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## This is exactly what i proposed to 3Bob when i posted in the topic "What the heck am I" (see posts nos. 67 and 75). The underlined remark you made seems to suggest (i could well be mistaken) that you have not fully grasp the essence of that which you said was your favorite passage. I believe the author was attempting to allude to the fact that there is no need whatsoever to even bother with the charting of one's perceived 'progress', nor is there any integral need for any sort of self-pampering kind of attitude that may deceive/lull oneself into thinking that what one is doing is any sort of empowering thing. Loosen this dogma most Westerners hang tightly to, that of trying to better oneself, no matter what the cost. This sort of mentality is only a 'trip', and is no different from any other self-deluding 'trips'. The truth is that empowerment, and any other thought patterns that makes one want to achieve something (spiritually) worthwhile is subtle self-deception, one in which many either miss seeing, or refuse to acknowledge. (One reason Westerners have some degree of aversion to this way of being is because it often asks the practitioner to let go of being overly logical and acutely reasonable, which undoubtedly is almost like asking for the forsaking of one's liberty. Unless one can see beyond this mistaken perception, and realize that true liberty (as in 'transcended' liberty - giving up even the very notion of liberty) is actually accentuated and not lost by 'letting go' the ingrained patterns that persuades the thinker to demand that every spiritual 'revelation' needs to be able to withstand logical reasoning and scrutiny, otherwise it gets labelled 'bizarre' or, in less extreme cases, simply ignored, then this sort of hardened assumption will only serve to detract one from the actualization of the very Way itself. ) The workable psychological lessons/aspects of some spiritual traditions can only do so much to bring one back to some sort of sanity. While this may bring immense satisfaction to alot of Western seekers, often its the more esoteric practices that will push one over the threshold of self-limiting definitions and self-defeating boundaries, on deeper and much more profound levels than mere psychological work can, and only then can true, deep 'freedom' (of letting go the craving for freedom) truly begin to bloom. If one day you really sense that you can not become more than what you fundamentally already are, you would simply burst out into blissful laughter!

In what way did you arrive at the 'beating around the bush and water spilling' conclusion Bob? You are saying Mankind is by nature free. Based on false assumptions we fool ourselves into thinking we are not. Hence we trap ourselves, right? My point is that Mankind is neither free nor bound. Such concepts as freedom and joy are merely relative principles of being we all tend to use to 'keep the fire of hope' alive. We also tend to impose imaginary boundaries and safety zones around us as a result of our limited perception of what it means to be threatened with the potential withdrawal of this illusory freedom. Instead of living without concern for these self-limiting concepts, we ironically magnify them by either saying that freedom and joy are such worthy, exalted states, and hence we ought to strive to attain these elusive fruits thru concerted practice, renunciation etc, or by adopting the extreme opposite view, that is, to abandon all hope of ever finding it, hence becoming desperately cynical, distrusting and hopelessly bitter in the process. If we are courageous enough to discard these yardsticks (security blankets mostly) by which we measure 'spiritual' progress, what are we left with? What sort of *I* would manifest as a result of this letting go? Btw, if there is really such a thing as achievable freedom, it comes at the expense of giving up things, not the hoarding of more truths, philosophies, spiritual insights, the latest 'spiritual' gizmos and empowerments, guru blessings, shakti blessings and all the nonsense attached to this 'game' we play as some kind of distraction or avoidance of actually living the stateless Way that the Taoist sages points to, almost like the trees and the stars, the animals on land, sea and sky... would you say these are free too? I bet the bears and the wolves in the forests and the eagles in the sky are not much concerned with developing super siddhis eh? The OP asks the question, "What am I"? My answer is we are nothing significant, like what Mikaelz implied. We create things/thoughts out of nothing, paint an illusion we are so intelligent/brave/strong in the process, just so we can then spend our lives taking it apart, dismantling these self-imposed, limiting structures, break the fetters that bind, only to ultimately arrive back at nothing. Is this what freedom, joy and spiritual attainment means? We have been doing this ever since time was found. When we will ever learn?

Good thing dogs don't carry guns...

Hi Bob, Any room there to perhaps consider that joy and freedom is only relative to one's own measure of despair and entanglement? We have already found out that the hand of Nature is impersonal, and in all likelihood It bestows neither help nor harm. Its the romantic folly of the nature of Man to dream of exalted states of emancipation from whatever it is It thinks It is corralled in, attempting in vain to lift one's own legs out of the mud, when, funnily enough, there is no mud there to begin with. Chop wood, carry water. Some are more concerned with the quantity and quality of the forest, acquiring the latest wood-cutting equipment, and debating the purity of the water source. Much like one who attempts to shoot the moon down with a bow and arrows... never gets the mark, but effortful practice nonetheless. Its as if the modes of 'being' becomes the main, albeit mistaken focus, instead of simply resting in the beingness of being. Upon exhausting himself after much hard work, he may then begin to consider truly letting go and surrendering to the impartial flow of Nature. Usually this realization comes only after 40 to 50 years of fruitless attempts. By that time, much of the resistance would have worn off, but the way of Nature would have also ensured that one's zeal would also be equally diminished. Of what use is realization then? Better to understand now - do not strive too hard for what is ultimately elusive, let go, rest. Abide in the resting. All things unfold with or without Man's vain-glorious attempts at manipulating the outcomes of things. Of course, Nature would much prefer if Man would cease interfering... (do you still think unenlightened Man is still as wonderfully endowed as we all want to believe we are? I sometimes truly want to believe that humanity is fundamentally good, but that would be the ultimate delusion. So is the opposite assumption, btw.) Happy weekend folks!

laughing at the sky thunderbolt scepter in hand i rode the west winds...

"Rover is big Teddy is small Betty is short Jimmy is tall..." Everyone wants to live, to be loved, and to accept graciously the kindness of others... These tunes (a 'sharing' theme)... please listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ODfHDboTj4&feature=related this one: and this is a bonus, from my heart, to all of you here (and firstly, to myself most of all) : ...all we are is dust in the wind, so lets not take things, especially our sense of self-importance, too seriously. peace to all. x

Buddhism and Science. (a number of interesting clips here from recognised PhDs and Professors). University of Michigan lecture on Buddhism and Science, Autumn 08 (53 mins): Alan Wallace PhD on Science, Buddhism, Skepticism and Meditation - part 1 (10 mins): part 2 (8 mins): The Conscious Universe: Where Buddhism and Physics Converge (11 mins): Mindfulness in Clinical Psychology by Mark Williams (31 mins): http://www.voicesfromoxford.com/B-S-Williams.html Enjoy! Keep what you think is relevant, ponder over some of the other points, and discard what you think is out of context.

Ever heard of Couchsurfing? I think this is the ideal community that your buddy ought to hook up with. http://www.couchsurfing.org/about.html All the best.

There is perhaps a theory that might explain this 'witnessing' experience whenever you 'practice'. To a large extent i think all who seeks to deeply and sincerely transcend mundanity thru authentic spiritual practices, in varying degrees and at varying stages, witness and experience similar profoundness of being, whereby one's awareness (not by purposeful will) becomes so compassionately fused with the universal compassionate heart of other spiritual beings, humans as well as Beings in various other realms, that whatever emotions arise, be it sorrow or joy, become so so much more intense. Its as if one inadvertently taps into some kind of universal, cosmic pulse... It matters not if one is a sage or simply an average run-of-the-mill dickess. Once we open up to spiritual transformation by a deep, sincere willingness to let go of ignorances and mental afflictions, at some point during the flow of letting go, there will arise a lot of feelings that resemble sorrowful repentance (some know it by calling it something else, but fundamentally it points to the same experience). They are not even our own most of the time, because at that level of connection, the small self literally drops away. 'Me' and 'mine' no longer merits any significant consideration during this phase of unfolding. Its almost like feeling for the 'loss' of other beings who see themselves somehow trapped in their own existential quagmire. Some may find the above phase rather alarming at first, but over time, as the practice takes on more depth, one can then connect with another aspect of existence, that of beings who truly longs for emancipation from ignorance, that indeed, at the heart of all life, there is a great wish for non-suffering, freedom, happiness, joy and liberation from oppressiveness. So on the one hand we can feel for the pain of ignorance, but we can also tap into the joys of liberation, and that can lead to the understanding that whatever others ultimately want is exactly the same as what we want for ourselves. Seeing this way, practicing compassion, over time, becomes quite easy. So i would say what you are feeling is not a bad thing at all. And thanks for sharing this btw. (as a disclaimer, just wanna say this is only my own theory, and does not reflect what Buddhism teaches, although there are practices within certain Mahayanic traditions that can help structure such phases, like the Tonglen practice for example. not sure about other systems and practices whether they have anything that is similar to Tonglen).

way too many beans bet neighbors are keeping score counting the days when...

Anyone interested in broader perspectives on the concept of Enlightenment? Some clips to ponder over: Ken Wilber on Seeking Enlightenment: Menoftheinfinite - Enlightenment: What is Enlightenment? (by Soulfetcher) : (Talk about subjectivity....) There are many more if one bothers to search.

What is the true worth of a bar of soft steel? A bar of soft steel costs 10 dollars. Made into nails, its potential worth multiplies, maybe then it could be worth a hundred dollars (assuming). Made into surgical instruments, it could be worth two hundred dollars. Made into balance springs for distinctive clocks and watches, its value increases even more. Again, we ought to ask, "What is the true value of soft steel?" Enlightenment - what is its measure? How useful is it? It could be useless, discarded even when found. Some choose to hone it like a blacksmith who turns cheap metal into precious swords and shields that can protect. Enlightenment - some use it as a precious sword to cut through attachments and delusions, self-cherishing and cravings for gratifications without end. Some use it to shield against the onslaught of discursive thoughts and habitual behavioral patterns that binds one to neurotic repetitiveness. Some see it as the beginning of a lifetime of service to humanity. Some discover that upon 'waking up', life is just the way it is... the nature and luminosity of one continuum, yet this continuum does not in any way diminish the reflected luminosity, just as the moon can reflect in a million pools and puddles, in clean water as well as stagnant cesspits, yet its luminous nature can never be tarnished. Some choose to ignore it, and hence it becomes less valuable than an empty milk carton. As some sort of final analysis, it could be said Enlightenment is nothing, worthless... its what one does with it that gives it meaning.

Hello Astral.. Dont accept what i say to be the definitive definition of Enlightenment. This understanding is purely derived from the unique life-pattern that unfolded for me (and me alone). Find your own understanding. You say in your profile you like the sun, and plants and kittens... and you dislike society. Well, that's your current wisdom. Where you are at. Are you contented? If you are, then that's ok. Nothing more can be said. Love is what you believe in. I believe in love too. The kind that does not ascribe preferences is the kind that i am most interested in. what about your kind of love? Do you love some more and others less? Where did this discrimination arise from? Well, i am not looking for answers here... its just an example of how we can investigate our notions about things, and derive a greater understanding of the futility of grasping at things that inherently do not have lasting fascinations, while at the same time avoiding things that we feel will impinge on our comfort zone. Not saying having a comfort zone is wrong. Of course we all want comfort. Comfort is good. The crux is how well we can cope when this apparent safety zone is lost, or threatened, is what matters more. All the best!

Haha funny guy you are MH! The above is attainable by any person. The Buddhist path have a pretty complete system put in place that can train one to find, stabilize, and remain in this state of equanimity. It may not be the only one, but its the one i am most familiar with. Most times it is the pure resting in awareness of the most ordinary events that create the stimulus to remain in this state of being. Read the accounts of most of the Zen/Taoist sages, and see if what has been ascribed makes sense. Problem is most of us assign needs to be satisfied in terms of priorities. Question is how often do we get our priorities right? Problem is even after years of getting it wrong most times, we are still hooked on finding that elusive something that's gonna make our lives more 'right'. Therein lies the struggle... the exact struggle that removes one from poise and sets the pendulum of dualistic notions swinging. All the very best!

Enlightenment is not a super-state of being. It is a state that is beyond the common definition of what is ordinary. For want of a word, call it supra-ordinariness. No more filters. Only then can one see the mountains and rivers for exactly what they are, without even having the need to label them. What remains is simply the unfolding of awareness upon awareness upon awareness ad infinitum. Enlightenment is a process that is intimately and inseparably linked to one's degree of mindfulness to this unfolding process, and how pervasive in how many levels of one's life this mindfulness can penetrate and remain there. If one day you wake up and can remain undistracted by every thing that happens around you, meaning you can view things without attaching any preferential attitudes, judgement, labels, commentaries, criticisms, biases... you see beyond the dualistic notions of all that arises in your field of awareness... when you are awake or when you are asleep, the equanimous poise is maintained without any grasping and/or aversion to what life throws in your direction... This is as close to remaining in an enlightened state of being as i can describe.

Greetings MH! Buddhist emptiness is not the same as saying that all manifestations are not lasting enough to ascribe any importance and vitality to them, and therefore they ought to be discarded since they are all ultimately non-lasting and impermanent. I see this as how you perceive the doctrinal view of Emptiness and Interdependent Origination. Just wanna say its an erroneous interpretation of the principle mentioned. (For the benefit of those who read your comments and may get the idea that indeed Buddhism is really as lacking as you say). That's all i wanted to comment on. peace and love to you too!

Greetings yet again Beoman I see you have many questions added on to the 'tiny' one you started off with haha! That, imo, is highly commendable. Doubt, and doubt again, as the Buddha had implored to all, until you yourself come to experiential and conclusive insights to all your own inquiries. These insights are relevant only to your own unfolding wisdom. It really does not matter so much to find the right answers... sometimes asking the right questions far outweigh the vitality of answers, which in most cases simply mean one has reached a dead-end. Do not get too keen on dead-ends, as my teacher used to tell me years ago. I am sure my learned friend Xabir will eventually address some of the questions you have expressed here. I assure you they are all very valid questions too. Some you will get a satisfactory understanding. Those (answers) that do give you some satisfaction, i would say caste them aside. Those that do not satiate your 'thirst' are the ones you ought to be more keen on. You might be disappointed to learn that i have no answers to offer you, and moreover, even if i have, they would only be valid in regards to my own unfolding wisdom - therefore i would prefer to simply invite you to continue investigating your doubts, go to the very end if you can. Keep looking, dig deeper, and find the never-ending answer to the question, "Who am I?"... For some people, this is a life-time's worth of study, while for other more fortunate souls, realization comes pretty quickly. But that should not be the focus. On the contrary, one's main concern ought to be the sole willingness to look at the question with burning earnestness and absolute honesty in the finding out. That's all i can offer you, i'm afraid. (As for the name i picked, well, its very simple: 'Cow', for me, is a symbol of peaceful abiding. 'Tao' is the Way of becoming. Together, they are a play on the word 'Kowtow', which could be taken to mean 'respect another with humility', to acknowledge another's abilities, and/or to always try to regard others as more knowledgeable and wiser than myself, and to remind myself to keep that in mind as often as possible. Thanks for asking, btw.. If it means anything, the name given me at birth is Ananda, which is not anything so special. Its a Sanskrit name suggested by my grandfather (and which my parents liked too, i guess) who is Sri Lankan, and speaks that language. Its quite a common name in that country and some other parts of South-east Asia. ) Much blessings! Keep on with the great questions!! Someday, it will all become clear... even when its not, it will. Ah ha!

Yes SM, RW has issues with supporters, i guess. Get over it, as i have. You should have read what he suggested VajraH and myself do! (too rude to restate here!) But i got his point nonetheless. Whereas i do not think you have. He is not out to prove anything, least of all that he is right. Neither did he at any point say you guys are 'bad' or 'guilty'. That's only your perception. And quite a narrow one too, but then, that's understandable as well, if looked at from the angle that you are refusing to jump into RW's lake and feel what he is feeling, hence the 'cheap' sort of response you have just made above. Nothing personal, SM, just offering an opinion from an interested observer, that's all. I do get the same vibe about you that RW has attempted to convey via his very sound recent commentary. It seems you find that hard to accept and take on board. That's understandable, given the fact that you have some sort of image to uphold. Yet it is not difficult to sometimes ask yourself why others would see you not the way you wish them to, despite all verifications that you are such a nice, wonderful, warm and caring individual, which you are, needless to say, but in ways that they wish to. That way it makes it easier to remain equanimous in the face of apparent 'criticism', and less prone to becoming defensive. Anyway, i have not seen RW say anything that even constitute any sort of 'attack', yet the defense mechanism have already kicked in, as perceptible, again, from what you have wrote in response to his last post. It might be good to self-inquire why this is. The answer is not nearly as important as the mere effort and willingness to ask yourself the question.. Anyway, i have been rude to have interfered here, so i will take leave. Apologies if this has offended you and all that you represent. Wishing you and KAP the very best, as always.

Excellent. Thanks!

(hey Artform... may the Haiku gods grant you their blessings of good health and vitality so you can long continue inspiring the Haiku bums!) for a moment's peace eyes fell upon tip of nose where a Mayfly lands...

Greetings Beoman.. You might find this commentary http://www.cttbusa.org/shurangama2/shurangama2.asp (same commentator, different format) slightly more useful? Its easier to read than the one you had linked (just my personal view, sorry). This link presents a very clear audio commentary by Zoketsu Norman Fischer : http://www.everydayzen.org/index.php?Itemid=27&option=com_teaching&topic=Mahayana+Sutras&sort=title&studyguide=true&task=viewTeaching&id=audio-335-200 Feel free after to bring forth any points you think could be worth discussing - im sure there are a few guys around here who would have quite good insight into this particular teaching. Best wishes. @ L7S - _/\_

Maybe humans just aren't happy and contented with simply being humans any more.... Representations of the unseen, the ineffable, and the indescribable have taken on new meanings of late. Not saying its a bad thing, but to be caught in the duality of seeing the representations as having a shadow quality (good serpent/bad serpent) could lead to losing one's presence, and that is definitely not 'in the flow' of things. For example, instead of enjoying a nice cup of tea, while there is tea in the cup, one longs for coffee instead, or perhaps, even more silly, donuts to go with the coffee... mmm, maybe choc muffins would be nice, too... and there, the mindfulness of tea-drinking goes out the window. Before we realize what's going on, the serpent of Shaitan slithers into our thoughts. Now, how did one get from sipping tea to thoughts about snakes, lizards and dragons!?!! Wandering away, the mind wonders... and this is how we end up mindlessly compounding layers of distraction upon distraction. Come back to the Present moment... joyful meowment!

Thanks for that Watts quote. Its exactly the way i try to live nowadays. Things creep in to our minds all the time, dear friend. That is not the issue i think. Perhaps what upsets us is when we knowingly or otherwise allow them to remain, and there they fester like neglected wounds, either through ignorance, which is forgivable, or plain stubbornness, which is less forgivable, but workable all the same. I do not think Buddhism stinks as much as our own lack of will to cease clinging to old habits and attitudes, like the way we hate to throw out old T-shirts and old jeans. Hopefully someday we will see that the hopelessness we seem to have are not contributed so much by things outside of us, or even the choices we have made, but rather in the way we think we have no control in steering ourselves in new directions by creating radical 'new' sets of causes in this present moment. I am not even sure why i wrote these things. Maybe its just what i had picked up after reading parts of your blog. Dont mean it to look as if i am attempting to offer any significant insights to you or anything remotely resembling that; if there is such a thing as free advice, i'd sooner give it to myself quickly. Wishing you much serenity, and if you should read this, then.... welcome back!

Oh ok. I thought it was.

Teachers... if one finds the right one, its a blessing. The good Teachers embody one's higher spiritual aspirations. When they induct its like you are doing it to yourself. Often when one gets a glimpse of one's true nature, the Teacher will say, "Now let it go...". By that he/she is also implying to let the 'teacher' go as well. They take no credit. To them its like just another day at the office... That is their role, to let you get a glimpse of what it is to be at rest - complete, profound and simple resting, without any need for contrivance nor verbal articulations. Of course for every good Teacher, there are dozens of businesspeople disguised as such. The only energy they radiate is the energy of greed. Some Teachers teach without you knowing it. Your realizations could be from one of these who work for you behind the scenes, and in different forms. Its wise to acknowledge this, for someday, who knows, you too will become a good Teacher. Then you will understand the price good Teachers pay to remain at the highest level of integrity and goodness. You will also understand why you would want to impart your profound insights to others. Not because others are lame, and need you, but simply because good teaching, and teaching goodness, becomes you.