Astral Monk

My understanding is that Buddha achieved insight through his own efforts, and encouraged everyone after to do the same. The revolutionary idea being that individuals could attain the highest awakening in this present life. Then we have the Amitabha sutra where suddenly Buddha suggests that if this is too hard for you, no worries, it just so happens you dont need to do any of that hard personal work I myself demonstrated. Instead, just earnestly invoke Amitabha 10 times before death and at the time of death youll go to a magical land where continuing on the path is super easy and results pretty much garuanteed. And Amitabha is eternal, never ending, illuminates the universe and so on. Aside from evoking some western ideas of saviours and heaven, it basically says forget whatever other teaching, this one here is really a shortcut. All the super-Buddha invokation and mantra practices are like this. Not saying mantras cant be a useful tool, but, reading literally it just seems way off. If awakening leads to nirvana and exiting the realm of becoming, and the goal of Buddhas is to lead this liberation, why are some Buddhas building eternal magic lands that basically perpetuate the realm of becoming further? Seems weird. And awfully convenient. So I guess I have an issue with the idea of 'other power' and thats why it feels like Pure Land is a deviation. 8)

Just thought I'd add this selection from a passage in the book The Healing Buddha (1979), since I just read it, and it speaks to our topic: "The composition of these Mahayana texts seems to have occurred four to seven centuries after the death of Sakyamuni, yet the texts purport to record his spoken teachings. From a Mahayana viewpoint, there are a number of ways to deal with this problem. ...[T]hese teachings were safeguarded by the great Bodhisattvas in various secret places, such as the palace of the king of the gandharvas, and the palace of the king of the nagas. These teachings were later released when mankind was ready to receive them. Another point of view which could be taken is that the assemblies took place in spirit realms and are essentially ahistorical. ...A third point of view is that these texts were composed by various Buddhist teachers, who expressed their insights and inspiration by writing in the traditional sutra form." Birnbaum, The Healing Buddha (1979), pg.52-3 It is possible, following on the last suggestion, to view Mahayana texts as a kind of skillful means to break through intractable concepts and viewpoints. However, it seems a rather perilous way, as if many of these texts are taken literally, they might just as easily lead ppl astray. Pure Land practice, for instance, seems antithetical to the spirit of Buddhism, however, many interpret Pure Land in terms relevant to this life and this practice, which may make it a useful modality. Now I'll have a look back at the recent posts!

I miss that guy who was suspicious of Karate-Tai Chi teachers...I'll always remember that, lol 8)

Thats basically how I see it. While I enjoy these sutras and mantras etc, I cant help feel they represent a decay or corruption of authetic Buddhism. If the goal of Buddhism is Buddhas, whats with all the crazy talk of rebirths and magical buddha lands? When a Buddha dies hes really and totally dead and gone and not coming back. Instead we have ideas of eternal Buddhas with infinite lifespans...which seems entirely contrary to the basic principles. I cant read the Amitabha sutra without thinking 'this is fake', even though I love the splendid character of Amitabha. Original Buddha, supposedly, was not given a revelation by a being. Why should we accept such 'gifts' from dubious sources? I apply the same criticism to western religions. But not to sidetrack too much, lets see how it could be that Mahayana existed from the beginning as Apech suggests... 8)

Very good. Can I quote this? That sleep gate is real lol. 8)

Interesting books. A different look than some other presentations. Seems to focus on practical exercises. Not sure how legit his Daoist practices are. I found his treatment of Wu Qin Xi (five animal sports) interesting. He advocates a more spontaneous qigong, free flow, than a fixed set. I think there is some practical value there, as his work seems to cross between qigong, Daoism, and TCM. 8)

MORE strenuous than mabu? Such as..? For bagua and taiji being equally balanced on two feet is almost always a brief moment in transition from one step to the next. In stepping it usually goes 0% to 100%, empty to full. Bagua stepping the same--once lead foot connects, weight all goes there and momentum carries through to next step. So training single leg stances is important bc you will always be using them in motion. But equal balance is for standing posts. Basic zhan zhuang is equal balance. You need this to allow all channels to open properly. Single leg posts are def more advanced. But I'd suggest there is also a difference between neigong prep posture practice and post standing. 8)

Where is this from? 8)

Great point. Hadnt occured to me before, but seeing as was mentioned that writing didnt exist in India till after Buddha...its very interesting! I'll grant mystical visions, but not give them credence, bc theyre no better than todays 'channelings'. 8)

Are you suggesting that blind ppl or colorblind ppl cant use this meditation at all? 8)

How can you be false to youself? Its like asking an orange to 'be fully an orange, not something else!' As pointed out, there is no enduring 'self' to be true to. 'Self' is just a momentary locus of a narrative, a loose knot holding together a string of associations. 'Truth' meanwhile fares no better as a logical value tying together a series of well-formed propositions, defining a coherent system--in other words, an imaginary dotted line in the proverbial sand marking off a domain of ideas we call 'facts'. 'Truth' and 'self' are both relative, conditioned, as evidenced by the fact there is 'not-truth' and 'non-truth' as well as 'not-self' and 'non-self'. These referers have no fixed referees. So really this is nothing more than an aphorism to what, not lie in your mind as part of your own internal monologue? Lol, you cant lie to yourself. Then it means steadfastly (or stubbornly) adhere to your beliefs in your head even in the face of external opposition? Because it cant mean anything profound about true nature or whatnot. An orange is still an orange no matter what imagination projects. Even if the self were a 'thing', lies and truths emmanate from it without violating its nature or changing its fact. Both fully reveal its essence without fail or obstruction. Which means a thing, even a person, always and by every act expresses its essence. It cannot fail to. It cannot deceptively express another essence. In being the thing it is, it cant fail to be that thing--as we would say, truthfully. 8)

Not the same. Dantiens dont exist until we establish them. They arent part of what we would call the medical energy body. They created for a specific purpose in alchemy. Basically they are temporary storage recepticals for subtle energy that allow forward progress--a platform from which to further develop. Which is why they arent part of qigong, which only moves energy efficiently. Chakras are far more numerous and seem to be more like important energy points, which do exist in medical energy theory and qigong. We would do better to look for chakra parallels in those points--like huiyin, mingmen, baihui, and so on. These are focal points of energy that sometimes have special purposes and effects when stimulated. However, dissenting opinion--it could be that the chakra system is also an external imposition. I read somewhere once the idea that it was some kind of energetic limiter ppl receive or create, like a self made energy cage. Chakras do extend well beyond the body into so-called etheric fields. If something like this were the case, they might be more like dantiens in the sense of having to be created and not being a native part of our energy anatomy. 8)

TFW...the bums finally got the 'D' XD

Isnt the color incidental/unimportant? Isnt it the sensation of movement downward that is the key to this meditation? I suggest a blind person will find it just as effective. 8)

What was Buddha incorrect about? Nothing. He only spoke within strict confines of his realization and refused to answer any of the big philosophical questions ppl still wank on about. Its pretty clear desire IS a problem. And one any seeker will have to work past to get any progress. Doesnt matter Buddhist or Daoist. As for Buddhisms ultimate goal, you can see it as either a practical way to help ppl live balanced lives not subject to extremes and polarities of emotion, or as a special task to literally drain energy from the universe until all forms of processes dissolve. In Daoism there is the concept of 'not embroiling'. The sage moves awayfrom being caught in polarities of circumstance. How similar to the aim of ceasing duhkha? 8)

The way of Dao is the reverse. The reverse is the rear not front. The rear is the bum. The bums rush is the movement of Dao! XD

Excelent. Sanxingdui is the inspiration for Tristar qigong/taiji. I thought of nagas ie, reppies as being behind it all, but as above there seems some parallel with north american tribal work, and no doubt others. The Tristar form takes inspiration for qigong infused taiji from postures represented by statues, esp the hamsasya mudra--connecting thumb (lung) and forefinger (sm intestine).

Interesting. What is the purpose of the form, the movements? 8)

Just wait till we're all speaking Chinese, which is practically a certainty. Aboriginals et al will be crying for the easy days of white colonial rule lmao.

Anyone been doing Spring Forest Qigong's 5 Element set? Id be interested to hear ppl's experiences. In short, it works the 5 organs through cultivating associated emotions, in conjuction with qigong. Chunyi Lin recommends the healing sounds eleswhere, not sure if he combines them in this case. 8)

I dont think its the same, though there maybe some crossover. Five Animals gets into the realm of activating spontaneous qigong. 8)

Ninja recruitment..you would think to be more covert...or like a throwing star in your headboard when you wake up in the morning... But this christmas present business sounds like ninja tricks to me...prolly a poison smoke bomb 💣💥💨

😁 You cant defeat the Iga Ninja!

Tilt bowl, finger shovel rice. If u drop it an it breaks-- 'no rice in bowl, no rice in belly!' 8)