Sunya

http://dherbs.com/store/chakra-elixirs-c-6.html Just a ripoff to con lazy/spiritually materialistic people? Or is there something actually to it? The ingredients are 'vibrations of gems in alkaline water'. I don't have money to try, anyone want to give it a whirl?

well, since awareness and phenomena are not two, awareness is always of awareness [or rather, there is only awareness] since there is no separation. But this is a high realization and I haven't attained it yet. To achieve this you have to realize that phenomena (appearances) are awareness since there is no separate perceiver. But perhaps you are asking about self-inquiry, taking consciousness as an object. When consciousness is taken as an object, Awareness is of consciousness and consciousness is seen to be a phenomena appearing with no inherence. Awareness cannot be of awareness itself because awareness is what is aware-ing. By consciousness I mean the senses (touch, smell, taste, see, hear, thoughts + feelings). Since you can be aware of consciousness, consciousness is not awareness, but if you try to look for awareness (where is mind?) you cannot find it. At least... I haven't.

She's just justifying her laziness, indeed. She kept saying "I don't like to move, I like to relax." hahaha, amazing. There are third world countries where people are starving and we have people who try to weigh 1000 pounds.. Could be a deeper issue actually, as I watch it more I see how she reacts to eating. It obviously produces a pleasure response in her, like heroine. Seems like all of this stems from a psychological problem, an addiction to pleasure through food. How sad. This is the extreme of a sedentary lifestyle. LOL I love the end. "Walking is so overrated. You really get more out of life if you don't move" -- wow!

Awareness is always OF phenomena; since there is no awareness separate from phenomena... awareness is constantly changing moment to moment. Being is not separate from constantly changing awareness/phenomena. What awareness is there separate from being?

You said it better than I. Bonkers or not, you're making a lot of sense to me! Where is the line, the distinction, between 'inner' and 'outer' ? Is this line a thought? Is this line a sensation (maybe its located in the face, eyes, skin of the body)? Whatever it is for you, and it may be totally different for me, the distinction will simply be an impermanent sensation/appearance that is always backed up by a constantly recurring underlying thought relating to the sensation. This is complicated... but try to be aware of the sensation of separateness in the body. It's there when you search for it. Now if you stop and relax it might disappear and you'll forget about it -- but the underlying thought pertaining to that sensation continues to exist. Its constantly occurring as an underlying thought-form. Now since that thought-form depends upon the sensation of separateness, which is itself impermanent, why is that underlying thought of separateness trusted? Why is it continually reinforced and why does resistance, and oh such strong resistance!, arise when that thoughtform is questioned? Or maybe the sensation of separateness depends upon the underlying thought-form of separateness, which seems more fundamental. I believe this is more correct as it represents my experience. In Buddhism this thoughtform is called karmic propensity and it lies very deep. Perhaps this explains why there's so much resistance when this propensity is questioned...

I haven't been here for a while and coincidentally, or perhaps not, this thread is at the top and I just finished writing a lengthy post elsewhere pertaining to the subject; though its not exactly the crux of this subject but rather my argument against science as the basis for truth. One of my main arguments is that there is no such thing as an inside and an outside world. I'll post it here, though I admit its probably a bit wordy. http://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/the-great-afterlife-debate/#comment-1786

Speaking of religion... I was hanging out at the philosophy department yesterday at my University. Every professor received a huge box in the mail that said "donation enclosed". Inside was a DVD and about 10 books (i'm guessing over a 100$ value) by L Ron Hubbard. They sent this box to every professor there! :lol: All the boxes were promptly thrown out of course; how ridiculous. They should've picked another department other than philosophy, not that anyone likes scientology these days anyway.

Indeed. This happens to everyone in the beginning years of meditation. No worries Learn from me. I've been meditating for 4 years now doing various energy breathing practices such as MCO, lower dan tien breathing etc. I thought I had enough concentrative ability to move on to more advanced practice like relaxing into mind and simply being present -- but no. Same thing happened with me. So now i'm strictly doing concentration. Some tips: sit infront of a white wall and draw a black dot on the wall at an angle downward from your eyes and stare at that. Or put a brightly colored bowl or object against a white wall and sit further away and stare at it. Or visualize, though this might be more difficult. A candle works too. I find solid visuals objects to be much better than the breath for concentration -- but find what works for you. Also -- 30 seconds of strict concentration is better than 30 minutes of off/on concentration so shoot for short bursts of concentration and really focus on sticking to the object and ignoring whatever else arises within you. Don't drink caffeine it'll make your mind race more. And doing yoga/qi gong before you meditate will calm your mind down but don't over do it or you'll be too sleepy. The ideal state is relaxed and alert.

You're describing more advanced practices which in Dzogchen is called 'relaxing into the natural state' -- It's very difficult to do without concentration. If one simply relaxes then they will fall asleep or become too absorbed into thoughts. That's why the advanced meditation of Dzogchen/Mahamudra is a combination of shamata (concentration) and vipashyana (insight). You need a stable concentrative effort already in place before you can do the practices you describe.

I have no clue about ph but taking a superfood supplement is not a bad idea at all. It was recommended to me by a nutritionist...she said most people do not get enough greens so its very helpful. Plus these supplements have much more than just greens. I take Garden of Life Perfect Food, its about 40-40$ for a 2 month supply. http://www.vitacost.com/Garden-of-Life-Perfect-Food-600-g Trader Joe's also has a Super Green powder for 20$ (30 day supply). Comparable price and basically the same stuff is in it, though the Trader Joe's brand has plant derived digestive enzymes added the Perfect Food might make up since it has a bit more greens. Perfect Food: Supposedly all the antioxidants and vitamins contained in greens is very very helpful for the immune system in combating free radicals, heart disease, cancer and basically keeping the body running smoothly. I've noticed myself feeling quite nice taking this supplement everyday. Especially since i'm on a candida (TCM: dampness) diet.

Indian yogis used to meditate in graveyards all the time. Padmasambhava did that in his early days to meditate on impermanence.. Today a lot of Kali worshipers do rituals in graveyards to invite Kali and master death. It's an interesting meditation spot but I'm probably not ready for that

I agree... unbanning gold is another excellent idea, imo. He's rough around the edges but that's just his nature. People get their feathers all ruffled here way too easily..

There is no arguing that capitalism has brought great progress to all nations that have embraced it, but as GiH rightly pointed out... there are problems with it too. No system is perfect and when criticized you can't just say "well look at the alternatives" That's silly. That's like a monarch saying "well look at how it was when you were nomads! I gave you all this progress because we settled down and began farming. Now you have consistent food! Sure most of you are slaves but look at the alternative!" Whatever alternative you come up with is only what's been done before, not what can be done in the future. Tweaking a system doesn't mean we should all become communists and critiquing corporatism doesn't mean I'd prefer to live in a hut. btw if you're into true capitalism then check out the Austrian economic system -- seems like the truest system in terms of free market http://mises.org/etexts/austrian.asp

LOL

Taomeow just ban him, he's obviously trolling.

Thanks for editing out your claim that I'm "suffering from depression" -- that really hurt my feelings I'm not projecting. I sent you a sociology paper (your self proclaimed area of expertise) which talks about modern society as a "culture of fear". You said name one bad thing about corporatism and I gave you one. I also cited earlier that a large percentage of Americans are on anti-depressants and this number is rising. What more proof do you need that people aren't happy? I gave you evidence of sociological research that sociologists and psychologists recognize that modern society is very fearful. Here's more evidence that you probably won't read http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Culture_of_fear http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/asr/v007/7.1vargas.html As for the use of anti-depressants: http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2004/many-more-americans-taking.html http://www.biopsychiatry.com/antidepressants/usa.html

It is my conclusion that 'alwayson' is a troll. He has no interest in civil discussion; he makes ludicrous claims which he cannot back up with evidence and when proved wrong simply retreats into a corner by attacking other posters by suggesting that they "should seek medical help." He should be ignored.

The rest of society is fine, right? Totally healthy mentally with no fear or insecurity whatsoever? http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118874436/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

LOL What are you talking about? If you claim to be a professor of sociology then you should know the current state of our society. Go ask your peers in academia in the fields of sociology and psychology. Furthermore, if you claim to understand Buddhism then you should know that samsara is perpetuated because beings cling to a self -- this creates anxiety, insecurity, fear, desire etc. Well... what is our modern society based on? Everything is about the self. You need a new car! You need a new look! You need a hotter wife! You need to go here! You need to do that! It's a selfish mentality where the insecurities of the self are exploited.

Can you honestly say that the majority of Americans are not insecure? I'm not talking about myself, I'm talking about everyone. Look at the shows people watch. Look at the desires people have. Look at the marketing. Look Look LOOK! Wake up, you're seriously naive. Great points. Cheers. Thanks for joining in.. I was beginning to lose hope that this thread was being overrun by naive 15 year olds.

http://reason.com/archives/2010/04/27/gms-phony-bailout-payback/ GM's phony bailout payback --Take $43 billion, borrow $7 billion, then pay back the $7 Billion with the money you took, borrow $10 billion more, and announce you've 'paid back the loan'. Enron and Lehman got nothing on these guys...

Wow.... and you wonder why people ignore your posts? You're clueless man. Your formal education is in economics sociology and history (and of course its greater than everyone's here) and you don't understand what the consumerist lifestyle is? Nobody is forcing me to watch TV, but our whole economy is run on a system where people are manipulated psychologically to desire buying products. The majority of Americans watch TV; this is a social commentary not an individual one. How can you claim to have better understanding of sociology and economics than anyone here and not know this? You don't have better education than anyone here, you just have greater arrogance. Living in Europe and Asia doesn't mean jack shit. I lived in China and India and was born in Europe. Doesn't mean anything.

You're a drunk arrogant child. You haven't said anything worth reading in this read nor have you proved anything. Oh really? hahaha How have you demolished it? By saying that America is so wonderful because immigrants move here and because we have meat??? Great argument. Seriously man you're in college so take classes in economics, politics, philosophy, history. Talk to professors. You're seriously sheltered and deluded if you don't know/can't see the kind of society we live in. Gold gave many points about how money (corporations) control politics. I gave many points about how they control the psychology of men by continually reinforcing the sense of lack and telling you everyday what you need, what you want. We are slaves to this consumerist lifestyle where we are brainwashed to need stuff and buy stuff. We are taught to be insecure. Did you miss that whole post of mine? Gold never said all immigrants to the US were Mexicans. His own parents were immigrants to this country from the USSR. Stop being a troll. --- I for one abhor the oligarchy's decision to ban Gold because some children got offended. What is this day care? Words get thrown around during such discussions. Be brave about it.

I agree with you about this. A lot of the squabbles I had with peeps on this board had to do with this very issue. Some Taoists and Zennies have a huge affinity for anti-intellectualism. Religious fundamentalists have the same thing but that's because they view reason as a threat to their beliefs. They fear it undermining them. Anti-intellectual mystics on the other hand are a little different. They just don't see reason as a valuable tool, though all mystics use reason every day. They will see the importance of reason once they decide to teach someone else. Language is the only means we have for communicating and so a refinement of concepts to match experience is required... or else you'll just be telling people to shut up and sit which may help some but for the most people it only pushes people away. Most people cannot connect to this militaristic style of mysticism, they need concepts to get started.

Um... newsflash: Heisenberg's uncertainty principle is a thought-experiment that didn't prove anything, especially that consciousness effects matter. Go ask a physicist that man, he'll just laugh. Go ask any scientist what their views are. Most are hardline materialists. Are you drunk? hahah. Man this is great. I just wrote a huge paper on materialism for my philosophy class. I would've loved for materialism to have been "scientifically debunked" -- That would've made my argumentation extremely easier! I'm not saying I disagree with you. I don't even believe in the distinction between consciousness and matter, but I think you have to get real about materialism. It's not connected with communism. Materialism is a view that came out once people stop believing in religion. Since communist states were the first to end religious institutions, they were the first to be materialist but the US and Europe followed suit extremely quickly. When you get rid of religion you're left with the explanations of science.. and all science gives us (so far) to explain consciousness is the brain. So most academics and scientists accept this view instead of the religious vew and thus are materialists.