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One issue is that people often assume compassion is something to be gained. From certain Buddhist points of view, compassion arises naturally from our minds and everything anyone does is due to seeking happiness from oneself or others. Being selfish is actually imposed upon us, through ignorance and timeless mental habits. So in this view, ignorance blocks our compassion. Emptiness dissolves our sense of self and our feeling of being bounded and separated from others. Once dissolved, this compassion flows freely.

One practical aspect/application of the relationship between emptiness and compassion is found in helping others. When you to want to offer help, it's very important to notice what is behind that impulse. So often we try to offer what WE think someone else needs. Of course there are situations where it is obvious, a drowning person needs their head above the water, but very often what they actually need is different from what we think they need and they are not always able to tell us. Sometimes we may even disagree with what they need but who should make that decision? It is easy to make them feel worse or make a situation worse because we are trying to impose something coming from our own pain, conditioning, or ignorance. So when that urge to help comes up there is nothing more important than emptying out our own reactivity, our own assessment and conclusions, and to be very open, inwardly quiet, and really listen and feel what that other person needs. If unsure, best to simply show up with presence, inner stillness and quiet, and simply be there until it is clear what is needed in the situation. No words are more supportive than holding a hand or a warm hug. I was once called to help someone at a retreat who was very ill. I did not speak their language but figured out they needed emergency medical care. Unfortunately we were over an hour from any hospital and had to wait for the ambulance for a long time. I felt so helpless sitting there not being able to do anything so I just sat next to her, holding her hand, gently rubbing her back. We would occasionally smile at each other between spasms of pain. It was one of the most meaningful hours of my life, no exaggeration. Unable to do anything but be open and present for someone else during their intense suffering. The experience completely changed my relationship to how I approach my work and the people I work with. We've felt and stayed connected over a long distance ever since. My teacher is currently leading a retreat on longevity practices from the Bön tradition and one of the things that is being emphasized over and over is the value and importance of human connection for health and longevity. That connection needs no words or agenda. Just catching someone's eyes and offering a genuine smile creates instant connection, provided we are open. The openness is the key and that can only occur when we are quiet and still inside, in other words... empty.

Meaning depends on context. English dictionary ‘emptiness’ : the state of containing nothing. Google: In Soto Zen Buddhism, the concept of emptiness (sunyata) refers to the impermanence and interdependent nature of all phenomena, including ourselves. It's not about nothingness. P.S. @stirling is the Google definition right?

yea, that term "emptiness" can be a loaded one...

Yes, "source"/emptiness/Dao is unchanging and permanent, but it isn't a separate thing. If your training has gotten to the point where you can see it, or if you have permanent insight into it, you realize that, while all impermanence arises from that which is permanent, "source"/emptiness/Dao can ONLY be seen in impermanent appearances. They are one and the same, inseparable. Emptiness IS Form, Form Emptiness. Time, space and self are intellectual constructs born of a misinterpretation about what we see in the world. It is obvious in the moment of insight, when time, space, and self fall apart.

You are re-Steved (but with a small s).

a human soul (and other souls) are never completely disconnected from the "Source", but we may be heavily veiled from it. True Guru sees this and reveals this since soul can not normally untangle itself from mind identification without some help along the way... many people discount True Guru because of various false guru's corruption. (which is understandable but not the whole story or the end of it)

I time travelled with her.

Regarding AI the post above indicates a lot and something to bear in mind . In this case since you are new to astrology , its relevant . I often use it , but usually in areas where I already know the results and if not , I follow up an other references to it . It helps to not use one source ... For anything . Yes. Partially but 'this IS all about you ' (and you know you best ) - does it seem reliable to you ? Anything you use your self for . Self knowledge implies self development . What I mean there is , if you have a car , its a good idea to know how it works , what's best to do TO it , how to fix it ... etc . But it should not just stay in the garage . Well, you have jumped ahead of me a bit , I did mention what was next , but I didn't feel the Sun Moon relationship was looked into much ... then again I am going slow ( as I have other projects going - and you do ) . Since you were using a tropic chart it means that the planet Jupiter, from our vantage point , has entered that segment of space around and out from the Earth , designated 'Cancer' , which is the 4th 30 degree segment from the Equinoctal Point ( the point where the celestial Equator crosses the Ecliptic . . . which - now- is nearly 30 degrees beyond the constellation of Cancer) . IE. 99.6 deg , beyond the crossing point of those 'colures' ( imaginary lines drawn on the celestial map ) ; Jupiter is said to be beneficial and expansive and it is 'exulted' in Cancer .

The Self is not empty of the Self, mind at any or all levels is only matrix, and a still mind or matrix does not resist the Self shining through it.

creativity, daydream, imagination are about the process, not the product. even in the mundane world, sitting around wondering "what if _______ " is not from a place of desire or necessarily "wanting those things. " It is just the pleasant process of wondering "what if"

the Source is 自然 (zi4 ran2) unknowable

Why does Source (No-thing) want things?

I think I would like these "they" very much!

I see you were confused by this Coby . I see a similarity in that an empty womb is indeed empty BUT it contains the possibility to not remain empty , like 'empty space does ' , empty space still has a ' time / space continuum in it ' that allows things to manifest within it .... they go through a 'nurturing period' within it ( like the process of giving 'birth to' 1, 2 and 3 ... and then the material objects of the 10,000 things . Dao IS 'empty ' but it must contain the possibility of something manifesting within / out from it . ( Did that make it more confusing ? )

The secret to standing meditation is reverence for your ancestors.

Not just you Sterling .... check his posts and responses ( and then the way he 'likes' ) What and who gets his positive feedback is 'interesting' too . _ Thanks for your contributions here

he sometimes seems 'over protective ' about certain people and conversely seems to exaggerate others assertions into aggression . besides ... your the type that can handle a good slap ! ( just keep a still mind about it )

One of the practices I am allowed to know about ( as its a woman's tradition , men's and women's 'business' - secret indigenous teaching - are supposed to be kept secret and apart here ) with my woman friend , who is a Gurudjigen (medicinal plant knowledge gatherer, preparer , prescriber, etc - 'medicine woman ' ) involves at least an hour a day in the morning 'sitting' . Especially before going out gathering . Another thing with 'stillness' ... nature or even 'the natural clock' seems to practice it . A few times at home , when someone is present I will ; " Stop for a moment ... do you hear and feel that ?" "What ?" " Nothing ! .... at this moment , no sound .... no wind , no human noises intruding , no birds , the insects have stopped making a noise ........... ........ then it starts up again . And the plants respond as well , during the still time the stomata in plants closes , and opens when the noise starts up again .

Qigong is largely a means of health maintenance. In many ways, going to the gym is probably better for that if you have time. It is possible to practice alchemy, but it's very labour intensive getting to that point. And people at the furthest point along the path tend to talk about jhana as the ultimate achievement. Honestly I feel like meditation is the best use of my time, if I only have two hours free every day. Edit - I am quite keen though on exploring the relationship between qigong and the clarity and stability of the mind during meditation. Lots of Buddhist teachers are incorporating qigong into their teachings now because of its supportive effect in this regard. In addition, sitting for long periods can sometimes make the body (and the mind) somewhat sluggish. Qigong seems to counteract that.

How about this ; developing an inner stillness and 'non - separateness ' ( like Sterling mentioned ) that allows a better enactment of all the external stuff ( like you just mentioned ) ? I am thinking of things like when I could enter a sword match , maintain 'clear blue sky' in the mind, have an inner stillness , blend with 'everything' , yet still do well with all the 'complex activity' involved . Someone that does not have that , you can 'feel' it , it feels fractured, 'all over the place ' , uncertain .... and then they are bound to make a bad mistake .

there is a Latin phrase "creation ex nihilo" which translates to "creation from nothing." In Hebrew it is yesh m'ayin "something from nothing." The creation of every "thing" (all the objects, all the things, the universe and everything in it) comes from a Source that is itself not a "thing." Source has no form, no shape, it does not take up any space, it is not bound by time or space or form, it has no beginning and no end, it always was and always will be. Source (which is not a thing, it is a no-thing) creates, or is back of, or gives rise to everything (all the things, the Universe and everything in it). So there is a difference between "nothing" which indicates an utter absence. and the no-thing that is Source. which is very much a powerful presence

Thank you. Nothingness is kind of a tricky concept for me, as... nothing is... nothing. I once heard some fellow say nothing = everything. I didnt understand it, nor do I belive it is very relevant. But I wonder, could nothingness in the DDJ school be compared to the western concept of aether or the vedic akasha? As always, I have no clue what I am talking about, but maybe someone better versed in these traditions can clarify. Intruiging post @illuminated_luke, but in order to reread with carefull attention, ill have to do as you do with the garage: do it tommorow.

In the DDJ, ‘nothingness’ is the empty womb. Sinologist Ellen M. Chen, “the Nothingness of Dao is the emptiness of the female womb.” (page 93, ‘In Praise of Nothing’, An exploration of Daoist Fundamental Ontology)

It seems different in that in kirlian photography they generated the energy and pushed it through the sample to get the image . This seems to be a record of the energy emanating from the sample itself .... photons given off by bio-chemical reactions . This is not unusual in itself , it is called 'biphoton or Ulta weak photon emission' . Often in the ultraviolet but also in the visible light range . It's linked to metabolic and cellular activity regarding oxidative metabolic processes or oxidative stress processes - hence more detected when a part of a leaf is cut off or traumatized . Its an energy that helps cells communicate with each other . Think of really ( really really ) weak bio luminescence .

Oh, look science. Received only 1 like. Everyone wants to return to living in the stone age, dont they.

Did someone he know have twins ?