ralis

Four main points are unique to all belief systems and religions. No exceptions. 1. Membership is important to one's sense of identity, with the belief that one's religion is inherently good. 2. In terms of beliefs and that could include race, all other tribes that differ, are inferior. 3. In general tribal dynamics are the same. This would be defined as belief systems etc. that create group cohesiveness. 4. Rituals and charismatic leaders that produce trance in followers to maintain a certain order and group think. 5. Fear of disobedience and punishment for some higher purpose. Karma and sin. Just a brief outline before bedtime. I know who is going to chime in on this one. ralis

The latest research on primate psychology (chimps) and how it relates to humans evolution is very interesting. Will provide some links later. Anything by Wilhelm Reich is fascinating! I am surprised Vajraji hasn't chimed in. ralis

Primitive tribalism fits well into the latest research on primate psychology (chimps). Humans still are not that evolved from our primate ancestors. http://www.amazon.com/Mass-Psychology-Fasc...1317&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Forest-People-Colin-...1531&sr=8-1 ralis

Does D.O. mean demented origination? ralis

Buddhists always discuss the void, why can't it just stay there. ralis

Vajraji, So, you wish to dominate all with your superior view? Why is that? What deep desire in you is being projected on us lowly Taoists? How many "Hail Buddhas" does one need to recite to obtain entry into the upper tenets? Do the "Hail Buddhas" need to contain arcane words such as "dependent origination" that will save us all? There are a number of Tibetan Stupas around the country that have the golden ornate thrones that Lama's preach from and I am certain we can arrange a retreat so that all your faithful followers can first do 3 prostrations in front of your throne and then receive enlightenment. All we need are the proper Lama garments and all will be fine. ralis

Well put! ralis

I always thought human primates created religions for the sake of power. Since primates are fascinated with the higher cause, then many belief systems can be created to keep the system intact for centuries. ralis

Serene, Authoritarian systems only serve one purpose and that is to acquire power. Tibet has never been Shambhala, everything is fine and all are in bliss. Far from it! Tibet was a theocracy, patriarchy, and based on a feudalistic system. Psychological manipulation, trance induction and appealing to the higher cause are always used by authoritarians to keep the masses subjugated. It is and was no different in Tibet or even in India during the time of the Buddha. All this serves is to keep the system intact. I am beginning to see that westerners are really in a trance for the whole Buddhist trip. Women and men alike have all been victims of propaganda, abuse and myriad atrocities. Causing women to feel inferior (lack of merit etc.), as you have stated above, is extremely abusive. Here in Santa Fe we have a traditional Tibetan Stupa where many Lama's teach. Eventually it became a place of division and sectarianism. Just having four different lineages creates much division. When the Dalai Lama came to town it became clear to me what the whole Tibetan trip was about. The whole Tibetan authoritarian hierarchy was exposed, at least to me it was. The monks preach celibacy and are not! Especially with each other. The most important attribute is one of unbounded freedom. That you will not find from any authoritarian figure. Especially the Dalai Lama! ralis

I never reveal what my spiritual path is. You make judgments about me based on incomplete info. ralis

"The Art of War" is about creating strategies that one can apply to any endeavor. As far as your problem with gambling goes I suggest you work it out yourself. Or with your father. The fraud comment is way over the line and I would appreciate civility in future discussions. ralis

Poker is a no no and alcohol is not? Did the great god Buddha forbid it? Which sutta forbids poker? In the Dzogchen teachings there are no required behaviors and it is up to the individual to decide what is right for them. Dzogchen is about unbounded freedom. ralis

Vajraji, I submit the Buddha knows nothing as to how the cosmos works. You claim he understood Einstein's work. Your statements indicate you know nothing. Here is why. I asked for an explanation of general and special relativity and all I get was "dependent origination" as a lame argument. General relativity theory is concerned with the geometric property of spacetime. Spacetime is curved and this curvature affects planetary bodies in motion, time, free falling objects etc. Also this framework provides for the unification of special relativity and Newton's law of universal gravitation. If you need a deeper explanation, we can review Einstein's field equations. To obtain your arguments from the above is absurd. ralis

Thanks for clearing that up. ralis I am referring to all the writings after the Buddha passed on. ralis

Vajraji, Will you reiterate your examples of General and Special Relativity and how it relates to Buddhism? Thanks ralis

You are 150 years off and if you read the Greeks, you will see what I am referring to. ralis

Vajraji attempts to use Einstein's work on relativity to prove his theory. He claims the Buddha somehow understood Einstein and at the same time it appears the Buddha transcended Einstein. When I asked him what part of Einstein's work he was referring to (general or relative) he provided no answer. He only picks and chooses what suits him. If the Buddha transcended the laws of physics, why isn't levitation a common theme in Buddhism? What he fails to understand, is that Buddhist philosophy is heavily influenced by Greek philosophy. ralis

When your thoughts ended, your ego and arrogance expanded ad infinitum. If every connected process or as you put it "dependent arising of infinite finites" and there is nothing outside of these infinite finites, then it is impossible to cease consciousness and feeling of these infinite finites. Your connection to this infinite process can never be severed. Infinite finites sounds alot like the Greek Atomists to me. ralis

Prove the tales are not mythological! I never said you drink copious amounts. I was just talking about "crazy wisdom masters". ralis

Vajraji posits the philosophy of dependent arising without knowing what the implications are. Dependent arising is nothing more than a mechanistic and deterministic view of the universe i.e, Newtonian Mechanics. Are his arguments no different than the Greek Atomists? Is karma a mechanistic and deterministic view? Are emotions mechanistic? Are all the added philosophical discourses i.e, Pali suttas etc. influenced by the Greeks? Is Taoism a non mechanical view? Non mystical? ralis

Sometimes I think Vajraji attempts to emulate the behavior of certain masters he has read about. These masters are called "crazy wisdom masters". There are grand stories told about tantric masters who can consume copious amounts of alcohol, poison, toxic substances and are able to transform the effects into wisdom. Mythological tales? Is Vajraji attempting to transform incoherent arguments into wisdom? The best examples that I know of and I am certain many here are familiar with, are the problems that were created by Trungpa's successor Thomas Rich. His incoherent ramblings and ego inflation were the cause of much suffering in the Buddhist community. All in the name of "crazy wisdom". Trungpa died from alcohol addiction and Rich died from AIDS. There are a few that will believe in Vajraji and take his arguments to heart and then..........? ralis Great point!

Your second statement does not follow from the first! If there is not a universal essence to take refuge in, then there is no essence in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha to take refuge in. The term universe (everything that exists) must include the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. What ever happened to critical thinking? ralis

Is the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha any less of an unexplainable mysterious essence than some unexplainable essence of all things? Does not the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha fall into the all things category? Do you read what you write to see if it makes sense? ralis

Maca root, lecithin and L-Arginine. ralis

Vajraji has been quiet lately. LOL!! ralis