old3bob

Btw in case you are not sure it is common to download or copy a youtube video right to this site thus not needing to list it as a url. It sounds like the band is tapping into the hell realms for dark power....

"Seems to me that Steve´s view of seeing the qualities attributed to Gods and Goddesses as human is useful in a practice context." by Luke; ok to a point and or in certain cases, but it is a mistake to think humans are the only type of conscious beings ! For there are Beings that have no trace of human conscience or sensibilities and there are also Beings far advanced spiritually beyond us. I didn't get that from a book...

Steve, your humble and deeply diplomatic posts and sincere humanity are not wrong about anything, your wisdom of a cool head is very much appreciated!

Love is one with the lasting root...

it has no lasting root in itself and needs to steal whatever it can get away with which lasts for awhile, which has been a very long while but not forever, thus after stealing and consuming all it can get away with it then implodes or self destructs on itself.

"why" is a dualistic type of question about non-duality, which is simple beyond regular knowing and thus an answer other than mental speculation can not be had that way, anyway in using the term Brahman it can not be added to or taken away from since It is complete. Btw why Love? Isn't Love the only one that knows.... as also echoed with, "Peace that passes all understanding", Philippians 4:7 (thus also beyond regular understanding)

that could use some further detail...

could also be likened to a tidal wave of black, consuming darkness coming upon us, but there are those that "stand strong' against it...

Non-duality insistence is smug when it writes everything off as some form of illusion or not understanding the teachings, even if it means well.

repression and oppression are counter productive, and also if only basking in easy going pleasantries, so let it be...

in other words it sounds like you have no experience in seeing the hell realms and the Beings there-in as recounted by countless witness over thousands of years...Btw there are many Buddhists who have no trouble giving witness to pure-land or heavenly realms and the Beings there-in (also for Beings like Quan-Yin, the Jade Emperor, and guardian Spirits) and who may also give witness and warnings about the opposite to that. How convenient to write -off thousands of years of witness by people and even parts of Buddhist doctrine!? (for instance Tibetan examples that do not deny such realms) Non-duality is fine but it is not smug.

the horn of the Rhino does not or can not pierce some of us...(my paraphrase from a T.T.C. chapter)

I'd say it is correct that various Beings in existence, for example those operating in: the lower, middle, and upper astral, the causal and or any other names or realms per different terminologies should not be written off as only being some kind of projections by humans...for imo it should only take some undeniable glimpses of such by us humans to realize that. (along with seeing and feeling the outer results of their actions whether divine or demonic which there are reams of witness to over thousands of years, including from the historic Buddha Himself in parts of well recognized Buddhist doctrine.

tiny deer takes on Rhino and comes out ahead! maybe its just play time for the Rhino...

nothing is a poor word. I'd say the real meaning is no-thing which is not nothing or not things of the mind depending on your take... (for all things come and go in flux)

we have not even touched a on a fraction of destructive and evil greed that is harming the Earth's eco-systems and all the creatures that live in them including ourselves! As for many animals like cows and chickens and the way they are often treated, it's truly a nightmare that many of us consume without thinking much about it....until careless contamination of same causes sickness or even death among us! (along with vibrations of fear and suffering that result form many animals are put through which is then hormonally transferred into their flesh) I have been a vegetarian on and off but I'm just as guilty as many are when it comes to not demanding the best possible kosher like practices and or more humane like treatment of animals used for food. The FDA and other related parties are pretty much bought and sold by big companies to increase their profits to the max.

Btw Lord Rama didn't forgive King Ravana but Ravana apparently came to the realization that it was good that was killed by Rama..."its a strange, strange world Master Jack".

and Jesus saying the following about the humans who crucified him, "Forgive them Father they know not what they do". But he was not so kind when speaking to or about demonic beings in Revelations and elsewhere. Is that something some well meaning Christian's don't understand and thus also try to apply forgiveness to demonic forces?

what? i like Bud light but Modelo more.

well there is the case of having kind thoughts while somebody may be killing you, like Mahatma Gandhi had. (a rare case)

but while drinking vegetarian beer together that should not be to hard?

and to give a biblical paraphrase that goes along that line: "it not what goes into the mouth but what come out of it..." but don't tell that to a hard core vegetarian.

is it really possible to be (humanly) kind/aka non-violent while killing somebody, as Krishna more or less taught before the great and bloody slaughter of battle recounted in the Bhagavad Gita took place?

not sure if that was directed at old3bob but he did mention karma yoga earlier which you seemingly ignored the import of while harping on your favorite of Buddhism...

ok, "if", and lots of other aspects besides just fear.