chegg

(side note for Apech...others please ignore) Hey Apech, I just glanced at your blog, noticed you we studying ancient egyptian religion (excellent !). Hope this helps.... According to ancient Egyptian religion, there are nine levels of energy, some crass, some subtle that seem to be in each human body. Control of some of them are required for attaining eternal life.They are powers that built our bodies, some physical, some energy, some spirit, these are the: Physical body; Ren, the energy of a pure life; Khat, the energy of life in the animal body; Ka, the subtle energy of life to project itself from the animal or human body; Ab, subtle energy of the heart; Ba, the energy of the heart turned to spirit; Sekem, the repository of energy found in physical, mental, psychic; Sahu, the energy of the sekem intertwined with the more radiant energy of the spiritual; Khu, the transcendent, radiant energy of the spirit with everlasting life. source: http://tinyurl.com/knkkhhf

Re: winning millions, The message I got back from the other side was...... "You will die screaming" Yikes !

Here is a possible list of books that he acquired some of the teachings from:- http://sustainedreaction.yuku.com/topic/6006/Index-To-Castaneda-Sources?page=1 The gist of the information I get from that site, is that he borrowed and/or made up most of the teachings in his books rather than portraying actual events that happened in his life. From my own experience, his teachings have elements of truisms (I use the word 'truisms' lightly) in them and the books are entertaining works of fiction. The whole teachings, however, are centred around the lower astral. eg, finding your hands in dreams and the inorganic beings mentioned in dreaming are nothing more than malevolent entities (demons). Remember, just by reading the books is more than enough to alter your way of thinking and thus, waste your time and even alter your circumstances. Many occult books warn you of repercussions just by the mere act of reading them (especially those that deal with evocation of demons). I personally would not read his books again. Unless your a thrill seeker, I dont recommend you go there either. "No one gets to the father unless its through me" - JC

One of my favourite quotes from the good old days....I dont think it was Buddha's but I'll give him the credit anyway...always makes me giggle. "Before enlightenment....chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment....chop wood, carry water." lol. Makes you feel kinda short-changed.

Flolfolil wrote: a couple people here seem to think they are, but also seem far less "advanced" than people who keep their mouths shut According to the Anthroposophy guy (Steiner), going on the path to enlightenment and the various steps along the way can (and usually do) occur out-of-order. Quite often, via some external trigger, people can get enlightened first and then seek the path afterwards. This may be why some people seem far less "advanced". Enlightenement does not always make you an instant guru nor would it gaurantee your salvation after death (but I'm just speculating here).

I just remembered a quote from the Dali-Lama I heard on TV a few years ago... "People have misunderstood Buddhism. Buddhism is not a religion. Buddhism is a study of the mind" There was more in his talk, but my mind cant remember it.

Quotes and more quotes....... "If man has an apartment stacked with newspapers, we call him crazy. If a woman has a house full of cats, we call her nuts. But when people pathologically hoard so much cash that they impoverish the nation, we stick'em on the front of a magazine and pretend they are role models" - B. Lester 'Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction." "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." (Timothy 6:9 6:10 6:11) "Mammon is a term, derived from the Christian Bible, used to describe material wealth or greed, most often personified as a deity, and sometimes included in the seven princes of Hell." (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammon) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. " (Matthew 6:19-21,24) "Money is not something that is morally neutral, a resource to be used in good or bad ways depending solely upon our attitude toward it. Mammon is a power that seeks to dominate us." "Behind money are invisible spiritual powers, powers that are seductive and deceptive, powers that demand an all-embracing devotion." "… behind money are very real spiritual forces that energize it and give it a life of its own. Hence, money is an active agent; it is a law unto itself; and it is capable of inspiriting devotion." "For Christ money is an idolatry we must be converted from in order to be converted to him." "That is why so much of Jesus’ teaching regarding wealth is evangelistic in character. He calls people to turn away from the mammon god in order to worth the one true God." "The call of God is upon us to use money within the confines of a properly disciplined spiritual life and to manage money for the good of all humanity and for the glory of God. And when this is done we are drawn deeper into the divine Center. We stand amazed that God would use our meager efforts to do his work upon the earth. . . Money is a blessing when it is used within the context of the life and power of God." (source: www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/money-good-or-bad/ [2]) Materialism in the outer world has its counterpart in nervous conditions and to the extent to which striving after material things prevails, to that extent will human beings ruin their nerves still further. Baron Rothschild who has just died in Vienna, was a typical example or this. He left 20 millions for the endowment of an institute for those suffering from nervous diseases. A sick man himself, he accumulated this sum in the course of his life. He entered this life with ruined nerves and passed out of it in the same condition. The chasing and hurrying and thinking merely of material things is connected, irrevocably, with ruination and destruction of the nervous system. The 20 millions were to be devoted to the care of neurasthenics — the sign of the ruination of the nervous system. The occultist knows of this deep relationship between the Spiritual and outer physical life, but people in general and, above all, modern doctors, have no such knowledge. Nevertheless we know that, in time, the truth will come to light. If we do not want this materialistic mentality to ruin the physical constitution too, then we must begin again to lay hold of the spiritual life. Who betrayed the Christ? He who had the 30 pieces of silver, he who is the representative of material possessions. At the beginning of the Christian era, the Divine Spirit descended. The Christ came to heal this vale of Earth and those who do not think that they themselves are called upon to assist in bringing a different age to birth, violate their deepest responsibility. For 2000 years man had to be educated. Judas of Kariot was destined to bring the sacrifice, to deliver up the Christ to the material forces of existence, Because humanity followed the 30 pieces of silver, Christ vanished — passed away to the astral plane. The task of Christianity through 2000 years is pictured in the betrayal by Judas. But a different task stands before Christianity to-day. We have only to place ourselves again at the portals through which resound the words spoken at that time to the Apostles. (source: http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/OnJohn_index.html)

I've hung around rich and poor people too and it does feel a bit wierd ...kind of 'touchy' like you said Cat. The movie "Richie Rich" is on TV as I write this (coincidently:-). That kid has some serious karmic problems.....like being killed for his wealth ! I figure that the only way around the problem of hiding a recently won fortune is to spend it as soon as you get it. That way, when your mother-in-law says, "where's my share of the 20 million you stingy, low-life, good-for-nothing son-in-law ?" Your reply is...."Sorry luv, I have just spent the lot". That would be a good karmic show-stopper.

Thanks Marblehead. I agree with you. Going public with stuff like happiness & lots of money would cause envy. Just the mere thoughts of those other envious people are very real (as we all know) and would cause all sorts of psychological distractions. How would you keep a $20 million lottery win a secret ? You would need to spend it at some time (that is the whole point). In a family situation it would be difficult if not impossible. Just imagine what people would say if you started spending and bought stuff which is different from your ordinary purchases, "Hey Marblehead, where did you get that ferrari, those alligator skinned boots and and those 20 gold chains hanging around your neck ?" ;-)

Envy perhaps? Marblehead, I dont understand the context of your question, care to elaborate ?

It turns out that I did not win the lottery But I have a home with beautiful children, a garden, and the perfect wife. ”A home with children at play, a good garden, and a good woman, are worth more than all the theories of the spiritualist schools of the world put together." - Samael Aun Weor

Thankyou for all the posts. The reason I brought all this up is because I bought a Lottery ticket yesterday and I wasnt sure if I wanted to win the 20 Million first division prize. I might turn into some wierd a##hole. Brian mentioned the love of money is the problem. I agree. The love of any worldy possessions are a problem I guess. Jetsun brought up the good point about awareness and consciousness around it. If you are aware of the consequenses of what you are doing, then you could avoid the pitfalls. On the other side of this coin, I've been given awareness of the consequences of my actions many many times but couldnt for the life of me, avoid making adverse decisions - perhaps my spirit was trying to teach me something ? Pre-destiny ? The idea of "flow" is the best. If you let divine will dictate your actions then you cant go wrong. But I think I've found the problem, divine will does not want me to have crap-loads of cash for free but it cant stop me from acquiring it. And if I acquire it, there may be even bigger problems around the corner. Its like if divine will says "dont punch that guy in the head it is not good for you". But you punch him in the head anyway and it feels good. But later, he brings his mates around and you get seven punches to your head. So you need awarenss of the consequenses of your actions. Obtaining exhorbitant amounts of money by willing it and going against the flow might get you many punches in the head. And finally cat, I dont know about this. Is the karma inherent in the substance of money being at one's disposal,(because of the power of mammon) or is the karma inherent in an attitude that comes with knowledge of that substance? Just by having the money there one is vulnerable to the prey of mannon. Perhaps one is not able to have money because it binds one to the material. Surely the key is in doing good with resources and not being covetous over them? If you walk down the street in the ghettos of mexico with 10 mill of cash, gold and jewellery hanging off you and say to yourself "i remain detatched, I remain detatched, I will use this for good, I will use this for good". Wont help your survival expectancy. This is an extreme example. I'd say just by having money leaves you subject to uncontrollable forces. In our cases, it would be more like distant relatives who hav'nt spoken to us for twenty years, contacting us and asking for a slice of the pie, close relatives would hassle and cajole you always asking for some money, kids stabbing their parents to death for the inheritance, getting robbed, mugged and annoyed with others' greedy schemes....... all trying to take your instantly found fortune. ITS WAR !!!! Now I realise why rich people in most cases, only hang around other rich people.......no karma. AND Oh.. a demi god. Need to know more about what a demi god can or cant do. If my kettle could kill me, well, I need to make it quite clear to said kettle that there is no benefit to be had in doing so.h.. a demi god. Need to know more about what a demi god can or cant do. If my kettle could kill me, well, I need to make it quite clear to said kettle that there is no benefit to be had in doing so. You can charge any object with spiritual force (by your intent), so yes, the kettle and the saucpan can become your enemy. Money can possess you and lead you to death in the same way if you're not carefull. Oh dear, its just too complicated TO HAVE CRAP-LOADS OF MONEY !!!!

Hello cat, thanks for the replies. Now more questions ! My questions: If you're on a spiritual path and suddenly acquire multi-millions in cash, what effect would it have on your spiritual developement ? Freedom to act with generosity to make a bigger difference for others and freedom to live with creativity unhampered by material concerns. Are you referring to detatchment ? Giving money away to make a difference for others is good. Now you have only 2 million left in your bank account after giving 8 miilion away. I'm just guessing here by saying the good karma will likely keep you in the cycle of birth/death. But if you got the money for nothing and then gave most of it away for nothing maybe it is less karmic? Is there a threshold-of-doom for the amount of cash that one can possess? No. I've got a freind who is very scared of having surplus amounts of money. I havnt asked him why yet, but even small amounts he doesnt like. What if you suddenly have that 2 mill. sitting in the bank. You reckon you could clear your mind / remain detatched enough ? I'd probably be head-spinning thinking about the possibilities of what to do next. How accurate is the quote below ? Invisible spiritual powers are behind everything. God of the Kettle shouldnt be dominating the kitchen... but the kettle is important to quality of life, though a saucepan on the stove will do if need be. The quote refers to money being an active agent and it sounds like humanity has given it *extreme power* by creating a type of elemental. Money could be a demi-god. In that case, the kettle may kill you in the kitchen. I still need to ponder over this a bit more. Hello chegg, thankyou for bringing the topic up for discussion. xxx

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Wow, this is a nice forum topic. Lots of explanations about what Tao is/isnt. I've been studying shamanism, gnosticism, theosophy, theology, esoteric christian mysticism, buddhism, witchcraft and a few others. Finding answers seems to be rather a matter of "will" and "direct experience" rather than trying to understand lots of written material. The teachings seem to be secondary. You either want to "do it" or you dont so-to-speak. So forums are good for corroborating experiences or purely for entertainment purposes :-).

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