Bodhicitta

Not sure who translated and commented on the OP version. There is another plump abridgment by Swami Venkatesananda, titled Vasistha's Yoga. It is also online I think.

Sez you. Do your own research.

Why, what is unclear?

The source of the priggishness is not the main point. In Victorian times and before, the urge to control folks through conventional morality or religion, for example, was strong. Mrs Grundy was omnipresent. Nowadays it is secular priggs who wish to control people. Compassion, kindness and charity are essential, but when they are demanded and those who do not express them as modern puritans think best, then they are punished by shaming and increasingly by legal strictures.

Getting OT, but what else is new. Karl has mentioned 'force' several times as the preferred (or is it natural) instrument for progressive individuals. Here is are some ideas with their related words that spawned and today are spawning horrors: Synonyms for totalitarian adj dictatorial authoritarian autocratic monolithic oppressive tyrannical undemocratic absolute communist Nazi despotic fascistic one-party

Why wait for my revelation of 'true motive'- can you not psychically sense it? But could you trust such a monster to tell the truth anyway... My my my the trials you thought police must go through.

As refreshing as it is to see Karl so close to my views, I will reiterate that my 'progressive hobby' words mean to me what I intended - nothing against those afflicted - fie on the cheerleaders. As for B-E Snake's being offended that I might include her in the disordered group, so be it. Truth be told, I and all sentient being are afflicted with many disorders, chief among them being adoration of our self or ego; especially the body component. Buddha knew the score and I strive to follow his path - not with much success, but I try.

Gee, I am not focused enough on eliciting 'real discussions' - one wonders why, with such cogent, open-hearted responses as typified by Spotless.

Liminal: "Would you be supportive if you had a transgender child, or found out you had a transgender sibling? Would you support that person if they choose to dress and act like they gender they identified with? What if they used the public restroom of the gender they identified as? Would you welcome a transgender person in your workplace? As a friend? Do you experience yourself as someone who is open, kind, and compassionate with transgender people?" ****************************** Judge Liminal, I do not know if I can be found acceptable to you based on the following answer and I admit to not caring if I pass your compassion test or not. A written test is pretty silly, can you not see that? As only a layperson, not a shrink, I do think (or accept if you wish) Dr McHugh's diagnosis that transgenderism is a 'gender dysphoria' disorder. That being said I am open and compassionate to all beings, great and small. Especially human ones with psychic disorders. My old Master Hua, who was quite a healer of physical ailments, said that mental problems were the most difficult to cure.

How so very rare it is to ask a poster first - 'Is this what you meant?' Instead a presumption is made. Period. The 'progressive hobby' referred to the cheerleaders & advocates for surgery, not to those with the affliction.

So typical: accuse the site, poster and any conservative connections, real or imagined. If transgenderism were not a problem to those suffering from it they would not go the surgical route. The author, who does know, from experience, far more about the subject (I bet) than myself or any other poster here, says this affliction is mental/emotional and should be treated with counseling, not surgery.

When a man acts harmoniously, he acts in accordance with the universal scheme and law; and harmony in consciousness and thought and therefore in action is what men understand by the term ethics. Ethics are not a convention; morals are not a convention; they are rooted in the harmony, in the central laws, of being; they are based on the very structural harmony of the universe. This instinct of ethics thus springs from within your inner constitution. It comes forth from your spiritual being recognizing harmony, order, the stateliness and majesty of beauty — beauty in thought, beauty in aspiration and feeling, beauty in action. Purucker, Golden Precepts

The law of laws of the universe is self-forgetfulness, not concentration of attention upon one’s personal freedom, not even upon your individuality. The primal law of the universe is living unto all things, not the doctrine that each must live for himself in order to develop for himself the spiritual powers within. The latter is true enough as a bald and imperfect statement; but it is also misleading, dangerous, unwise, and therefore unholy as a statement of esoteric training, unless properly qualified — always qualified with the accompanying doctrine: Give up thy life if thou wouldst find it. Live to benefit mankind, for this is the first step. If you will have the sun, then leave the earth and its clouds. Purucker, Golden Precepts

“Philosophy may be compared to a luminous pyramid, terminating in Deity, and having for its basis the rational soul of man and its spontaneous unperverted conceptions,—of this philosophy, August, magnificent, and divine, Plato may be justly called the primary leader and hierophant, through whom, like the mystic light in the inmost recesses of some sacred temple, it first shone forth with occult and venerable splendour.” Excerpt From: Thomas Taylor. “Introduction to the Philosophy and Writings of Plato.” iBooks

This classic, essential text on the foundation of bodhisattva living is now translated by Art Engle. It is clear, detailed and complete. A must for anyone serious about this path to buddhahood for the sake of others. http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=asanga&sts=t&tn=bodhisattva+path The title is The Bodhisattva Path to Unsurpassed Enlightenment, Snow Lion publisher.

Yes Rex, the editor of the Thomas Taylor anthology, Kathleen Raine, was a theosophist at heart, whether or not she was a member of any theosophical organization. http://www.temenosacademy.org/temenos_raine-message.html

As is the short novel it is part of; set in ancient Egypt with black magicians, temple neophytes and such. If one does read the novel, a good commentary on the deeper meaning is: "Comments on the Idyll of the White Lotus" by T. Subba Rao Online at several places.

There are three truths which are absolute, and which cannot be lost, but yet may remain silent for lack of speech. The soul of man is immortal, and its future is the future of a thing whose growth and splendor has no limit. The principle which gives life dwells in us, and without us, is undying and eternally beneficent, is not heard or seen or smelt, but is perceived by the man who desires perception. Each man is his own absolute lawgiver, the dispenser of glory or gloom to himself; the decreer of his life, his reward, his punishment. These truths, which are as great as is life itself, are as simple as the simplest mind of man. Feed the hungry with them. From The Idyll of the White Lotus

Proclus, Iamblichus & Hierocles on Prayer: http://www.prometheustrust.co.uk/Concerning_Prayer.pdf

In the summer of 769, in a Dharma assembly at the nearby Hudong Temple, Fazhao led a group practice of chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name in five parts. Their sincere calls were answered by the appearance of colorful clouds all over the sky. In the clouds stood towers, temples, and the Three Holy Ones— Amitabha Buddha, flanked by Bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta. The people of Hengyang all witnessed this display, which lasted for a long time. They all burned incense and made obeisance. That evening, Fazhao came across an old man, who said to him, “You made a wish to visit the golden world on Wutaishan, to make obeisance to Mañjusri Bodhisattva. Why do you linger here?” Fazhao answered, “The times are hard and the journey is rough.” The old man said, “If one has strong aspiration, what difficulty can there be?” Then the old man disappeared. On the thirteenth day of the eighth month of 769, Fazhao, together with a team of fellow monks, set off on a pilgrimage to the Wutai Mountain. On the sixth day of the fourth month of 770, they safely arrived at the Foguang (Buddha light) Temple in Wutai County. Before dawn, Fazhao saw a beam of white light shining on him. He followed it for fifty lis, and arrived at a mountain, under which was a stream. On the north bank of this stream was a stone gate, at which stood two youths. They introduced themselves as Sudhana and Nanda. Escorted by them, Fazhao went inside the gate and walked five lis to a temple which bore a sign that read “Zhulin Temple of the Great Holy.” The ground there was gold and adorned with jeweled flowers and trees, just as he had seen in his vision. Fazhao entered the auditorium of the temple and found Bodhisattvas Mañjusri and Samantabhadra, each seated on a jeweled lion throne and surrounded by a multitude of Bodhisattvas. Fazhao approached them, made obeisance, and said, “Ordinary beings in this Dharma-ending age have low capacities and severe hindrances. They are unable to uncover their Buddha nature. Which Dharma Door can easily lead them to the essence of the vast Buddha Dharma?” Mañjusri Bodhisattva replied, “Your question is opportune. In this Dharma-ending age, no Dharma Door can better fulfill one’s wisdom and merit than the double Dharma Door of thinking of Buddhas and making offerings to the Three Jewels. In past kalpas, through thinking of Buddhas and making offerings to the Three Jewels, I acquired [sarvajña-jñana] the knowledge of all knowledge. All good dharmas, such as paramita and profound dhyana, are born from thinking of Buddhas, which is the king of dharmas.” Fazhao asked, “How does one think of Buddhas?” Mañjusri Bodhisattva replied, “West of here is a world in which resides Amitabha Buddha. The power of His vows is inconceivable. You should think of Him without interruption. After death, you will definitely be reborn in His land, standing on the Ground of No Regress.” Bodhisattvas Mañjusri and Samantabhadra both extended their golden arms and rubbed the crown of Fazhao’s head. They said, “Because you think of Buddhas, you will soon attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. If good men and good women single-mindedly think of Buddhas, they too will quickly attain anuttarasamyak- sambodhi.” Exultantly and exuberantly Fazhao made obeisance to them. He left the auditorium, and the two youths escorted him outside the temple. No sooner did he raise his head than the temple vanished. Fazhao then made a pile of stones to mark the site. On the eighth day of that month, Fazhao and his group went to the Huayan Temple and settled down. On the thirteenth day, he and fifty or so fellow monks went to the Vajra Cave of the Wutai Mountain. They reverently chanted thirty-five Buddhas’ names, making obeisance to each name. After only ten prostrations, Fazhao saw the cave turn into a vast clean place where stood a palace made of pure aquamarine. Present inside were holy Bodhisattvas, including Mañjusri and Samantabhadra. Hoping to see Mañjusri Bodhisattva once again, Fazhao later returned to the cave alone. He prostrated himself on the ground and prayed. Suddenly he saw an Indian monk who called himself Buddhapala. Buddhapla led him to a sparkling jeweled temple with a sign above its door, the golden words on which read “Vajra Prajña Temple.” In the temple compound stood hundreds of majestic towers and mansions, and Mañjusri the Great Holy was surrounded by the multitudes. Fazhao wanted to stay there, but Buddhapala did not permit him. He led Fazhao outside and said, “Train assiduously. When you return, you may stay.” In the twelfth month of that year, Fazhao began a meditation retreat at the Huayan Temple. He fasted and vowed to be reborn in the Pure Land. On the evening of the seventh day, an Indian monk entered the hall and asked him, “Why do you not tell people what you have experienced here on Wutaishan?” Then the Indian monk vanished. Next day, in the afternoon, Fazhao saw another Indian monk, about eighty years of age, who sternly said to him, “If you share with sentient beings your extraordinary experiences on Wutaishan, they will be inspired to activate the bodhi mind. Why do you not do it?” Fazhao replied, “I do not dare to conceal the holy Way. However, I fear that people might doubt my words and slander me.” The old monk said, “Even Mañjusri the Great Holy, who resides on this mountain, cannot avoid slanders. It is more important to induce sentient beings to activate the bodhi mind than to save yourself.” After his retreat ended, Fazhao wrote down his experiences, and circulated his stories for the world to know. From Rulu's translation Thinking of Amitabha Buddha, pp. 205-06

'Supposedly' according to AAB; for Blavatsky he was just a disciple of KH and occasionally assisted in transmitting teachings. Telepathy is only one method.

Cogent point - after all Mormonism is just trendy Christianity. Is it possible you even read all the piece? (yes, but understand it - hmmm...)

Blavatsky in 'golden letters', no, not at all. Just that AA Bailey's letters are of cheap brass. To clarify for those who have not read the article, it begins: Alice Bailey & her inspiration CW Leadbeater claimed a common source, the same Brothers that taught Blavatsky. The article says 'not true' - they taught pseudo-theosophy. It has nothing to do with updating or being trendy, but whether AAB's 'Fibetan' was the same person that Blavatsky knew. He was not - thus the differences in teachings.

From The Ornament of the Light of Awareness That Enters the Domain of All Buddhas Sutra http://read.84000.co/browser/released/UT22084/047/UT22084-047-002.pdf

Proclus on Truth, Love and Faith: http://www.prometheustrust.co.uk/Faith__Truth_and_Love.pdf