oak

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Posts posted by oak

  2. Posted

    This detail of the whole image is to me one of two things:

    1. An analogy of sex with agricultural work, the erect penises symbolize the hoes "fertilizing" the earth/soil.

    Or...

    2. The historian of religion Mircea Eliade in one of his books writes about ancient peoples communal orgies on cultivating fields. This was seen as work done by the community in order to fertilize the fields.

    Do you know if ancient egyptians where into this @Apech ?

    Screenshot_20230927_233817_Chrome.jpg

    • Like 1

  3. Posted

    12 minutes ago, thelerner said:

    Is it me, or is the figure a bit.. aroused?  

     

    Well, I guess that I've created a reputation of seeing sex references in sacred art where others don't see any of that, so this time I've waited for someone to point it out first.

    My conclusion is that either you are a pervert like me or there are some erect penises in the image.

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  6. Posted

    4 minutes ago, Apech said:


    You have to understand Oak that I spent decades on this stuff until I was exhausted by the effort and took refuge in Buddhism - but my first love are the Egyptian mysteries.  Going back to them is a huge effort which drags at my soul and reminds me how much energy I expended trying to understand the subject..   I am very tentative about going back to it.

     

    Blame us, it's fine

     

    • Haha 1

  10. Posted

    On 22/09/2023 at 3:03 PM, Daniel said:

    In another thread @wstein wrote:

     

     

    This thread is intended to discuss enlightenment in a non-hostile manner.  In order to foster this discussion, please:

     

    Do not make claims / assertions / implications about other's experiences including whether or not their own perceptions are delusional, or that their enlightenment experiences knowledge is incomplete or faulty. The purpose of this thread is to share experiences and information.  Each reader is welcome to form their own opinion about the credibility of each post and each poster.  This should be a common practice for anyone participating actively or passsively on an internet forum.  Caveat Emptor.  But this does not mean that posting thosee opinions here is welcome.

     

    So please, no mocking, no challenging each other, or making universal statements about the flaws of non-enlightened people.

     

     

    I guess the only thing that makes sense to me as a reply is that faith in the path is needed.

    As much as we would like to share something that would make it easier for someone else we just can't because things need to be lived. A few can point the way though, that's all.

    I frequently compare this discussions with a pĺaygroung of teenagers (in modern times children not teenagers I guess) discussing sex. Too many are pointing the way sharing their imaginary experiences and feats having zero experience. This makes others more insecure and lost and terribly anxious towards the experience. Others even read some books and are absolutely shure they have the answers, knowledge as a shield against insecurity. The ones that have some experience know that the truth is intimate and somehow feel unable to share much of the experience that they've had if they were to tell the absolute truth. Yes, they can only say to others "relax, your time will come." , isn't it?

    The time will come for all of us. If we have some faith in that we will relax and make it easier. No need to rush the seasons.

     

    • Like 4

  11. Posted

    On 23/09/2023 at 9:25 PM, Daniel said:

     

    Thank you.  This answer is very meaningful to me.  However, that meaning is coming from my own cultural context and tradition.

     

     

    Hi Daniel 

    Just to call your attention to DDJ 70 where this is referred, "therefore the Sage wears a coarse cloth on top and carries jade within his bosom."

    • Like 1

  15. Posted

    11 minutes ago, Zoya said:

    I gotta ask because I'm curious, but can anyone develop Siddhis or is this something that only people following a very specific tradition/faith/belief can actually do?

     

     

     

    Chapter 3 of the yoga sutras of Patanjali is all about this matter. You will find it easely online.

    • Thanks 1

  19. Posted

    18 minutes ago, C T said:

     

    Did you enjoy it? Any noticeable difference in taste? 

     

    Where I am, both red and yellow-fleshed watermelons are readily available, but I think the red is more popular. 

     

    Yes, and no noticeable difference in taste. My interprrtaion of it is that it was a genetically modified watermelon and I should have been warned before buying it. Are you telling me it is a natural thing?

  20. Posted

    19 hours ago, Apech said:

     

    It's like when you go to the supermarket and buy packaged food with a lovely illustration of a meal on the front - and when you get home inside is a plastic tray with some frozen gloop in it.  You go back to the shop and insist on seeing the manager.  You point at the picture and the gloop - the manager says : ' Dear Sir/Madam (or variously gendered shopper) it says 'serving suggestion' under the picture.  The picture is what a meal could be in an ideal world and not what is in the box.  Since you have opened the box there will no refund.'

     

     

     

    Even items without any label at all can be full of surprises. I remember buying a watermelon and when I got home and opened it, yeah it was juicy and tasty but yellow inside...it took a while for my brain to process that, if it did at all.

    • Haha 3

  24. Posted

    5 hours ago, Daniel said:

     

    My very amatuer opinion is that there are trends demonstrated in nature that can act as signals for predicting what sort of actions and choices are in harmony with the dao.  Observing cause and effect, action-reaction, in a person's life, and reflecting on the patterns observed in nature gives feedback on which choices and actions are in hamony and which are not. With practice and patience the signals are interpretted automatically and effortlessly resulting in life choices which are naturally in harmony with the dao.

     

     

    The great Baruch Spinoza created a whole philosophical system based on that, just in case you wish to check him out someday.

     

    • Like 2

  25. Posted · Edited by oak

    8 hours ago, Mig said:

    I keep reading in different texts to follow nature, emulate water and be connected to nature and I am wondering did they think or do they still think nature is all good. When you look at nature, there is always something going on, not for the best for humans but to survive as nature is not clement. So why don't they mention the bad side of nature, the cruelty of nature and the disasters we see every day and in the wilderness nature has no benevolence (DDJ Ch 5). Why is so important to obtain the Dao if Dao is related to nature? Just wondering and you can probably can help me to understand better the idea behind "nature"

     

    Thanks

     

    Would anything in nature feel or sense things as you do? Humans indeed are the most disgraced creatures in nature being caught in the prison of psychological time. What would our view of nature be if we were freed of that, if we emptied our minds like the DDJ suggests? Did Lao-Tzu see or feel things as others around him did?

    20

    What's the difference between yes and no?

    What's the difference between beautiful and ugly?

    Must one dread what others dread?

    Oh barbarity! Will it never end?


    Other people are joyous, like on the feast of the ox,

    Like on the way up to the terrace in the spring.

    I alone am inert, giving no sign,

    Like a newborn baby who has not learned to smile.

    I am wearied, as if I lacked a home to go to.


    Other people have more than they need,

    I alone seem wanting.

    I have the mind of a fool,

    Understanding nothing.


    The common people see clearly,

    I alone am held in the dark.

    The common people are sharp,

    Only I am clumsy,

    Like drifting on the waves of the sea,

    Without direction.


    Other people are occupied,

    I alone am unwilling, like the outcast.

    I alone am different from the others,

    Because I am nourished by the great mother.

     

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