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No need to wish! Sitting in open awareness and allowing the mind to become still is all that is required. Most people can begin to have glimpses of resting in awareness in a week or so, all it takes is your sincere wish to end suffering, or understand the nature of mind. This is a nice primer on what you are trying to accomplish and how to start by a lovely, lovely being: https://www.lionsroar.com/how-to-meditate-dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche-on-mahamudra/
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...I think you may misunderstand. I have never claimed to "manipulate" as the word conjures negative connotation of cleverly rendering what is truth asunder by ones efforts. I have only "influenced" things through the way of thought and other ways which have allowed me to understand the way things work and function. A persons biological birth doesn't change over the course of their life...it is part of their "karma" - as in determined by past actions of themselves, and their parents. No one can literally go back into the past and change it so that the present moment is different, it's impossible. Adepts may be able to visit the akasha and experience things from the past - but they can't change all the events that lead up to them... thats literally impossible. Literally Re-writing history isn't possible. Literally re-writing the history and karma of ones past isn't possible - changing this is also impossible. Objective truth is real, is absolute, and cannot be altered by anyone. Literally changing ones biological and genetic make up into the opposite sex by physical means isn't possible. ...Influencing the physical world is simply an expression that everyone does whether they know they are doing it or not - that's part of what I think "enlightenment" is - becoming aware of what you are actually doing and how you are making an impact to the world around you.
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I have had dreams of being out of the body and flying. I do not know if they were real or just childhood fantasies. Was, .. Is there a way to tell the difference between dreams and the real out of the body experiences? Do I need to look at my hands? Or do I have to see something in real life to prove the dream was real? As far as I know, this self is of this body. Cut away an arm and leg and the mind is diminished because the mind no longer controls these limbs. Feed the body alcohol or drugs and the mind travels to areas where control is lost. The body is influenced by the chemicals that were ingested. It all points to body and mind are linked. It seems when I die then all that will be left are the strings of karma created by this mind and self. Never know when it will return. It isn't like flowers in the spring time. An apple seed is planted and begins to grow. When and what sweetness the fruit comes, that is unknown to me. I wish I could say i can rest as awareness and let all else arise and fall away.
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I've chatted with Soh a number of times and am satisfied that he knows what he is talking about. There aren't REALLY stages of awakening, so consider these an aid rather than a references. There are MANY maps of the enlightened territory, from the Four Stage map, the Bhumis, the Oxherding pictures, ad nauseum, and all of them seem to have useful aspects to them.
- Yesterday
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Pearls before swine... Taomeow. Respect for rising and declaring... that TT dismisses Nathan 'at a glance' reveals much... TT consistently reveals and props his 'self' up as the perpetual 'master' What has been revealed by TT's sharings here compared to my direct experience with Master Wang is TT's mind trapped in its own mirrored bubble. 41 The wise student hears of the Tao and practices it diligently. The average student hears of the Tao and gives it thought now and again. The foolish student hears of the Tao and laughs aloud. If there were no laughter, the Tao would not be what it is.
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It has been a while since you posted this link. Has it helped you? Is it worth the time and effort to read and learn? Elucidate the stages of awakening so clearly? Has this helped you awaken? Would it help anyone or only those who are doing his practices?
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I sense that folks get hung up on 'not understanding' many aspects of life. It makes sense, we are taught to identify with our thoughts and our thinking, rational mind is so exonerated in our western world... but who says this is the be all and end all of life? Taoism surely does not exalt thinking, or words which most thinking is comprised of.... If anything, taoist sharings repeatedly diminish their utility and warns of their endless eddies and side paths. Perhaps, consider the space of being which opens up by allowing yourself to encounter a thing, place, circumstance and not understand it? And be anyway. Be with it and accept it anyway? Perhaps reality is not here to be understood by small mammalian minds? There is such potency in being. In encountering something new and not instantly having to form an opinion about it, either yay or nay. But to simply encounter and perhaps listen to those who share authentically and if still confused, simply hold space and not need to create understanding, but share comradeship in simple beingness... together. Being a cisgender straight man, I have no experience or understanding of what it is to be attracted to other men, or to feel I have manifested in the wrong body. But I have the unshakeable vajra knowingness that to share space and embody love with my gay and trans friends and strangers... I have no need to comprehend, or find a logical path of understanding. And to appreciate their process and listen with the intent to expand my awareness, all I have to be is present and share the essential nature of what I am, which is one small awareness. edit to add: and consider this about thinking and words... if you are thinking in words, you are thinking someone else's thoughts. Unless you created the words you are thinking, they were given to you, created by others and lent to you and you accepted them. Above all it seems utterly essential to cultivate some space within life, for simple being and silence.
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My first recollectible memory of this life was an out of body experience induced by an intense dream. It indelibly imbued the gift of vajra knowing that my essential nature is awareness. The body, manifests as a semi-persistent experience, which arises within a field of awareness. The mind... another aspect of semi-persistence, though vastly more changeable and vacillatory moment to moment than the body, also arises and persists only within a field of awarneness. Body is not the I am. Mind is not. I am. Awareness is... all else rises and falls away within this. To rest as awareness is to open the door to true nature in this one's experience.
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What’s the information on Zhan Xiang and achieving altered states, any great books on Amazon on the subject?
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I can understand that Maddie did not see any point in continuing a conversation with Salvijus. Salvijus, I would suggest that offering personal experience would be more conducive to advancing a practice than debating angels or devils on the heads of pins. Feelings are complex, my feelings on the topic are complex. Maddie has offered a chance to dive into that.
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I think we're witnessing some inner Nungali ego dialogue LOL
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I was being serious .
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If I could make public some private letters re the David Verdesi debacle that were shared with me at one point, you would have to reconsider about the "cahoots." "What he got" and "where is he now" are separate questions. What he got I saw and experienced, but you won't be convinced. As for where he is now -- he was teaching seminars in China and in several other countries in Eastern Europe and Asia up until the end of 2019 -- the last one shortly before covid lockdowns began in China. He hasn't returned to teaching large groups or traveling abroad, but you have to keep in mind that lockdowns were renewed on a number of occasions in some cities in China way after they ended elsewhere, and China's overall human interactions with the West (as well as domestically) have changed pretty drastically. He's been only teaching small groups locally (in Dalian) -- perhaps as the result of a combo of circumstances and personal choices. That information is about six months old. As for Nathan -- what he got is a translation that was easier to read than the ones appearing before. There's a new (and probably better) translation just out, by Livia Kohn -- an emeritus professor of Religion and East Asian Studies at Boston University specializing in studies of taoism, one of the top Western authorities on things taoist, author of numerous significant works and translations, and a practitioner herself. I think if she wasn't phased by gossip of the kind you seem to have believed, she wasn't just being a gullible sucker when she took "what WLP got" seriously. A gullible sucker is not her style at all. (Nor is it mine, if I say so myself.)
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This could end up rather confusing though ; Training partner ; " Why did you relase the armbar when I didnt tap out ?" Maddie ; " Because , when we get home ...... she gets cookies ! " Training partner ;
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Actually you have hit upon a technique of managing the psyche that I would really like to explore further . But off topic for here .
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Mhe . I think she did much better with that very obvious abusing insulting one . This was a walk in the park after that one !
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I like that ..... people trying to 'under mind ' you . Thanks, it is now in the Nungali vocabulary
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Is 'just sitting' a post-enlightment practice?
stirling replied to Vajra Fist's topic in Buddhist Discussion
It's NICE to sit! You won't get far in most spirituality without sitting. Meditation is even a feature of magick practice. Getting all of your fixed ideas about yourself and the world out of the way opens up the space for shifts in understanding to occur. Sitting in meditation after insight into the nature of mind deepens the experience of it and helps the continual further dissolution of dualities and ancient twisted karma. No practice "works". A person who thinks that they can "enlighten" themselves is deluded. There are no enlightened "selves". We are in the Buddhism subforum, so I'm speaking specifically of Buddhism, here. The Zen path and Dzogchen path, which have been my primary vehicles, can be expressed this way. Most Buddhism eschews striving, as well as clinging or aversion, leaving "enlightenment projects" to other disciplines in recognition that it really isn't UP to "you". Procrastination? What is it that you think needs to be done? Deepening insight. Enjoying being-ness. Flying to other planets and visiting space beings. The siddhis are interesting. (just kidding about the space beings) I used to meditate because I was a happier, calmer, less reactive person when I did. I initially became a dedicated meditator after 2 weeks of practice changed my life. At this point I'm fresh out of goals or posts, or anyone to have any. -
Some seem to have no trouble at all < snicker >
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Yes. Thats why ( I think I added in there somewhere ) ' If I feel like it ' - if I choose to . When I choose to it is only under certain conditions . other times, I am , well ......... <see below > ... outrageous , annoying , persistent, harassing .... as a friend once said ; "You where not put here to make life easy . " But for some I am . Eg when I nursed the old and infirm, some wanted to be treated formerly and professionally , I would do that . Others wanted it to be informal and casual , I would do that . I would observe some of the other workers there , regardless of how the patient wanted to be treated they would be treated how the worker felt they should be treated , and sometimes, unfortunately that was disrespectful . I dont do it, for example ; if a liar wants to be believed . So its not an 'across the board' sort of thing .
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My favorite band, in the '80's:
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Have you seen 'Cave of Forgotten Dreams ' by Werner Herzog ? If not, watch it , it will blow you away . You gotta see them pics 'moving' that is , as you walk through the cave and past the images . A still photo just dont do it justice . Also this expands theory and usage of the caves .
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Have anyone here been part of an esoteric society
Neirong replied to NaturaNaturans's topic in Agrippa Textual Study
In this age, people tend to develop consumer bias and mentality, and they seek things for their own benefit. The problem with genuine esoteric circles is that they are not shops/outlets to sell stuff or attract customers. The first question would be, how can you contribute to the circle? We could go around and ask people what useful things they can do with their attainments and cultivation abilities, but it is unlikely we will get any meaningful answers. Most people never develop useful abilities, and they are incapable of making any contribution. Internal circles are not kindergartens/schools to care for you or teach you. -
I'm sorry you don't feel comfortable to post anymore as I do enjoy your presence, but as a trans person I have to deal with trolls on a regular often daily basis (I live stream regularly) and I do know how to spot them. I was going through his posts and I noticed that he wasn't really asking questions. He was making statements. Nevertheless I think its unfortunately that you don't feel comfortable posting here any longer, but if you do change your mind I am always happy to interact with you here :-).
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Maybe I´ve watched too many crime shows on Netflix, but the analogy that comes to my mind here is jury selection. My understanding is that, at least in the US, both the defence and the prosecution in a criminal trial are allowed to get rid of a certain number of potential jurors without cause. The way I see it, Maddie used one of her free strikes to eliminate Salvijus. It doesn´t matter whether Salvijus is a troll or not -- he is stricken. Actually, I think Maddie´s been remarkably judicious with her strikes. We´re 15 pages in and only one down. Given the controversial nature of the topic, and given the fact that Maddie is not a paid trans consultant, that´s pretty darn amazing.
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