ॐDominicusॐ

Thank you for that last bit Seeker of Tao. Hit the nail on the head!!!!! Though we are all, so much more than, these words and labels we use

Which part of the body is you then? Or where in the body are you? I have a friend who had both legs and his penis blown off in Afghanistan, and is now bound in a wheel chair for life. He still exists and is conscious, leading me to conclude that we are not the lower portion of the body. I have another friend who is a vet, lost 1 of his arms up to the shoulder in the Military. Leading my to conclude that we are not the bottom portion of the body, penis, nor arms. Another friend of mind once dated an extremely attractive woman who was blind since birth. We are not the eyes then as well. There also exist 'humans" with various other missing senses. So which part of is the Real "Me."?

So in your culture, you believe you are human?

I can see how you could have made the connection between the two, fair enough. However, Lust was always "problematic" and a big "disturbance" in my life. Let us look at a few Buddhist Proverbs the reminded of this "issue" when I first started on the path: So that there is the mindset: Lust caused me troubles in my practice/path. Hmmmm, what does Buddhism say about lust? What about Hinduism? What about the Native cultures? What about Christian Monks? What about all the paths? When you search for what each of the different paths say about lust, it's all paraphrased in the proverbs listed above. Besides a few taoist and other mystic/new age/theosophy texts which mention cultivating the semen through various channels. Hey, whatever insights I can gain on Lust and it's source is a plus for me. I'm on it. Will report back shortly

I do not understand why people here on this forum are so obsessed with sexuality. It's all relative. I was fishing on a river once, and a guy on the other bank asked me, "How do I get to the other side?" To which I replied, "You are on the other side."

Because when I pre-existed prior to being Born, I did not need Sex, Lust, Food. I was Desireless and Peaceful. When I was a Child, prior to puberty, I was peaceful, happy, desireless, aware, still, playful, content, etc. Lust is alien to me. Just like one can argue that all is Illusion, body, lust, thoughts, I ...and so forth. So it has alays been that way for me since being a Child..... there was always a built in knowing that I am not this body and all of its desires, I am not from here, I am not these thoughts. Neti Neti from the earliest memories of being a child, prior to knowing what "christian/jewish doctrines are." I see myself as Asexual. I don't need it. I've done it and tried it and found it to be empty like everything else this world has to offer: success, money, materialism, food, travel, all empty. A woman's body is definitely beautiful, but the need for sex based on the physical shell seems like nothing but the remnants from chimps/evolution. When there is no Lust, I can be friends with a beautiful women and all intentions are pure. Soon as Lust comes into the picture, all intentions are to sleep with her.

What's wrong with that? I was not a Master of Self. VArious elements, including Lust, were Masters of Me. When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me. Did I ever say that my view of being a slave of Animalistic Lust was a result of "Judeo-Christian sexual morality?" Cause I don't see it anywhere in my OP. After Buddha's Enlightenment, did he continue to chicks home for One nighters and continue to be a slave to lust?

Grotto, The look of shame on face right now would be worthy of a similar picture. That picture above, is exactly how I felt back then, spot on...... oh the shame lol "...........let he who is without sin (ignorance, ego, skandhas) cast the first stone."

Yes of course, all in Love and friendly discussion. In my case, and in cases of may of the Monks in Monasteries, as the Subconscious is being cleansed, eventually memories of me pre-existed as Awareness/Soul/Bodiless/Genderless type clarity and Being, prior to being born in a Body and being programmed with Ego. "In the Image of God" to me then, is that we are all in a sense, inherently, subunits of Consciousness, kind of like drops of water that emerged from the Ocean as Evaporation, formed clouds, and now as rain drops, experience separation and individuality, only to eventually return to the Ocean, of which the access is available within. As a full operating "subset"....yeah I agree.....but then there's a question of that being just a sort of Illusion relative to the Oneness. Here's the thing. I still see Christ using parables and these kinds of examples to simplify things to a very dumbed-down population. To a people who have no clue about "nonduality, natural state, koans, etc." He has to speak, "their language" for them to comprehend. I would a bet a million dollars that had Jesus visited Tibet, or India, he would speaking using a different set of examples That's the light of consciousness, illumination, etc. Many cross-cultural religions/paths discuss this phenomenon, which gives it more of a Universality. Good talks!!! Highly stimulating!!!!

I disagree. Read Miester Eckhart, Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross, Desert Fathers, Philokalia, Cloud of Unknowing Jesus saying, "I and the Father are One." and there's another verse where he is praying that all people can be "One", the way he and the Father are one Also, to this very day, many of the Eastern Orthodox monasteries Practice the Jesus prayer for the sake of dropping into the HEart and merging into Union with God, a process they call Theosis/Deification. Well, the "Oneness" aspect would still hold true. Someone who is self-realized, can still be considered a co-creator by being a physical aspect, or acting vessel on the physical plain, of the Oneness I think he's just using the relative "separate" terminology for the sake of comprehension, cause how else would you reference that there is no you and you are Inherently already One, to a bunch of Jews who only know Judaism and 800-some-odd rules to follow to make sure g-o-d is a happy g-o-d. If he was One with God, and someone becomes like him, they too will be One with God. Of course there are various schools that say: there's only the One. I say it's: The One, not the One, both, and none simultaneously as a whole

This is exactly what I'm talking about. Christhood, is something very similar to Buddahood. Only in Christianity, you get there by the help of Grace, God's energy, Holy Spirit Empowerment, etc. So the Holy Trinity would Transform a person into a Christ, like Paul says, "Not I, but Christ in me." This is actually a direct experience. The Holy Spirit indwells you, kills the Ego, replaces it with Transcendence, Holy Detachment, Bliss, and eventually you end up in Oneness with the Father. So it's like what's left is basically the Body is a shell that Embodies the Oneness, there is no more "you." and that "you" is replaced by The Spirit which operates based on the will of the One, which is all Selflessness, Love, Empathy, Sharing, No Labels, no divisions, etc. Of course with that comes access to all sorts of experiences of the Mystical natures. There are also some Christian Saints that have bodies on display that have yet to go into decay. The Monks also talk about he body transforming and channels opening up, turning into Light bodies that are able to do various miraculous acts, as long as they are in accordance to the will of the One...... if that makes sense

In my experience, the Spirit was a presence that entered into me through the top of the head, and instantly activated the Now, Timelessness, Transcendence, Bliss, Heart opening like a flower blooming, channels opening throughout the body with electric energy flowing through, being stripped of all personality, ego, thoughts, and leaving behind only naked Awareness. By the way, everyone I was living with at the time, was aware of this Presence throughout the house and felt massive power from it, had to respect it, but also felt a peace about it. So it's not "all in my head." This eventually led to access to the Heart which operates on Love, Empathy, Honesty, Oneness, selflessness, etc... But eventually, the old subconscious comes back in fragments and pieces for purification. Also, the Awareness was expanding and detaching from all dogma, religion, church, labels, family members, mind, etc. I can say that, the Holy Spirit is definitely a Presence that is part of Grace, which makes "the path" very Very easy, if....this is a big IF, If you have time and resources for solitude and contemplation, then the Grace will take you all the way into the One. In my case, I had to quite my job and had savings for a years worth of acclimating to this new found reality. Unfortunately, having to go back to work after that, I kind of had to re-structure or re-formulate an identity/personality where there wasn't one. Which brings the next point: The whole concept of "Born Again." After the Spirit entered into me, it literally felt like I had died, and all that remained was a blank canvas of Awareness. I had to literally relearn how to function in society again Also there are some denominations like some Baptists and Charismatics, where they refer to the ego death as, "Getting Slayed by the Spirit." because it literally feels like you've died and are reborn. All the identities of "I am name, I am this body, I am from earth", all I am's get destroyed. But this is where the 40 days in the wilderness comes from. It's an example for everyone, to go on lengthy solitary retreats, where you face the Subconscious and detach from it.

I mean the whole mo pai system is cool, entertaining, and does give you power over various elements, but Where is Enlightenment in all this??? I don't see it All these levels and work just to master level 1 after several years, and then several more to master level 2, ad infinitum, and no one has ever reached level 100, and so forth. It seems like a distraction to Enlightenment. Like you are walking somewhere, and see the most beautiful woman in the world, perfect body, skirt, heels, smells incredible, looks heavenly... and she tells you, "I'm sure you like what you see, but to get me, it's going to take years of work with no guarantees that you will get me in the end." I'm sorry to say, but in my eyes, it just seems like the biggest ego trap of the 10,000 things that there is. According to some schools of thought, get Enlightenment first, then all the channels naturally open and all forms of cultivation thereafter are cakewalk

I just want to speak from experience. When I was in early 20's, I got deep into Christianity and eventually got baptized. Quickly after the Baptizm, I was indwelled by a conscious Spirit being that killed off my ego and replaced it with Divine Love of all beings, nonjudgment, bliss, inner channels flowing, it was basically activated grace. Eventually I reached Dark night of the Soul. The only thing that remained was awareness and heart, as well as dipping in and out of the No-I state. So Christ was a purveyor, I believe, of Enlightenment through Grace. Of course in the NT he was basically dumbing everything down to the jews stuck in 800-some-odd rules they were trying to follow where no one was reaching enlightenment. Judaism is a dead school, unless you work on the Kabbalah. Also I thing the OT/NT is for the simple minded average joes, but the nag hamadi, gospel of thomas, etc, is for those who have Grace activated and need deeper teachings. Even in the NT it says that once you get the Holy Spirit (Grace Activated) that no man can teach any more, because you are learning from direct mystical experiences which are transcendent and can only be know from direct experience. That was roughly 12-15 years ago, and since then I have had/been in a constant Now, timelessness, transcendence, detachment from all labels, direct mystical experiences. I don't think Christ came to start a religion, but to destroy all religions which eventually get corrupted and become exoteric shells of what they are supposed to be originally. Technically, the term "Christian" was given to those who followed Christs blueprint, by outsiders looking in. The original Christians called themselves the Followers of "The Way." "The Way" ...is a way of no labels, no church, no religions, detachment, enlightenment, Tao/God, Grace, Love, acceptance of all, and much much more. What we see in the US is a massive exoteric shell that came here based off Catholicism and the majority of is watered down.

I remember pre-existing as pure bodiless awareness with pure contentment, no need for sex. I remember being a child, Awareness still yet to be covered by illusion, no need for sex. I remember the physical shell transforming, and the rush of male hormones flowing through the body, becoming like an animal craving for sex, drunk on lust. That's what I see these physical shells as, a remnant of evolution, part chimp, part whatever it is that caused the shift from chimps to what these bodies are now. I see the animalsim/lust of the body as just that, the animal part of the shell, which only cares about eating and fu**!ng. It is not me, its just a suit that ages and falls away eventually. When lust arises, it makes logic/reason difficult and also covers the natural state. With time, and getting older, things settle down, especially with specific diets, lack of alcohol, high level of awareness, it is eventually transcended......but continues as an arising passing away for as long as the shell remains alive

I believe this is true. There was a study that showed, not too long ago, that certain races have certain genes that affect their behavior, and many other factors, that differ between the races. For myself, this flesh suit is of a race that is known for its stereotype being massive alcoholism. And I have always found strong pulls towards drinking, father was an alcoholic, and I have lost tons of uncles to alcoholism. Certain races have an advantage in certain areas. Being French or Italian gives you an advantage in opening a restaurant that people will assume is good, or give access to mafia, power, money, etc. Being black can give you advantages such as Gov grants or laons for minority business, ot a leg up in the urban music industry. I remember reading an account of a Near Death Experience about there being a 100+ year wait for souls wanting to be born rich. The whole spiel of: There is no you, there is no pre-existence, there is nothing after death, etc etc...I don't buy it. Seems to be a neo-advaita trend that focuses mostly on the center of head-based Awareness. Sure that type of thinking comes in handy when one is working on Enlightenment........I personally remember pre-existing, so I don't buy the second reply

Just wondering if anyone here has experienced physical phenomenon, such as knots, aches, pains, from accessing, working with, diving into, exploring the subconscious?? I came across this a few days ago while in deep letting go/surrender, Observing the Arising & Passing of Phenomena, and eventually wound up a lot deeper into the Subconscious than I have been in quite a while. Anyway, while there, plenty of sore/painful physical knots arose in the back on either side of the spine, a few in the neck area, and few other places. I'm wondering if this has to do with karmic/fate seeds being released, which are buried deep within. If anyone knows something about this or has experienced this what are thoughts/theories/philosophies on the connections between subconscious and physical phenomenon?? Thanks again, Lots of Love to all the Tao Bums!!!!

Years ago when I started accessing deeper parts within myself, I would eventually start coming across various images and archetypes deep in the Subconscious. One the repeating themes that kept coming up over the years, were a bunch of blueprints for Spirituality and Enlightenment machines, similar to how they hook up the back of the Brain in the Movie, The Matrix. Now, I'm no electrical engineer and barely do I comprehend circuitry, electricity, volts/amps, etc. But these blueprints just kept showing up. So I started doing research on this on the Net, and found a guy that has a website called "Bestbrainmachines" or something of that extent, who claims that just 2 - 15 minute session on one of his machines, and your third eye is permanently open. So I asked to give it a go, and that's when a part of him came out that I wasn't expecting. He started rambling how he can't release this to the public, has to create a school where he can watch over the students, but not until he merges with the light within, etc. So I was like, "forget that!!!!" He told me he'd give me a ring/email once he was merged and can start allowing others to use this tech, and that was 3-4 years ago!!!! See ya!!!! Eventually, years later, a couple of Psychologist/Neuroligsts released a light machine called Lucia No. 3, which you sit in front of, eyes closed, a bunch of programmed LED lights take you on a journey within, and many report experiencing their Third eye open: Source: http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/futur-humans-lucia-LED-psychedelic Granted, I never had a chance to try this out for myself, but I am surprised that stuff like this is starting to come out, similar to the blueprints of what I saw in subconscious. Now consider the studies of brain scans of Advanced Meditators who have areas of the brain lit up, which are not lit up in those who don't meditate. Same thing for those who claim to be experiencing God, who also have a specific part of the Brain lit up, which scientists are now referring to, "The God Part of the Brain." SO eventually, we will have tech to light up these unlit parts of the Brains in the masses, and then truly we may be able to enter into a Universal Utopia. Or it could go the other way, with more and more tech coming out, and everyone so wrapped up in their facebooks, smartphones, emails, internet, video games, etc...that as a Human Species, we may end up much further from Enlightenment than anyone ever thought possible. There's also Trans-Cranial Magnetic Therapy, which pulses electromagnetic waves directly into the Brain and has days-long lasting positive effects on those who are depressed. As a Side note. I tried something similar to this using a pocket Size Fetal Doppler that uses gel as a conductor with a 3Mhz pulse, used to listen to the heart beat of a baby inside the womb of a pregnant Mother. Anyway, I used this device on the Third Eye location just on the forehead where the brows meet. Once a day, for 15 minutes each, with an hour of meditation afterwards, and lo and behold, the Third Eye began to Open!!!!. Now I have had this part of me Opened and closed many times before through both Grace and deep Practice, but my point here is that Technology is now getting to a point, where it is beginning to influence Spirituality, and dare I say it, the possibility of Enlightenment.

Bodymind awareness as in being aware of both simultaneously correct? Body is a shell anyway, the though comes up that "I-am this body" ..... good to know on the pains. Spasms, energy flowing through various channels as well, and EXTREME hyper sensitivity. Just posted the other day that the body can't even handle a single beer with family/friends on a weekend get-together. Thumbs up for the heads up!!!

I understand Enlightenment is something else, however many paths use the Third eye, Obe's, awareness of Breath, Concentration, etc as a means to an end, or a primary access point to reach Enlightenment. In Various Hindu philosophies, the Third Eye is the starting point. Thats kind of a moot point. They may have had some tech back then, but that doesn't mean they would have had all the tech that we have today. For example, I don't recall there being a description of the Internet in any of the Vedic texts, or cell phones, and so forth. Just because they had some tech, doesn't mean they would have figured out Enlightenment Machines. Then again, perhaps they did have Enlightenment machines, but only the select few High priests had access to it. I'm reminded about certain heiroglyphs in Egypt that depict various devices that may have had to do with Spiritual Activation. For example: We don't know that for sure. See the Egyptian picture above. That's just one of them by the way. There are literally 100's with what look like some sort of devices. If the above picture was an Enlightenment device, I would bet a million dollars the head priests/kings/those in charge would only give a small select few access to it

Yeah, I agree. Ideas internalized eventually can become external reality. One of the blueprints I saw in the subconscious, was brains grown in labs, and hooked up to technology, controlling all sorts of external mechanisms. Then eventually, I came across this: Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/11/02/brain.dish/ Now that rat brain in a petri dish experiment, was IN 2004!!!!!!!!! Almost a decade ago!!!!! Imagine what black ops/black budget Governments are up to now. Anyway. 2 things about that study. 1. The rat brain learned how to fly the flight simulator, successfully on the HARDEST SETTINGS!!!! 2. It could be argued, that the rat brain, took on consciousness. Which then one could argue that a Human brain is nothing more than a consciousness interface device. One way this can be proven, is to grow a human brain in a petri dish, attached to electrodes, and see if it becomes conscious. $100 bucks says it will. So, another one of the blueprints I keep seeing, is that all you have to do, is install some brain-cells grown from you own particular stem cell carrying your own energetic signature, and add that to say a cell phone or your home computer, and it will allow you to telepathically control everything through thought alone, psychically. It's all coming very soon regardless

Seeker, I wholeheartedly agree with your premise. However, isn't cultivation in itself a form of technology? If you consider the brain reflects movement and interaction with the 5 senses. In a sense, it could be said that the human body/brain mechanism is a sort of Biological Avatar for Consciousness to be able to control. Ultimately the question is, does the Tao have a frequency, a spectrum, a aspect of itself that can be tapped into via technology, the way an individual taps into it when "breaking through the substrate." Interesting questions and answers never-the-less. Thanks for adding

I used to walk around saying "what a dump, all these zombies, sleepwalkers, ignoramouses, etc" ......but then realized it was the ego super-imposing over reality, which just Is, the Isness of it all.... Buddha Nature is already inherent in all Reminds me of the Koan: If you hear your inner voice, drop it

Been working on my own path for about a decade with regular practice, experiences, insights, blah blah blah all the usual insert here phenomenon, but this is new to me. My body is now having a had time with dairy, particularly eggs and even veggie pizza that has cheese on it. (I don't eat any meats though like poultry, beef, pork) On a similar note, when visiting friends or family I would occasionally have a few beers, perhaps once a month or every other month. The number of beers I could handle, without ill effects, is now down to one. Even having just one beer, the next day is just crap as far as functionality, clear headedness, energy-wise, and I end up super groggy, cranky, heavy feeling, headache, etc I'm cool with it and fine about acclimating to this new level of sensitivity, just curious if others have had anything similar

wow, didn't realize this thread would blow up to 3+ pages. I used to be able to knock down 6-9 beers over a night out and could basically eat anything. Now the sensitivity is so intense physically, after 1 beer there is this dullness/heaviness/grogginess there. Many times I can tell the changes in the air pressure prior to a storm. Empathy through the roof as well when around others.... interesting phenomenon never the less.