stirling

That is always what I hope. It is the non-dual experience as it appears to me, expressed in the simplest language I can muster. _/\_ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondualism

Yes, I think so. The Dao is here, now, not subject to special circumstances, not a special state, or place. Definitely. We are very convinced that we are somehow separate from the Dao is, or that things in this moment are not exactly as they should be. We feel we should be contriving a reality that suits us. All of that activity pushes us further from the simple realization of things as they are. That hasn't been my experience, in fact I believe it is the easiest way. It all comes down to how easily you can surrender your idea of "self" and control. The Way isn't painful, it is the ego/self that creates and experiences the pain, based on its struggle with how reality is perceived. Even in resistance things are still aligned. In meditation we can rest in stillness and see what it is to live without struggle, and realize that there is only the struggle we create. _/\_ Be as nature is!

Your quote was: ...which would be correct. "Transmission of knowledge" of the Dao is one thing. Neidan in all its variety is another.

Absolutely... the DAO! There IS only one "teacher". Is this a belief or experience? If the figures are "legendary", are from "Chinese lore", are "associated with embodying" conceptual virtues, serve "deities or emperors" you can't meet, or appear in "fantasy settings" they may POINT to constructed aspects of the Dao, but are simply conceptual constructs, NOT the Dao. The Dao, or "non-duality" is a much deeper reality than any pantheon of "immortals", gods and goddesses that can be attributed conceptual constructs. The Dao HAS no qualities, no embodiment, and is not truly represented by any idea or icon. Who or what becomes "immortal"? The Dao is the only "immortal" thing, but that doesn't mean what you might think it means. It is entirely possible to be shown the Dao, or find it yourself in stillness. It is omnipresent. No-one and no-thing else is required.

Where else would it come from? True knowledge of the Dao comes from teachings that humans have written? This happens all of the time in Buddhism, another non-dual tradition - there is even a name for it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratyekabuddhayāna I have actually met one. They are real... and why wouldn't they be, given the nature of the Dao/Enlightenment? I Agree that a realized teacher can be very useful, but completely understanding the Dao isn't a concept that a teacher can pass on, only point to. It isn't an intellectual concept that a person "owns". A realized teacher can point it out anywhere, at any time. Any teacher that pushes the idea that they are somehow the gatekeeper of the Dao isn't fully realized and is greatly deluded.

This is fabulous. Do this as often as possible. Can you drive, walk, make food, in this way? If not, move toward that activity. Meditation is the perfect space for apprehending reality, since sitting in stillness is not different from what enlightened mind is. What happens when a thought DOES come up? Where does it come from? When there is no thought, is there a Cadcam? Yes, and the cause of our suffering is our attachment and aversion. How is your attachment and aversion? Are you regularly noticing where you are attached or averse to events, things, and people and dropping it? Is there suffering when the mind is still? Is there an afterlife? Excellent. Surrender is a fantastic tool.

Welcome to the board, Mr. Corndogs! Lurking is fine, but do please ask some questions - the questions are what generate the interesting answers!

Alright... necro'ing this thread after a busy week where participation hasn't been what's happening. That would make sense to me, though what "morally superhuman" might mean probably won't jibe with what most people would guess it does. Further conversation probably needed. I'm going to mix and match here and bring up the "Four Stages of Attainment" from the Buddhist Pali Canon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruits_of_the_noble_path#The_four_stages_of_attainment In this case, I think we are comparing the K&C of the HGA to "Stream Entry", or more commonly in all traditions, "awakening". This the first of the "attainments" and suggests that the "fetters" of: • Identity view (belief in a "self") • Doubt in Buddha (no doubt that the practices "work") • (Attachment to) ascetic or ritual rules ...drop away. The other fetters continue on, but are increasingly attenuated to some degree as these "fetters" continue to drop away. Sensual desire continues, but the character of it is eventually changed until the view of complete "no self" changes how these are understood and experienced. This is a great mystery to me. I have NO Christian background, belief system, or association. I guess someone could (would?) argue that it is because this is the deeper reality of things, but I think it is possibly more to do with the summoning and terminology (Holy Guardian Angel) I used. Had to look that word up. All of these visions have an aureola of sorts, most are like golden setting sun/candle tone that surrounds the whole area of the vision for 3 feet or so. The HGA had a blue/gray light. I was shocked a few months after having the first few visions to see the show "Evil" depict an angel visitation that also fits this description wonderfully. Can't seem to find any pictures to share from the show of one of those episodes online... Agree. In my case, I would say it would most correspond to these two (above).

“The truth” is a rare commodity. If you are convinced that it belongs to you, be prepared to find out that it doesn’t, eventually.

You aren’t going to be banned for having a contrary opinion, but you might need support it robustly. 🙂 Since you are new here, take some time to evaluate for yourself our cast of characters before you decide who knows what is true. Hint: Teachers with real insight tend to be kind. _/\_

Yes! I would add to this that "intent" is important... what it is you want to get out of it and who that is for, and what damage might be the fallout. I watched to movie over the weekend, and I am inclined to agree with Barford - it DOES illuminate much of what I have seen about magick, but even more the BASICS of it. In my case, I had already had few years of visions, (including things some might characterize as the "dead", or "demons" (not that I believe in them in that way) and then in summoning the HGA an encounter very much in the flavor of the movie, though not the same."My" HGA was a very different affair, but had the same amazing realism, etc. Later I had the appearance of other Christian characters (I am NOT a Christian) that were MUCH more like the movie - gold breastplates and armor, the size/scale, etc. I understand why Barford says he teared up seeing this scene - it gets it right. Honestly, this part seems impossible to me... a complete delusion. None of these things exists as a truly separate thing to command in my experience, and IF the HGA is commensurate with "stream entry" in Buddhism, anyone what saw it would KNOW that, or come to realize in a short time. My first thought about this was, if HGA conversation IS the same as "stream entry", why would you bother what what I would think of as a very worldly practice like trying to manipulate other beings or people? Ngondro is a clearing, and becoming familiar with the path. It digs up the stuff you have been avoiding dealing with.. BUT it actually has the whole path in it and could enlighten you itself. The famous Dudjom Rinpoche of the Nyingma tradition (the Buddhist tradition I worked in primarily) did it even AFTER his enlightenment, and until his death.

Masters only suffer in the realization that there is suffering.

Yes, just this. BE awareness. Don't worry where memory goes, what you need to remember will arise when needed. Just notice what arises. Don't feel you have to keep track. _/\_ Just this.

Yes! What arises is just that, has no deeper meaning or conceptual stratification. This brings to mind Bahiya of the Bark Cloth, possibly the first non-dual Buddhist document: It IS Zen! Absolutely! Zen is: What does that mean? Reality (as it NOW is), without your ideas and concepts about how it should be, IS reality. So, yes, there is just awareness of body, feelings, and mind and the coming and going of its states... but ALSO realization that "I" is NONE OF THESE. Nowhere in all of these does "self" hide. Do I "believe" it? Absolutely not. A belief is something we hold in the mind when we don't have the experience to PROVE it. I would entreat anyone doing this practice NOT to settle for beliefs... INSIST on actual experience! Theories, ideas, and interpretations are ultimately useless. The Buddha entreated us to try the teachings and use our experience to see the truth of his teachings. What we are looking for is not our cobbled together ideas but our EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE. _/\_

Body, or MIND. Look carefully. What are "you"? My experience is that "self" is a set of conceptual underpinnings We create continuity from moment to moment, feeding that conceptual structure. When my mind is still that entire process falls away. Have a look and tell me what happens. Yes. Wonderful. This is the path - only a step away from liberation. Learning to keep our attention on what is present in this moment, dropping our history, and just being. It is great that you are focusing you what you can experientially know, and dropping conjecture or storytelling. Yes! But how to translate this into gnosis? Use your meditation practice to bathe in this being-ness. Are you feeling dis-illusioned? This is a dis-illusion-ment business! If you truly can't find a "spirit" you ARE seeing the "emptiness" of things. Keep looking.