Vmarco

Yes,...she may be tricky,...like the Dalai Lama,...playing to particular audiences. You could invite her here,...but I'd suggest only those engaged in her one-year program first can respond on her threads,...out of courtesy.

One should be wary of the second most populated US State,...and at least 8 other States who follow their radical Christocratic Groupthink. For example,...The Texas GOP Platform (the majority Party in Texas) says: "We affirm that the practice of [LGBT's] tears at the fabric of society and contributes to the breakdown of the family unit. [LGBT] behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. [LGBT's] must not be presented as an acceptable "alternative" lifestyle, in public policy, nor should "family" be redefined to include [LGBT] "couples." We believe there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin. Additionally, we oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose [LGBT's] out of faith, conviction or belief in traditional values. " That above Platform also states: "We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority". Like Texas, the South Carolina group Christian Exodus takes seriously the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, which it sees as allowing the States, and not the Supreme Court, to decide whether abortion is legal, whether homosexuals can be executed, and whether public school students can be required to recite the Lord’s Prayer. It dismisses the Fourteenth Amendment as a fraud that was forced upon Southern states after the first Civil War. According to the organization’s position statement, South Carolina has a right “to nullify this Amendment and all laws and court rulings arising from it.” And if the federal government should interfere with that right, then the state will have no choice but to secede. By the way,....Sec 3 of the 14th Amendment suggests that elected officials should not put their faith-based agendas before their Oath to the Constitution. Regarding wariness,...also keep in mind that Social Conservatives now control both Houses of Congress,...whose "base" arises from Southern Social Conservatives.

Is spirituality the underlying cause of the "gender gap in earnings" in the USA,… Why women get paid 70 cents on the dollar less than men? What does Christianity say about women? Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or have authority over men; she is to keep silent" Timothy 2:11 "For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does..." 1Corinthians 7:4 "For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman but woman for man." 1 Corinthians, 11:8 “For woman is not the image of God. Man alone is the image of God.” St Augustine “Blessed be God, King of the Universe that Thou has not made me a woman.” an Orthodox Jewish Prayer for Jewish males "every woman should be filled with shame by the thought that she is a woman". Clement of Alexandria "girls begin to talk and to stand on their feet sooner than boys because weeds always grow up more quickly than good crops". Martin Luther Can anyone explain why today’s roughly 500 million Christian women concede to the views given them by their Bible and Christian leadership. In the early twentieth century, they seemed to have displayed enough reason to effect an emancipation through women’s suffrage. They questioned political authority, but why not religious authority? Do women honestly feel that they can play “pick-and-chose” with these theo-beliefs by saying yes, I like that verse, it’s true, or no, that verse is no longer relevant? Do they really feel that they can change their god into a more loving god/goddess version, and somehow that will make the reality of their ridiculous and intolerant religion, and their submission to it, more palatable? Why do womeny give patronage to a reality that demands its adherents to be unquestioningly attached to beliefs through faith, thus the nonacceptance of truth, honesty, or a life that pivots upon unconditional love? The "love" of Christianity is conditional, and pathetic. Christian love, what its followers say is the highest love, is merely a conditional love. To better understand this type of love, simply consider the Great Love Chapter of Christendom, Corinthians 13; for example, "love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things", 1 Cor 13:7. The Christiam form of love, that is, bearing, believing, hoping and enduring is isn't Unconditional Love, but the submission, devotion, expectation and suffering to the conditions of their religions brewed beliefs.

The Judeao-Christian 10 Commandments are more the basis of Chinese Law than American Law. Actually, the US Constitution, which was predominately devised by Deists who despised Christians, designed the document to be significantly separated from, what Thomas Jefferson articulated, "Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man.” Rogueries, absurdities, untruths, hate, intolerance, etc. Although some Founding Fathers were Christocratic Federalists desirous for an evangelical Country, like Alexander Hamilton,…the Deists were victorious in defining the rule of law, which unfortunately, has been muddied and revised, especially since the 1950’s. Some US Christian trivia: Government statistics show that christians are vastly over represented in prisons for sexual, violent and fraudulent crime. The Catholic church is paying millions in compensation for the sex/pedophile crimes of their priests alone. Christians are vastly over represented in the divorce courts. Christians invented the concept of sin and then the idea that you could sin, ask forgiveness, get pardoned and start with a clean sheet,….well,…the clean slate idea began dying in the 50’s and didn’t get beyond the Reagan era. US Christians have a higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy, abortion, and gonorrhea rates for adolescents in the US are 300 times than for non-Christians.

Oops! Sorry,...didn't realize this was the General Discussion Forum,...my apologies if I offended anyone.

BS = Belief System

Yes,...lots a discussion here. Meritocracy is a highlight of Theravada Buddhism,..thus we could say,... Spirituality 1.2 (Theravada/Hinayana),...whereas Spirituality 1.0 = Christianity; Spirituality 2.0 = Mahayana; Spirituality 3.0 = Vajrayana,...while Hua Hu Ching and Kagyu would be Spirituality 4.0 Here's a recent companion article to Corporate Spirituality: http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/current/money.shtml

I agree,...not much chance to World Peace in a theistic society. Know god, no Peace; Gnow Peace, no god. Of course, there can be no gnowledge of peace until there is a mass emancipation from the delusion of god, and other BS (Belief Systems)

In the 1930’s….AR Orage wrote: "Nothing is more common than the complaint that one’s neighbours are uninteresting, boring. Such complaints are unconscious confessions rather than accusations since the truth is that we are bored exactly at the limit of our active intelligence. Boredom begins where our mind leaves off; and to be easily or quickly bored merely means that our intelligence is either small or very idle. All people, without exception are interesting and worthwhile. Not only is there nothing else for us to know than people, the educational purpose of life being just to acquaint us with the mystery of mankind; every individual is an epitome of the whole human book. She who can read and understand everything about one person has the key to the knowledge of the whole human race. Thus one person is as good as another as a subject of interest. To be bored by anybody, is to fail to look for interest in mankind. " Orage (whom many consider to have been Gurdjieff's most advanced student) said that people who become bored should kill themselves. I wouldn't suggest they kill themselves,...but would suggest they consider why the suggestion.

No, no, no... Meditation, although often anesthetizing, is about letting go,...whereas prayer is about getting. There are no similarities between Buddha and Jesus. Jesus said,..."Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." Buddha said, “Do not accept anything by mere tradition. . . Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures. . . Do not accept anything merely because it agrees with your preconceived notions.” Buddha taught irreligion. Yes,...in the Abrahamic religions, and unfortunately in much of Buddhism,...there is a belief that the "priests" are necessary,...when in fact they actually step between people and their direct experience. In fact,...I would suggest that less than .4% of the World population has ever had a direct experience. Experience born of belief, can only be experienced through the condition of that belief.

Buddhism and Taoism are much different than Christianity,...direct opposites for the most part. For one thing, there is no mechanism in Christianity for transcendence,...only saving through Jesus or god. Unfortunately, organized Buddhism has become much like the dogmatic organizational aspect of the Abrahamic religions. Poll after poll shows that no less 84% -87% of US America is theist. A 2010 Pew Research study said 76% of Europe and 86% of the America's is Christian. Gallop International puts atheists at 2% Worldwide,...and the status of non-religious at 16% Worldwide. As atheism is a term that says "no belief in a god,"...it is probable that more than 90% of the World "believes in a god." I am neither atheist nor theist,....I neither believe in a god, nor don't believe in a god,...which is an accurate Buddhist/Taoist view. The trend in Europe seems to be to believe in god without religion. Perhaps that's a step towards emancipation from belief,...both theism and atheism.

Good example,...someone who came to veganism by way of a scientific view of nutrition, and developed a sense of animal awareness. All rational sense should lead people off their diet of religion,...but still,...nearly 90% of the Western World are still theist. I don't know what the percentage of the East is,...Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, China, Philippines and Indonesia likely have 1 billion Muslims among them alone,...not counting the Arab Countries.

Yes, me too,...her video just appeared on a list of Mercedes Sprinter 4x4 and Mercedes G63 6x6 off-road vids I was watching. I wasn't much observant about the messenger,...but the message intrigued me,...a message that challenged today's Therapeutic Ego Enlightenment trend.

Interesting thoughts. I'll likely take a second look with your commentary in mind. As I understand it,... she is from Santa Fe, NM....but as a teen lived in a Mormon cult, and was held as a sex slave. Did like her take on positiveness is often an anesthesia.

Yes,...in practice,...yet many vegans are not in it for the practice,...or their practice is merely an attempt to deny a negative. I suppose, one of the first steps in a World vegan practice would be to end the killing of humans,...although the end of animal eating may trigger the thought,...why do we kill people. Of course,...the killing of people will continue until the Abrahamic religions are happily consigned to the back walls of museums.

I like the first part,...post at the lowest level possible. Unfortunately, for the sake of the appearance of punishment, the Pit is closed to New Posts,...which makes sense,...otherwise, everyone would eventually just post in the Pit, and their would be less need for moderation.

Religious Americans? Or Moderators?

The path to the Pit,...is to upset the Moderators,...it has little to do with content. It's sort of like how US Americans get upset if someone declares themselves a non-theist, and begin to engage in a rational, factual conversation. In other words,...Americans are hell bent on shoving the "freedom OF religion" down peoples throats,...but you dare to suggest "Freedom FROM religion," and you best be ready to get smacked down. By the way,....The Founding Fathers of America had good reason to begin the First Amendment to the Constitution with "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion." That is FREEDOM FROM RELIGION. Only second, to appease the religionists, does it say "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." That is FREEDOM OF RELIGION. Nevertheless,...the majority of US Americans today,...rather see non-theists as second or third class citizens, then allow the first part of the First Amendment to be allowed any status. "I don't know that those who don't believe in God should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God." George HW Bush

Nice hiking around Abiquiu

No. IMO, true appreciation is the key to uncover real happiness and enlightenment. Also IMO,...that is how Siddhartha broke through the delusion,...not by meditation,...but appreciation,...yet few are indoctrinated with that story. First in the story,...Sakyamuni Buddha was not seeking enlightenment, but inquiring into the true nature of suffering. Second, is that most, especially American Buddhists, instantly associate Buddhism primarily with meditation. However, although Sakyamuni meditated (and was dangerously underweight) before enlightenment, his "Light" was not realized through meditation. Historically, Sakyamuni was near dead from meditation when a young girl named Sujata (likely a dakini) offered him some food (perhaps rice cooked in milk). Some say an appreciation filled him from this meal, and as he recovered his physical strength, through the state of appreciation, he realized the Dependent Origination from which suffering arises. Ponder on this quote from an American New Age purveyor: "We teach meditation, or quieting the mind, because it is really easier to teach you to have no thoughts, than to teach you to have pure, positive thought. We would rather you be in a state of appreciation, than in a state of meditation, because in appreciation you are a vibrational match to Source." Esther Hicks Pure, positive thought is a consequence of the liberation from belief. No faith-based person can experience pure, positive thought,...because the very nature of faith-baseness is the condition of imprisonment in belief. A conditioned person cannot truly appreciate. This is not meant to be "critical" of the conditioned, but simply a critique. Buddhas have said, "A wise man, recognizing that the world is but an illusion, does not act as if it is real." Nor do they support the illusion, thus contributing to the delusion. A bodhisattva wishes for the liberation of all sentient beings. All faith-based folks are beings attached to sentience.. .

Not conquered,...but calling it quits http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/8003/Calling-it-Quits

Continuing he above post.... A Christian does not understand the nature of Unconditional Love, because of the fundamental truth embedded in their belief system. For example,...although Christian love is often considered the highest love, it is merely a conditional love. To better understand this type of love, simply consider the Great Love Chapter of Christendom, Corinthians 13; for example, "love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things", 1 Cor 13:7. However,...bearing, believing, hoping and enduring isn't Unconditional Love, but the submission, devotion, expectation and suffering to the conditions of their religions brewed beliefs. Thus,...if a Christian is attempting to demonstrate random acts of kindness,...they really are not, in any way, actual acts of Unconditional kindness,...and thus, such acts feed and sustain the obscuration of Unconditionality.,..that is, authentic love which does not arise from duality's conditioning. Everything of duality is a condition. Absolute Consciousness, is not of duality,...is not within time,...absolute consciousness is beyond conditions. In the '80's I heard a 30 minute talk by a fellow named John Davies, that left a powerful, and continuing impression on me. About half-way through, while touching upon how many people want to "get out of here,"...to leave the body, or be taken up in a spaceship,...he said,..."no one is here to get out, we are here to bring more love in." Wow! What an idea. To bring love in. First of all,...there really is no bringing love in,...like bringing home a pizza,...but there is a making space for love,...and that is only accomplished by dissolving the conditions built against Unconditional Love,...conditions like the Abrahamic religions,...who meme permeates every aspect of US American life.

There is no such thing as Unconditional hate,...and very few have experienced Unconditional love,...for if they have,...the World today would be a much different place. What many perceive as Unconditional love is a variety of conditioned loves, like chemical love, biological love, emotional love, etc. These relative, conditioned loves,...although seemingly better than there opposites, is not the real thing. As for picking up trash,...yes,...that's great. But does that truly help? H. Jackson Brown Jr. said, “Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.” I love that quote,...however, how many understand what fairness and integrity are to begin with? Is it possible for a believer in the Abrahamic religions to have integrity? Absolutely not! Integrity is about honesty, and all faith-based folks are fundamentally dishonest. Dishonesty arises from conditions. An Unconditioned person is not dishonest. A conditioned person cannot experience real love. Experience born of belief, can only be experienced through the condition of that belief. So yes,...I would be grateful seeing everyone picking up trash,...especially the trash indoctrinated by religions.

Lucy is a 2014 French-American high-concept science-fiction action film, Written and directed by Luc Besson....is out in DVD here. First of all,...IMO, a reoccurring problem with the film is the idea of "Brain Capacity." What the film seemed to be about was Consciousness Capacity,...how much actual consciousness are we utilizing (of which the answer, from a Buddhist/Taoist view, is very little). Although the film used the term "Brain Capacity," most anal science buffs, interpreted that as meaning "using 10% of one's brain," which most today agree that 100% of the brain used,...although people actual don't use that much at one moment. IMO, this low budget film would have done much better focusing on consciousness,... perhaps that the first 6 levels of consciousness can only utilize 10% of the brains capacity monment to moment,...thus broaching the subject of the 7th and 8th levels of consciousness. Lucy: "Life was given to us a billion years ago. What have we done with it?" Lucy: "I used to be so concerned with who I was and what I wanted to be, and now that I have access to the furthest reaches of my brain, I see things clearly and realize that what makes us "us" it's primitive. They're all obstacles." Professor Norman: We humans are more concerned with having than with being. Lucy: "Every cell knows and talks to every other cell. They exchange a thousand bits of information between themselves per second. Cells join together forming a joint web of communication, which in turn forms matter. Cells get together, take on one form, deform, reform makes no difference, they're all the same. Humans consider themselves unique, so they've rooted their whole theory of existence on their uniqueness. "One" is their unit of "measure" but its not. All social systems we've put into place are a mere sketch: "one plus one equals two", that's all we've learned, but one plus one has never equaled two there are in fact no numbers and no letters, we've codified our existence to bring it down to human size, to make it comprehensible, we've created a scale so we can forget its unfathomable scale." Lucy plays a video of a car running on a road. She makes the car run faster and faster until it completely disappears from the screen. Lucy says the car doesn't exist, that nothing exists in this universe, the only thing that matters is time. Lucy: "Time is the only true unit of measure, it gives proof to the existence of matter, without time, we dont exist." Professor Norman: I'm not even sure that mankind is ready for it. We're so driven by power and profit. Given man's nature, it might bring us only instability and chaos.. Lucy: "Ignorance brings chaos, not knowledge."

I haven't seen "her,"....though my understanding of it, is that "Her" is a computer program, whose expansive mental ability reaches a point of actual consciousness without need for computer or brain. Did like in Lucy,...how the term "time" flowed in, no less than three times, like a fractal,...each time exposing more of the idea,...that 100% or enlightenment does not exist in time.