Jeff

Hi Shaman Flowing Hands, Having an open heart seems to be the key to this verse. Could you speak a little more on what having an open and humble heart means to you? Also, in your tradition and practices, can it be seen or felt in the "energy body"? Thank you, Jeff

Hi Gatito, The "one" was a reference to your concept of consciousness/awareness/"undifferentiated blob". Rather than just continually making statements like "clueless" to those that disagree with you, it would be helpful if you provided some support for your positions. Can you give me any support for your position found in the words of Buddha? Best regards, Jeff

Simple Jack has correctly (and gracefully) articulated the differentiation between the two traditions. In Buddhism, "emptiness" is not an undifferentiated "blob" like your concept of awareness/consciousness. Buddha highlighted this point in many ways, mostly related to warning to go beyond and not "cease" in the undifferentiated consciousness/awareness blob. As the Lankavatara Sutra states... "When this active effort at mental concentration is succesful it is followed by a more passive, receptive state of Samadhi in which the earnest disciple will enter into the blissful abode of Noble Wisdom and experience its consumations in the transformations of Samapatti. This is an earnest disciple's first experience of the exalted state of realisation, but as yet there is no discarding of habit-energy nor escaping from the transformation of death. Having attained this exalted and blissful state of realisation as far as it can be attained by disciples, the Bodhisattva must not give himself up to the enjoyment of its bliss, for that would mean cessation, but should think compassionately of other beings and keep ever fresh his original vows; he should never let himself rest nor exert himself in the bliss of the Samadhis. But, Mahamati, as earnest disciples go on trying to advance on the path that leads to full realisation." Buddha wanted everyone to get past the "one" and realize the Tao/Emptiness.

As you (and Malcolm) said... A very good point. The confusion is often when people try to make emptiness into concepts of awareness or consciousness.

And even good translations are killed with poor understanding.

OK. Have a good day. Been quiet in there anyways. Heading out now...

Back into chat for a while if anyone is interested... Slow day at work today...

Hi SJ, Those are very cool and very profound questions. Thank you for the gift of sharing them. Best regards, Jeff

Thanks for all who stopped by... Sorry I had to leave.

Going into chat for a while, if anyone wants to stop by...

Hi Shaman Flowing Hands, Thank you for your insights related to the colors. In your experience, could white be associated with mind and possibly blue associated with heart? Also, in your tradition/experience is there such a thing as "clear"? The absence of color (or beyond golden)? 83 is also an excellent verse. A tree is the an excellent "sage". It has deep root in the earth (life), grows in the sun and reaches to the sky (heavens). It is very wise because it knows both motion (growing season) and repose (rest in the winter). It does not try to go it alone, but shares what it has (shade, fruit, home) with others. Thank you for the discussion. Best wishes.

Thank you. Simply said. Not two minds (or more), just shared or universal mind. It is nice to see that he is willing to explain/teach with a two-fold emptiness structure. Much simpler for the mind to conceive.

Thank you for sharing. I particularly found 82 interesting. Do you have any further thoughts on the specific associations of the colors? First white, then blue... what would you say they are supposed to mean? Then is golden after or found in the combination of the two? Best wishes, Jeff

No. Such activity is not helpful as it creates percieved separation. Also, instead of doing or residing in the situation, one is talking about it in your mind to yourself. As an alternative approach... Consider "just listening". Listen to the sound of your feet when walking. Listen to the wind rustling the leaves when you look at the sky. Listen to the melting water going down the storm drain. No running dialog, just listen. Best wishes.

Stopping by too.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by...

Going in chat for a while if anyone is interested...

Going back in this morning if anyone is interested...

Thanks to all for the sharing in the chat this morning. It was very "enlightening".

Following you in for a while... Anyone join us...?

Well said... And "know" that there is no bound to it. Best wishes to all.

Cloaking and shielding is a form of separating oneself from "what is". The fear of what is "out there" that one is shielding oneself from, traps oneself in "local perception" of all that "is" one's true nature. Best wishes.

Hi Suninmyeyes, While I agree that Vajrayana teaches 5 chakras (not 7), can you give me any example of the words of Buddha in sutra that talks about chakras? Thanks, Jeff

Then someone important is big trouble... And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:10-13 KJV)

Hi suninmyeyes, I don't mind at all and always appreciate the conversation. I would agree that from the perspective of the body, it can feel like their are chakras. Also, many "translate" the percieved flows in their mind as such chakras. But, the concept is more something learned from various traditions. That is why different tradtions have endless number of differing numbers of chakras (7, 5, 3, 12...) or some traditions like Buddhism never experience them at all. As clarity is "increased", the chakras seem to integrate and merge and ultimately collapse into sort of a unified field. At the body level, it feels like every cell (or atom) is a chakra or vibrating. The unified field is a more accurate representation of "you". We are kind of like "clogged" unified fields. Broader opening can happen from any location in the percieved body, which is why different traditions talk about kundalini starting form different locations. Finally, I would agree that the body is connected to the planets. Ultimately the "body" is a mapping to all that exists. What people call a "light body" is actually such a mapping. The greater the clarity, the broader the mapping to all of existence. Best wishes.