habit of being aware of what to refrain from consuming. Both approaches must work synergistically. For example, I love cheeses, especially good cheddar... but of late, its causing some discomfort whenever I eat it, so I know its time to set it aside. Every once in a while, I would have a bit though, just to see if the rejection is maybe temporary, but so far, it does not seem like it is. Besides dairy, I have also removed the consumption of chops and steaks from the diet, reduced all meat intake by at least 50%, and the times when I feel like a bit of meat, its always slow-cooked until really tender or real soft. Soups and stews are good as they are easily digestible and the micro-nutrients nourish both the physical and subtle body. I like to advice friends to avoid heavy consumption of commercially produced milk and dairy, if possible. There's something in these products that increases phlegm build-up exponentially. Beers and fizzy drinks as well. Phlegm is a magnet for toxins, and is one of the primary causes for many types of ailments if not expunged properly. In the main, phlegm impacts the airways negatively, and this in itself is bad enough - the vitality of breath is paramount to good health maintenance. Many Westerners have a polite habit of swallowing phlegm that rises to the throat. So basically one is eating a blob of toxin! Asian people do the unsightly opposite. First time visitors to Asia will be shocked by the frequency in which Asians clear their throat and spit rather matter-of-factly. Not that I agree with this rather crass habit. One could always avail of a tissue, no? Eating/drinking mindfully (as in 'slowly') ought to be consistently observed. There is absolutely no reason to rush. Unlike some animals, our system is not designed to gorge food frantically. Eat and drink with a sense of calmness and gratitude. Learn to be grateful for meal times, and for being fully aware of eating when you are eating. Bless your meals and drinks as you begin consumption. Gather a sense of joy each time you sit down to nourish yourself.

Best to keep an open mind. There are reports of deathless saints in perpetual samadhi up in various locations in the Himalayas. Naturally, legends abound of the various magical presences and feats they possess and have demonstrated to rare individuals who had the affinity to meet a couple of these 'light' beings, the most renowned of course is Mahavatar Babaji (Autobiography of a Yogi). There was I think mention of someone taking a photo of him, and when it was developed, there was no Babaji in shot. Friends I have met have been on guided journeys of discovery to some of the holy sites in the mountains, with the hope of meeting at least one of these avatars, but all in vain. Sure, they met sadhus and yogis leading hermitic lives, in long-term retreats and such, but none was found to be more than 70 years old. But the fact that these sagely beings are able to sustain themselves in those harshest of harsh conditions and still remain bright and in profound quiescence would suggest that indeed some of them have managed to access (at least) the principle/s that may lead to some level of mastery over the physical world/body. There are suggestions that, aiming to preserve the sanctity of Kailash and her surrounds, the understanding among local guides and villagers is to never lead outsiders/tourists to the actual avatars' caves, but this has not been verified, though its a probability. Babaji - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavatar_Babaji Mt. Kailash - https://sacredsites.com/asia/tibet/mt_kailash.html Supertramp recorded a song dedicated to Babaji

I dont have a clue cos the question is too vast for my mind to even try contextualising its premise.

who can offer a satisfactory answer to that biggie will be some sort of philosophical genius i think

It wasn't kept hidden for long, thats for sure

The western psyche will probably find this hard to grasp, but in Eastern philosophy there are strong suggestions to indicate that the true master is always the lowliest, most faithful, most forbearing, and yet the most joyful servant. Taoist and Buddhist core tenets points to this very clearly - to always assume a lowly position. When probing old stories coming out from martial arts schools, zen and other Buddhist monasteries, and even some contemporary tales (like Chen Zhen, Star Wars, or Kato in the Green Hornet, all of which of course would have borrowed themes from various historical settings), it becomes clear why this is so. Sure, these stories depict the noble deeds of grandmasters doing their thing, but apparently he or she will always have a humble attendant close by at all times, not only to take care of the master, but more importantly, to serve as a constant reminder to the grandmaster that his or her position is first and foremost that of service to others, and to keep pride in check. He/she is also almost always the one whom the in-situ master will go to for counsel and to share secrets with. In desperate situations, he or she can be relied upon, and is usually seen as a last bastion of hope to keep the institution's integrity intact.

Those who seek enlightenment regard their bodies as the furnace, the Dharma as the fire, wisdom as the craftsmanship, and the Six Paramitas as the mould. They smelt and refine the true buddha-nature within themselves and pour it into the mould formed by the rules of discipline. Acting in perfect accordance with the Buddha’s teaching, they naturally create a perfect likeness. ~ Bodhidharma ~