Jeff
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Everything posted by Jeff
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Hi P, Describing such experiences becomes very challenging without context. If you have not seen it before, you may be interested in an earlier thread... http://thetaobums.com/topic/25866-stages-of-progressionenlightenment/ If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me with any questions. Regards, Jeff
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A very good question... Does "being in" imply that one can "fall out" of love? True love is an unconditional "giving"... Best wishes, Jeff
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Hi P, Yes, I have experienced that blessing. Best regards, Jeff
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Hi taijistudent, I am also a big fan of the "inner guru". Best regards, Jeff
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Hi P, I agree there is definitely such danger with a teacher. But in my experience a true guru/master "resides in the light" and is incapable of abuse. Best wishes, Jeff
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Hi PGawley, As I am sure that you know, there is no easy answer to that question. Also, there can be many teachers in life, but to find your true guru is very rare. In my humble opinion, one finds teachers, but only when you are ready, a guru finds you. As I tried to describe in the above post, a true guru-student connection is like an overlapping of souls at the heart. For the student, the connection is like the guru permeates them all way down to a cellular level. This can only happen with a deep abiding trust in your heart (not mind). In finding your true guru, you must trust your heart. It is easy to be confused as many teachers can transmit energy that can affect/impress the mind, but a true guru can work with light "beyond the mind". Surrender is not easy for the mind, and my theory is when one is truly ready, they will feel it in their heart. Best wishes, Jeff
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Many priests do what the Catholic church calls "contemplative prayer". It is essentially silent, no thought meditation. It is considered the "highest" form of prayer (not asking for things, but just "waiting and listening"). Best wishes, Jeff
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How about if I use the term "universal mind"? The luminous appearances "exist" in universal mind. Also, how do you know that they were "unconstructed"? Couldn't it have happened "beyond" your field of awareness? Thanks, Jeff
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I agree completely. :-) If you are interested in my perspective on the topic, it can be found in the two following threads... http://thetaobums.com/topic/25866-stages-of-progressionenlightenment/ http://thetaobums.com/topic/26249-four-main-types-of-energy/ Best wishes, Jeff
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Hi Ralis, Thank you for your suggestion. But, I am trying to understand Jax's described state and how it compares to my discussions with masters of various traditions. Regards, Jeff
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Hi Jax, Are not those all concepts of the mind? Is not even the "body" a concept of the mind? Regards, Jeff
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Excellent book! Best, Jeff
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Thanks. When you say "see", do you mean that gross physical perception changes or is the same? Do you mean a "knowing", but the "world" looks the same and no "confusing" mind activity? Also, does "perception" of the world move from the "localized" position of the perceived body? Regards, Jeff
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Hi Jax, Thanks, but your statement above did not answer/respond to my question. In your experience with "instant presence"... Does the world (or trees and everything) appear/feel the same as without "instant presence"? Do you experience some greater connection (or oneness) or is it just the loss of conceptualizing mind? Best, Jeff
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Hi Jax, Thanks for the above. In your description of the "moment"... Is "existence" the same? Just with the dropping of the conceptualizing mind? Thanks, Jeff
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Hi Jax, Didn't think that Dzogchen disagreed with Sutra. Since the group here seems to like Norbu's words... Here is basically his same "Dzogchen perspective" as the Sutra I provided... "After having recognized one's own state, it is necessary to eliminate all doubts about it, not in a merely intellectual way, but rather through experience: instantaneous pure presence or recognition, called rigpa, must ripen and become more stable thanks to the various Longde methods tied to particular experiences of contemplation. Finally, the practitioner's task is to integrate the state of knowledge into all his or her daily activities and to develop that capacity to the point of unifying the energy of the physical body with the energy of the outer world. This is the aim of the practices of the third and final series, the Mennagde, the supreme realization of which lies in the manifestation of the "rainbow body," the total re-absorption of the material elements into the pure energy and luminous essence of the primordial state."' Chogyal Namkhai Norbu;Adriano Clemente. The Supreme Source: The Fundamental Tantra of the Dzogchen Semde (Kindle Locations 583-588). Kindle Edition. Removing doubts and integrating body energy with energy of the outer world is part of my definition of removing obstructions. The belief that ones body is not the "same" as the outer world is itself an obstruction (or something that must be "ripened into" ). Also, it is hard for me to tell from your posts... Do you agree with the "total re-absorption of the material elements into the pure energy" concept of the rainbow body? Best wishes, Jeff
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Hi Jax, Thanks again for the discussion... Do all plants produce fruit? Is all fruit equal in quality? Also, on our fruit topic and regarding your past analogy, any thoughts on these words from the Lankavatara Sutra... "The exalted state of self-realisation as it relates to an earnest disciple is a state of mental concentration in which he seeks to indentify himself with Noble Wisdom. In that effort he must seek to annihilate all vagrant thoughts and notions belonging to the externality of things, and all ideas of individuality and generality, of suffering and impermanence, and cultivate the noblest ideas of egolessness and emptiness and imagelessness; thus will he attain a realisation of truth that is free from passion and is ever serene. 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." Thanks again, Jeff
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That's good. I have missed him.
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Hi Jax, Maybe we just have a different connotation to the word "obstruction". If something has yet to unfold, it is still obscured... Best wishes, Jeff
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Hi Jax, How is that different? Or, what do you mean by "The progression of profound depth of Buddhahood is infinite"? What is progression in your concept? Thanks again, Jeff
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Hi Jax, So then you would say that there is no difference from Rig pa and Buddhahood? Or, is there an ongoing "removal of obstructions"? Thanks, Jeff
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Hi Jax, I do not see how Advaita texts postulate and "abiding character or identity" as the Self. Rather the "Self" is defined as you have defined the Dzogchen "ground" above. Also, Buddhism describes the need for the "vow" to make it all the way to Buddhahood. In your wave analogy, "who" is making (and keeping) the vow? Best wishes, Jeff
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Thanks again for the above response. But, if "unique perspective" continues and one can shift/change and expand that perspective, how would that be different than the classical definition of "higher Self"? Or, is your perspective that ultimately the "wave" ceases (or ultimately looses) it's unique perspective in the "ocean"? Also, I was wondering if you had missed my earlier questions... ... If the mind "collapses", how is there a harmonizing? What you describe sounds more like an "overlay", which causes a kind of mind/ego "shutdown". Also, do you perceive a difference between mind-mind transmission and light-light based transmission? Finally, have you reached the point where you can "give" transmission? ... Best wishes, Jeff
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Hi Jax, No chooser, but do you perceive that there is unique/individual perspective or view of arisings? Thanks, Jeff
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Hi Jax, If the mind "collapses", how is there a harmonizing? What you describe sounds more like an "overlay", which causes a kind of mind/ego "shutdown". Also, do you perceive a difference between mind-mind transmission and light-light based transmission? Finally, have you reached the point where you can "give" transmission? Thanks again, Jeff
