Sunya

Do I need to remind you how you acted a couple months ago? You even volunteered to be banned. Whatever happened to that? You have a huge ego problem for someone that claims to understand the essence of Buddhism, which is no-self. Stop arguing so much and go practice.

Styro, I urge you not to continue your conversation with alwayson.. .It's like talking to a child who has something to prove. There are much more evolved people on this forum which you can converse with...You seem like a very knowledgable and good person, so please don't get sucked into his karma. He's was almost banned couple months ago during a long debate where he became very immature and emotional.

You have some very strange karma, alwayson, I really don't get it. So those that don't claim realization have it, while those that do don't have it? Have you ever thought that maybe not everyone follows those rules? Dalai Lama is highly realized but he doesn't need to claim it, nor would it really benefit him since he is a political leader. Telling people "well guys I'VE seen it" doesn't prove anything these days, since people demand scientific proof for everything. Also, it is a cultural thing for Tibetans to be very very humble and never admit that they are realized. Actually, i'd say it's an Asian thing. Daniel Ingram talks about this and says that those with realization need to be much more public and open about it so that these sort of things don't seem so mythical and out of reach. Please don't insult alwayson's main role model and source of identity, GIH, you don't want to go down that road.

According to Buddhism, our mindstreams have been every type of being, including gods. Are you so surprised that someone actually has experience remembering this? Really don't see what the big deal is. And not sure why you even capitalize brahma, gods are just beings like everyone else, except more powerful and live longer.

You really should learn to ask more nicely. You have a very arrogant and pestering nature.

I think this whole issue of distinguishing Rigpa and mind, and in relation to what Gold is saying, can be easily solved if you understand that the core realization of Dzogchen is that there is no fundamental difference between Rigpa and mind, but that realization only dawns once attachment to mind is let go of, so this distinguishment is really just a method

Interesting post Styro, thanks.

Wow... It's funny and sad how even Buddhism, a very compassionate and open ideology, can somehow lead people into such low depths of anger and fundamentalism.

Norbu never taught this way? I don't claim to be Norbu, but he does teach you need faith. It's written in his commentaries on Garab Dorje's 3 statements. How can you receive pointing out if you don't have faith? I'm not claiming to be giving any direct introduction here... but studying the theory of Dzogchen is absolutely necessary. Unless you have wonderful conditions (where the teacher can point out Rigpa instantly to you due to your past experiences) you'll have to study and understand. Dzogchen is never taught outside of the Buddhist teachings. Norbu Rinpoche tells everyone to read The Precious Vase. This book lays out the foundation, the theory, which is absolutely necessary to go deep into the practice. The essence of the theory is emptiness and dependent origination. These have different names within the context of Dzogchen, but as alwayson said, are exactly the same as the essence of Buddhism itself. To reiterate, philosophical understanding is absolutely necessary to understand Dzogchen. The way it is taught is usually of the Semde (mind) series. This involves understanding the theory and performing practice. The other series' (Longde: Space, Menngade: secret oral instructions) are advanced and require you to already have experience with Rigpa. Semde is about introducing yourself to Rigpa. If you had an early experience that didn't require you to understand the theory first, then that's great for you (if what you experienced was actually Rigpa in the first place). Don't assume that your luck transcends to everyone else who practices.

You're right, never mind. i was thinking of a different interpretation of Kadak and Lhundrup. Some teachers use different translations for methodological purposes. I think you're absolutely right that the essence of Dzogchen is the essence of Buddhism. This is why Dzogchen is a complete vehicle.. but I just want to add that Dzogchen traditionally is trekcho and thogal which are very advanced practices. 99% of people will not be able to start with trekcho and will instead have to do concentration practice, mind training, and psychological healing to let go of hinderances. So they aren't really doing Dzogchen then. That's why no Dzogchen teacher starts out with trekcho. Even Namkhai Norbu teaches shamata/vipashyana and Tantra.

hi alwayson, Dependent origination and emptiness are not two sides of the same coin, but rather the same side. They are synonyms. This is a very good related article: http://awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com/2009/10/dzogchen-rigpa-and-dependent.html BTW, did you copy all that from the wikipedia article? Or did you write that yourself? The summary of Kadag and Lhundrub is quite wrong. Also, anyone interested in learning about Dzogchen, I would highly recommend to start with this short article by Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, one of the greatest Dzogchen masters of our time. http://awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com/2009/09/mirror.html Hi Kate, A good summary of Dzogchen can be learned from the 3 statements of Garab Dorje. I will quote Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche on this since my attempts of summarizing will be futile at best Any terminology that you don't understand, I'd try my best to clarify... though someone more experienced, like Vajrahridaya or CowTao, might provide better clarification.

Interesting quotes, Thanks.

Unfortunately we are in the land of samsara and nothing is immune to its negative forces. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Is that the only center in town?

That doesn't really make sense. You're saying 'the lack of self' of 'the lack of self.' Emptiness is the quality of phenomena lacking inherence and selfhood, so it's not really a thing nor is it an underlying substance that everything is part of nor is it a source. It is a description of how things are.

Audiences always have the option to get up and leave. Only a fool would keep coming back to the same performance if its a terrible show. Nobody is forcing you to be here. What's the big deal? If you disagree with the content then talk about the content. If your biggest gripe is with grammar, then seriously you need to go for a walk and contemplate why you need to argue with people over the net about such trivialities. I understand Vaj just fine, and I studied philosophy in college (philosophers are the biggest grammar Nazis second to historians). This is a forum not an academic journal. If your issue is with conventionality then you're an idiot. If your issue is truly not understanding then that's another thing, but I can't relate to that since I have no problems understanding him. Either way, there's no reason to respond to every post with snobby and spiteful remarks. You've made your point quite clear.

No idea... that's kind of how I feel about spontaneous Qi Gong right now... Ok great so I can sit and shake around for an hour, what good is that? I have no clue.. that's why I'm getting more serious about shamata/vipashyana mind training.

Enlightenment isn't some big mystery. Of course enlightened masters know. If you don't know that you're awake, then you're not awake... very simple. I'm sorry but... what planet do you live on? Seems like you don't understand the reality of differences at all. Why try ever so hard to lump everything into the same category? You're really going to run into problems once you start meeting people. Just open up a newspaper and see what's happening out here. Look at all those soldiers 'practicing' by killing others, or those lovely terrorists 'practicing' by blowing themselves up. Wisdom and awareness arise together and can be likened to be the same. There is a lot of unawareness in this world.... Many dim lights. They all have the potential for vast wisdom, but there is a huge difference between actualized potential and dormant potential. Anyone that says 'know where you're going and understand the goal' is dumb then. You have to give it up and go get lost in the wilderness because apparently roaming aimlessly in the forest is superior to understanding the best path and what the goal entails. Is that your position? That's like saying: get a lobotomy before getting into a car on the highway. Yes there are some paths more complete than others. Not every path gets to the most superior destination. Enlightenment isn't as easy as you have been lead to believe. If you believe that all paths are the same, then you must believe that enlightenment occurs without any conditions. In that case, you might as well sit on your couch and watch movies all day. Don't even think about enlightenment, forget about it. Don't make any effort to change your habits and transform yourself into a more loving open confident and connected being. Just don't. There is no path! I really don't get how people can believe this and yet practice... Practice is essential! You gotta DO! Now I think the issue is that people think that Buddhist enlightenment is simply dissolving the self and having nondual experence. If that was it then yes Buddhism is just another method, but that's NOT the goal. Nonduality is only halfway there. Other mystical traditions stop at 'dissolving the self' but Buddhists (should) keep going. Enlightenment is when there is realization that there is nothing BUT the interplay of phenomena which all lack 'self-ness'. There is no separation (since everything is interdependent) but I am NOT you. There is a big difference between saying You and I are the same, and saying you and I are interdependent and lack self, but still exist relatively. Enlightenment is not a state of consciousness, because all states arise interdependently and don't last. You can't focus your mind for 30 minutes to become enlightened and then fall back again. That's just an impermanent state which arose dependent on you concentrating. Enlightenment is realization, an insight, which does occur dependently but lasts permanently and encompasses all states of consciousness. It is the realization that all states of mind, all phenomena experienced by mind, and mind itself are all interdependent arisings.Not two, not one. The language used by mystics allows you to get a peak into their realizations. Once you understand the 'map' then you can clearly see who is where. This sort of hierarchal view bothers some people. Maybe because they really want to believe that we're all on an Escalator to Heaven. In my experience, debating with people like Vajra, who is a very experienced practitioner, brought up fear and anxiety about my own path. It really made me question whether I truly understood the path and goal. It tore my life apart for a couple years, but was well worth it. Not many people allow themselves to be torn up like that. I found it be very positive, eventually

Unless your parents are millionaires who don't need the money, i'd save them the hardship and not postpone graduating. In this economy you'll have trouble finding a job at first, so you'll have plenty of time to meditate after you graduate

'Self' is an intellectual masturbation perpetrated upon hapless sheep to try and pretend that there is a self. Infinite streams of consciousness are interconnected, indeed, but how does that lead to 'one single pool of consciousness'? I don't get the logic. Your metaphor comparing consciousness to an ocean begs the question. Why can't there just be dynamic everchanging waves without an underlying unchanging substance to tie them together? Why take the extra unnecessary step?

Yoda was inspired by a Tibetan teacher by the name of Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche. From the Berzin Archives: "Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche was a massive man – a monk with shaved head, red robes, and a deeply lined face that made him look more ancient than his years. His humble, wise manner and gentle humor made him appear like the archetypal sage of fables. This quality did not escape the notice of Westerners who met him. Upon seeing him in Dharamsala, for instance, the makers of the popular film Star Wars decided to use him as the model for Yoda, the spiritual guide of the epic. Rinpoche never saw the movie, but would undoubtedly have been amused at the caricature. Rinpoche’s most outstanding feature, however, was his relationship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama."

Thank you

Thanks brother.. will contact you.

No takers?

I work at a tea company and we have 3 different pu ers, 1 2 3 ...the 3rd is the most expensive. I have no clue how old they are, I should ask, but I'm curious as to their quality. In terms of price, are they expensive compared to what you guys buy? I'll make an offer.. whoever here is a good writer and has knowledge of the medicinal qualities of Pu Er, I'll send you samples of all 3 and in return you can write an article for Tea Muse ... it can be a short review of the 3 teas and a short explanation of the medicinal benefits of Pu Er. Any takers?

Depends what kinda tea you use.. Black and pu er have more infusions than oolong.. oolong has more than green.. I usually don't use more than 2 infusions but with pu er i'll go for 3. I like mine strong though so I typically add a little bit with each infusion.