neti neti

Yes, that's understood. But then why allow gifs as avatars ??? Are there any gifs that aren't animated ? Just a little frustrating when I spent some time and effort to create a file within size requirements only to be denied... that's all

In profile editing, gifs are allowed as avatar photos. But why would one do so if the allowed file type cannot be animated ??? This was a bit frustrating.

"Judgmentalism is the vanity of all egos. Scripture says, "Judge not, lest ye be judged." Also, "Judgement is mine, sayeth the Lord." Christ said to forgive. The Buddha said there is nothing to judge because perception can only see illusion. Perception is always partial and limited by an arbitrary context. In truth, no judgment is possible." ~David R. Hawkins, Along the Path to Enlightenment (pp. 82-83)

Interesting how such a seemingly small idea can cascade into greater layers of investigation for growth. Kind of like an unassuming seed.

"Power... true power lies hidden. Like a mammoth sea creature just beneath the surface of the ocean. Nothing, but the faintest of ripples." ~Laurens Bancroft

My mind has been gone with the wind for quite some time now. Yet I remain unfailingly awestruck at the miracle of this universe on display upon the opening of my eyes.

.

Same here, and, I would hope so. But if intuition holds any merit, I'm relatively certain you're just being modest. That by which one knows oneself is itself one's nature, indeed.

So, change your world... now?

Then we would agree that if the micro & macrocosm is but one self-reflecting organism, the seemingly destructive growing pains cannot help but manifest to bear the scars of healing. The lotus from mud, the phoenix from ashes? The glory from ruin, the pleasure from pain? Contrast and metaphor may serve as enlightening guideposts, they however remain as part and parcel of the very same net. The same net which presumes it can paint itself into a coherent structure to the exclusion of its inherent abstraction. From that same net arises the presumption that one cannot know what is best, or not best, for the 'other'; and from that same net is derived the angst and striving for lasting changes amongst its ever-changeful-ness. That which dissolves remains, it merely recreates itself in apparently differing names and forms. In changing, the changer changes all. In healing, the healer heals himself. In awakening, one awakens their entire world.

And yet your 'small' awareness is identical in nature to its universal counterpart, making your dispossession quite contagious. Or would you presume these changes in your awareness stand apart from and have no effects upon the world around you? Is Your healing not My healing?

Awareness of one's removal of consent to fraud in all its guises, reveals the seed for change has long been planted. Allow it to take root in your heart, nurture it to maturity, and witness the change you long for take on a life of its own. To your astonishment, it will branch out in directions unexpected providing fruits for all in due season, such that those clinging to illusion may draw nearer to truth even through their scoffing from afar. Appreciate that apart from apparent chaos, restoration of natural order can never be known.

"Death isn’t only about the destruction of the body. Sometimes, just like that, you extinguish one self and another is born. But every birth is violent and there’s no death without pain." "What we believe shapes who we are. Belief can bring us salvation or destruction. But when you believe a lie for too long, the truth doesn’t set you free. It tears you apart." "Finding truth is more than a search for data. It’s an excavation of self. You have to keep going, no matter where it takes you. Because nothing can stay hidden forever." "When everyone lies, telling the truth isn’t just rebellion. It’s an act of revolution. So think carefully when you speak it, because the truth is a weapon." "The moments of peace that we find sometimes, they aren’t anything but warfare, thinly disguised. And sometimes, surrender can be as savage as any attack." "Peace is an illusion. And no matter how tranquil the world seems, peace doesn’t last long. Peace is a struggle against our very nature. A skin we stretch over the bone, muscle, and sinew of our own innate savagery." ~Takeshi Kovacs

"In the night, a rodent scratches and digs holes. It's as if it sees gold very close by and keeps digging, deeper and deeper. But as soon as the sun rises, it keeps quiet!"

As a rule, man is a fool When it’s hot, he wants it cool When its cool, he wants it hot Always wanting, what is not ~Benjamin Disraeli

I enjoy Alan Watts, he's like an old uncle who starts drinking and can't stop talking. Anyway, this quick portion of one of his lectures reminded me of Sri Sankara: And with that, I'll share another quote from Ranjit Maharaj's 'The Way of the Bird', commentary by Andrew Vernon. I thought this was also appropriate...