BaguaKicksAss

Skipping quite a bit, will add here later....

THE NECESSITY OF WORKING WITH A SPIRITUAL GUIDE [iI] The need for a guide can be determined from scripture, logic, and similes. The necessity of working with a spiritual guide can be determined from (1) scriptures, (2) logic, and (3) similes. Scriptures [A] There are countless scriptural references to the need for working with a spiritual guide. The Condensed Transcendent Wisdom Scripture states10: Worthy students who respect spiritual teachers Should always remain close to learned masters Because from them the virtues of the wise spring. The Flower Array Scripture states11: O child of the universal family, all your virtuous qualities issue from your spiritual guide. You can encounter and receive instructions from one only if you have cultivated merit and wisdom for oceans of eons. Otherwise, to meet a spiritual guide may prove more difficult than coming upon the most rare of gems. Therefore, never tire of honoring your spiritual guide. Logic Given that a student wishes to attain the state of an omniscient buddha, the basic premise is that it is necessary for him or her to work with a spiritual guide. The reason is that the individual does not know how to cultivate merit and wisdom or to clear away obscurations. Examples consistent with this proof are the enlightened ones of the three times. The converse can be illustrated by solitary sages12 and other examples. Similes [C] Many similes illustrate [the need for a spiritual guide]. For example, the Biography of Shri Sambhava states13: Spiritual teachers are like guides because they set us on the path of the perfections. The Biography of the Lay Practitioner Achala states14: Spiritual guides are like escorts because they escort us to the state of omniscience. The Flower Array states15: Spiritual guides are like ferrymen because they carry us across the river of cyclic life. SPIRITUAL GUIDES AND THEIR QUALIFICATIONS [iII] This section has two parts: (1) an overview, and (2) an explanation. The first of these has two parts: (1) types of spiritual guides, and (2) their qualifications. Overview [A] Types [1] A spiritual guide may be an ordinary human being, a bodhisattva, a buddha in manifest or enjoyment dimension Suited to the four phases of the disciple's growth. There are four types of spiritual guide: ordinary human beings, bodhisattvas, the manifest dimension of a buddha, and the enjoyment dimension of a buddha. These four are suited to the four phases [of our spiritual growth]. At the beginning of our quest, it is impossible for us to come in touch with buddhas or bodhisattvas who have reached the higher stages of awakening. Therefore, we have to work with ordinary human beings as our spiritual guides. When the obscurations caused by our previous deeds have cleared, we can meet bodhisattvas on higher stages of awakening.16 As we reach the highest level of the path of accumulation,17 we can encounter the manifest dimension of a buddha. Then, as we attain the higher stages of awakening, we can come in contact with the enjoyment dimension of a buddha as our spiritual guide. At the beginning of our quest, when we are still trapped in the dungeon of our emotions and previous deeds, we cannot consider working with higher spiritual guides because we will not see as much as their faces! We first must seek a spiritual guide who is an ordinary human being. When our path has been illuminated by the light of his or her speech, we will come to meet higher spiritual guides. Therefore, the kindest of all is the spiritual guide who is an ordinary person.18

I'm wondering if I have a different edition than C T?

I'm going to take a guess on this one, the one guy did more in his hast lifetime/s than the others and just needed that last little push.

I attended some teachings lately, about how to meditate better, realize that existence is illusionary, and so forth (that's what I got out of it anyways). So the first thing these highly spiritual folks talked about how one shouldn't try to escape or get away from the regular mundane world and day to day life, but instead use that as the training ground. They are obviously much more advanced than myself LOL. Working on it.... They do have a very good point though. Staying centered and connected to the Dao is really easy when one is sitting quietly alone meditating. Much more difficult in day to day situations which we find stressful and such.

While these guys might annoy the hell out of you folks, and iyo give false info.... the replies that a few of you folks give to their statements, questions and posts have helped me understand a lot . They tend to bring the conversation to places it wouldn't naturally go.

I would personally worry about learning anything from an internet forum, accept perhaps photoshop (lol). Even with photoshop an in person teacher can get you there 100X faster/better/more accurately. Though that said, asking specific questions, we do have a few members who give some pretty amazing insights/answers . Just wouldn't be good as a primary source imo. This goes for qigong, neigong, martial arts, (and photoshop lol) as well. I went to check out Vajracakra, liked it!!

In person teacher would really help, just random meditation doesn't do much aside from relax you and such.

I found this last comment quite interesting . Edit to add: all the links seem to be broken....

Now cutting it out from the gold wouldn't be to bad, would just take... awhile! But cutting the stones to fit, yikes! I would personally want to go with squishing the faience in while it was still in liquid form and not hardened yet . The most recent replica I am working on started with a 3D printer lolololol. Now just to figure out the fill in the faience bits part...

I have found unfortunately that one must be very careful about teachers who don't charge. Often they are in it for ego reasons instead of money reasons. This is from personal experiences over the years, and also what others have shared with me. Obviously this is not the case all the time, but unfortunately does happen a lot .

I have always found amount of money charged to be completely irrelevant to the quality of teachings given, and I have paid many varying amounts over the years, including free.

If I didn't mind getting raped or mugged, then I would really want to look into the fact that my ego (negative ego) had taken over control.... Not why I practice martial arts, since the chances are so slim, but it is the perspective that the thread seems to be started on for some odd reason.

Youtube.... well you know when you have a recipe book right and you make the recipe as instructed and it never turns out like that gorgeous photo of the meal on the facing page? Well that is sort of like my jewelry experiences with youtube LOL. Presently I'm working on one of these:

The funny part is that he kinda sorta looks like you ZOOM ROFL. Just grow your hair out a little more...

My dentist should give me free services, and my lawyer, and my Dr. and my spiritual teacher! I wonder if most folks felt spiritual teachers were on par with their dentist for real world expertise if they would view things differently? Course spiritual training takes many more years than even a medical doctor trains...

Also charging people for magical help was done ever since ancient egypt .

I charge a sliding scale. Or free for those who do trade and help with chores. I love teaching for free; help with chores is much more useful than money sometimes! Lately I'm really loving the low cost pay what you can, and the regular rates still being low teachings. Previously I really enjoyed the pay lots per hour for private lessons teachings. I also enjoy free teachings. They are all good, in different ways for different things, and all worth every dime, or time spent etc. The thing is though, if you don't think paying/charging for teachings is right, then don't pay for them. If you think it is OK, then pay for them. But telling others how they should do things, is just trying to control the rest of the world. Silly stuff imo.

Used to be someone on irc who said he was going to go fight a bare without any weapons. One day we all never heard from him again (no really).

you instead lose stuff . Lots of stuff! Just stuff that got on the way anyways.... (my present newbie understanding at least; though I'm sure I'll loose that soon too lol)

Zoom: http://www.milareparetreat.org/index.php/en/2012-07-19-17-39-29/aufruf-zum-retreat or http://garchen.de/dokumente/Vorschau_Juli_Dez2014.pdf Just 2 examples. Sir, your google-fu needs work .

.

100,000 prostrations are excellent strength training!

.

.