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I have a friend who has noticed that for some days at a time he'll have very few, sporadic dreams, then for a couple of days he'll have an explosion of very intense, very vivid dreams. He's been trying to figure out what causes this stuff, if there is a cause, or if it's just a natural phase, and everyone has a different dream cycle. For me, I don't pay much attention to it.

Is there any solid understanding from old knowledge or own experience about the implications (causes, messages, results) of the frequency with which dreams are occuring? I'm excluding the case where one is simply so sleep-deprived that a lot of experiences have to be processed. I mean, what does it signal when while the sleep patterns are regular and dreams occur sporadically, one night there's a lot of dream acitivity, the sleep stuffed with various very creative, interesting dreams? And do you experience phenomena like this that in any way correlate to your meditation practice?

Thats good. What can we expect from an untitled buddahood person? I wouldnt dream of skipping any stage, thats cheating. Do we need lots of electrolytes to progress to stage 5 then? You answers seem create more question

Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche - chanting http://www.megaupload.com/?d=85RU8Q1S do not commit non-virtuous actions subdue the mind thoroughly, this is a teaching of the buddha no thoughts The bodhisattva's career 2.a The bodhisattva's intention [3] The Buddha said, "Subhuti, a person who has set out on the bodhisattva's way of life should think, 'I must lead all the beings of the universe to nirvana, whether they are born from an egg, from a womb, from scum, or they miraculously appear; I must lead them into nirvana where nothing remains behind. And yet, although innumerable beings have been thus led to nirvana, no being whatsoever has been led to nirvana.' Why is that? If a bodhisattva thinks of a 'being' he or she is no bodhisattva. Why is that? He or she is no bodhisattva if they think in terms of a self or a being, or in terms of a living person or a soul." [4] "Moreover, Subhuti, a bodhisattva who shares with others should free themselves. When sharing, they should be free from lust for beautiful sights, lovely sounds, gourmet tastes or smells, tactile enjoyments, and seductive thoughts. The bodhisattva should give to others without being influenced by seductive things. Why is that? Because a bodhisattva who shares uninfluenced by such things will reap vast benefits. "What do you think, Subhuti? Can you comprehend the vastness of space to the east?" "No, blessed one! It is impossible to comprehend the vastness of space in the east." "Subhuti, is it possible to comprehend the limits of space in the north, the south, or the west? Or any direction in the universe?" "No, world-honored one." "Subhuti, it is equally impossible to comprehend the vast benefits that incur to a bodhisattva who shares without being seduced by appearances." [5] "What do you think, Subhuti? Can someone see the well- traveled one in the phenomena of physical presence?" "No, honored one! It is impossible to even see the well- traveled one in the phenomena of his physical presence. Why? Because the phenomena of his physical presence is not the same as the essential well-traveled one." "You are right, Subhuti. The phenomena of the physical presence is wholly illusion. It is not until a person understands this that he can realize the true well-traveled one." [6] Subhuti respectfully asked the lord buddha, "Honored one! In the future, if a person hears this teaching, or a part of it, whether a section or a sentence, will true faith awaken in their mind?" "No doubt about it, Subhuti. Even 500 years after the nirvana of the well-traveled one there will be some who, practicing charity and keeping the faith, will believe in sections and sentences of this scripture and will awaken their minds purely. Know, however, that such persons, long ago, planted seeds of goodness, not simply before one buddhist temple, or two, or five, but before hundreds of thousands of buddhas, so that when they hear sections and sentences of this scripture a pure faith will awaken within their minds. "Subhuti, the well-traveled one knows that the sentient beings who awaken faith upon hearing sections or sentences of this scripture will accumulate inestimable blessings and merit. How do I know this? Because these sentient beings must have already discarded such arbitrary conceptions of phenomena as one's own self, other selves, living beings, and a universal self. If they had not, their minds would inevitably grasp after such things and they would then not be able to practice charity nor keep the precepts. "Moreover, these sentient beings must also have discarded all arbitrary notions of a personal self, other personalities, living beings, and a universal self. Otherwise their minds would inevitably grasp after such relative conceptions. Furthermore, these sentient beings must have already discarded all arbitrary notions of the non-existence of a personal self, other personalities, living beings, and a universal self. Otherwise, their minds would still be grasping at such notions. Therefore everyone who seeks total enlightenment should discard not only conceptions of their own selfhood, other selves, living beings, and a universal self, but they should also discard all notions of the non-existence of such conceptions. When the well-traveled one, in teaching, uses conceptions and ideas, people should remember the unreality of all such concepts and ideas. They should recall that the well-traveled one, in teaching spiritual truths, always uses such notions in the way that a raft is used to cross a river. The raft is of no more use when the river has been crossed, and should be discarded. So these arbitrary conceptions of and about spiritual things should be given us as one attains enlightenment. How much more should one give up conceptions of non-existent things?" [7] "What do you think, Subhuti? Has the well-traveled one attained anything that can be described as complete enlightenment? Has he ever given you any such teaching?" Subhuti replied, "As I understand the teaching of the lord buddha, there is no such thing as complete enlightenment, nor is it possible for the well-traveled one to teach any fixed spiritual truth. Why? Because the things taught by the well- traveled one are, in their essential nature, inconceivable and inscrutable; they are neither existent nor non-existent; they are neither phenomena nor noumena. What does this mean? It means that buddhas and bodhisattvas are not enlightened by fixed teachings, but by an intuitive process, spontaneous and natural." [8] "What do you think Subhuti? If a follower gave treasures enough to fill 3,000 universes, would that person gain considerable blessings and merit?" Subhuti replied, "Considerable blessings and merit. Why? Because what the lord buddha has referred to as blessings and merit does not refer to anything objective, he merely refers to such things in a relative way. The lord buddha continued, "If another, after studying and observing even a single stanza of this scripture, explains its meaning to others, their blessings and merit will be much greater. Why is that? Because from explanations such as these buddhas have attained unsurpassed enlightenment, and their teachings come from this sacred scripture. However, Subhuti, I must take back my words as soon as they are uttered, for there are no buddhas and no teachings." [9] "What do you think, Subhuti? Suppose someone has entered the flow. Could that person arbitrarily say, 'I have entered the flow'?" Subhuti replied, "No way man. Because, even though they have entered the flow, truly they have not entered anything, nor has their mind entertained such arbitrary conceptions as form, sound, taste, odor, tactile thing, or discrimination. Thus are such people known to have entered the flow." "What do you think, Subhuti? Suppose someone has only one more life to traverse? Could that person say 'I have only one more life to go'?" "No way man. Because even if set to return only one more time, truly there is no rebirth either in this world or any other. By knowing this someone has only one more life to traverse." "What do you think Subhuti? Suppose someone will never be reborn. Could that person say, 'I won't be reborn again'?" "No way man. Because even though they won't be reborn, they don't really think in such arbitrary terms. Because of which they won't be reborn again." "What do you think, Subhuti? Suppose someone is completely awake. Would that person think, 'I am awake'?" "No way man. Because there really isn't such a thing as a truly awakened person. If someone harbored a thought such as 'I am awake' they would find themselves attached to ideas about a self, other selves, living beings, and a universal self. Oh Lord, you have said that I have become passively atuned, have reached the pinnacle of my potential, and am therefore awakened. If I cherished the thought, 'I am awake, free of desire!' you, good lord, would not have said that I delight in the practice of silence and tranquility. But, in truth, I have cherished no such arbitrary thought, so you could truly say, 'Subhuti delights in the practice of silence and tranquility." [10] "What do you think, Subhuti? When the well-traveled one was, in a previous life, with Dipankara buddha, did I receive any definite teaching or attain any definite degree of self-control, whereby I later became a buddha?" "No, honorable one. When the well-traveled one was a disciple of Dipankara buddha, in truth, he received no definite teaching, nor did he attain any definite supremacy." "What do you think, Subhuti? Do the great bodhisattvas embellish the elysian fields to which they go?" "No way man. And why is that? Because what you mean by the expression, 'embellish the elysian fields' is self-contradictory, for elysian fields thus embellished would no longer be called elysian fields. Therefore the expression 'embellishment of the elysian fields' is merely a figure of speech." The lord buddha continued, "Therefore, Subhuti, the minds of all bodhisattvas should be purified of all thoughts that relate to seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching, and discriminating. They should use their mental faculties spontaneously and naturally, without being constrained by preconceived notions arising from the senses. "Subhuti, suppose a person's body was as big as the highest mountain. What do you think? Would that body be considered huge?" "Exceedingly huge, world-honored one! Because what you really mean by the expression 'huge body' is not limited by any arbitrary conception, so it can correctly be called huge." [11] "What do you think, Subhuti? If there are as many Ganges Rivers as there are grains of sand in the river Ganges, will these rivers be numerous?" "Exceedingly numerous, lord." "Suppose there were these innumerable rivers, how immeasurable would be their grains of sand! Subhuti, if a good and faithful person, whether man or woman, were to give gifts of desirable things equal to those grains of sand in all those Ganges Rivers, would the merit accrued be considerable?" "A very considerable merit, my lord." "Subhuti, if another person, after studying and observing even one stanza of this scripture, were to explain it to others, their merit would be greater." [12] "Furthermore, Subhuti, if any person in any place were to teach even one stanza of this scripture, that place would become sacred ground and would be revered by numerous kinds of beings, as if it were a sacred temple. How much more sacred would the place become if that person studied and observed the whole scripture! Be assured, Subhuti, such a person will attain total enlightenment, and the place where this scripture is reverenced will be like an altar consecrated to the buddha, or to one of his honored followers." [13a] Subhuti said to the blessed one, "By what name shall we know this scripture, so that it can be honored and studied?" The lord buddha replied, "This scripture shall be known as The Transcendent Awareness that Cuts Like a Diamond. By this name it shall be revered and studied and observed. What does this name mean? It means that when the buddha named it, he did not have in mind any definite or arbitrary conception, and so named it. This scripture is hard and sharp, like a diamond that will cut away all arbitrary conceptions and bring one to the other shore of enlightenment. "What do you think, Subhuti? Has the well-traveled one given you any definite teaching in this scripture?" "No blessed lord, the well-traveled one has not given us any definite teaching in this scripture." [13b] "What do you think, Subhuti? Are the atoms in 3,000 worlds very numerous?" "Very numerous indeed, lord." "Subhuti, when the well-traveled one speaks of atoms, it does not mean I am thinking any definite or arbitrary thought, I merely use the words as a figure of speech. It is just the same with the word universe; these words do not assert any definite or arbitrary idea, I merely use the words as words." [13c] "What do you think, Subhuti? Can someone grasp the well- traveled one's personality by its 32 marks of physical excellence?" "No blessed one! We cannot grasp the well-traveled one's wonderful personality by its 32 marks of excellence. Why? Because what the well-traveled one has expressed as '32 marks of physical excellence' does not convey any definite or arbitrary assertions as to the qualities of a buddha. The words are merely used as a figure of speech." [13d] "Subhuti, if a good and faithful follower, whether male or female, has, for the sake of charity, been sacrificing their life for generation upon generation, for as many generations as the grains of sands in 3,000 universes; and another follower has been merely studying and observing a single stanza of this scripture and explaining it to others, their blessings and merit will be greater." [14a] As Subhuti listened intently to the words of the lord buddha, the teachings of this scripture penetrated his awareness, and he realized it to be the true path to enlightenment. With tears in his eyes, he said, "Oh, blessed lord, I have never before understood this profound scripture. You have opened my eyes to transcendent awareness. "Honored one, what has been taught about the true significance of phenomena has no arbitrary or limited meaning. This teaching is, as you say, a raft to carry us to the other shore. Noble lord, when, as now, I have the chance to hear this scripture, it is not difficult to concentrate my mind upon it and clearly understand its significance; it awakens within my mind a pure faith. In the future, after 500 years, if there are any ready to hear it and ready to attain enlightenment, able to concentrate their minds upon it, able to clearly understand it, able to awaken a pure faith in it, such a person will thereby become a wonderful and preeminent person. And if there are such people, they will be able to awaken pure faith because they have ceased to cherish any arbitrary notions of their own selfhood, other selves, living beings, or a universal self. Why? Because if they are cherishing any arbitrary conception as to their own selfhood, they will be cherishing something that is non-existent. It is the same with all arbitrary conceptions of other selves, living beings, a universal self. These are all expressions of non-existent things. Such a person, able to discard all arbitrary conceptions of and about phenomena, will immediately become a buddha." The lord buddha was very pleased with this reply, saying, "True, quite true. If a person, having heard this scripture, is not surprised, nor frightened, and does not shrink from it, they are a truly wonderful person." [14b] "In talking about the practice of transcendent patience, the well-traveled one does not hold onto any arbitrary conceptions about the phenomena of patience, he merely refers to it as the practice of transcendent patience. And why is that? Because when, in a previous life, the Prince of Kalinga severed the flesh from my limbs and my body, even then I was free from such ideas as my own self, other selves, living beings, and a universal self. For if, at the time of my suffering, I had cherished any of these arbitrary notions, I would have fallen into impatience and hatred. "Besides, Subhuti, I remember that during my five hundred previous lives I had used life after life to practice patience and to look upon my life humbly, as though I were a saint called upon to suffer humility. Even then my mind was free of arbitrary conceptions of the phenomena of my self, other selves, living beings, or a universal self." [14c] The lord buddha continued, "When a great bodhisattva begins to practice toward attaining unsurpassed enlightenment, he or she must give up attachment to arbitrary ideas about reality. When thinking, he or she should definitely banish all thought connected with the sensory phenomena of sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, and all discriminations based thereupon, keeping the mind free of such arbitrary conceptions about reality. The mind becomes disturbed by discriminating in terms of sense data and the arbitrary conceptions that arise in their wake; as the mind gets disturbed it begins to falsely imagine a self and its relationship with other selves. Therefore the well-traveled one has constantly urged the great bodhisattvas, in their practice of sharing, not to be influenced by any arbitrary ideas about reality, such as sights, sounds, and so forth. "Great bodhisattvas should share uninfluenced by any preconceived notions as to a self and other selves, and for the sole purpose of benefitting sentient beings, always recalling that both phenomena and sentient beings are to be considered as mere expressions. Nevertheless, Subhuti, the teachings of the well-traveled one are all true, credible, unchangeable; they are neither extravagant nor chimerical. The same is true of the attainments of the well-traveled one--they are neither real nor unreal. "Subhuti, if a great bodhisattva, in practicing charity, holds within his or her mind any of these arbitrary conceptions, thereby discriminating self from other selves, he or she will be like a person walking in the darkness and seeing nothing. But if a great bodhisattva, in practicing charity, has no arbitrary conception of receiving blessings and merit by such practice, he or she will be like a person with clear sight, seeing all things in bright sunshine. "If, in the future, there is a worthwhile man or woman able to observe and study this scripture, their success and attainment of inconceivable blessings and merit will be instantly known and appreciated by the overarching vision of the well-traveled one. [15] The lord buddha continued, "Subhuti, if a good person, whether male or female, in their zeal to practice charity is willing to sacrifice their life in the morning, at mid-day, or in the evening, on as many occasions as there are grains of sand in the river Ganges, and these occasions recur for a 100,000 eons, would the blessings and merit be great?" "It would be great indeed, lord buddha." "Supposing, Subhuti, another person were to observe and study this scripture with pure faith. Their blessings and merit would be greater. And if still another person, besides observing and studying this scripture, were to enthusiastically explain it to others and copy and circulate it, their blessings and merit would be far greater. "In other words, Subhuti, this scripture is invested with an inestimable, illimitable, ineffable virtue and power. The well- traveled one elucidates this scripture only to those persons who are earnestly and perserveringly seeking to perfectly realize total enlightenment and attain the bodhisattva stages of compassion that characterize the greater path. As people are able to enthusiastically and faithfully observe and study this scripture, explain it to others and circulate it widely, the well-traveled one will recognize and support them until they succeed in attaining its inestimable, illimitable, and wonderful virtues. Such people will share with the well-traveled one its task of compassion and its reward of total enlightenment. "And why, Subhuti, is this promise limited to the followers of the greater path? Because the followers of the lesser path have not yet been able to free themselves from such arbitrary conceptions as personal selfhood, other personalities, living beings, and a universal self, and are therefore not yet able to faithfully and earnestly observe and study and explain this scripture to others. "Listen up Subhuti! Wherever this scripture shall be observed and studied and explained, that place will become sacred ground to which countless spiritually advanced beings will bring offerings. Such places, however humble they may be, will be reverenced as though they were famous temples, and countless pilgrims will come there to worship. Over them spiritually advanced beings will hover, sprinkling that place with celestial flowers." [16] The blessed one continued, "Subhuti, should there be among the faithful some who have not yet matured their karma and who must first suffer the natural retribution of evils committed in some previous life by being degraded to a lower life form, and should they earnestly and faithfully observe and study this scripture, and thereby be despised and persecuted by people, their karma will immediately mature and they will attain supreme, total awakening. "Subhuti, I recall that long ago, numerous eons before the time of Dipankara buddha, without my having been at fault, I served and worshiped and received spiritual instruction and discipline from 84,000 myriad buddhas. Yet in the far future ages of the last era of this world, if a student faithfully observes, studies, and puts into practice the teachings in this scripture, the blessing that will accrue will far exceed that acquired by me during those long years of service and discipline under those many buddhas. Yes, it will exceed my poor merit, billions to one. Yes, even more, it will exceed uncountable myriads to one. The lord buddha continued, "Subhuti, in contrast to what I have said about the inestimable blessing that will come to earnest followers who observe and study and practice this scripture in that far off time, I must tell you that there will probably be some students who, upon hearing this scripture, will become bewildered and will not believe what they hear. Subhuti, you should remember that just as the spiritual message of this scripture transcends human thought, so also the effect and the final result of studying it and putting it into practice is inscrutable." [17] Then Subhuti asked the lord buddha, "Suppose a good person, either man or woman, having aimed themself toward total enlightenment, still finds their mind to be disturbed. How are they to keep the mind tranquil, how subdue wandering thoughts and cravings?" "The lord buddha replied, "Subhuti, any good person who concentrates on attaining total enlightenment should cherish one thought: the intention to attain the highest transcendent awareness in order to show all sentient beings the eternal peace and freedom of nirvana. If this intention is sincere, these sentient beings are already freed. And yet, Subhuti, if the full truth is realized, one knows that not a single sentient being has ever been freed. And why, Subhuti? Because if the great bodhisattvas have held onto any such arbitrary conceptions as one's own self, other selves, living beings, or a universal self, they could not be called great bodhisattvas. And what does this mean, Subhuti? It means that there are no sentient beings to be freed and there is no selfhood that can begin the practice of seeking to attain total enlightenment. "What do you think, Subhuti? When the well-traveled one was with the buddha Dipankara did he have any such arbitrary conception of the spiritual truth by which he sought to attain total enlightenment intuitively?" "No, blessed lord. As I understand what you are saying, when you were with buddha Dipankara you had no such arbitrary conception of spirituality by which you sought total enlightenment intuitively." The lord buddha was very pleased with this, and said, "You are right, Subhuti. Speaking truthfully there is no such arbitrary conception of spiritual truth as that. If there had been, Dipankara would not have predicted that in some future life I would attain buddhahood under the name Shakyamuni. What does this mean Subhuti? It means that what I attained is not something limited and arbitrary that can be called 'total enlightenment,' but is that buddhahood whose being is identical with the being of all things and is what it is--universal, inconceivable, inscrutable. "Suppose, Subhuti, there were a student who asserts that the well-traveled one had some ideas about the spiritual truth that warranted his seeking to attain complete enlightenment. Understand, Subhuti, that the well-traveled one truly had no ideas of the spiritual truth by which he sought to attain total enlightenment." The lord buddha emphasized this by saying, "Subhuti, the buddhahood which the well-traveled one attained is both the same and not the same as total enlightenment. This is merely another way of saying that the phenomena of all things is one beingness with buddhahood and complete enlightenment, and is neither reality nor unreality, but is together with all phenomena in openness and silence, inconceivable and inscrutable. Subhuti, that is why I say that the spiritual truth of all things can never be encompassed by any arbitrary conception of phenomena, however universal that conception may be. That is why it is called the truth, and that is why there is no such thing as the truth. "Subhuti, suppose I were to speak of the largeness of the human body. What would you understand thereby?" "World-honored one, I would understand that the lord buddha was not speaking of the largeness of the human body as an arbitrary conception of its being. I would understand that the words carried merely an imaginary meaning." "Subhuti, it is just the same when the great bodhisattvas speak of delivering numberless sentient beings. If they have in mind any arbitrary conception of sentient beings or of definite numbers, they are unworthy of being called great bodhisattvas. And why, Subhuti? Because the very reason they are called great bodhisattvas is because they have abandoned all such arbitrary conceptions. And what is true of one arbitrary conception is true of all conceptions. The well-traveled one's teachings are entirely free of all such arbitrary conceptions as one's own self, other selves, living beings, and a universal self." To make this teaching even more empathic, the lord buddha continued, "If a great bodhisattva were to speak as follows, 'I will add embellishments to the buddhafields' he would be unworthy of being called a great bodhisattva. Why? Because the well- traveled one has explicitly taught that when a great bodhisattva uses such words, they must not bear in mind any such arbitrary conception of phenomena; they are to use such expressions merely as so many words. "Subhuti, it is only those students whose understanding can penetrate deeply enough into the meaning of the well-traveled one's teachings concerning the egolessness of both things and living beings, and who can clearly understand their significance, that are worthy to be called great bodhisattvas." [18] The buddha then asked Subhuti, "What do you think? Does the well-traveled one have ordinary eyes?" "Subhuti replied, "Sure, he has ordinary eyes." "Does he have the eyes of enlightenment?" "Of course, the well-traveled one has the eyes of enlightenment, otherwise he would not be the buddha." "Does the well-traveled one have the eyes of transcendent intelligence?" "Yes, the well-traveled one has the eyes of transcendent intelligence." "Does the well-traveled one have the eyes of spiritual intuition?" "Yes, lord, the well-traveled one has the eyes of spiritual intuition." "Does the well-traveled one have the buddha eyes of love and compassion for all sentient beings?" Subhuti agreed and said, "Lord, you love all sentient life." "What do you think, Subhuti? When I referred to the grains of sand in the river Ganges, did I assert that they were truly grains of sand?" "No blessed lord, you only spoke of them as grains of sand." "Subhuti, if there were as many Ganges rivers as there are grains of sand in the river Ganges, and if there were as many buddhalands as there are grains of sand in all those innumerable rivers, would these buddhalands be considered numerous?" "Very numerous indeed, lord buddha." "Listen up, Subhuti. Within these innumerable buddhalands there are every form of sentient beings with all their various mentalities and attitudes, all of which are fully known to the well-traveled one, but not one of them is held in the well- traveled one's mind as an arbitrary conception. They are all merely thought of. Not one of this vast accumulation of conceptions since beginningless time, through to the never ending future, not one of them is graspable." [19] The buddha continued, "What do you think Subhuti? If a follower were to give away enough goods to fill 3,000 universes, would a great blessing and merit incur to him or her?" Subhuti replied, "Honored one, such a follower would acquire considerable blessings and merit." The lord buddha said, "Subhuti, if such a blessing had any substantiality, if it were anything other than a figure of speech. The well-traveled one would not have used the words blessings and merit." [20] Again the lord buddha inquired of Subhuti, saying, "Can the well-traveled one be fully known through any manifestation of form or idea?" "No, world-honored one! The well-traveled one cannot be fully known through any manifestation of form or idea. Why? Because the phenomena of form and idea are inadequate to express buddhahood. They can only serve as mere expressions, a hint of that which is inconceivable. "What do you think, Subhuti? Can the well-traveled one be fully known through any of his transcendent transformations?" "No, world-honored one! The well-traveled one cannot be fully known even by his transcendent transformations. Why? Because what the well-traveled one has referred to as 'transcendent transformations' is merely a figure of speech. Even the most advanced bodhisattvas are unable to fully realize via intuition that which is essentially inscrutable." [21] The lord buddha then warned Subhuti, saying, "Subhuti, do not believe that the well-traveled one ever thinks, 'I ought to present a system for teaching spiritual truths.' You should never entertain such an idea. Why? Because if anyone thinks this way, they will not only be misunderstanding the teachings of the well- traveled one, but they will be slandering as well. Furthermore, what has been referred to as 'a system of teaching' has no meaning, because truth cannot be cut up into pieces and arranged into a system. The words can only be used as figures of speech." Then Subhuti, blessed with enlightened, transcendent intelligence, said to the buddha, "Blessed lord, in future ages when any sentient beings happen to hear this scripture, will the essential elements of faith arise within their hearts?" The lord buddha said, "Subhuti, why do you still think in such arbitrary terms? There are no such things as sentient beings, neither are there any non-sentient beings. Why? Because what you think of as sentient beings are unreal and non-existent. When the well-traveled one has used such words in is teachings, he has merely used them as figures of speech. Your question is therefore irrelevant." [22] Subhuti again asked, "Blessed lord, when you attained complete enlightenment, did you feel in your mind that nothing had been acquired?" The buddha replied, "That is it precisely, Suhuti. When I attained total enlightenment, I did not feel, as the mind feels, any arbitrary conception of spiritual truth, not even the slightest. Even the words 'total enlightenment' are merely words. [23a] "Furthermore Subhuti, what I have attained in total enlightenment is the same as what all others have attained. It is undifferentiated, regarded neither as a high state, nor a low state. It is wholly independent of any definite or arbitrary conceptions of an individual self, other selves living beings, or a universal self." [23b] "Subhuti, when someone is selflessly charitable, they should also practice being ethical by remembering that there is no distinction between one's self and the selfhood of others. Thus one practices charity by giving not only gifts, but through kindness and sympathy. Simply practice kindness and you will become fully enlightened. "Subhuti, what I just said about kindness does not mean that when someone is being charitable they should hold onto arbitrary conceptions about kindness, for kindness is, after all, only a word and charity needs to be spontaneous and selfless." [24] The buddha continued, "Subhuti, if a person collected treasures as high as 3,000 of the highest mountains, and gave them to others, his or her merit would be less than what would accrue to the person who simply observed and studied this scripture and, out of kindness, explained it to others. The latter person would accumulate hundreds of times the merit, hundreds of thousands of trillions of times the merit. There is no comparison." [25] The lord buddha continued, "Do you think, Subhuti, that the well-traveled one would consider in his own mind, 'I will deliver human beings'? That would be a degrading thought. Why? Because there are not really any sentient beings to be delivered by the well-traveled one. Should there be any sentient beings to be delivered by the well-traveled one, it would mean that the well- traveled one was harboring in his mind some arbitrary conceptions about phenomena, such as a self, other selves, living beings, and universal self. Even when the well-traveled one refers to himself he is not holding on to such arbitrary thoughts. Only earth people think of selfhood as a personal thing. Subhuti, even the expression 'earth people' as used by the well-traveled one does not mean that there are any such beings. It is merely used as a figure of speech." [26] Then the buddha inquired of Subhuti, "What do you think Subhuti? Is it possible to recognize the well-traveled one by the 32 physical marks?" Subhuti replied, "Yes, world-honored one, the well-traveled one may thus be recognized." "Subhuti, if that were true then Chakravartin, the mythological king (who also had the 32 marks) would be called a well-traveled one." Then Subhuti, realizing his error, said, "World-honored one, now I realize that the well-traveled one cannot be recognized merely by his 32 physical marks of excellence." The lord buddha then said, "Should anyone, looking at an image or likeness of the well-traveled one, claim to know the well-traveled one and worship him, that person would be mistaken, not knowing the true well-traveled one." [27] The lord buddha continued, "Subhuti, do not think the opposite either, that when the well-traveled one attained total enlightenment it was not by means of his possessing the 32 marks of physical excellence. Don't think that way. Otherwise, when you begin the practice of seeking total enlightenment you would think that all systems of phenomena and all conceptions about phenomena are to be rejected. Don't think that way. Why? Because when a person seeks to attain complete enlightenment, they should neither grasp after nor reject arbitrary conceptions of reality." [28] The lord buddha continued, "Subhuti, if someone gives treasures equal to the number of sands on the shores of the Ganges River, and if another, having realized the egolessness of all things, thereby understands selflessness, the latter would be more blessed than the one who practiced external charity. Why? Because great bodhisattvas do not see blessings and merit as a private possession." Subhuti inquired of the lord buddha, "What do you mean 'great bodhisattvas do not see blessings and merit as a private possession'?" The lord buddha replied, "Because those blessings and merit have never been lusted after by those great bodhisattvas, they do not see them as private possessions, but as the common possession of all beings." [29] The buddha said, "Subhuti, if any person were to say that the well-traveled one is now coming or going, or sitting up or lying down, they would not have understood the principle I have been teaching. Why? Because while the expression 'well-traveled one' means 'he who has thus come, thus gone,' the true well- traveled one is never coming from anywhere or going anywhere. The name 'well-traveled one' is merely an expression." [30] The lord buddha resumed, "Subhuti, if any good person, either man or woman, were to take 3,000 galaxies and grind them into microscopic powder and blow it into space, what do you think, would this powder have any individual existence?" "Subhuti replied, "Yes, lord, as a microscopic powder infinitely dissipated, it might be said to have a relative existence, but as you use words, it has no existence. The words have only a figurative meaning. Otherwise the words would imply a belief in the existence of matter as an independent and self- existent thing, which it is not. "Furthermore, when the well-traveled one refers to the '3,000 galaxies,' he could only do so as a figure of speech. Why? Because if the 3,000 galaxies really existed, their only reality would consist in their cosmic unity. Whether as microscopic powder or as galaxies, what does it matter? Only in the sense of the cosmic unity of ultimate being can the well-traveled one rightfully refer to it." The lord buddha was very pleased with this reply and said, "Subhuti, although earth people have always grasped after an arbitrary conception of matter and galaxies, the concept has no true basis; it is an illusion of the mortal mind. Even when it is referred to as 'cosmic unity' it is inscrutable." [31] The lord buddha continued, "If any person were to say that the well-traveled one, in his teachings, has constantly referred to himself, to other selves, to living beings, and a universal self, what do you think, would that person have understood my meaning?" Subhuti replied, "No, blessed lord. That person would not have understood the meaning of your teachings. For when you refer to them, you are not referring to their actual existence, you only use words as figures of speech, as symbols. Only in that sense can words be used, for conceptions, ideas, limited truths, and spiritual truths have no more reality than have matter and phenomena." Then the lord buddha made his meaning even more emphatic by saying, "Subhuti, when people begin their practice of seeking to attaining total enlightenment, they ought to see, to perceive, to know, to understand, and to realize that all things and all spiritual truths are no-things, and, therefore, they ought not to conceive within their minds any arbitrary conceptions whatsoever." [32] The lord buddha continued, "Subhuti, if anyone gave to the well-traveled one treasures sufficient to fill the universe; and if another person, a good man or woman, in seeking to attain complete enlightenment were to earnestly and faithfully observe and study even a single stanza of this scripture and explain it to others, the accumulated blessing and merit of that latter person would be greater. "Subhuti, how can one explain this scripture to others without holding in mind any arbitrary conception of things and phenomena and spiritual truths? It can only be done, Subhuti, by keeping the mind in perfect tranquility and in selfless harmony with the thusness of being well-traveled. Why? Because all the mind's arbitrary conceptions of matter, phenomena, and of all conditioning factors and all conceptions and ideas relating thereto are like a dream, a phantasm, a bubble, a shadow, evanescent dew, a flash of lightening. Every true student should see all phenomena and all activities this way, and thus keep the mind free and selfless and tranquil."

http://integrallife.com/member/federico-parra/blog/world-not-dream THIS!

now we dream, of life in funny fragments, unkempt seaweed hat, smiling

I really didnt want to complicate it and make it all woo-woo abstract, but while making the list I came to that understanding. I think perhaps the essence of transmissions is missed out by reducing to cause-effect linear description. Clearly the teacher-student transmission is the one people are focussed on/want. But what if they are missing out on something bigger? Yesterday I put my theory to the test and meditated myself as a deity giving this human a transmission, and doing some kind of mental play of at once being the the transmittor/transmittee/everyone, back and forth, I am you you are me, I am your thought and vice versa. This is not a scientific experiment to be sure, but when I did doze off, I got into a dream-like state where I felt fairly beaten up. Interesting anyway. Can one transmit to oneself back in time? As far as blind evolutionary force, thats a term you can take issue with/deny, but I cant go further explaining as I dont have the patience. No disrespect meant.

Wuuumph!!!!! See what I mean? Green thru dew is seen now we dream

Hahahah ... sure A classic for me was when I asked about going "professional" with teaching Taiji. Ever since I started learning it had been a cherished dream of mine to teach Taiji as a profession. Of course I resisted asking the Yijing in case it gave me a negative response ... you can see the emotional attachments straight away can't you? So sure was I that this was my "life path" that I was certain the Yijing would respond favorably. So you can imagine my emotional response when the response was basically that the ass would fall out of my life if I pursued teaching for profit. I hussed and cussed for ages, but then I sat quietly with the advice of the Yijing and sought the deeper implications and realized that my deep joy of practicing and sharing Taiji would be impaired if I became dependent on it for financial support. On the flip-side there was one question where I was sure I was going to get negative response. All my life I have enjoyed strategy games, especially military strategy. I had felt however that it wasn't really resonating with my spiritual studies so I put them on my "black list". Not too long ago I had the opportunity to play a game and thought that I shouldn't play. But I decided, out of curiosity, to run it by the Yijing totally expecting it to say, "Stay away fool!" So again I was surprised when the result was "Good fortune comes through the appropriate use of force," that having force but restraining its use leads to prosperity. Intrigued I did play and followed the Yijing's response and was pleasantly surprised that this was a lesson I really did need to learn. I tend to be very forceful and can be overly rough with people sometimes (lol you just have to scan through this thread to see that coming out hahahaha !!!). So this stands out as a classic case of don't prejudge anything, you never know what treasures are lying in amongst the manure

What an awesome dream! But yes... Vajra path (yana) does indeed call upon a large number of different types of Buddhas. You realize the intention of this when you start realizing the intention of all of Buddhism. It actually trains your mind to think multi-dimensionally and be in many different places at once without loosing one's state of pure, unadulterated and uncompounded awareness. Because as a Buddha... you will project many fabulous intentions into many murky regions of the cosmos in order to help people. Buddhism is geared towards helping others... that's basically the goal. How to help others optimally and completely, with total surrender to this job. It's a selfless path.

So to sum up transmissions: I. Mundane 1) Interactions within the 5 senses--including eating vegetables, listening to music, data from a page, etc. 2) Purely psychic/energetic--just some qi interactions to affect the etheric body, (unconscious psychic transmissions such as thinking of a girl you like) 3) Being in the world type. As in reacting to the planets energy fluctuations, magnetism, evolutionary vibes, morphic fields and the like. II. Deliberately for Spiritual Evolution 1) Uncomplicated level or "dumb" qi emission for unblocking channels, chakras etc. From teachers, energy workers. 2)By a high level teacher. a. meant to supply the seeds to rewire your qi body through further practises, or the actual rewiring completed on the spot. b. meant to give a taste of what the high level is like (Apech7's resonance) c. through a dream, or higher level of consciousness to supply meditation instructions d. certain qi that is tucked inside photos or books left by a high level teacher. 3) Higher being transmission. (Ascended elders, deities, Buddhas etc, with an actual presence) a. recipient is unaware and if lucky can find out b. recipient is aware, but no instructions, must figure out how to use to advantage. c. recipient is aware and has instructions because its part of a school and facilitated by the master. 4)Nebulous inner mind type a. from higher self/past future lives b. metaphorical name for an evolutionary potential locked somwhere inside the mind (s) Notes: --effectiveness of transmission is often contingent upon the students receptivity, openness, spiritual level, karma, often described as "readiness" It makes one wonder how many times a person has received a transmission but not known, what CANT be classified as a transmission. I start to see life like those films like the 9th gate, where the main character slowly figures out that the entire plot is revolving around himself but he didnt know it.

Hahaha, that part about the multi-purpose knife was hilarious. I'm sliding OT almost but I kind of feel like I want the whole Greek Pantheon back again Maybe they really got it right after all by personifying the thought forms, or maybe they were too dangerous like that? Plus they had Zeus to rule over them all, I figure he's a kind of an Atman. Doesn't Tantrism call upon a large number of different types of Buddhas (or Taras?) The only Bon I ever met was during a dream (I wrote about it ages ago) and he did some pretty wild stuff. Then just yesterday I read that story someone posted a link to about the Aghora (sp?) decomposing and recomposing himself at will. Which is exactly what the Bon shaman showed me he could do. Which is IMO what qi-gong does, but I'm sliding further OT so I'll stop now;-) http://www.drsvoboda.com/divinefury.htm "He climbed to the apex of aghoridom and stood there, dissolving and recoagulating himself moment by moment, his motto an eternal shout of navinam navinam, kshane kshane ("Newness, newness, at every moment!")." edited for link and quote

We don't worship deities as separate forms per say. Though there is that and there are other energies and other realms... we just acknowledge that, it also explains lots of things. Even quantum physics is finding that there are many universes besides this one and also that the mind can manifest a body in another dimension much like you do when you dream. Anyway... the deity worship is really about becoming the deity in later stages of practice, when you complete the mandala and integrate it with the entirety of your waking life, you divinize it you can say... for yourself. It's all about becoming the deity yourself with all it's divine qualities. Not worship in an outer way, but actually invoking that state of mind and sense of presence from within. This is what all that deity worship is about. The mind becomes like that which it focuses upon. Yeah? Dude... I love Taoism and had an avid interest in it for a while! I got into the whole Wang Liping thing... he seems great! I might start practicing martial arts again with a Taoist wizard here in the East Coast of Florida who my friend says is really awesome. I have a few friends that practice Dzogchen as well as Taoist martial arts. On the Dorje Shugden controversy... I'm on the Dalai Lamas side. I do believe through direct experience in other realm beings and their individual powers of influence. They exist, much like we do. For them it's easier for them to see us, because we move so slowly, but they move too fast for us to generally see, so unless trained, or rather de-conditioned and subtlified (de-densified) through practice... we don't see these other worldly beings.

Good to see some Dream Theater here! One thing I learned from the masters of improvisation is that all to often we throw away ideas, motifs, phrases, without giving them a chance for development or fruition. I see that happen to much with threads on Da Bums! May the wisdom and work ethic of The Grand Wazoo (Frank Zappa) be an inspiration Love, Bobby http://www.youtube.c...h?v=cKhfkfnbAMQ

inner worlds aware of the sleeping dream awake breathing the new dawn

Beware the..... Profit Politics Personality(cult of) These are words with a "P" this time Call me stubborn but I never could submit to the "12 easy payments" of martial arts schools. I have to bend over on the job and wear a UNIFORM. My wife and I were checking out the garden variety of yoga gurus online yesterday, loved how yuppified and submissive all the sheep were. anyway my true colours and coming out may you find all you dream of Robert

8. Learning To Live DREAM THEATER [images: Dream Theater] [Words: Myung] There was no time for pain No energy for anger The sightlessness of hatred slips away Walking through winter streets alone He stops and take a breath With confidence and self- control I look at the world and see no understanding I'm waiting to find some sense of strength I'm begging you from the bottom of my heart to show me understanding I need to live life Like some people never will So find me kindness Find me beauty Find me truth When temptation brings me to my knees And I lay here drained of strength Show me kindness Show me beauty Show me truth The way your heart sounds makes all the difference It's what decides if you'll endure the pain that we all feel The way your heart beats makes all the difference In learning to live Here before me is my soul I'm learning to live I won't give up Till I've no more to give Listening to the city Whispering its violence I set out watching from above The 90s bring new questions New solutions to be found I fell in love to be let down Once again we dance in the crowd At times a step away From a common fear that's all spread out It won't listen to what you say Once you're touched you stand alone To face the bitter fight Once I reached for love And now I reach for life Another chance to lift my life Free the sensation in my heart To ride the wings of dreams into changing horizons It brings inner peace within my mind, As I'm lifted from where I've spilt my life I hear an innocent voice I hear kindness, beauty and truth The way your heart sounds makes all the difference It's what decides if you'll endure the pain that we all feel The way your heart beats makes all the difference In learning to live Spread before you is your soul So forever hold the dreams within our hearts Through nature's inflexible grace I'm learning to live

In my approach to no-self I remember two distinct experiences. One was that I wasn't the body or mind, wherein a great bliss took over my body. Everything opened up to a possibility and inquiry of "what am I?" and "what is this?" For few days my body seemed to take on a whole new experience, I felt immune to suffering both physically and mentally, my mind seemed to suddenly let go of a clog of self-obsessed blockages, etc. This was about 2 and a half years ago. My second experience came when I came across the insight that there was absolutely no one here except for the experience and arising of phenomena. Oddly, it came when I was reading through Advaita stuff; that there was no agent of action, no will, just stuff happening. That there was nothing raining, just raining. This was about a year ago. Again my body convulsed with bliss, I sat in full lotus almost spontaneously for more than 30 minutes, which seemed impossible before since my knee joints couldn't handle even a minute or two. A lot of meditation and other insights and Kunlun happened, but the two above were ones having to do with the whole "self" fiasco. But I no longer fully agree with the "insight" I came across above. I don't think that is the right way to understand no-self teachings. After, I did not stop reading or contemplating, because something seemed amiss. It was probably because I came across no-self teachings through a "teacher" who was pompous and arrogant. I don't know. Something within me could not bring myself to disagree or agree. I'm still figuring it out. I personally believe that suffering is a necessary aspect of existence. People should dream if they like to dream and become enlightened only if they truly desire to. Earthly existence is good because it has a wide range of...everything. We should offer the possibility, but never educate without giving a choice. Egoic suffering is good in this sense. Just my 2 cents.

I don't know. it's difficult to understand sense perception without falling into materialism. If you believe that an object out there caused your perception then you can easily doubt your perception and believe in a 'true reality' which is impossible to experience. In reality all we have are sense perceptions and thoughts about sense perceptions. I see both as ideas, as mind. If you think about a tree and then go out and look at one, of course there is a qualitative difference, but both are experienced through the mind. If you get rid of concepts about 'I am looking at an object called tree' what do you really have? In your experience what is the difference between seeing a tree and thinking about a tree? If you look at a tree, think about a tree, imagine a tree, dream about a tree... is there a difference in terms of what the base of each experience is? I'm not saying that they are all the same -- though I have had some pretty powerful dreams which seem exactly like waking experience-- but instead I'm saying that there is simply a difference in quality. Looking at a tree, experientially, there is only the appearance of a certain form. Smell and touch also come in and add to the picture of what the phenomena 'tree' is. Without adding the thought 'out there,' all you have experientially is the appearance of tree within awareness. That's it. The mind will then come in and try to add various thoughts like 'object' and 'real' and 'made of wood,' various observations based on limited information. We take these thoughts and lump them into the bundle that is 'tree' but is that justified? Are these observations accurate and deserving? I think if you stop trusting those thoughts for a second, you'll see that 'tree' is simply an appearance. If you say that there is TRULY a tree out there.. then that is assuming something that cannot be. Tree only exists when you perceive it. Tree is mind.

I don't really care for your definition of consciousness. 'That which knows' suggests a putative subject. Your explanation of how sense perception works is tied to a materialist framework. Have you actually experienced these wavelengths of this supposedly real and existing physical world existing out there which is full of them? Can you point to these wavelengths? How can you know a tree without a tree being present? Whether a tree is present in sensual appearance or as an idea or mental formation in the mind, it's still present or else there wouldn't be consciousness of tree. I don't think so. I have many doubts about this and so have philosophers and mystics for centuries who questioned the validity of such a naive claim. You're not talking about time, you're talking about the perceived succession of events. If you dream about your dead grandmother are you traveling back in time? The succession of moments is experienced no matter which state you are in. The nature of the content, the mechanics of the show, may differ but that doesn't mean that they are two different worlds

I make a chicken broth soup its easy I call it Chinese Dream Soup. Boil a whole chicken in water skim the broth add whole onions boil again this soup is simple but a knock out. Cloudhand

too much chaos is not good for stillness... Meditation is to bring about stillness...which is the opposite of what Heavy Metal is all about. Things/factors that affect me in my practice because of which I don't listen to much music are: 1) if music is aggressive, it increases heat in the body and thereby agitating the mind. 2) if there is a specific riff or piece of music that gets "into" my ear, then it keeps playing over and over, and distracts during meditation (for instance, the song titled "Home" in Dream Theater's Scenes from a Memory -- Metropolis II album) I like this better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxyaWdBphls&feature=related

Some thoughts/questions: - relates to a net/structure of some kind ? - what happens when you look at it for a long time? I was tending towards "rapid eye movement" as a reaction - could this transmute/heal/integrate like dream state? Make you forget? - what happens when you contemplate it very simply? - understanding of proportions? The circle without? - memory device (I've seen this in other yantras) for meditation where each delimited area recalls something else ?

I am 13 years older than my boyfriend and don't have any regrets over the age difference. Our energy together is great. Now...if I could just get him to the point where there could be dual cultivation it would be a dream come true.

It's a weird feeling I have these days. I am very happy with everything. Everything feels extremely weird. This existence is weird, random, like a playful dream that rises up for the sake or rising up, just because it can. The reasons for beginning on this journey no longer matter: the anger, insecurities, obsessions, desires, the ego, the needing to figure everything out. I don't much care anymore what is yesterday, today, or tomorrow. I play along with the things I have to do. When I'm in pain, I'm in pain, and when I'm happy, I am happy. But everything is fine because experiencing is good in itself. Whenever I feel or think, it's like: wow! cool! how cool is that! There is no direction or anything to do. I don't even feel the need to meditate anymore, or do Kunlun, or think about non-duality, or dependent origination, or the Self, or enlightenment, or who's right and who's wrong. Sometimes I sit, and I just sit. I eat, I just eat. I complain so I just complain. Or whatever: existence simply reveals itself. I don't worry much anymore. When I feel the need to do something, I just do. When I don't, I don't. I don't think i care about dying anymore. Or going to hell. Or going to heaven. Or awareness. Or no awareness. Or starving to death, or over eating. Or time or timelessness. Compassion or suffering. This body or soul. I like to sleep, I like to play, life is like rolling on my bed sheets on a breezy Sunday afternoon. I just am. Everything seems to be practice for nothing. Practicing...living...just living. Creating without a purpose. An endless dream; I feel more and more awake the deeper I dream. Mmmmmm....