why am i scared of cockroaches and lizards?
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The presence of certain pyschic abilities though isn't necessary for enlightenment, is also extremely important. It is not just a sweetener along a practitioner spiritual quest. However more often than not, due to our egoic patterns, such abilities will disturb our blissfulness nature. But with the strength of wisdom, it can help in breaking certain karmic propensities that latent deep in us and speed up our spiritual progress tremendously.Originally posted by longchen:No.. she's not.
I dunno whether her ability to recieve such information is a neccesary for consideration as enlightenment. But the very fact that there are still much that is not fully understood (to me)... is humbling. ... and therefore i should respond as such.
In any case, perhaps such abilities may not be fully neccesary for achieving simple peace.
just my opinion
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Yup she is indeed quite accurateOriginally posted by longchen:Dear Cenarious,
my understanding is that there is many stages on a spiritual path. Even before reaching the final stage... a practitioner's states of consciousness is distinctively different from the non-practitioners. My awareness does have a certain vividness... but it is not totally purified.
Talking about stages...the first teacher who first taught me how to interpret dream...and set me on a serious and rather tough path, she (to me) is omniscient with the abilty to know things. For example...she has percieved into the very distant past when humans where still celestial type light beings. She saw how these pre-indivduated 'beings' becomes our current human type... (so much for adam and eve...ha...)
Well, I am certainly not ominiscent... and will not proclaim myself as enlightened.
I posted this before... how true is this website?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
My master too had 'perceived into the very distant past' and seen the 'celestial type light beings' and taught that all these can be verified through one's practise.
[b]I believe it could be possible (just a guess) to manipulate the different dimensions and access the past or the future in consciousness, just as certain clairvoyants and psychics may achieve such feats. My Shi Fu actually once looked into a building and all the visions and images of the entire building's past, who build it, when was it built etc spontaneously manifested to him. He asked those around him to look and it will reveal, but even Missionary Chen could not understand him at that time. In another instance, in one of his dharma talks, he said that 'there is something very strange and amazing' - that we can all access the past in a few hundred years time (advanced technology?) and everything that is said in this talk will be seen (not by audio and video but literally like "accessing the past")
Interested people can see: Nu Wah
The fifth post, on 'The Earth People: Genesis in Buddhism'
Regarding this, although similar texts can be found in the Buddhist canon, it is not commonly mentioned until my master began to promote this idea as he felt that it should be better known. Some people in the past criticise my master for making unfounded claims, until Master Hui Lu or someone else? Who was known to have read the Tripitaka/all the sutras 3 times over confirmed that this is indeed taught by the Buddha.
The dharma centers of my buddhist organisation has even started publishing English books on that (for free distribution)
with a slightly edited/clearer translation.
Anyway it just proves that everything that Buddha said can be verified through one's cultivation and practise... and interestingly what the Buddha taught about cosmology, etc, are completely in sync with the understanding of modern science. -
You have to practise compassion... such qualities are also very important in Buddhist practise..Originally posted by missqi:Whenever I see ants, my instant reaction is to kill them with my bare hands.
Even if I have to bleed to kill them, I will.
From childhood.
I can't stop.
I enjoy killing them.
How to stop? http://dbc.dharmakara.net/trt6-972.html
...For this we need to focus our mind on a being -- a person or an animal -- undergoing agonizing suffering. We need to direct our attention to such a being.
Say we relate this point to animals. If you know of cattle or sheep being taken to the abattoirs, you can imagine how the animals feel going to a place where they will definitely be killed. Then you can imagine how the animals feel when they get there and see their fellows being killed: the terror is clear on their faces. Image such a situation and contemplate it.
It is quite possible that you might think, 'I really wonder whether the animals themselves know about it and care about it!' Thinking this you will begin to have less concern for and empathy with them. If that happens, imagine you are a sheep or cow at the abattoirs. Think, 'If I were a sheep or a cow about to be killed in a cruel and painful way, how would I feel? Would I be indifferent? Would I feel no pain?' Put yourself in the situation of the animal about to be killed. Imagine what great pain you would have when the knife falls on your neck, or they tear open your chest and take your heart out. Feel what great pain you would experience. Then, when you're half conscious, feel your skin being ripped off and your limbs being chopped into pieces. Would you ever be able to stand such pain?
If you visualize such an experience as if you were undergoing it, there is no difference between the pain you undergo and the pain the animal undergoes. The only difference is that as a human you might be able to articulate the experience whereas the sheep cannot.
As you visualize such a scene and feel the suffering and the terror of the sheep or the cow, you will feel, 'How can anyone dare cause such pain to another being?' A sense of compassion will involuntarily arise in your mind... -
there is a cockroach in the living room right now and im scared.
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Then meet your fear (discussed previously) and don't forget to be compassionate to the cockroachOriginally posted by Cenarious:there is a cockroach in the living room right now and im scared. -
im gonna stay in my room and wait for my parents to come back and catch it.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Then meet your fear (discussed previously) and don't forget to be compassionate to the cockroach -
your parents wont kill it rightOriginally posted by Cenarious:im gonna stay in my room and wait for my parents to come back and catch it.
either case you can chant for the cockroach too.
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to hell with cockroaches! they cant think anyway!Originally posted by An Eternal Now:your parents wont kill it right
either case you can chant for the cockroach too. -
They can and has enough intelligence to want to live and escape for his life. They also can feel pain, etc.Originally posted by Cenarious:to hell with cockroaches! they cant think anyway!
If they really can't think, they will be like trees and doesn't mind people cutting it down -
my mother smashed it with a shoe
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Hahaha. don't worry. I have NOt a slightest doubt of my faith. thank you very much.Originally posted by longchen:I am not enlightened. I am a most ordinary guy who happens to be interested in spiritual stuff.
Don't worry about the rambling about Christianity... perhaps this will make more Christians rethink about their understanding about their religion. -
i killed it to save my skin.Originally posted by Cenarious:my mother smashed it with a shoe And for the comfort of the people around me. -
you're his mom?Originally posted by -[0]-:i killed it to save my skin. And for the comfort of the people around me.
jk. -
Longchen didn't say lose your faith of it, but rethink your understanding about it.Originally posted by -[0]-:Hahaha. don't worry. I have NOt a slightest doubt of my faith. thank you very much.
Cenarious was quite supportive of Christianity in the topic. In fact my master too, among other famous masters like the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh, etc, have commended that Jesus is an example of a Bodhisattva.
Another useful, related topic would be: The Arising of New SPIRITUALITY in All Religions
Cenarious's postings: Hi everyone (page 9) To get a better understanding of what is happening you may need to refer to earlier pages in the topic.
Eckhart Tolle rightly pointed out the problem of modern Christianity:Dear Eckhart,
I have been wanting to ask you this for months- What are your thoughts on the New Testament? It appears that you believe certain parts were add-ons, or apart from the essence of the teaching. Are there any parts in particular? And why?
Thanks,
Dan
Answer: The New Testament contains deep spiritual truth as well as distortions. Those distortions are of two kinds. Some are due to a misunderstanding of JesusÂ’ teaching, others arose because people had an agenda (wanting to fit Jesus into their preconceived notions, wanting to make converts etc.). At some point, if there is another book, I may write about this in more detail. But you can find all this out for yourself. When you are present, you access your inner knowing and you will sense what is true and what was added on or distorted.http://www.inner-growth.info/power_of_now_tolle/eckhart_tolle_interview_parker.htm#3
....The texts I came in contact with—first I picked up a copy of the New Testament almost by accident, maybe half a year, a year after it happened, and reading the words of Jesus and feeling the essence and power behind those words. And I immediately understood at a deeper level the meaning of those words. I knew intuitively with absolute certainty that certain statements attributed to Jesus were added later, because they did not "emanate" from that place, that state of consciousness, because I knew that place, I know that place. But when a statement emanates from that place, there is recognition. And when it does not, no matter how clever or intelligent it may sound it lacks that essence and it does not have that power. In other words, it does not emanate from the stillness. So that was an incredible realization, just reading and understanding "beyond mind" the deeper meaning of those words....From: The Arising of New SPIRITUALITY in All Religions
.....And yetÂ…. And yetÂ… in spite of all the insane deeds perpetrated in the name of religion, the Truth to which they point still shines at their core. It still shines, however dimly, through layers upon layers of distortion and misinterpretation. It is unlikely; however, that you will be able to perceive it there unless you have at least already had glimpses of that Truth within yourself... -
With certain degree of realisations, Jesus's word take on new meanings. Before that, many of his words are mis-interpreted or purposely distorted by others... for power and control. Inject some fear and change some facts, religion becomes powerful agents for control and manipulation.Originally posted by -[0]-:Hahaha. don't worry. I have NOt a slightest doubt of my faith. thank you very much.
This is very sad...
I do not wish to put up an argument here...because there can be no solution from it. I just want to say my piece. In many cases, the effect of misinterpreted teachings can have effects that last beyond a single lifetime...
Please forgive my rambling... -
That's the precise problem of modern Christianity... I mentioned this this in the other topic too. Thusness too mentioned this is the greatest problem... this caused Christianity to be in a pitiful state.Originally posted by longchen:With certain degree of realisations, Jesus's word take on new meanings. Before that, many of his words are mis-interpreted or purposely distorted by others... for power and control. Inject some fear and change some facts, religion becomes powerful agents for control and manipulation.
This is one of the reasons why gnosticism (I'm not supporting or not supporting gnosticism because I know too little about it) in Christianity has arisen, it is to go against the monopoly of the Church over control. There can be no monopoly over Truth. -
I wouldn't want an argument either.Originally posted by longchen:With certain degree of realisations, Jesus's word take on new meanings. Before that, many of his words are mis-interpreted or purposely distorted by others... for power and control. Inject some fear and change some facts, religion becomes powerful agents for control and manipulation.
This is very sad...
I do not wish to put up an argument here...because there can be no solution from it. I just want to say my piece. In many cases, the effect of misinterpreted teachings can have effects that last beyond a single lifetime...
Please forgive my rambling...
Just that I have no doubt about my faith.
Rethink? What's there to rethink when I have no doubt of who I'm truly worshipping?
It's good to hear that you know there can be no solution to change my mind or my heart towards Jesus. -
You still haven't understood what he/we are trying to tell you? We are NOT trying to question your faith in Jesus. We are trying to question the man-made, "mind dominated" religion created around Jesus that claims to be representative of him. And it's not the religion that is the issue, it is the people, those mind dominated institutions that work just like an Ego which tries to monopolize Truth and control people - those institutionalised hierarchies felt threatened by them (true spirituality) and often tried to suppress them. They are very political.. 'God' has been abused.Originally posted by -[0]-:I wouldn't want an argument either.
Just that I have no doubt about my faith.
Rethink? What's there to rethink when I have no doubt of who I'm truly worshipping?
It's good to hear that you know there can be no solution to change my mind or my heart towards Jesus.
Now, we know why there are so many divisions in Christianity. It is because these institutions are mind dominated, egocentric. Church politics are very common and bad. Each church teaches that it is right and others are wrong, so which is right? Know that the truth shines at the core beyond all the layers of mind made misinterpretation and distortions. There can only be unity if Christians truly realise the Truth of what Jesus taught first hand, not saying that bible is unreliable but one must develope an intuitive understanding of what Jesus was trying to teach, one will then recognise the jewels of the words of Jesus and also not fall prey to the attempts to control the minds of those who are unaware.
And then we hear of fanatics, even Christian terrorists who are using the name of God for violence. Certainly you will think that they are misguided ones.. yes, they are misguided. Similarly there are many others who are misguided by the the distortions of what is supposedly to be from Jesus, or distorted by the churches' interpretation of things.
The world has undergone several evolutions in consciousness, from the world of mythology (i.e Old Testament period) to religion, philosophy to science and so on. How is one able to go beyond all these influences and conditionings and distortions and politics, to touch the transcendental? This is the question. In Buddhism, it is through the teachings of no-self and emptiness. In Christianity it is a little different; it is by faith, the grace of God, and surrender/submission to the divine will. Therefore I am not trying to promote Buddhism to you (only unless you are open to it, otherwise, Buddhist don't practise evangelical conversions). Christianity is essentially a relationship with God. For this matter, to truly touch the transcendental, I would suggest you read up on the contemplative literature of Christianity, i.e those by Father Thomas Keating, Bernadette Roberts, Meister Eckhart, St John of the Cross or the book 'The Cloud of Unknowing', etc. Eckhart Tolle (a modern teacher who is not aligned with any particular religion or tradition, but excludes none) is also a good read.
But again, if one is too dogmatic tightly hold on what he presumed is ultimate and is afraid to look deeper into truth itself, then it will impede one's spiritual progress... due to clinging to untruth.Luke 17:20-21, "Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, 'The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, "Here it is," or "There it is," because the kingdom of God is within you.'"
Gospel of Thomas (my favourite gospel): 1 And he said, "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death."
2 Jesus said, "Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all. [And after they have reigned they will rest.]"
3 Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the (Father's) kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is within you and it is outside you.
When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty."[/quote]
The Kingdom of God that Jesus taught isn't just some imaginary places in the sky, it is a spiritual kingdom. It is beyond what our ordinary minds can even conceive or imagine.. it is transcendental. It is not far away and has to be experienced... therefore Jesus taught that one must be truly 'Born Again'.
From Is God A Thing?
[quote]Originally posted by casino_king:GOD is Spirit according to the Bible. What is spirit, you might say? I can only speak based on my own relationship with God and I tell you that I have no wish to define God for you or anybody because as far as I am concern, GOD is beyond's any man's comprehension and you only communicate and have a relationship / be aware of God in your own life.
How a man ends up being aware and have a relationship with God is by being "born of the spirit." I certainly know that I was born again. When you are born again, "angels" and "heaven" and your whole being rejoices.
It is not much different then when a baby is born, except that this is personal. You are the one that rejoices with the "heavenly beings."
I put them all in " " because you might have a different understanding of those words in " " that I used.
Many Christians here cannot accept what I say, even though it was Jesus who said, "You must be Born Again" and "You must be born of the Spirit" and insists that it is simply "believe, have faith" and not a "new birth" in you (the other school hope that as long as you believe you then assume you have new birth
) As if you need to hope and not know something so obvious as a new birth in yourself.
I believe that Enlightenment has the same effect. If you are Enlightened please tell me what it is like.
That's all I have to say about Christianity, because too much of it is said in a Buddhist forum. -
As for teachings: there are priests and popular preachers who are given to ritual and ceremony and who are skilled in the various incantations and in the art of eloquence; they should not be honored nor reverently attended upon, for what one gains from them is emotional excitement and worldly enjoyment; it is not the Dharma. Such preachers, by their clever manipulation of words and phrases and various reasoningÂ’s and incantations, being the mere prattle of a child, as far as one can make out and not at all in accordance with truth nor in unison with meaning, only serves to awaken sentient and emotion, while it stupefies the mind. As he himself does not understand the meaning of all things, he only confuses the minds of his hearers with his dualistic views.
- The Lankavatara Sutra