old3bob

some schools use this chart as a descriptive pointer, other schools have somewhat different charts as pointers. #1 below is inherent with the soul and is said to be the purest category of Freedom/Bliss... Parasiva shown before #1 is, but is not said to be of a category thus is beyond a this or that description...

life is a dance, suffering is getting stuck in the mud...

On a tangent: Iron men and wooden ships, just imagine the rip roaring efforts to make her fly across the water!

btw, there are 4 major branches in Hinduism, many fairly major sub-sects of those, and then maybe thousands of minor sub-sects of those (?), along with lots of quasi- Hindu groups and teachers. There are some main precepts that most of these schools follow yet there are also key disagreement's among them; (like dualism and non-dualism teachings) so good luck in figuring them out since the term "Hinduism" and exactly what it means can not be nailed down that easily, although or supposedly the Vedas are agreed upon by all it's schools. Anyway there are conundrums which seems to be common among all religions, or most ways including in the many of the sects of or related to Buddhism. For me the best pointers to the "Self" are located in the Upanishads which many (most) Hindu sects and quasi Hindus study.

That which is - already is, and does not and can not gain or lose anything, thus does not evolve or devolve, but soul evolves or devolves yet comes from that non-evolutionary and is said to return to same at some point and in returning also does not and can not gain or loose anything...so welcome to the enigma which no why can answer... (for the human mind tends to think in terms of gain and or loss and why)

right, there is no separate variations of Self per different schools or ways when it comes down to brass tacks.

many years ago I was out surfing when a grey whale came close by, no problemo just stay well clear of their tail fin! also surfing when dolphins came close by was pretty common and a good feeling since they kept sharks away!

I'd say that ultimately and in "essence" there is only one of us, that some call The Self per the Upanishads. Which does not mean we don't have to deal with billions (x trillions) of often complicated variations!

It is pretty apparent that those "very few" are mostly renunciates living in monasteries or like conditions and some also go unseen in plain sight. Much of what is submitted at this sight are methods more for renunciates or students close to a particular school (like retreating to the forest or mountains and such) and most of us can't live the renunciates life... and as householders it would be wrong to try.

"Olaf Blanke would say, inside, unless the innate coordination of the senses of equalibrioception, graviception, proprioception, and occuloception has been damaged." is that why you have a nice but also seemingly mischievous grin on your face? (in your picture)

I'd say with the mind being inherently dualistic it can never really find peace in itself, but if Spirit becomes its master then it will know its rightful place as servant to spirit and have peace in that sense. (which to me more or less parallels #4 in the quote above)

"that which is against the Tao soon ceases to be" paraphrased from the T.T.C. so in that sense their is no equilvanecy between that which is against the Tao and that which is in alignment.

and or also suspending for a moment which is possible with help... btw, with me not being Buddhist I don't follow their terminology that well, thus I see mind as essentially being a computer like thing that can be likened to running software programs of mind and emotion. (programs that are not the Self as pointed to in the Upanishads)

one might also ask what will be the future of the Earth soul Herself? (and the body of the Earth)

I'd say a householder does not retreat to the forest so context is needed for that saying...

I'd say karma is not used to make "various energy bodies", where do you get this stuff?? Karma (so called good or bad) can be said to be like an earned coating on the surface of the soul that affects its state of being & manifestation for better or worse. (and to be worked on and thus at some point to no longer encumber or veil the soul of any order of being)

on a major tangent what about sunlight and cataracts, a great many people suffer from those, more so in third world countries where treatment is iffy or hard to come for many, thus their lives and families may be seriously impacted! I had the surgery and it wasn't bad but can be expensive if not covered by medical plans, medical plans which a great many don't have.

and what if you meet the anti-guru, guru on the road? (aka J.K.) (who is also working with a concepts about guru's but does not really know what a true guru is for if he did he'd have kill his own particular variation of concepts)

that reminds me didn't hitler have some submarines modified as rocket ships for outer space? (i imagine they ran low on fuel and o2 rather quickly)

there is no "seem"ing about certain things if Lairg knew what he was talking about?

if it seems fishy it could be...

no one knows for sure until the fat lady sings...I mean the goddess sings (See your point more so in the concept string)

so are you implying that you've skipped the Upanishads as just another form of common communal goings on?

I think I hear your drift, but I'd say that there is no before or after separation or break in connection of Spirit, Btw the Self as pointed to in the Upanishads is not limited to human-ness if that is your interpretation of the word?

Lets say Spirit/Prana that springs from the Self as well alluded to in the Upanishads. (for instance in the Chandogya)