old3bob

oh heck - I used to have a lot flying, swimming and surfing dreams that were far out! The flying ones started out with short jumps which I extended in my dreams to longer and longer jumps which then turned into flying, and as long as I had a fair amount of energy I didn't have to land or sometimes end up crashing into the ground. Alas, after being a blue collar working stiff for decades I've been having a lot dreams of my old job and fellow workers. (btw, the being late to work ones are stressful since the company could fire people for that, but I'm relieved when I wake and remember that I'm retired )

just a side note: there is the Zen story of a person who had little training yet upon hearing a wise concept/saying he suddenly got "it"! Maybe Mark or anyone else could fill us in on that?

"...We remain human and it is the human mind that experiences and recollects the release of limitations as some special state. That in and of itself is a bit of an error." Steve There is a lot packed into your sentence above! (and the related post) Is there an 'if' in part of it? My interpretation along that line would say that the traced memory of "it" is not "it". (but that pointers/maps/signposts can surely help)

the ways or teachings of renunciates are often being quoted at this site but a householder/family person can not rightly be a renunciate and also fulfill their householder dharma at the same time....In many/most Hindu traditions when a householder has fulfilled that dharma then they can transition to being a renunciate, whereas some become vowed renunciates/monks or nuns of an order at a very early age. What problems have you seen along such lines?

something for us bums to consider: "...If you do not strive with others, You will be free from blame." from Chapter 8 T.T.C. (I'd say Steve has often been setting this example)

I'd say many dreams are pretty much of the astral realms, and the astral realms can pretty much range much from A-Z, or relatively high or low realms. Visions from purer realms beyond the astral while asleep are another matter...

never thought this post would also have so many legs or words like "syncategorematic" which I'm still not all that clear about even after looking it up... ;-)

I'm not a Taoist so I can't really say so for its doctrines or various schools, yet i do paraphrase parts of it according to my limited understanding and what correlates to me... Btw, we also have some points that are not easy to integrate imo, like how can there be what some folks call "impersonal enlightenment" when persons and compassion are involved which is personal...

"mind" can not cross the barrier and remain, my parapharse of Chapter 43 of the Tao Teh Ching. soul develops for who knows how long or for how far but in the end merges or returns to the ocean and is no longer identified as a separate wave.

I'd say thoughts about Spirit are constucts, unconditoned pure and free Spirit is not... The Great Tao can see the ten thousand but the ten thousand can not see the Tao through ten thousand layers. (or something along those lines)

"things" is the catch, for there is that which is not an impermanet thing, the human mind is a thing (with computer like aspects) that can not know no-thing no mater how hard it trys per every which way. Btw very few of us are ready or willing to give up our particualr mind which is our particualr identity. (which would entail dangers if not done via Spirit)

What system/shift do you mean (perhaps a growing understanding)? Btw do you believe "information" which can also be of awareness can not be of benefit regardless?

"It" is not of the "meaining making machine" that splits hairs. For the "Soul of the soul" knows the Itself without doubt, and to put away doubt is freedom. Freedom from endless like mental speculations, granted beliefs can potentially be like unproven assuptions, (and or by-passing) although they can also be useful pointers. I'd add that anti -beliefs can also put one on a merry go around. Anyway agnostic like ways have a place until replaced by first hand expeierence.

umm, that is not just my added on philosophy or just my particular belief. The Upanishads which I brought up briefly are directly related to the Vedas which have been handed down for thousands of years with many consensual agreements among a great number of Self-realized and experienced Masters, Rishis, Yogi's, etc. None of which can or would force their realization upon another, nor can such be proven by normal means like with the intellect. "It" can be known within when uncovered, the several yoga's help, and in a great many other ways besides those related to Hinduism. Personally I'd say Revealing Grace (a major aspect of Lord Siva) is also key. Lord Siva depicted as Lord Nataraja: "Anugraha, grace and emancipation, is indicated by the combination of the lower left hand, which points toward his upraised foot, showing the way to moksha in surrendering to the lord. The uplifted left leg is revealing grace, which releases the mature soul from bondage. Hindus touching the feet of their elders in respect is an echo of God’s feet being considered holy."

I'd say that all Beings have a spark of the same absolute "within", (the "cave of the heart") so we could say that the absolute or Self is embodied but veiled in most of us; such a realizatin is pointed to in the Upanishads and many other teachings; thus identity as only being a complex human Being or other form can be seen for what it is and appreciated but not bound by.

? no sour or dour in that mosaic, looks more like sympathy and concern to me.

debateable.... What realized being can radiate great compassion and or love with a sour/dour look on their face?

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." Bible quote then again in a different context: "The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Seventh Generation Principle dictates that decisions made today should ensure a sustainable world for descendants seven generations in the future. It is often quoted as:In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations" thus not worry per-se but taking care for more than just today.

ok, but we can see happiness/smiles in great many other realized Beings both in person and in recent history, also in different time periods and places...(thus in various forms of artwork going back thousands of years besides in photos)

Although the historic Buddha is commonly depicted as having a subtle happiness/smile...

oops, no time to worry now (or panic) for there is only time to try and survive....

same questions repeat again and again...

could you spell that out some more Keith? I'd say most humans worry to various degrees about various things, while an eternal, un-changing absolute has no worries as we often do...

that last post speaks of a major sticking point for unique and particular beings that would like to stay that way eternally...thus not merge back into the ocean of Supreme Being.

Speaking of going around and around in circles, wolves will do that in their enclosures if it designed with a long enough trotting path for them. Btw. it is somewhat surprising how tall, lean and lanky wolves can be !