Jeff

So was I. The less refined energy is "attached" energy. Issues, fears and karma are stored (or frozen) energy structures in the energy body. Purification is the breaking down (or releasing) of those structures. The flow feeling in the body goes from bumpy to smooth as silk (and beyond).

While providing for yourself and others is important, is not being an "upstanding citizen" dependent on the society and culture you live in? Does it not also mean that one desires the recognition of others? How does being an upstanding citizen help one to spiritually grow?

Definitely agree. It is all about the desire and attachment relative to the description and point.

Thank you. Very well said. On going refinement with the dropping of issues, fears and obstructions.

How does doing the right thing cloud your mind? Also, how do you decide what is the right thing?

I think it is very helpful if everyone is focused on making conscious decisions. Too often people just make autopilot responses to things. Like with the rich man who already has more things that he can use, but still sees something and has an automatic response to wanting it.

There are many ways to view the analogy. At a surface level, a rich man has many things and wants to hold and accumulate more things. Such desires keeps one trapped in world (as one is not seeing through it) and leads to death. At the level of mind, a rich man is one who has many thoughts and his mind is full of concepts that he holds dear. If one does not let go of the attachment to things or concepts, one does not realize the kingdom of God.

Male and female energies are the same thing, just seen from a different perspective. Male is transmission, female is reception. At the level of local body mind on does not really feel energy/light, one feels it "hitting" issues and obstructions. That is why most traditions call it Shakti (or energy female), because they notice it on the reception. All energy is the wind moving through different pressure zones. Male and female energies are like two polarities of the same thing, but we tend to notice relative to our physical body.

Sorry. Left out the "not". Edited above.

Yes, sorry. Mistype by me. Now edited above.

This may be what you were looking for... Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭21-26‬ KJV) A rich man is one who has many things to which he is attached and is often not able to let go of them...

Yes, that is pretty close to what I mean. Maybe another way to think about it is to think about a bell curve graphed on a grid. With energy being one side of the bell curve and mental clarity being the other. At lower levels on the vertical axis, the two sides seem far apart. As one goes higher along the vertical axis (spiritual development), the two sides become closer. Easier to notice at higher levels, just two sides of the same coin... https://craigalan.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/bell-curve.jpg

Energy is not transmitted through the phone, but listening on a phone or texting someone helps keep you focused on that person, which makes it easier to notice energy flows with them. Also, if someone believes that energy is stronger through a phone then something like texting, that belief will affect their perception. You can also do such experiments easily with the chat room. Enjoy and have fun with it.

Sorry for the distraction. Removed.

Welcome.

And some states have much different ideas on what is fair and reasonable. Some such seemingly reasonable positions by states can lead to civil war. But let the fun begin. Best wishes.

Meaning more permanent or never ending...

Part of the challenge of any such post is the use and meaning of the words. In a buddhist/Dzogchen context, I would agree that the words silence and clarity have different meaning. I was attempting to use a more commonly understood meaning for most bums. The difference can be found in something like using single point focus meditation. One may have a realatively "unclear" mind (issues and fears), but able to be very silent and focused on a single thing. Like digging a deep, but very small hole in consciousness. A nihilistic view is found staying deep in that one hole, when the person does not energy levels (or also clarity in your terms) to support it.

Yes, on the leaving nothing undone on a relative level. Or, you could also describe it as there are no issues, fears or past karma that obscure (or indirectly effect) your actions. At a practical level, it is easiest to think of it as one is totally focused in the moment. No mental background noise or worrying about the past or thinking/projecting into the future. If you are ever daydreaming or emotional about something, it is definitely not "it". More like you just naturally "do" and don't ever think about the "doing". Hope that helps.

Worship implies that there is something "separate from you" to worship and hence not the natural (or most pure) state.

Thank you. Happy Easter to all

Excuse me for interrupting... But, I thought this one was worth repreating as it is missed by many traditions.

I find that quote very "useful" as it points to an aspect of emptiness that is often lost/forgotten. People tend to focus on the "nothingness" aspect and forget the "infinite potential" aspect. The true meaning of the Heart Sutra is often lost. And in Dzogchen, they add the concept of "clarity" for that potential concept to emptiness to attempt to address the issue. Emptiness is more the infinite potential of void/nothingness.

Hi CT, Craving mind can never really be "captured". More "seen through" or cleared/released. Any such containment is more like spiritual bypassing. Are you sure about the translation? Best, Jeff

How about now?