Jeff

There is a meaningful difference between the two. 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.

If her memory was wiped, how did she know she had seen a flying saucer?

Welcome! Enjoy.

Thanks. Got an accurate picture of things now. Wont bother you with unicorns.

We are definitely talking about different things regarding the meaning of "light" (not the visible stuff). Mind if I check out your current chakra/energy body level development, so that I can try to respond more specifically to you?

Very good points, but it should also be noted that there are various heights (or depths) of perception. People (like with AYP) tend to call any energy movement kundalini. Also, many people do not yet have the mental clarity to truly percieve energy/light flows and rather than diving in the ocean, they have only found the bathtub in their own house. Best wishes.

It should be understood that what 3bob describes above is not the Heart Chakra. The small lotus" is also known as the "inner heart" (also sometimes called the 8th chakra in some traditions). Best wishes.

Actually, I have posted on this many times showing the direct comparisons and similar concepts. Such discussions have seemed to irritate many of the older (some not still members) Buddhists. Such a comparison can done almost on a statement by statement basis with the words of Jesus. One just needs to realize the teaching context, Jesus was speaking to poor fisherman, while Buddha to a wealthy and educated class. As a simple example, take a look at verse 50 of the gospel of Thomas... 50. Jesus said, "If they say to you, 'Where have you come from?' say to them, 'We have come from the light, from the place where the light came into being by itself, established [itself], and appeared in their image.' If they say to you, 'Is it you?' say, 'We are its children, and we are the chosen of the living Father.' If they ask you, 'What is the evidence of your Father in you?' say to them, 'It is motion and rest.'" The motion and rest is the same concept as emptiness in the Heart sutra. Motion is energy/form. Rest is void. When one realizes that motion and rest are really the same thing, they are a "son of God". As the Heart sutra says... Emptiness is the realization of Form=Void and Void=Form and that both are the same.

I would also agree that the teachings of Jesus are very similar to Buddha.

33. Jesus said, "What you will hear in your ear, in the other ear proclaim from your rooftops. After all, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, nor does one put it in a hidden place. Rather, one puts it on a lampstand so that all who come and go will see its light." Gospel of Thomas

Going in now...

Did it make a good echo with big the empty room?

Headed in chat now. Anyone interested...?

Welcome. Very nice to meet you!

Welcome!

Most likely the quotes are from one of his private FB groups. He pretty consistently says things like that.

Chapter 5 describes the "mind system". Universal mind would be the same as Buddhamind. http://www.purifymind.com/LankavataraSutra.htm

Actually, I kind of like the detailed descriptions of the Lankavatara sutra and thought it directly went to the OP. I have also found the sutra to be very accurate. What would you consider a better (and simpler) sutra on the point? Or, how would you put it in your own words? Thanks.

And this simple statement sums up our difference of perspective. Two sides of the same coin. Best wishes to you on your path.

No reversal in my position. The issue relates to practices (and conscious self goal) that are specifically focused (and the related desire/fear) on extending life or avoiding physical death. As stated from the beginning, advanced practitioners who are focused on ongoing removal of obstructions (or refinement of energy) get a healthier body for free.

Agreed. And that is what I had originally stated at the beginning of this thread... http://thedaobums.com/topic/38954-longevity-or-immortality-but-not-both/?p=637534 Practices that truly lead to immortality also increase the health (and life span) of the physical body. Such practices clear obstructions, issues and fears that can manifest as illness/disease in the body. The more broadly opened channels increase and improve vitality. Such practioners even look significantly younger then their actual years. Best wishes.

While not with specific Neigong or Qigong training, I have found that with energy work such marks can definitely happen. As the radiant channels in the hands open, more energy flows through the palms. It happens as one starts to more directly connect to the world around them. In my case, rather than actual burns, it looks more the flaking skin process of the healing of a burn.

From the Lankavatara sutra on your point... There are two ways in which the ceasing of the mind-system may take place: as regards form, and as regards continuation. The sense-organs fuction as regards form by the interaction of form, contact and grasping; and they cease to fuction when this contact is broken. As regards continuation,- when these interactions of form, contact and grasping cease, there is no more continuation of the seeing, hearing and other sense fuctions; with the ceasing of these sense fuctions, the discriminations, graspings and attachments of the discriminating-mind cease; and with their ceasing act and eed and they habit-energy cease, and there is no more accumulation of karma-defilment on the face of Universal Mind. If the evolving mortal-mind were of the same nature as Universal Mind the cessation of the lower mind-system would mean the cessation of Universal Mind, but they are different for Universal Mind is not the cause of mortal-mind. There is no cessation of Universal Mind in its pure and essence-nature. What ceases to fuction is not Universal Mind in its essence-nature, but is the cessation of the effect-producing defilments upon its face that have been caused by the accumulation of the habit-energy of the activities of the discriminating and thinking mortal-mind. There is no cessation of Divine Mind which, in itself, is the abode of Reality and the Womb of Truth.

Transmission is a component of many traditions, but it a major component of the inner (or mystical) aspects of the gnostic Christian tradition. Transmissions can be "sent" by divine beings and also masters or adepts of the tradition. There are two main types of transmission. The lower form is at the level of the "mind" and is often called a mind transmission. The higher form is at the level of the heart (or inner heart) and is often called a "light" transmission. A mind level transmission is commonly associated with the 3rd eye (mind) and is at the astral level. Energy is sent in a directed way to another being, and this energy is translated by the mind into some sort of vision (or healing). The experience (and power) of the transmission is highly dependent on both the clarity of the sender and receiver beings. Depending on the "frequency range" of the transmission, issues and fears in the subconscious mind may be hit. The resulting mind translation can create a very wild perception/experience. This is also why astral travel/mediumship is not recommended in many traditions, as it is possible for the mind to be "fooled" or for negative beings to hide behind deep subconscious issues and fears. Finally, this type of transmission is still at the level of duality, as the mind still believes there are two beings (sender and receiver) and hence is subject to things like the perception of "shielding". A light level transmission is very rare and at the level of the "inner heart" or soul. To send such a transmission, one must have realized oneness, or in Christian terms be at least a highly developed "saint" (or master of the tradition). To even notice/receive such a transmission one must have an open heart (open 4th chakra). A light transmission is beyond the local mind and is a communication directly at the soul level. Depending on one's integration at the soul level, the information is then sort of "decompressed" into components that can be understood by the mind. Those with a developed third eye and the capacity to receive a light transmission will often "see" the transmitting soul which can look like a multicolored burning bush at the level of conscious mind. In a light transmission, the sender has realized oneness and sort of "overlays" their aspect of consciousness on the person, then the natural "light" that they are flows through. In a light transmission, everything that is the sending "being" is included/given to the person. In the process, it is more about the persons ability to "receive". To the receiving person it can feel like "being in a bubble" or like their body pressure has dramatically increased/gotten heavy. Additionally, a divine being/master can share/extend mind clarity (peace that passes human understanding) and the Holy Spirit (Kundalini) in the process. Transmissions are normally at the "grace" of the divine beings. Mental clarity and an open heart are the key in contacting divine beings. Once one realizes oneness, you can directly overlay/merge with divine beings up to your relative clarity.

I understand what you are saying and thank you for sharing, but we seem to just disagree on the point. Best, Jeff