old3bob Posted 22 hours ago (edited) Obviously there is no particular manifest (in any form) Buddha that exists outside of the manifest or subtle universe, as for Buddha nature that is not bound by the laws of manifestation such does not apply. Thus or anyway for someone in the manifest or subtle universe that walks around saying there is no god or manifest being/universe is incongruently nuts if or while they also walk around profoundly proclaiming or implying there is (or was) a particular manifest Buddha. (outside the laws of manifestation) Edited 22 hours ago by old3bob 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigSkyDiamond Posted 22 hours ago (edited) is the view expressed above saying that if someone says the physical (manifest) universe is "not real" or is an illusion, then that also includes that Shakyamuni (or any of the masters) are also "not real" and are illusion? i am seeking to understand the gist of the opening post, which at first reading i like. Edited 22 hours ago by BigSkyDiamond 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stirling Posted 21 hours ago 2 hours ago, old3bob said: Obviously there is no particular manifest (in any form) Buddha that exists outside of the manifest or subtle universe, as for Buddha nature that is not bound by the laws of manifestation such does not apply. Absolutely. All appearances that seem to have their own intrinsic separateness are ultimately god/Buddha/nature of mind. Quote To recognize as the deity whatever forms appear is the crucial point of the development stage; Clinging to appearance as beautiful or ugly is liberated into its own nature. Free of clinging, mind as it appears is the body of Supreme Chenrezi. In the self-liberation of visual experiences, recite the six-syllable mantra. - Ocean of Attainments: The Creation Stage of the Glorious Guhyasamāja, King of All Tantrask, Khedrup Jé Gelek Palsang Quote “In this sense, all appearances are Chenrezi's body, all sounds are his mantra, and all thoughts are the bliss- void unity of compassion and voidness. When you realize this true voidness of phenomena, you will spontaneously feel an all-embracing, non-conceptual compassion for all beings who are immersed in samsara's ocean of suffering because they cling to the notion of an ego. “ - Dilgo Khyentse, Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones Quote Thus or anyway for someone in the manifest or subtle universe that walks around saying there is no god or manifest being/universe is incongruently nuts if or while they also walk around profoundly proclaiming or implying there is (or was) a particular manifest Buddha. (outside the laws of manifestation) The Buddha that matters is the one you can see RIGHT NOW. Anything else is a story - a belief the mind has adopted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted 20 hours ago (edited) So we agree on part of the post submitted, cool. I do not agree on your idea or the Buddhist idea often called, "nature of mind", with mind ultimately, intrinsically and only at best being like a super computer with super software... Btw, much of the Buddhist jargon starting from a couple thousand years ago is overly convoluted and complicated to me, granted though that some people love it and are experts with it. And in that case to each their own. Edited 20 hours ago by old3bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stirling Posted 20 hours ago 1 hour ago, old3bob said: So we agree on part of the post submitted, cool. I do not agree on your idea or the Buddhist idea often called, "nature of mind", with mind ultimately, intrinsically and only being like a super computer with super software...thus the best of both. "Nature of mind" is an allusion to it being what is ultimately underneath all thoughts, concepts, and states... not any kind of super computer. God/Buddha/nature of mind/buddha nature/Dao/emptiness/void, ad nauseum are all just terminology. I'd be happy with "Self" if you prefer it, but even that is hopelessly wide of the mark. I would say that NONE of these words are actually any kind of proper appellation for what is being alluded to. Quote “The awakened mind is turned upside down and does not accord even with the Buddha-wisdom.” - Hui Hai Hui Hai says this for this to mean that the "Self" or whatever you might want to call it makes ALL systems of religion or philosophy fall away when understood. No "system" is accurate, or was ever necessary for illumination. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted 20 hours ago (edited) well ok, but we don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water either, btw the first echo, or the first prana/light may not be the source but is dam close and connected. (thus discounting same with cosmic sounding generalization is kind of like smiting one's own face) Edited 20 hours ago by old3bob 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stirling Posted 19 hours ago 58 minutes ago, old3bob said: well ok, but we don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water either, btw the first echo, or the first prana/light may not be the source but is dam close and connected. (thus discounting same with cosmic sounding generalization is kind of like smiting one's own face) You always say that. Practices and systems have their place, yes. I always say THAT. Haha. - There are mystics and monastics. They have an uneasy alliance because their understanding of the "truth" is very different. The mystics have realization, then tell others about their lives and experiences, but many ask that what they say not be written down, knowing that if someone copies their life exactly it is unlikely that such a person will arrive at illumination. Monastics have no realization. They hear the teachings of a mystic and copy it down, codify and solidify it into a rigid set of practices and rules that might still be helpful, but can only point at the deeper reality. They protect this secret knowledge at all costs. Sometimes another mystic in that tradition appears, but often the teachings from that mystic (while utterly compatible from the perspective of any other mystic) are different and sometimes seemingly contradictory to the monastics. Those mystics are often outcasts in the systems they practiced in, though not always. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lairg Posted 17 hours ago The expression Learning by doing may be relevant. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Annnon Posted 17 hours ago (edited) why you saying buddha didn't exist? Edited 17 hours ago by Annnon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
forestofclarity Posted 14 hours ago 5 hours ago, old3bob said: I do not agree on your idea or the Buddhist idea often called, "nature of mind", with mind ultimately, intrinsically and only at best being like a super computer with super software... Yoga Vasistha Book Three, Chapter 5, trans. Swami Jyotirmayananda states: Quote Sri Rama asked: Oh Sage, what is the source of the mind? Whence did this mind, which is the worker of such great illusions, arise? If one were to know the source of the mind, he would know the source of all that exists. Sri Vasistha replied: Oh Child, during the dissolution of the universe, the imperishable Self alone exists. That Self is imperishable, immutable, self-effulgent, and the very embodiment of bliss. The followers of Sankhya call Him Purusha, while the Vedantins call Him Brahman. The nihilistic school of Buddhism describes Him as the Void. And in 3:10: Quote That Self is beyond all mental concepts. It is called Sat (Absolute Existence) from a symbolic point of view. In fact. It is neither light nor darkness, neither seen nor unseen, neither existence nor nonexistence. Which sounds like: Self Liberation Through Seeing with Naked Awareness, trans John Myrdhin Reynolds Quote As for this sparkling awareness, which is called "mind," Even though one says that it exists, it does not actually exist. (On the other hand) as a source, it is the origin of the diversity of all the bliss of Nirvana and all of the sorrow of Samsara. And as for it’s being something desirable; it is cherished alike in the Eleven Vehicles. With respect to its having a name, the various names that are applied to it are inconceivable (in their numbers). Some call it "the nature of the mind" or "mind itself." Some Tirthikas call it by the name Atman or "the Self." How can this be? Ramana Maharshi, Talk 445: Quote Mr. G. Duff: The Buddhists deny the world; the Hindu philosophy admits its existence, but says that it is unreal. Am I right? Ramana Maharshi.: The difference of view is according to the difference in the angles of vision. As the Swamis sometimes say, "True philosophers never agree, true sages never disagree." 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nungali Posted 9 hours ago As Nungali sometimes says , " I never knew true philosophers were supposed to agree in the first place , how else are we going to get the full range of the human perspectives on 'reality' ? " Only one of them can be right , eh ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted 1 hour ago 17 hours ago, stirling said: You always say that. Practices and systems have their place, yes. I always say THAT. Haha. There are mystics and monastics. They have an uneasy alliance because their understanding of the "truth" is very different. The mystics have realization, then tell others about their lives and experiences, but many ask that what they say not be written down, knowing that if someone copies their life exactly it is unlikely that such a person will arrive at illumination. Monastics have no realization. They hear the teachings of a mystic and copy it down, codify and solidify it into a rigid set of practices and rules that might still be helpful, but can only point at the deeper reality. They protect this secret knowledge at all costs. Sometimes another mystic in that tradition appears, but often the teachings from that mystic (while utterly compatible from the perspective of any other mystic) are different and sometimes seemingly contradictory to the monastics. Those mystics are often outcasts in the systems they practiced in, though not always. umm, I'd say that is a major generalization; lets not forget the mystical monastics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted 1 hour ago 16 hours ago, Annnon said: why you saying buddha didn't exist? What I meant was that a particular Buddha does not exist outside of the laws of manifestation, although "Buddha nature" does. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites