stirling

What would be "adharmic" if the fabric of reality is entirely Brahman?

Gods, ghosts, demons, mind-reading, generating sparks, visions, etc. etc. are all RELATIVE events, happening in the Relative world. There is nothing wrong with them, any more than there is something wrong with death, or a flower opening its petals. Events like this are doubtless fascinating, but they AREN'T liberation, and don't lead to liberation. The deeper point of Buddhism or traditional Daoism is to achieve insight and alignment. Insight is an Absolute realization about the the nature of reality. With insight comes a whole new understanding of these wonders that is much deeper and more whole. For more on the Relative and Absolute: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_truths_doctrine Non-grasping to such phenomena actual makes them more likely to happen.

@doc benway Thank you. - There is great wisdom in the good doctor's last post, despite its seeming simplicity. These are some of the deepest practices you could find anywhere, shared cleanly and openly. It is a joy to read teaching like this. _/\_

I’m confused - shall I continue derailing?

Feel free to re-orient. _/\_

Nothing hidden or special. It's everywhere! https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Rigpa

First, it is worth saying that nirodha samapatti is not necessary for complete understanding. It IS a piece of territory that we all naturally traverse, and might notice IF we have some knowledge about what it is. The most outlandish BELIEVABLE stories I have heard about nirodha samapatti recently are probably Delson Armstrong's. Sitting for weeks outside while your beard grows undiscovered by search parties? Seems far fetched, but I reserve judgement. Personally I couldn't be gone and out of contact for 2 hours without my wife freaking out. I'm not saying it is impossible, but I AM saying that it isn't important in any way whatsoever. It is not a sign of any deeper understanding about the nature of reality. What isn't clear to me is why this chap didn't take this opportunity to lay out the very real implications of permanently shifting perspective. The truth is: If someone turned a camera on ME, I'd be taking that opportunity to say the most outlandish material I could muster in an attempt to wake up every suffering being that would ever encounter it. A point that needs repeating that I might not have made as clear as I could in my previous post is that the "supernatural" trappings and experiences on the path are just noise. They happen... they are interesting, but they don't indicate anything but that you are definitely ON the path. I could tell (and have told) stories about siddhis too, but they are just distractions from the real goal of any of these practices - non-dual realization. From the perspective from THAT realization, seeing angels and demons, or talking with trees and seeing auras, etc. are not supercharged moments of REAL meaning and implications, they are just experiences like any other experience. They are part of the show, but not the core material in any way. _/\_

I expect that is true, but I have already completed all of my teacher training. Now there is only Rigpa doing the training. _/\_

Finished this a few minutes ago, out of curiosity. He describes what probably (in Buddhist terms) describes a couple of "Arising and Passing Away" moments (though with some questionable time travel stories), that do not represent real insight and then speaking about his last episode he says he realized: This isn't wrong, but is a fairly tepid and indistinct description considering the effort he put into the other experiences, but let's allow for translation and cultural differences. In his favor, he DOES seem relaxed, gently good-humored, and KIND, one of the most major characteristics of those who have lived in the world with insight for a long time. What is actually important, that almost any "awakened being" would know to point to is: --How awake are you RIGHT NOW?-- Can you see or hear "emptiness" in this moment.. even if you have to turn your attention to it? What does that mean to you? Can you see that "self" is a delusion, even if you occasionally lose sight of this for a few minutes? How about the constructs of time and space? This insight is not an experience, it is a permanent shift in perception. It would have been nice to hear him share with the world the nature of his moment-to-moment life.

Welcome to the board, BSD. Hope you can find the support and information you seek!

I saw some long load times last night, but things seem OK this AM so far.

In this case, the discussion of Indra's Net as a metaphor comes from a Buddhist sutra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indra's_net#In_the_Buddhāvataṃsaka_Sūtra Seems like you have had quite a dramatic journey in your last 131 posts.

Beautiful. In Zen such experiences are called "makyo". Having crazy experiences is part of the path, and a fascinating one. Having them means that you have begun, and are moving forward toward understanding, but not much else generally. I would call most of these sorts of events "experiences". Experiences, like all other relative phenomena are impermanent. How do you know what is important or not? Ask yourself, has it created a shift toward something permanent? Is it something I can see is true in this moment, and in ALL moments? Real insight permanently and dramatically alters your understanding and world view. THESE sorts of experiences are the ones to ask about.

Ultimately, Prajna is holding NO view. The teachings are not the realization, and keeping traditions pure is nice idea from a cultural perspective, but means nothing from enlightened perspective. A good teacher will do whatever it takes to wake you up, whether it means quoting Rumi, Nisagadatta Maharaj, or Ren and Stimpy.

The Middle Way is not the way of the renunciate. We are not giving away all of our belongings or wealth, we are renouncing clinging and aversion to wealth and belongings. We won't solve suffering by giving people our wealth, or food, or it would already have happened. The source of all suffering is a lack of Prajna (Wisdom) which is insight into "emptiness". Our instruction as bodhisattvas is to be WITH suffering where it happens. Be kind. Be present with those that are suffering, when you encounter them. Be generous when the opportunity presents itself, but not at the expense of your personal security. Taking care of your finances, as long as it is not at the expense of others is fine. Where "self" has dropped away bodhisattvas will find that what they need is taken care of. They are free to be of benefit when and where they encounter suffering. -