Jeff

But does that (and Ti's quote) imply that in the natural state it is possible? And hence an underlying framework that makes it possible to directly connect and help?

Awesome quote and very cool point on Rigpa. Do you think that comment means that Rigpa is universal or shared, since one can communicate with and help others through it? Where one has stepped beyond "local" and there is a universal stratus/mind space?

From the Avatamsaka Sutra... Great bodhisattvas have no attachment to Buddha and do not develop attachments; they have no attachment to the teachings and do not develop attachments; they have no attachment to lands and do not develop attachments; they have no attachments to sentient beings and do not develop attachments. They do not see that there are sentient beings, yet they carry on educational activity, civilizing and teaching ways of liberation; they do not give up the practices of bodhisattvas with great compassion and great commitment. Seeing buddhas and hearing their teachings, they act accordingly; trusting the buddhas they plant roots of goodness, ceaselessly honoring and serving them. They are able to shake infinite worlds in the ten directions by spiritual powers; their minds are broad, being equal to the cosmos. They know various explanations of truth, they know how many sentient beings there are, they know the differences among sentient beings, they know the birth of suffering, they know the extinction of suffering; while knowing all acts are like reflected images, they carry out the deeds of bodhisattvas. They sever the root of all subjection to birth. They carry out practices of bodhisattvas for the sole purpose of saving sentient beings and yet do not practice anything. Conforming to the essential nature of all buddhas, they develop a mind like an immense mountain. They know all falsehood and delusion, and enter the door of omniscience. Their knowledge and wisdom are broad and vast and unshakable, due to the attainment of true enlightenment. This is the insight of practical knowledge of equally saving all sentient beings in the ocean of birth and death.

So are you then stating that the world "exists" and it is separate from Buddha? Or buddhamind? That one is sort of "in" a body that would be on our planet? Also, do you see that as a Buddhist perspective or your own? Thanks.

But now you have stated that the "universe exists" or is somehow separate from "buddhamind", which doesn't sound very Buddhist to me.

Do you have a specific book that you would recommend of his that covers the topic? I have never understood the logic of the position as it is easily experimentally verified that there is crossover with relative "mind space" between people. Also, is not the yogacara/shentong position that there is effectively a universal mind (or buddhamind) space?

Why would that be regarding Buddha and enlightening everybody else?

Welcome

Welcome

Welcome

Another little hint for those who seem to not understand. This time from the Buddha in the Dhammapada... Death overtakes the man Who, giddy and distracted by the world, Cares only for his flocks and his children, Death fetches him away As a flood carries off a sleeping village. His family cannot save him, Not his father nor his sons. Know this. Seek wisdom, and purity. Quickly clear the way.

Then let's take your and others example "on making war" and look at it in context of the gospel... “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:27-40‬ ‭KJV‬‬ Do you think that passage is about starting worldly wars?

Is that not also true about all of the great teachers? Their words written down later by others. More broadly my point was about the supposed "warmongering" concept that others were describing in association to the words of Jesus.

I would suggest that one actually read the words of Jesus. See what he actually says in the gospels, rather than what you have been "told". Best wishes.

Is the key finding (or building) the stone, or being able to let it go and give it away? From the Lotus sutra... Now the daughter of Sâgara, the Nâga-king, had at the time a gem which in value outweighed the whole universe. That gem the daughter of Sâgara, the Naga-king, presented to the Lord, and the Lord graciously accepted it. Then the daughter of Sâgara, the Nâga-king, said to the Bodhisattva Pragñâkûta and the senior priest Sariputra: Has the Lord readily accepted the gem I presented him or has he not? The senior priest answered: As soon as it was presented by thee, so soon it was accepted by the Lord. The daughter of Sâgara, the Nâga-king, replied: If I were endowed with magic power, brother Sariputra, I should sooner have arrived at supreme, perfect enlightenment, and there would have been none to receive this gem. At the same instant, before the sight of the whole world and of the senior priest Sariputra, the female sex of the daughter of Sâgara, the Naga-king, disappeared; the male sex appeared and she manifested herself as a Bodhisattva, who immediately went to the South to sit down at the foot of a tree made of seven precious substances, in the world Vimala (i.e. spotless), where he showed himself enlightened and preaching the law, while filling all directions of space with the radiance of the thirtytwo characteristic signs and all secondary marks. All beings in the Saha-world beheld that Lord while he received the homage of all, gods, Nâgas, goblins, Gandharvas, demons, Garudas, Kinnaras, great serpents, men, and beings not human, and was engaged in preaching the law. And the beings who heard the preaching of that Tathâgata became incapable of sliding back in supreme, perfect enlightenment. And that world Vimala and this Saha-world shook in six different ways. Three thousand living beings from the congregational circle of the Lord Sâkyamuni gained the acquiescence in the eternal law, whereas three hundred thousand beings obtained the prediction of their future destiny to supreme, perfect enlightenment.

From the Lotus sutra on the coming of the next one... And in the minds of those four classes of the assembly rose this thought: We are far off from the two Tathâgatas; therefore let us also, through the power of the Tathâgata, rise up to the sky. As the Lord apprehended in his mind what was going on in the minds of those four classes of the assembly, he instantly, by magic power, established the four classes as meteors in the sky. Thereupon the Lord Sâkyamuni, the Tathâgata, addressed the four classes: Who amongst you, monks, will endeavour to expound this Dharmaparyâya of the Lotus of the True Law in this Saha-world? The fatal term, the time (of death), is now at hand; the Tathâgata longs for complete extinction, monks, after entrusting to you this Dharmaparyâya of the Lotus of the True Law. And on that occasion the Lord uttered the following stanzas: 1. Here you see, monks, the great Seer, the extinct Chief, within the Stûpa of jewels, who now has come to hear the law. Who would not call up his energy for the law's sake? 2. Albeit completely extinct for many kotis of Æons, he yet now comes to hear the law; for the law's sake he moves hither and thither; very rare (and very precious) is a law like this. 3. This Leader practised a vow when he was in a former existence; even after his complete extinction he wanders through this whole world in all ten points of space. 4. And all these (you here see) are my proper bodies, by thousands of kotis, like the sands of the Ganges; they have appeared that the law may be fulfilled I and in order to see this extinct Master. 5. After laying out for each his peculiar field, as well as having (created) all disciples, men and gods, in order to preserve the true law, as long as the reign of the law shall last, 6. I have by magic power cleared many worlds, destined as seats for those Buddhas, and transported all creatures. 7. It has (always) been my anxious care how this line of the law might be manifested. So (you see) Buddhas here in immense number staying at the foot of trees like a great multitude of lotuses. 8. Many kotis of bases of trees are brightened by the Leaders sitting on the thrones which are perpetually occupied by them and brightened as darkness is by fire. 9. A delicious fragrance spreads from the Leaders of the world over all quarters, (a fragrance) by which, when the wind is blowing, all these creatures are intoxicated. 10. Let him who after my extinction shall keep this Dharmaparyâya quickly pronounce his declaration in the presence of the Lords of the world. 11. The Seer Prabhûtaratna who, though completely extinct, is awake, will hear the lion's roar of him who shall take this resolution. 12. Myself, in the second place, as well as the many Chiefs who have flocked hither by kotis, will hear that resolution from the son of Gina, who is to exert himself to expound this law. ....

As you are well aware, I am not a Buddhist practice practioner, so the questions/terms do not fit with my background. But, in general on meditation techniques, I would recommend simply staying present in the moment and "residing". The simple version of my technique is below... This body of ours is fleeting, Like a leaf blowing free in a strong wind. This mind of ours is empty and clear, Like the depth of open space. Relax in that natural state, Free of any attempted support. When mind is without any fabrication, That is the primordial. Becoming familiar with this, Merging your mind with it— That is Christhood. Also, How about starting that Jesus thread I asked about earlier? Try to have a positive discussion about someone we both love?

Excellent joke. Thank you. Also, the clarity of your presence shines clearly far better than an aura. If you do have any specific questions, feel free to push the discussion forward.

Agreed about the "no need to worry"

My true home is on Cold Mountain perched among cliffs beyond the reach of trouble images leave no trace when they vanish I roam the whole universe from here lights and shadows flash across my mind not one dharma appears before me since I found this magic pearl I can go anywhere everywhere is perfect. From The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain translated by Red Pine

The important part is less about the sound, but more about the pure listening. Focusing in the moment with simple listening...

If all is empty, how can one accumulate merit?

Spiritual bullying... I would suggest that you look at your own posts. On Riju... If you would actually talk to Riju, rather than just view the world through your lens, you would far better understand what he is saying. Rather than this endless back and forth, since we both love Jesus, why don't we instead start a joint thread where we both talk about the power and magestry of Jesus's teachings. Something to share for all of the Taoist bums here. Are there some verses that have special meaning for you that could start it off? Best wishes.

Going back to Bindi's topic, I found this poem that could relate to the OP... My true home is on Cold Mountain perched among cliffs beyond the reach of trouble images leave no trace when they vanish I roam the whole universe from here lights and shadows flash across my mind not one dharma appears before me since I found this magic pearl I can go anywhere everywhere is perfect. From The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain translated by Red Pine

Hi TI, I am not going to discuss Riju's personal stuff with you. I always keep such things confidential. If you wish to talk to Riju about me or our many, many discussions and posts, feel free to do so. Additionally, you can even go back to AYP and see the Riju and Jeff thread specifically. The thread continues at Living unbound. http://community.livingunbound.net/index.php?/topic/238-continuing-of-riju-jeff-thread-from-ayp-site/ If you do decide to talk with Riju on spiritual topics, I suggest that you read and become deeply familiar with the Lotus sutra. He pretty much ignores everything else. Best, Jeff P.S. You may find this also interesting... From the Secret Gospel of Mary... 1. These are sayings, spoken by Salome the Maiden in the name of St. Mary Magdalene, which women of wisdom have held in trust. Mary said, “If you know the Woman of Light, you will know your Mother and be reborn of the Mother Spirit as a child of light. Because the light is bornless, you will have eternal life.” http://www.sophian.org/secret_gospel_of_mary.html ​​