林愛偉

haha it is Its not an ability, but your last part of the sentence hits it on the head! "while knowing that the label set commonly accepted to be reality is basically a set of labels for our perceptions and definitions?" Now once you can personally emotionally detach from the labels set in the mind from the conditioning since childhood, you will discover the other conditions from other bodies you had once manifested due to your karma. And in that, personally emotionally detach from them as well.. and now you are back to something you never strayed from actually. Peace, Aiwei

"Being" mindful is the bate and switch. It may have been some where lost in translation and refered to as being fixed, but Being something is still a distinguishing between one being mindful and an object being made mindful of. The talk of "being" is just a place of reference, not really that there is a being ...being mindful Mindful also is a reference of focus of the mind, because a mind is actually not separate from any other living being, and all other things of creation, though other "non living" things do not have a mind, it is the mind where they are created from. So in essense, really, there is only one mind with a focus of different characteristics. If there is a present being distinguished, then there is a future of the present outcomes and a past of causes which resulted from other outcomes. It is to not distinguish of past, present or future, yet to also not to think there isn't any. The instant there is a reference of past, there will be no mindfullness of all, but a view..a peception of one thing. To see the clouds in the sky, just let the mind be as though not a cloud is in the sky. The instant there is a distinguish of a cloud, there is a cloud and a sky. No distinguishing mark in the mind; no cloud, no sky and neither of the two. In that.. the Mindfullness is actually emptiness because of there not being a distinguisher of what is mindful and not. And in that being the case, there is no mind to even be, no being, for ther eis nothing that is of view. There would be no view, therefore no mind. Your 2 cents exchanged pretty well in my country... haha give or take a few processing charges. Peace and Happiness, Aiwei

Hi Paul, THe verse above is about the non dual mind. Attaining a non dual mind will result in all people's minds being yours because ther eis no separation. The clouding their minds for the world is an analogy for the defilements of the mind. To havea defiled mind is to have causes and outcomes which keep you here in form. It is saying that he sages take also use the conditions of the world inorder to be in the world for people. Being mindful doesnt mean to always keep in mind all things, it means to be without attachments to all things. This is nondiscriminative mind. This non discriminative mind is just the non dual mind. If there is no duality, there is no separation. If there is no separation, then all things are one. If there is distinction of this and that, then there is two. And from that distiction, the two create the next outcome...three...and from that the myriad things.. right? So, the void actually is not empty, but holds all things.. and since it is vast, and unending to an extent, all things are really not distinguished within the void. Vast emptiness is only emptiness when there is a distinction of form. No form, no emptiness, no emptiness no form. To distinguish one is to recognize another. To be mindful is to neither distinguish nor have the thought of not distinguishing all things. Peace and Happiness Brother, Aiwei

Chan Buddhism is cultivated to be in all situations without the discriminating mind. While sitting, do not worry about the pain in the legs, and how much time you have spent sitting, as well as worrying about the thoughts in the mind. Be it sitting, walking, working, talking, etc... be still in mind by not ataching to emotions, desires, thoughts. This means no daydreaming; thinking of a loved one in various situations, family, current situations, sad and happy ones as well. That doesn't mean one stops thinking, it just means that one is not pulled from one thought to the next irresponsibly and ignorantly. You do not want thoughts to stop. For if they did you wouold just be a log sittign and wasting yourself. It is the attachments to thoughts which is transformed. This is the same with Daoism. While sitting, walking, etc... one should not be pulled in all directions by their emotions, desires, thoughts, etc. One should be still in mind. This means to not attach to the experience as it being something you own. This is what is meant by non doing. It is to do enough in all situations, and not be moved irresponsibly, ignorantly by one's mind. Though both schools of cultivation are totally different, the original nature of all beings is the same. Therefore there may be conditions of living beings that call for similar methods to be used by Daoists that are similar with those in Chan Buddhism. The Buddha Dharma isn't fixed, but the foundation is never changed. I have a good friend who is a Daoist Nun. That means she is a left home person. I see her often to talk and do certain things. We often discuss the Shurangama Sutra, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and Buddhism in detail, as well as discuss the 8 Immortals, and their teachings and many other indepth things. She reads the Shurangama Sutra as well, and respects Buddhism for it is of cultivation. There is acknowledgment that Buddhism and Daoism are totally different realities altogether, but the methods of cultivation, though some point to the same direction but different paths, are somewhat similar for certain outcomes, and it is dependant on the mind cultivating. Peace, Aiwei

Peace and Happiness to you too my brother. Aiwei

You missed it. It is as you said, and let's not forget for those who have the heavens and such in their mind, it is as I have said. In the defiled mind, duality exists. As you said is very true, as I have said is very true. Actually, neither are true, because making a distinction itself creates a view, and thus makes it false. The original mind, the original nature has no marks. My reply to you was a dialogue of no marks. Peace, Aiwei

There is a heaven There is Karma There is will not seeing into these things one is caught in confusion. there is no contradiction because there is no duality and it is as it isn't. AMITABHA Aiwei

The Daoists i have met that are of the old tradition, with ceremony and cultivaiton, whom have taught the now generations to fully cultivate be it recitation, memorization of texts and ceremonies, shengong, etc.. are not definitely well cultivated. Maybe the reference to Daoists religious cultivators memorizing the words, are probably those in seen as commercialism for the martial arts. There are lay people who are too intellectual and miss the whole point, and there are Daoist cultivators who just don't speak to anyone about cultivation. It is hard to say which cultivator is wisest. hahaha Unlrss one has the wisdom to recognize another's wisdom. Daoism is of the whole thing of what is seen as religion.. but it wreally isn't religion. Peace, Aiwei

Have you ever read any Daoist literature talking of the will of heaven? Man's will is only called man's will because the mind is in a human body. Heaven's will is called heaven's will because of those in the heaven's have a higher cultivation, and lighter karmic afflictions than humans and animals. If one was in accord with the will of heaven, they are only in accord with the will of those in the heavens, because a place itself has no will... haha Everyone talks of the will of heaven, and being in accord with it, so I use what they are familiar with. Those in the heaven's carry less karmic afflictions than those in lower realms. Some afflictions though, may be of evil nature, and some not. Now, what is the will of the heaven's? They are to keep all beings in peace, and enlightenment. Stop the confusion and the self imposed afflictions. One's will means nothing unless there are those who are resonant with it. That means the mind must be light in order to resonate with something not mundane. But it isn't mandatory to follow any will. haha Will is just another name of the desire to attain something. It is inevitable to attain enlightenment, peace. Yet, as said earlier, the will of heaven, is actually the will of those in the heaven's wanting to make differences on this realm. Nothing more. It can be evil, or good. It doesn't matter what one is in accord with, just awaken, cultivate and do good things. Peace, Aiwei

Even though words, thoughts, emotions, and all things seem to have a dual nature, it is only that way because of our perception of separation. Once we create a difference in the mind, we have opposites. Words can be used to describe profound things, but once the understanding is attained, the words must not be held to as the end all be all explanation. One's own wisdom becomes awakened so to say, and their own understanding begins to bloom. This is good, and is the way it is due to the myriad conditions of living beings. For examle, you may read a sutra and commentary , and after many of the explanations given to you, you finally awaken. Then you, because of your exercising of understanding and stripping of excess, awaken to its principle, and begin to illumine your mind. You then create a manner inwhich you understand it very clearly, and tell someone else about it. The words change, but the principle is the same. Then that person , depending on their capcity to understand and let go, awaken faster because you recognize certain conditions in their mind and can touch on it directly to allow them to see their non dual nature. They inturn do the same thing you did, but with their own bright wisdom to describe things to someone else. Roles and wholehearted, though are different in characteristics, play a similar "role" in eachothers use. You can use a manner of character to its fullest capacity, and that would be being a wholehearted expression. Or you can be that manner for a few moments, and then disregard it. The thing is to neither disregard or regard, use or not use. Assumption is an outcome of confusion. Do not assume and do not be confused. If one hasn't watered their seeds of inherent wisdom, and they haven't bloomed, then they are confused. Living with the ups and downs of emotions, desires, and thoughts in endless karma is a confused being. Therefore they will assume things are a particular way because of not being sure of the causes and conditions. Peace, Aiwei

It is perceived as competition, but if you look at the process more closely, it is nothing more than karma. What will be will be no matter what, according to one's karma. A man who spent years and years looking to build a wealthy life doesn't get it, but one who meets a person who decides to help them in business becomes a millionaire over a few years. It isn't chance, and it isn't competition that really matters. It is one's karma. Being wealthy is an outcome of good things done in the past. Being poor is an outcome of bad things done in the past. No matter how one tries to succeed in business, if they don't have that karma to succeed, they won't. They can change their destiny, but it is alot of work, and some people do not believe it is necessary. One can be poor for 10 yrs and within the ten years do no harm to others. Then one day, because they didn't cause others to be afflicted with anger, ignorance and greed, they find an opportunity for work, and now they can make money, live as most others do. It is all due to one's causes and the conditions manifested from it. Nothing to do with an outcome of who is stronger. Because one may be more wiser and physically fit, and strategize about how to win and win, but they will not win really. It just looks like they won, but in the long run, their greed becomes their quick downfall. Peace, Aiwei

If one doesn't cultivate to open up higher wisdom, they are not in line with heaven's will. Some peopel are born with that capacity, and some aren't. As for the Yijing and its function in determining one's fate...the fate can be changed. And once that is done, it is getting closer to being other than an ordinary person. An ordinary preson goes with the flow of things, and works with their fate But someone more wiser will look to the causes of the situation, and change them accordingly to offer greater results for others. Yijing is the outline for us to understand our karma, but because of its constant changing, we must really look to control what outcomes manifest. Free will isn't innate, it is taught. Choice making, if that is seen as free will, is also taught at a young age, and is acquired by one's exercising of preferences. So, choosing to do anything is really based on our preference, which is based on the experiences we have had, and the outcomes manifested from them. One can make a choice to change their destiny, yet that is still on preference. But changing destiny is a good thing. Who said everyone's destiny is in line with the will of the heavens, and who said the will of the heavens is the highest? Those in the heavens carry its wisdom, yet there are also evils in the heavens that influence one to do things they assume is their own choice. That is why using theYijing to recognize one's outcomes is a tool to recognize one's causes. If one can see their causes, and detach from greed, then they can change their destiny to be in line with the will of the more wiser, compassionate, patient heavens. Because there are evil ones out there as well, there are people who are inline with those heavens too. One doesn't know the will of heaven until they have pure wisdom. That wisdom is from cultivation, not from intellect, but the use of the intellect comes from proper cultivation of inherent wisdom. THis wisdom is not of reading tons of books and going to school. It is from lessening in the mind, the afflictions, karma, attachments we have. It is the clouds being removed from the mind to reveal the brightness. Then there is no more labeling of brightness. Peace, Aiwei

All things expereinced are conditions. Mind experiencing a mind full of conditions fluttering here and there. THe capacity to see is based on the conditions of the mind. If the mind is skeptical towards seeing spirits, then one will not see them. If the mind isn't skeptical, but has no cultivation of the ability to see, then the mind will not see as well. Either way, one may attain a level of enlightenment, but still must cultivate because they may have not ended their afflictions/karma (good or bad). What is looking isn't the causes, but we use the causes to turn the light inwards to transform the causes. It goes further, but not so confusing. Basically, turning the attention inwards instead of in things of our desires. If you think and believe there is someone seeing the illusion, there is still illusion. The condition of seer and object being seen is only a method to turn inwards. Once the concentration is steady, one must drop the idea of a seer and an object seen, and drop the function of seeing as a function. Using afflictions to lessen afflictions. The concentration is what causes the mind to detach. The end result doesn't do t, it must be done on the road to attaining the end result. Non recognition is still a dual process. That means there is something that is doing the non recognition. Dual thinking is not the original nature, so it must be dropped at some point in one's cultivation. Dual thinking results in separation, and afflicted mind, a mind full of attachments to desires, emotions, thoughts, etc. Even the experience of non truth of separation is still saying there is a truth of non separation. There is dual thinking again.. haha A direct experience of truth is the illusion. Truth doesn't need to be experiened at all. THere is no real truth because there is no real non truth. Any idea that there is one experiencing any state at all is the illusion of separation. And lastly.. lol There is nothing Buddhist and non Buddhist about anything I say. For one thing, to say I have said anything is to miss the whole point in the first place. Peace and Happiness, Aiwei

Free will is like a credit card. Before you use the credit card, you have credit. After you use it, you are in debt. It becomes a "Debt" card. Free will... before your karmic afflictions, you had an undefiled mind, free will, so to say; there was no separation, all things are satisfied without lack, all things are one, no duality, therefore no desire, no afflictions. Once you thought of a you, there was no more free will, only the process of karma. Once the process of karma is ended, there is complete free will.. but it isn't a distinction that there is free will, because there is no duality at that point. One can make any decision, do anything they please, but unless they end karma, they will be on the constant wheel of their own doing. That may be fine for others who think it is free will, but it isn't free will anymore. It is one being controlled by their ignorance, greed and anger, and tossed from one outcome to the next due to their own karma. The idea of free will is just a thought. Anything can be done, yet one will reap all outcomes due to the process of karma. Mostly everyone makes decisions based on their capacity to understand. That capacity is determined by one's karma. So, one's free will is based on their karmic afflictions. Peace, and Happiness, Aiwei

Living beings do hold out for a long long time. Cultivating is not easy, and one can't be lazy with it. It only seems like a lifetime because of a different body, but it really is just another manner of our karma taking form. A body is as myriad as our karma. As heavy our karma, as many forms will manifest. Karma lighter and lighter, forms lighter and lighter. No Karma, no form, and even no no form. "Karma ended, and emotions empty,'defines a true Buddha. Karma heavy and emotions turbid, defines a living being." Taken from Hui Neng Sixth Patriarch, Chan School China. Peace, Aiwei

:-) And that is why for you, a good knowing advisor will appear in body form. It is all according to our capacity to understand, awaken. Enlightenment can be sudden or gradual, but it is neither sudden nor gradual. AMITUOFO Peace, Aiwei

One does need a Good Knowing Advisor to assit them in any manner of cultivation. That Good Knowing Advisor may not necessarily be in a physical human body. Depends on one's cultivation, skill in means, fate. Peace, Aiwei

The reason people are more successful than others is simply due tot eh process of Karma. When one becomes more smarter, intelligent, understands certain things more than others, it is due to their karma. One attains enlightenment due to their cultivation and karma. What conditions are within that persons mind, and their capacity to cultivate the wisdom to change them. Cultivating sincerely (concentrating strongly, single mindedly) results in attaining what you have in mind. How much you are attached to it will determine the conditions for your experience, and further outcomes. Peace, Aiwei

Words can be used to describe what is indescribable. Why because there is somehting labeled indescribable which makes it describable. If words are empty, then even the thought of it should not even arise, even for the sake of saying so. Explanations can be made, and very directly as well. It is the capability of the mind to properly understand things which makes words useful or not. Sure everything is empty, and empty is everything, but if words are false, and emptiness is everything, then one should easily be able to go and come as they please... and that means die and live when they want to without the drama of suicide. Because with the skill to come and go as one pleases, it is not suicide, because there is nothign which dies. Words ae useful...but only to those who have the conditions in mind which need words. It is all based on ones conditions. Nothing more. If it wasn't like this, Laozi wouldn't even bother to write anything regardless of who asked, and the Buddhist sutras wouldn't even be written. For those who need words, there are words, for those who don't need words, there are none. For example, Shakyamuni Buddha once held up a flower infront of a geat large assembly, and only Arya Mahakasyapa understood the Mind to Mind transmission. The Dharma of no words. BUT because living beings have defiled minds, attached minds, words are used as the expedient to detach from them. Once the concentration is turned back to the mind, further cultivation is needed to see one's original nature. As in the teachings of Daoism, they are only expedients to get us to detach, forget the dualities and return the light inside to see our original nature. Because people's afflictions are heavy, Daoism uses its methods to cultivate morality, and virtue as well as intuitive wisdom. When talk like "Everything is empty", "no words are needed" , "its all useless..words are empty" is presented, it is a total contradiction to itself and the speaker. Sure they are empty, but WHO labels them as empty? Peace and Happiness, Aiwei

Both schools of cultivation look to attain enlightenment. One does it faster, one does it slower. The extra talk explains why. But its not important. Just work with the teachings you have more fate with. THose teachings will be the ones which assist you better. Fast and slow depend on your own mind and the conditions which govern your life. Nothing mysterious. Peace and Happiness, Aiwei

ALso, on the talk of Buddhism using only the two upper dantians,... I remember Heavenly Master Chang YiXiang saying that men , in beginning their cultivation, should not focus on the lower dantian. They should focus on the heart and mind first. Why? Because of the sexual desire that arises from yang qi in the lower dantian. If they are not properly guided, the men may masturbate, have sex and waste their energy, and or they may become sick and cause damage to their urniary system, kidneys and sexual organs. Woman on the other hand can focus on the lower dantian, because every month the menstruation ccle kicks in and drains a good amount of excess yang qi. ALso, women can control their sexual desires better than men can.. in most instances. One more thing is, that a women can stop her mentruation cycle naturally with certain practices. THat is why these methods area recommended. Peace, Aiwei

I have acultivatio brother who once said that during his recitation practice, his head would become so dense and heavy that he had to stop. I said, just pbring that heaviness to the dantian (in the belly). He said that is exactly what one of the Dharma masters advised their students to do during all of the recitation. Basically it was focusing the Yang qi from reciting and concentration in the dantian. The Buddhists do not worry of the fine details. They simply cultivate concentration and do not worry on the outcome because if proper concentration is cultivated, the right outcome will be accomplished. That is why there is little talk in developing spiritual powers and little emphasis on Qigong cultivation. They would simply say, cultivate patience, compassion and wisdom, then do not worry of the end result because it is inevitable. Just cultivate, concentrate, and you will attain...but it isn'te really attaining. Every level reached is just the mind letting go of more and more things. And the experience of it is an outcome of proper concentration. Spiritual powers and powers developed from the practices in Buddhism are not discussed becaue they are not really so important to the next person, and wil lonly lead people to think that developing power is enlightenment, and they will develop bigger egos than they already have. Tha tis to steer them away from their original mind. THough some people want to see in order to believe, it is still their ego which is looking, not their original nature. That is why Buddhists do ont play with their abilities infront of others. It is a disservice to their cultivation regardless of their desires to see something "cool". It is a defilement of their mind to want to see such. It shows more that they need to cultivate. haha So this is why muc of Qigong and energetic cultivation in Buddhism isn't really spoken about. And as a hint to where it comes from, it is all in MEDITATION. A friend of mine came with me to see my other friend in a Daoist temple out in Taian. He wanted to ask her if there is a transmission of technique similar to that of Buddhism, because he used to be a monk. Also if there is Shengong practice. She answered as I answered him.. it all comes form meditation. Concentration. Peace and Happiness, Aiwei

Hi it is conditioning. Our thoughts that are beliveed to be real begin to be shaped by that believing, and thus we have the situations in our lives and call some of them natural, because we couldn't find anyother explanation. Competition is based on the idea of needing, greed, ego. Even if it is seen as healthy, it still leaves the thought in the mind that there is an self, others, living beings and a life as a foundation of daily living. It is more of a learned condition then human nature. And human's original nature is the same as all other sentient original natures. If you are talking about the mind before modern development, then it is just on raw emotions, and though they come without someone saying I want that feeling now, it is still based on thought and belief in the thoughts which cause one to feel those emotions. It is still conditioning. The manner is to look at ever cause of our outcomes till we can let each and everyone go, and see the original nature. Get past dual thinking, and see that which is non dual. Then we will realize that there is no ego, separation, living beings and life. THat there is no competition, and no Need at all. But that doesn't mean one will just sit there like a lump on a log.. hahaha Peace and Happiness, Aiwei

Buddhism does not only focus on two dantian, it also cultivates the lower dantian. That is where the breathing cultivation takes place. haha It is in seeing the conditions of the mind of the past, present and future, and then realizing that there is only now, and that even now cannot be measured. So that means there is no distinction of a Now, a past or a future. Becuase of the human mind and its conditions, we use words such as Now, and past , present. But neither of them exist, nor do not exist, and neither of the two are real. Buddhism is of no marks. Original nature is of no marks. There is impermanence to those who believe in permanence, and permanence for those who believe in impermanence. haha The mind is liek that until it isn't. Peace, Aiwei

They are totally opposite in methods of cultivating in terms of focus of mind. Daoism focuses on Duality, but to a certain extent. Duality is not the end all be all, and neither is emptiness. THis is what is usually misunderstood in Daoism. Buddhism recognizes duality, but knows it isn't the end all be all, as well as emptiness not the end of it all as well. Buddhism is not all about suffering as well. Suffering as a focus in Buddhism is only a tool of perception to keep the mind in a manner of sincerity(concentration). Buddhism is about non dual teachings.. which means dropping the view of duality. You may say there is duality, but that is not the original nature, and the labelling of Original Nature is only used as a focus of the mind. At some point it too must be dropped, along with the mind. Daoism attains enlightenment, but it will take a long time through this path to attain complete pure enlightenment, enlightenment with no marks (no attachments) Becoming immortal doiesn't equal enlightenment. Buddhism also uses cultivation of energy through postures, and movement. Nowadays, it is Taiji Quan. Buddhism cultivates both body and mind. Buddhist monks have l ived for over a few hundred years, as well as Daoist monks, and their knowledge is unfathomable. Both are well manners of cultivation. One takes you directly and cultivates both mind and body...without the idea of their being separation, and the other cultivates mind and body through a longer route. If it may take one 2 lifetimes to attain enlightenment with Buddhism..in some cases, it may take one 5-10 lifetimes with Daoist cultivation... ofcourse it is given their karma, which is equivalent to one's mental abilities of understanding and cultivation skill. THough the above statement is just to paint a picture, that outcome is totally based on one's own level of skill in cultivation, karma. Buddhism is a complete system of cultivation, and so is Daoism. To say either one lacks something is to misunderstand. But it is proper to say that one is more direct in attaining complete pure enlightenment than the other. The more direct path is Buddhism, while the more longer path is Daoism. Daoism cultivates for celestial bodies, and power..and eventually reaching some stage of enlightenment, though not wrong, it is still not too ultimate. Yet that still depends on one's teacher, and their level of wisdom. It is not fixed in stone. Buddhism, depending on one's concentration power, skill in means, transformation is sudden or gradual, and realization of non dual mind reveals itself. Also, there really isn't a practicing of them both, for if y ou look at methods of cultivation for virtue, and wisdom, patience and compassion, they are similar. But the mental foundation in cultivation is two different paths inwhich Buddhism is faster in attaining than Daoism. Methods that are cultivated in Daoism are simialr to that of certain cultivation schools in Buddhism. One gets you there faster.. but that is dependant upon one's karma and cultivation. Peace, Aiwei