Vmarco

My two year Cell contract is ending in a few weeks,...have a verizon motorola phone (because of the least wave impact on my brain), and a wireless card. With all the free wifi available today, pretty sure I'll drop the wireless, which runs an addition $50 per month. Another thing,...I'm not all that tech savy. Need things to be simple/simplified. Any suggestions? Any comments on this article:

That's awesome! Thanks.

Yes, it is likely doubtful that non-meditation can be undertood by "those new to buddhist tantra" I do love Esther Hicks quote,..."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 your [Higher Self]." If you look closely at Buddha's enlightenment, it did not uncover itself through meditation, which almost killed him, but after he ceased meditating, and was in appreciation from the food that Sujata brought him.

I've found meditation helpful,...even intoxicating,...or am I too dishonest to admit that something I thought to be meaningful, may be meaningless. Don't know. "In a state of non-meditation, you attain Mahamudra."

Yes,...many people are going to fight this. However, to reduce the emotions and beliefs down,..a truly compassionate person does not wish harm to come to another,...as such, and since humans have no real control over animals behavior,...a truly compassionate person would not own an animal that could critically harm another. I had owned two York-tese's acquired through an unplanned birth. The 3 lb Yorkie climbed an 8 ft chainlink fence, and down the other side, to breed with a 4 lb Maltese. Of course these pocket dogs are not going to critically hurt someone,...but 30-40 lb vicious breeds like Pit Bulls, who for 32% to 53% of all American attacks, are usually enclosed in much less secure quarters. It is also important to note,...that you show no compassion for others, because it appears that no dog ever bothered you. http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/08/7-year-old-girl-attacked-pit-bull-having-57-surgery Do you have any idea how many people are terrorized by dogs per day? Per year? Sure, there was a beautiful reporter who had her lips bit off on live TV last month or so,...and "sometimes" death by dogs is reported,...but there are tens of thousands terrorized per year. Is that what peace looks like. http://pit-bulls.christianfunfair.org/attacks.htm Only a very naive person would suggest that vicious breed owners,...any vicious breed owner,... are compassionate. If a "world of peace look(ed) like freedoms that do not hurt others" than no one would be free to own a vicious breed. The freedom of owning guns, praticing martial arts, etc, would not be curtailed, because responsible people can control guns, martial arts, etc....animals cannot be controled. Your dojo's Pincher could easily harm someone critically, under numerous circumstances. Only an uncompassionate, callous person would think otherwise V

Those are excellent thoughts. In relation to the starter "what would peace look like"...a compassionate person,...that is one concerned for others as they are for themselves, would not own a vicious dog breed, nor would support competitiveness. Vicious breeds and competiveness are in direct opposition to the nature of compassion. Of course,...ownership of vicious dog breeds and competitiveness,...thus the lack of consideration of others,... are merely symptoms of an inner crisis. V

Just today had an opportunity to recall a quote by Gurdjieff: "Cultivating flowers reveals the innocense still seedling in whatever is beheld."

There must have been a misinterpretation with the comment on dogs,...it wasn't suggested that anyone get involved with dogs,...first, a sign that says 'Beware of Dog' suggests the owner is a fear-based person, and thus not a peace-based person,...second, a peace-based person is far too considerate of others to own a vicious dog breed, no matter how much they feel that their animal is dependable and responsible. Dogs are unpredictable animals with no purpose in a peace-based society. Just because a dog is not terrorizing the owner, does not mean that the dog does not terrorize others. In my martial art, Hapkido,...there is equal emphasis with healing. Many Hapkido masters are Chiropractors. In addition, Hapkido is not a competitive sport. My martial art involves instruction on how to fully disable and even kill, in under 5 seconds. If everyone knew Hapkido, perhaps they would not feel so fearful to own a dog, which terrorizes others and undermines any possibility of peace. V

Lao Tzu correctly said, "The Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to (two) yin and yang. Yin and yang give birth to all things." "If you wish to unite with the heart and mind of the Mysterious Mother, you must integrate yin and yang within and refine their fire upward." Lao Tzu Unfortunately, the foundations regarding this are seldom directly found in today's Taoism. For a foundation, of how to recognize and integrate the 2 - yin and yang, check out 'A New Concept of the Universe.' http://www.scribd.com/doc/33856291/Walter-Russell-A-New-Concept-of-the-Universe

Lao Tzu said, "Do you think you can clear your mind by sitting constantly in silent meditation? This makes your mind narrow, not clear." As Hui Neng reportedly said, that meditation is unnecessary, and warned that such practice can easily become a narcotic.

Imagine there's no countries, It isnt hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for, No religion too, Imagine all the people living life in peace...

Lao Tzu and Shakyamuni Buddha understood that time is one thing,...did they only understand that conceptually. Time is like a radio tuner,...there are many "stations", but most are illusory connected to just one,...and weakly at that,...like listening to music through a weak signal. I'm not speaking conceptually, http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/22766-does-magic-exist/page__st__24__p__325411__hl__fractal%20riding__fromsearch__1entry325411 Although likely a hoax, the Incunabula is a good story http://deoxy.org/inc2.htm The Time Machine they used, which is somewhat illustrated, is as a crutch,...or training wheels,...that once they understood it, they didn't need it anymore,...like a good dowser no longer needs rods. V

Here's some definitions from my Oxford dictionary God (god), n., 1. A being (condition) conceived as the omnipotent (condition), omniscient (condition) originator and ruler (condition) of the universe (condition), the principal object (condition) of faith and worship (conditions) in monotheistic religions (conditions). 2. The force (condition), effect (condition), or a manifestation or aspect (conditions) of this being (condition). 3. A being of supernatural powers (condition) or attributes (conditions), believed in and worshiped (conditions) by a people, especially a male deity thought to control some part of nature or reality (conditions). 4. An image of a supernatural being; an idol (conditions). 5. One that is worshiped, idealized, or followed (conditioned). 6. A very handsome man (condition). 7. A powerful ruler or despot (conditions). 8. Used to express disappointment, disbelief, frustration, annoyance (conditions). I like this one from: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/evil/ 1. If God exists, then God is omnipotent, omniscient, and morally perfect. 2. If God is omnipotent, then God has the power to eliminate all evil. 3. If God is omniscient, then God knows when evil exists. 4. If God is morally perfect, then God has the desire to eliminate all evil. 5. Evil exists. 6. If evil exists and God exists, then either God doesn't have the power to eliminate all evil, or doesn't know when evil exists, or doesn't have the desire to eliminate all evil. 7. Therefore, God doesn't exist. Of course as a Buddhist I'm more inclined towards the Buddhist view: http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/beyond-belief02.pdf

1. "If I have any understanding of compassion..., it all comes from studying the Bodhicharyavatara" HH Dalai Lama 2. "The whole of the Bodhicharyvatara is geared toward prajna, the direct realization of emptiness, absolute bodhichitta, without which the true practice of compassion is impossible." The Way of the Bodhisattva 3. To be aware of Absolute Bodhicitta, is to understand: a) that everything you perceive is a dream. b ) only the consciousness you had before you were born can correctly discern reality. c) that there is no present in time. d) You will never understand Who you are, until you realize When you are. 4. In the commentary on the Dalai Lama's (DVD) The Four Noble Truth's, Robert Thurman stressed that, "Buddhist teachings on compassion are grounded in the direct realization of Emptiness; without which, compassion is impossible." 5. In the book Crazy Wisdom, Chögyam Trungpa said, "Compassion is not so much feeling sorry for somebody, feeling that you are in a better place and somebody is in a worse place. Compassion is not having any hesitation to reflect your light on things. As light has no hesitation, no inhibition about reflecting on things, it does not discriminate whether to reflect on a pile of shit or on a pile of rock or on a pile of diamonds. It reflects on everything it faces." 6. Sakyamuni Buddha's greatest teaching, (purportedly) according to Sakyamuni, is that only through the perfect wisdom of the Heart sutra comes the perfect compassion of a bodhisattva. If compassion arises from form alone, it is false compassion, no matter how well intended. 8. Sharon Salzberg said, "Sometimes we think that to develop an open heart, to be truly loving and compassionate, means that we need to be passive, to allow others to abuse us, to smile and let anyone do what they want with us. Yet this is not what is meant by compassion. Quite the contrary. Compassion is not at all weak. It is the strength that arises out of seeing the true nature of suffering in the world. Compassion allows us to bear witness to that suffering, whether it is in ourselves or others, without fear; it allows us to name injustice without hesitation, and to act strongly, with all the skill at our disposal. To develop this mind state of compassion...is to learn to live, as the Buddha put it, with sympathy for all living beings, without exception." 9. Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche: said, "...everbody thinks that compassion is important, and everyone has compassion. True enough, but the Buddha gave uncommon quintessential instructions when he taught the methods for cultivating compassion, and the differences are extraordinarily important."

Oh no, not so. VMarco is most appreciative of relative bodhicitta practices, and would encourage the whole world to be such a society. Met a gentleman a few months ago who lived in Buddhist Vietnam for three years,...just being in the vibration of that wonderful Buddhist environment, without knowing anything of Buddhism when he arrived, he said within 18 months his whole Christian indoctrinated sense of guilt dissolved (simply by entrainment I suppose). Relative compassion,...especially the relative compassion of Buddhism and Taoism, are indeed a fertile ground through which absolute bodhicitta can be uncovered. A world that embraced the relative compassion of Buddhism and Taoism would expose the reality of Shambhala, and certainly attract the attention Awakened Beings. V

Sure,...from a relative point of view that is the accepted indoctrination,..we are separate, and thus we should be open to the "others" suffering, not our own separate discomfort. Both the above to me, are contrary to what Taoism and Buddhism are ultimately pointing to. Lao Tzu purportedly said, "If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of your self." If you do awaken or liberate yourself, then the suffering of nearly all around you will be seen,...even if those "sepatate minded, 6 sense, sentient beings don't see it. HH Dalai Lama said, "If I have any understanding of compassion..., it all comes from studying the Bodhicharyavatara" The Bodhicharyavatara says, "those desiring speedily to be A refuge for themselves and other beings, Should interchange the terms of I and Other, And thus embrace a sacred mystery." The relative can be discussed to the extent of impermanence,...but for what purpose? Some sort of temporary satisfaction? Show me someone with "open attention" and I'll show you someone beyond the 6 senses,...who is hated by those attached to the 6 senses for their identity. V

Certainly,...however, TTB is not "everyday level" dialogue,...although some may want it be. Most here would not recognize me in a physical conversation in an "everyday level" environment. When I'm at a grocery store, nearly everyone smiles. Yesterday, the checkout girl sneezed, and a male person behind me said "god bless you." I looked at the girl puzzlingly and asked, "are you a christian?" She happily responded, "no, but who doesn't like to be blessed." At which point we smiled together.

What is kindness? A girl just got dumped by her sweetheat and is overwhelmed with despair,...does kindness console her? Does kindness coddle her, saying everything is OK? Let's say there was a few people with this suffering girl, and one asked why are you so overwhelmed? To the other's there, this question is predisposed to be insensitive,...they want to bring her back into deep sleep where she is no longer in despair. They want to distract her with thoughts of eating, playing, dancing, and other romances. However, she replies, "I'm not good enough!" Then to the utter dismay of the other's, this person instructs the girl to say it again, to say again and again that she is "not good enough." And she does,...she says it again and again. All that are there (thelerner, Scotty, CT, Twinner) are in horror. The girls whole body is crying as she repeats she "is not good enough." Her voice changes to that of a young girl, as her body heaves with the tears. All that are there (thelerner, Scotty, CT, Twinner)want to put a stop to this cruelty. But then the girl smiles through her tear drench face,...a most beautiful smile. She saw the core issue of why she did not feel good enough. Not only was she no longer in despair, but was in a state of bliss. What is loving kindness?

That post merely supports the point,...instead of discussing any of that 300 word content, you pick one sentence that upsetted the 6 senses, and was compelled to responded to that. Yes, the absolute is beyond intellect,...a first year Buddhist student should understand that,...however, it is not beyond discussing,...just as the Tao was not beyond Lao Tzu discussing it,...or Buddha discussing the Tathagata. One of the first steps is the realization that the relative is relative,...and its OK to to talk about it. The truth is, the absolute cannot be realized through the relative,...the 6 senses cannot observe the absolute. Does not matter if an absolute is or not,...what is, is that it cannot be realized through the 6 senses. "don't seek love, but seek and find all the bariers you have built against it" Now, exchange the word "love" with liberation, enlightenment, Unborn Awareness, etc. V

Relative bodhicitta expresses a forced, non-organic, intellectualized compassion based on the relative,...absolute bodhicitta expresses an effortless, organic compassion. "Relative and absolute, These the two truths are declared to be. The absolute is not within the reach of intellect, For the intellect is grounded in the relative." Shantideva Both aspects of bodhichitta are NOT part of the enlightened nature of the mind. In Buddhism the distinction can be found in Buddhas own dialogues regarding self and Self. What is relevant about that quote, is the authors attachment to the relative. Thanks for revealing another misguided Buddhist. V

Most people haven't a clue that there is an absolute, let along understand it. What the "wacko...meaningless" comment points to is quite meaningful from a relative perspective for those serious about liberation. For example,...those who use the Lojong correctly, understand that the relative proverbs cultivate an awareness that there is both a relative and absolute, and through which their practice, can recognize more and more, what is relative, and what absolute is not. It is quite obvious, from reading more than a hundred of CT's posts, that you are unaware of any absolutes. Sometimes there were even comments refutiating absolutes, thus setting up a situation were predispositions prevent absolutes (a noumena, the Tathagata, absolute bodhicitta, the Tao) from being recognized. An absolute lojong is quite different from a relative lojong. Relative lojongs are like the 8 fold path,...a recipe to train the mind. Buddha purportedly said (according to the Bodhicharyavatara), that there is nother easier to educate than the mind on the right path,...although he also said, there is nothing harder to govern than an untrained mind. On the other hand, the absolute Lojongs, of which only a few were given by Geshe Chekhawa, are both for mind training, and the recognition of absolute bodhicitta. Of course, these comments are meaningless to several here, like Twinner, whom generally disses anything not approved by Western scholars, and would consider Geshe Chekhawa's 12th century life too far removed from the Buddha to be legitimate or worthy of exploration. Lao Tzu said (according to those during the last 1600 years who feel that the Hua Hu Ching are a collection of Lao Tzu sayings handed down by word of mouth, as if Lao Tzu actually discussed the Tao), "If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of your self." The Hua Hu Ching lays out a process for such liberation, which is quite consistent with Buddhism. Thus, there are at least two "philosophies" that suggest there is something called liberation. These "philosophies" get quite specific on what it looks like. The Shurangama Sutra says When all 6 senses are liberated, compassion radiates effortlessly. And what does that kind of compassion look like? Certainly like the compassion of Tilopa, often called the Second Transmission of Buddhism, whose Twelve Astonishments that challenged Naropa's conditioning, that is, his ego and beliefs; followed by his Twelve Ordeals, or Hardships, that were intended to encourage his complete surrender. Of course mediocre Westerners would be appalled by Tilopa's cmpassion,...they want compassion to be the coddling, appeasing, and caring of their ego,...and what ever it takes to put the relative on a pedestal in honor of humanity and their beliefs. V