Thursday 11:45 p.m.
I meditated till ten o clock and then I started on the home brew. It's quite weak ... compared to what? No beer at all! Or the other way around.
The kiddo is the result of two streams. From her mother's side she has some brains and quite a bit of artistic talent. The Domestic Bliss's family are nice, professional middle class people though not quite firmly established in that, or they wouldn't have ended up in Newmains. From my side she has barely suppressed rage and homicidal tendencies. Any brains from my side of the family, which is non-aspiring working class (and proud of it!) passed her by. So she cannot do maths. Sequential thought might not be a strong point. Of course, she will, and has, become her own person.
My daughter has always been slightly uncomfortable with my side of the family because we are not nice. Nobody from my side gave her sweeties so much and patted her on the head. We get along, but we are not there to be nice to you. Incisive barking basturns. We have views. We are quite hard on each other though we do not ever fall out. They wait for you to shape up. Shape up! Why are you standing like that? What's the matter with you? Stop greetin'!
I hate nice people! They don't talk about anything. They slide along with each other. They chatter about traffic or the weather. You might as well spend your time talking to a bunch of turnips as talk to nice, middle class people for all you're ever going to get out of it.
Nice people are like the folk you sometimes might meet in England. Home counties. Completely superficial. Talking to nice people is sometimes alright in a soporific kind of way, but there's really nothing there. Frivolous conversation. You feel as if you can put your hand right through them. Where is the substance? What are they, when it comes down to it, about?
When you have a kiddo, you can become connected to generations of this crap. The kiddo isn't really yours. You have to look after it, but it is connected to all these other basturns. You don't get a kid from a lucky bag, it's not unattached.
So the kiddo's Newmains granny lives on her own though she has had six children, five surviving. She's over ninety years old and was burgled for the second time last Friday, no doubt partly through being isolated in this working class desert in which they, being bourgeois, never properly assimilated. Though the children were brought up in Newmains, they are not Newmains people.
I am going to do what is necessary and probably start staying in Newmains for whatever it takes so that my daughter does not think that it is acceptable to leave this woman on her own as prey to these ravenous, no doubt, junky basturns!
And even although I have not hit anyone in my adult life, apart from in boxing rings, I will certainly take a limb or an eyeball, or a limb and an eyeball because at the end of the day, despite all this buddhisty stuff, my tao is not to do nothing about this.
And though we may have changed parts and did this dance through lfetime after lifetime, I will take bits and revel in it this time because I am at the end of the day not a nice person!
Is this the way, at last, to get into solitary confinement, Hotboy? I hope so, Jack! Oh God, I hope so. Take a limb! Take a limb! Take a limb!
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Vase Breathing Instructions
Thursday 11:15 a.m.
You'd probably better read the post that comes before this one first!
CHAPTER 4 - Psychic Heat, Drops and Inner Fire
Seattle is situated in the State of Washington in the United States of America. Washington lies in the north-west region of America, and shares a border with Canada. This state is five times the size of Taiwan, and has a population of four million [translators note: as of 1984]. As it is located in the north, its winter is freezing cold. In the winter of 1983, a heavy snow reduced the temperature to minus thirty degrees Celsius at night, with a daytime temperature of around minus ten degrees.
The rivers were frozen into ice, and so were the lakes. The dew that rested on the windows was turned into ice. None-the-less, I continued with my meditation. I want to tell my readers that I had no heater in my home. In the severe cold winter, I had to rely on the heat generated through Mahamudra to counter the freezing cold. In my home, the cold air had consolidated into ice, yet my body was sweating lightly, like a stove, experiencing a certain warmth all over. This is the psychic heat produced by Mahamudra practice.
Here is the method for producing psychic heat:
We stabilize ourselves with the seven point Vairocana meditation posture and regulate our breathing.
Visualize a spot about four fingers beneath the navel. It is a place where the three channels, the left channel, the right channel and the middle channel, converge, known to the Taoists as the Dan-tian. In this spot is positioned the Sanskrit syllable short AH which is hair-breath in thickness and appears red. This short AH trembles and vibrates like the flame that trembles in the stove. In your visualization, feel that the little flame that resides at the junction of the three channels is rather warm.
Still seated, breathe in using the complete inhalation approach, so that the chi enters the left and right channels (One may review this breathing method in my book, The Realization of the Master). When this breath of wind reaches the meeting point of the three channels, it fans the fire and increases the temperature of the red fiery flame. The hair-breath thickness of the short AH thickens, and becomes even redder.
While performing complete breathing, one needs to visualize the exhalation of blue smoke. Thus, with every complete inhalation and complete exhalation synchronized with their respective visualizations, one continues this cycle of breathing.
Every inhalation and exhalation performed is called a breathing cycle. By performing ten such breathing cycles, the flame should reach the navel chakra. With the next ten breathing cycles, the navel chakra and its surrounding area should be filled with heated wind. The subsequent ten breathing cycles should cause the lower body to experience warmth all over. Another ten breathing cycles thereafter should raise the flame to the heart chakra. Another ten breathing cycles should move it further upwards to the throat chakra. Then, the next ten breathing cycles should raise the flame towards the brow chakra. Another ten breathing cycles should lead it to the crown chakra.
Once I heard that a monk who was spiritually developed would place a teapot of cold water upon his head every time he sat for meditation. When the monk entered into meditative absorption, his body would remain very still. An hour later, the cold water in the teapot would turn hot and began steaming. Such a feat is the yoga of psychic heat, which is the practice of drops and inner fire.
Those who are less adept in this practice may achieve a warm sensation around the region of the Dan-tian. Even ones pubic region feels like a stove, where one finds the area hot when felt with ones hand.
When one gains mastery over the yoga of psychic heat, even the most subtle spots such as the cold tips of the fingers and toes can be penetrated by the heat of the chi, or wind. The whole body experiences a hot sensation. This is the reason I could keep myself warm during the freezing cold winter.
When the psychic heat reaches the crown chakra, the white bodhicitta (white drops) at the crown chakra melts and drips downwards via the path of the tongue that is pressing against the upper palate. This fluid is known in the Taoist teaching as the heavenly court water, and is called nectar in the Buddhist teaching. The fluid has the characteristic of cooling, and when mixed with the psychic heat produces a nurturing effect. This is known as the mixing of water and fire.
On the practice of psychic heat and the practice of inner fire and drops, I would like to elucidate the main points one more time:
1. The first experience that marks progress on the path to attainment of Buddhahood through Mahamudra is psychic heat. When the psychic heat is ignited, it signals success in the most elementary achievement. Without this, all is but empty talk. Some practitioners have gone astray with their practices, since they have lost their glow and their limbs have become cold. These symptoms are an indication of a practice gone wrong.
2. The initial practice of the Mahamudra of psychic heat requires one to meditate six times daily, and only after the ignition of psychic heat can one reduce the practice to three or four times a day. Each session requires at least seventy breathing cycles. One round of inhaling and exhaling constitutes one breathing cycle.
3. The syllable AH is Sanskrit, and the short AH that is as thin as a hair breath resembles the Chinese character Na with the right portion removed. During visualization, pay special attention to the blazing red syllable getting redder and redder, and therefore thicker, with a growing flame that gets hotter as the practice progresses.
4. Inhale through complete breathing. Keep it slow and drawn out, so that the breath reaches the meeting point at the Dan-tian. With the wind fanning the fire, the fire blazes upwards fiercely, moving through one chakra every ten breathing cycles. In total, seventy breaths are needed every meditation session for the seven chakras. Some practise 108 breathing cycles, penetrating all the meridians in the body.
5. When the psychic heat blazes through the crown chakra, the white bodhicitta (nectar) melts and drips downwards. This is an example of the method of mixing water and fire. This is a great secret kept within heaven and earth, a major celestial secret indeed. The truth of attainment in the Buddhist teaching is found within this practice, and so is the truth of the formation of relics.
6. Exhale through complete breathing as well. Keep the breath slow and drawn out, and visualize blue smoke leaving your body similar to how smoke from the fire in a stove leaves through the chimney.
7. There is a sensation associated with cultivation of psychic heat. The coldness of the limbs is removed and those with health problems find relief when the fire of psychic heat burns inwardly. The circulation of the inner fire of psychic heat clears the meridians of blockages and those who gain mastery over its application may find themselves free from illnesses. This is certainly a first class method for balancing the spiritual energies of body and mind.
8. Due to the arousal of psychic heat, the body feels warm all over and the individual finds himself bathed in a sensation of lightness. The body feels a sense of lightness whereas the mind enjoys a state of freedom. Discursive thoughts cease, leaving the person in a state of extreme tranquility and joy. Generally speaking, as one moves further into the practice, many states of phenomena may be experienced, experiencing visions during meditation such as the projection of past lives, images of beautiful women and dream-like illusory imageries. Irrespective of the nature of these illusory visions, be they good or bad, we should not be attached to them. We should instead strive for active, diligent cultivation, for that shall lead us naturally to attaining Samadhi.
Someone once asked me what psychic heat and inner fire were. The true meaning of psychic heat is the breath of life (prana). The true meaning of inner fire is the fire of life. The survival of man hinges on psychic heat and inner fire.
What exactly is the central channel? The central channel is an invisible channel, a pathway that facilitates the travel of psychic heat through the body. In principle, it exists and moves through the centre of the spine, and some of its secondary veins fan out from the spine. Some have said that the central channel is the governing centre of all spiritual veins. It is close to the Ming Men, the gate of life, which is the source of life itself. The Indians called it the Muladhara, the seat of all drops of psychic heat. These drops are the very life drops of man, and the human body is born from these drops.
Today, the teaching of Mahamudra has clearly elucidated the very source of the life of man, and explains in detail the way to produce psychic heat and inner fire. My exposition of all these teachings is geared towards the deliverance of all sentient beings. Through fearless expedient means, I lead individuals through my teachings so that they may be liberated from the suffering of this world and receive the cause and condition of Buddhahood to attain the path of liberation. What a great dharma affinity and secret this is! The practice of psychic heat takes perseverance, moving from simple to deep levels, and from deep levels one enters into the wonderful realms. From the wonderful realms one enters into the mystical, through which realization can be attained.
Many are aware that I am afraid of hot weather, but not cold weather, for I have long achieved the cultivation of psychic heat and the cultivation of drops and inner fire.
Many are also aware that Sheng-yen Lu has great supernatural powers, though some have called me a con man who has absolutely no ability of any sort! Yet the fact that I can write about the practice of Mahamudra is evidence of true knowing. There is nothing mystical about this, for it is the fruit of my actual practice. I have walked past this secret gate and truly mastered its secrets.
THIS POST WAS WRITTEN BY JOHN McKENZIE WHO HAS TEN BOOKS ON KINDLE. THE ONES CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH BUDDHISM, MEDITATION, BLISS, VASE BREATHING, TUMMO, ETC., ARE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buddha-Big-Bad-Wolf-ebook/dp/B005AIP7QE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319126284&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buddha-Big-Bad-Wolf-ebook/dp/B005AIP7QE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319126284&sr=8-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Land-Demon-Masters-ebook/dp/B004XJ7OEO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319126424&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Real-McCoy-ebook/dp/B0054H4MO4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319126490&sr=1-1
You'd probably better read the post that comes before this one first!
CHAPTER 4 - Psychic Heat, Drops and Inner Fire
Seattle is situated in the State of Washington in the United States of America. Washington lies in the north-west region of America, and shares a border with Canada. This state is five times the size of Taiwan, and has a population of four million [translators note: as of 1984]. As it is located in the north, its winter is freezing cold. In the winter of 1983, a heavy snow reduced the temperature to minus thirty degrees Celsius at night, with a daytime temperature of around minus ten degrees.
The rivers were frozen into ice, and so were the lakes. The dew that rested on the windows was turned into ice. None-the-less, I continued with my meditation. I want to tell my readers that I had no heater in my home. In the severe cold winter, I had to rely on the heat generated through Mahamudra to counter the freezing cold. In my home, the cold air had consolidated into ice, yet my body was sweating lightly, like a stove, experiencing a certain warmth all over. This is the psychic heat produced by Mahamudra practice.
Here is the method for producing psychic heat:
We stabilize ourselves with the seven point Vairocana meditation posture and regulate our breathing.
Visualize a spot about four fingers beneath the navel. It is a place where the three channels, the left channel, the right channel and the middle channel, converge, known to the Taoists as the Dan-tian. In this spot is positioned the Sanskrit syllable short AH which is hair-breath in thickness and appears red. This short AH trembles and vibrates like the flame that trembles in the stove. In your visualization, feel that the little flame that resides at the junction of the three channels is rather warm.
Still seated, breathe in using the complete inhalation approach, so that the chi enters the left and right channels (One may review this breathing method in my book, The Realization of the Master). When this breath of wind reaches the meeting point of the three channels, it fans the fire and increases the temperature of the red fiery flame. The hair-breath thickness of the short AH thickens, and becomes even redder.
While performing complete breathing, one needs to visualize the exhalation of blue smoke. Thus, with every complete inhalation and complete exhalation synchronized with their respective visualizations, one continues this cycle of breathing.
Every inhalation and exhalation performed is called a breathing cycle. By performing ten such breathing cycles, the flame should reach the navel chakra. With the next ten breathing cycles, the navel chakra and its surrounding area should be filled with heated wind. The subsequent ten breathing cycles should cause the lower body to experience warmth all over. Another ten breathing cycles thereafter should raise the flame to the heart chakra. Another ten breathing cycles should move it further upwards to the throat chakra. Then, the next ten breathing cycles should raise the flame towards the brow chakra. Another ten breathing cycles should lead it to the crown chakra.
Once I heard that a monk who was spiritually developed would place a teapot of cold water upon his head every time he sat for meditation. When the monk entered into meditative absorption, his body would remain very still. An hour later, the cold water in the teapot would turn hot and began steaming. Such a feat is the yoga of psychic heat, which is the practice of drops and inner fire.
Those who are less adept in this practice may achieve a warm sensation around the region of the Dan-tian. Even ones pubic region feels like a stove, where one finds the area hot when felt with ones hand.
When one gains mastery over the yoga of psychic heat, even the most subtle spots such as the cold tips of the fingers and toes can be penetrated by the heat of the chi, or wind. The whole body experiences a hot sensation. This is the reason I could keep myself warm during the freezing cold winter.
When the psychic heat reaches the crown chakra, the white bodhicitta (white drops) at the crown chakra melts and drips downwards via the path of the tongue that is pressing against the upper palate. This fluid is known in the Taoist teaching as the heavenly court water, and is called nectar in the Buddhist teaching. The fluid has the characteristic of cooling, and when mixed with the psychic heat produces a nurturing effect. This is known as the mixing of water and fire.
On the practice of psychic heat and the practice of inner fire and drops, I would like to elucidate the main points one more time:
1. The first experience that marks progress on the path to attainment of Buddhahood through Mahamudra is psychic heat. When the psychic heat is ignited, it signals success in the most elementary achievement. Without this, all is but empty talk. Some practitioners have gone astray with their practices, since they have lost their glow and their limbs have become cold. These symptoms are an indication of a practice gone wrong.
2. The initial practice of the Mahamudra of psychic heat requires one to meditate six times daily, and only after the ignition of psychic heat can one reduce the practice to three or four times a day. Each session requires at least seventy breathing cycles. One round of inhaling and exhaling constitutes one breathing cycle.
3. The syllable AH is Sanskrit, and the short AH that is as thin as a hair breath resembles the Chinese character Na with the right portion removed. During visualization, pay special attention to the blazing red syllable getting redder and redder, and therefore thicker, with a growing flame that gets hotter as the practice progresses.
4. Inhale through complete breathing. Keep it slow and drawn out, so that the breath reaches the meeting point at the Dan-tian. With the wind fanning the fire, the fire blazes upwards fiercely, moving through one chakra every ten breathing cycles. In total, seventy breaths are needed every meditation session for the seven chakras. Some practise 108 breathing cycles, penetrating all the meridians in the body.
5. When the psychic heat blazes through the crown chakra, the white bodhicitta (nectar) melts and drips downwards. This is an example of the method of mixing water and fire. This is a great secret kept within heaven and earth, a major celestial secret indeed. The truth of attainment in the Buddhist teaching is found within this practice, and so is the truth of the formation of relics.
6. Exhale through complete breathing as well. Keep the breath slow and drawn out, and visualize blue smoke leaving your body similar to how smoke from the fire in a stove leaves through the chimney.
7. There is a sensation associated with cultivation of psychic heat. The coldness of the limbs is removed and those with health problems find relief when the fire of psychic heat burns inwardly. The circulation of the inner fire of psychic heat clears the meridians of blockages and those who gain mastery over its application may find themselves free from illnesses. This is certainly a first class method for balancing the spiritual energies of body and mind.
8. Due to the arousal of psychic heat, the body feels warm all over and the individual finds himself bathed in a sensation of lightness. The body feels a sense of lightness whereas the mind enjoys a state of freedom. Discursive thoughts cease, leaving the person in a state of extreme tranquility and joy. Generally speaking, as one moves further into the practice, many states of phenomena may be experienced, experiencing visions during meditation such as the projection of past lives, images of beautiful women and dream-like illusory imageries. Irrespective of the nature of these illusory visions, be they good or bad, we should not be attached to them. We should instead strive for active, diligent cultivation, for that shall lead us naturally to attaining Samadhi.
Someone once asked me what psychic heat and inner fire were. The true meaning of psychic heat is the breath of life (prana). The true meaning of inner fire is the fire of life. The survival of man hinges on psychic heat and inner fire.
What exactly is the central channel? The central channel is an invisible channel, a pathway that facilitates the travel of psychic heat through the body. In principle, it exists and moves through the centre of the spine, and some of its secondary veins fan out from the spine. Some have said that the central channel is the governing centre of all spiritual veins. It is close to the Ming Men, the gate of life, which is the source of life itself. The Indians called it the Muladhara, the seat of all drops of psychic heat. These drops are the very life drops of man, and the human body is born from these drops.
Today, the teaching of Mahamudra has clearly elucidated the very source of the life of man, and explains in detail the way to produce psychic heat and inner fire. My exposition of all these teachings is geared towards the deliverance of all sentient beings. Through fearless expedient means, I lead individuals through my teachings so that they may be liberated from the suffering of this world and receive the cause and condition of Buddhahood to attain the path of liberation. What a great dharma affinity and secret this is! The practice of psychic heat takes perseverance, moving from simple to deep levels, and from deep levels one enters into the wonderful realms. From the wonderful realms one enters into the mystical, through which realization can be attained.
Many are aware that I am afraid of hot weather, but not cold weather, for I have long achieved the cultivation of psychic heat and the cultivation of drops and inner fire.
Many are also aware that Sheng-yen Lu has great supernatural powers, though some have called me a con man who has absolutely no ability of any sort! Yet the fact that I can write about the practice of Mahamudra is evidence of true knowing. There is nothing mystical about this, for it is the fruit of my actual practice. I have walked past this secret gate and truly mastered its secrets.
THIS POST WAS WRITTEN BY JOHN McKENZIE WHO HAS TEN BOOKS ON KINDLE. THE ONES CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH BUDDHISM, MEDITATION, BLISS, VASE BREATHING, TUMMO, ETC., ARE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buddha-Big-Bad-Wolf-ebook/dp/B005AIP7QE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319126284&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buddha-Big-Bad-Wolf-ebook/dp/B005AIP7QE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319126284&sr=8-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Land-Demon-Masters-ebook/dp/B004XJ7OEO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319126424&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Real-McCoy-ebook/dp/B0054H4MO4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319126490&sr=1-1
Buddhas and Charlatans!
Thursday 10:20 a.m.
"When we can see, straightforwardly and non-conceptually, the nature of our clear light mind and can remain absorbed in this nature without having to regress from it, we have become a buddha." Dalai Lama. The wall.
What about flying about the place, Hotboy? Aye, and what about being able to emanate as a 100,000 different joes at the one time? Well, I think the buddha might have told his highly realised followers to stop flying about the place and showing off and whatnot because that's not what buddhism is about really. Siddhis are maybe just things you get to impress the schoolgirls, I mean, flatheids.
"Tell me, Subhuti. Does a Buddha say to himself, 'I have obtained Perfect Enlightenment.'?"
"No, lord. There is no such thing as Perfect Enlightenment to obtain. If a Perfectly Enlightened Buddha were to say to himself, 'I am enlightened' he would be admitting there is an individual person, a separate self and personality, and would therefore not be a Perfectly Enlightened Buddha." Diamond Sutra.
What if some Perfectly Enlightened Buddha were to say this to some other folk, Jack? Not to himself, but to other folk? And what if he ran about in a Rolls Royce and had flunkeys fanning him and kissing his backside? Well, Hotboy, I think these flunkeys and flatheids should ask for at least a bit of flying about and even better tricks than that, or else they are very stupid people indeed.
Part of the rationale for writing this bloggie is to warn folk away from charlatans. You don't have to be good or even nice to progress in this juju. You have to be a bit more determined than I am, that's all.
The Dalai Lama doesn't say he's enlightened. My root guru doesn't say he's enlightened. Thrangu Rinpoche, who is at least ten times smarter than moi, denies he's a proper tulku. He says the 16th Karmapa picked him because some other proper tulku had gone beyond being able to come back. I don't think perfectly enlightened beings can come back.
This is not to say that charlatans cannot do some good. Maybe a lot of flatheids have such inadequate personalities that they want fuhrers to follow, and taking the piss out of them might actually do them some good. They might at least practise meditation because of their deluded view of you.
I'm writing this post because I'm going to post some vase breathing intructions from Sheng-yen Lu, who probably isn't all he claims to be, but probably isn't a complete asshole either.
Something caught me eye in this piece. Prahlad Jani says there is a nectar coming from the roof of his mouth that sustains him. In a question and answer session I was at with Ringu Tulku, he said a white substance was produced by inner heat meditations. (I thought: What is he talking about?!)Anyway, Sheng-yen Lu mentions it in the next post as nectar or heavenly court water as the Taoists call it.
The Princes Street photies were taken at the bus stop earlier this week. I couldn't sleep last night and took the dawn photie out of the back window at 4 a.m. this morning. I did sleep for three and a half hours later.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
School's out!
Wednesday 9:20 p.m.
The Firth of Forth as we jogged down to Cramond today looked absolutely gorgeous; blue skies up above and cumulonimbus over Fife. The old, toothless one said it was for free and so it was.
I haven't run for more than four miles or so for nearly two months and we were out today for one hour and fifty minutes. Maybe nine miles. Heroic, so it was, Jack. Bloody heroic.
Yesterday, when I was lying on the couch expecting to doze off after work, so much bliss started filling out my head, neck and shoulders that I thought I'd better get up and have a wee sit, but it didn't get much better than it was when I was lying on the couch. Maybe some day such a thing might happen every time I go to bed. That would make all the effort worthwhile!
There's nothing really to be achieved and I'm not going to achieve it anyway, but I can't seem to stop trying. A large part of me wants to get back into writing and having more normal pursuits like that, but ...
I haven't been going to my Tai Chi class since before Christmas, but I went back last night. So I'm sitting there at the interval having a read at The Inward Journey by F.C. Happold when his woman sitting beside me said, "I used to know him." He was called Frank. On the book cover it said it cost £1:80. Them were the days. She said he must be dead now. She said he was not a very appealing person, but had a giant brain. Small world. Frank helped me by explaining my ten seconds of non-self and emptiness in his book called Mysticism, which I read about thirteen years ago.
The flat is empty tonight and next Monday is a public holiday. Hurrah! It's just getting dark now and it's ten to ten. Time for a wee meditation, I think!
The Firth of Forth as we jogged down to Cramond today looked absolutely gorgeous; blue skies up above and cumulonimbus over Fife. The old, toothless one said it was for free and so it was.
I haven't run for more than four miles or so for nearly two months and we were out today for one hour and fifty minutes. Maybe nine miles. Heroic, so it was, Jack. Bloody heroic.
Yesterday, when I was lying on the couch expecting to doze off after work, so much bliss started filling out my head, neck and shoulders that I thought I'd better get up and have a wee sit, but it didn't get much better than it was when I was lying on the couch. Maybe some day such a thing might happen every time I go to bed. That would make all the effort worthwhile!
There's nothing really to be achieved and I'm not going to achieve it anyway, but I can't seem to stop trying. A large part of me wants to get back into writing and having more normal pursuits like that, but ...
I haven't been going to my Tai Chi class since before Christmas, but I went back last night. So I'm sitting there at the interval having a read at The Inward Journey by F.C. Happold when his woman sitting beside me said, "I used to know him." He was called Frank. On the book cover it said it cost £1:80. Them were the days. She said he must be dead now. She said he was not a very appealing person, but had a giant brain. Small world. Frank helped me by explaining my ten seconds of non-self and emptiness in his book called Mysticism, which I read about thirteen years ago.
The flat is empty tonight and next Monday is a public holiday. Hurrah! It's just getting dark now and it's ten to ten. Time for a wee meditation, I think!
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Ignorance and knowledge.
Tuesday Lunchtime
There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.
Donald Rumsfeld
I have no idea what was going on at Zeitoun in Cairo with the apparition floating about the place. I have no idea what's happening with the buddha boy or with Prahlad Jani. What I don't like is closed minds and arrogant assertions.
So one time it seemed that the cosmos was moving round the earth. When certain facts started to contradict this hypothesis, we changed the hypothesis. Then everything seemed to go round the sun. When certain other facts started to emerge ...
I believe in scepticism. I know what this computer is called and I know what it does sort of, but I don't know everything about the computer. I have a partial view based on not enough information. I do not have full knowledge. People will tell you it's mostly made of space, but it doesn't look like that.
Full knowledge in Christianity is confined to God. Only God has full knowledge. I have heard that Buddhists think the buddha had full knowledge. I don't even know what that can mean. How can you imagine simultaneously knowing everthing?
Some assertions are obviously not true. The world does not rest on top of an elephant. But when Prahlad Jani is sitting in a box for ten days or so and not eating and drinking, what is the point of saying: I don't believe that. This is just like having a conversation with Galileo and denying the evidence that the earth goes round the sun. It's stupid. It's arrogant and it's stupid. When information starts to contradict what you think you know, you have to change what you think you know. Or, at least admit that you don't know as much as you thought you knew.
I makes more sense to me to emphasis how little you know and not make stupid assertions about the extent of your knowledge. Also, if you really get into scepticism, the world opens up a little as being a bit more miraculous, or at least more interesting.
I like to try and remember that Plato thing about the boys in the cave and all they ever see is the wall in front of them, and they think that's everything there is.
We embrace our ignorance
We don't believe in any things
Especially thoughts.
There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.
Donald Rumsfeld
I have no idea what was going on at Zeitoun in Cairo with the apparition floating about the place. I have no idea what's happening with the buddha boy or with Prahlad Jani. What I don't like is closed minds and arrogant assertions.
So one time it seemed that the cosmos was moving round the earth. When certain facts started to contradict this hypothesis, we changed the hypothesis. Then everything seemed to go round the sun. When certain other facts started to emerge ...
I believe in scepticism. I know what this computer is called and I know what it does sort of, but I don't know everything about the computer. I have a partial view based on not enough information. I do not have full knowledge. People will tell you it's mostly made of space, but it doesn't look like that.
Full knowledge in Christianity is confined to God. Only God has full knowledge. I have heard that Buddhists think the buddha had full knowledge. I don't even know what that can mean. How can you imagine simultaneously knowing everthing?
Some assertions are obviously not true. The world does not rest on top of an elephant. But when Prahlad Jani is sitting in a box for ten days or so and not eating and drinking, what is the point of saying: I don't believe that. This is just like having a conversation with Galileo and denying the evidence that the earth goes round the sun. It's stupid. It's arrogant and it's stupid. When information starts to contradict what you think you know, you have to change what you think you know. Or, at least admit that you don't know as much as you thought you knew.
I makes more sense to me to emphasis how little you know and not make stupid assertions about the extent of your knowledge. Also, if you really get into scepticism, the world opens up a little as being a bit more miraculous, or at least more interesting.
I like to try and remember that Plato thing about the boys in the cave and all they ever see is the wall in front of them, and they think that's everything there is.
We embrace our ignorance
We don't believe in any things
Especially thoughts.
Monday, 10 May 2010
Tummo!
Monday Lunchtime
Back at the jobbie it is clear that things have moved on again. So you don't have to be enjoying yourself for this juju to work! Anyway, I've been getting quite warm this morning, and quite a bit warmer than last week. Hmmm?
Of course a decade or so ago, like everyone else I would have assumed that hopping about on one leg half way up the Himalayas wearing nothing but your simmit was a sure way to die of frostbite. Well, it's not a sure way to die of frostbite, not if you can get warm behaving the way I do. It asks more questions than it answers of course.
My favourite impossible thing is the appearances of the Virgin Mary at Zeitoun in Cairo. I'll show you the page. It's here. There are videos there, but an account here.
This isn't a spoof. I found out about this around 1982 when I was working in a catholic school for the first time. Most amused, I was. Odd that the catholics were boosting it since it's a coptic church the apparitions happened at.
Anyway, I'd be interested in any suggestions as to what might be going on here!
By the way, the woman who owned the Holy Isle had a dream where the Virgin Mary told her to sell the island to the buddhists at the Samye Ling. How ecumenical can you get!
Back at the jobbie it is clear that things have moved on again. So you don't have to be enjoying yourself for this juju to work! Anyway, I've been getting quite warm this morning, and quite a bit warmer than last week. Hmmm?
Of course a decade or so ago, like everyone else I would have assumed that hopping about on one leg half way up the Himalayas wearing nothing but your simmit was a sure way to die of frostbite. Well, it's not a sure way to die of frostbite, not if you can get warm behaving the way I do. It asks more questions than it answers of course.
My favourite impossible thing is the appearances of the Virgin Mary at Zeitoun in Cairo. I'll show you the page. It's here. There are videos there, but an account here.
This isn't a spoof. I found out about this around 1982 when I was working in a catholic school for the first time. Most amused, I was. Odd that the catholics were boosting it since it's a coptic church the apparitions happened at.
Anyway, I'd be interested in any suggestions as to what might be going on here!
By the way, the woman who owned the Holy Isle had a dream where the Virgin Mary told her to sell the island to the buddhists at the Samye Ling. How ecumenical can you get!
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Faith, Hope and Charity!
Sunday 11:50 p.m.
I think faith, hope and charity are tim things. And the greatest of these is charity. You could call that last one compassion, it seems.
What about folk you don't like, Jack? Just get a gun and shooty them, Hotboy. Then some other joes or josephines will appear to take their place and you can shooty them as well.
This has not been a great weekend. Whilst drinking far too much and being on my ownio, several dislikeable apparitions have appeared. Sometimes I used to regard them fondly and sometimes .... but this weekend these apparitions have appeared in my mind's eye with much negativity attached. I've developed an unfortunate attitude, or allowed this to develope, about two people.
You only have a certain number of thoughts arising. This weekend these have included two folk who sometimes I have regarded as the wonderful people, but not just now.
Can I kill them by thinking about them in a negative way, Jack? Are you asking me, Hotboy, if you can kill folk by thought? Yes, Jack. That's both an absurd and interesting proposition, Hotboy.
Two folk fell out with me and both of them quite soon after suffered unfortunate retributions. Whether it was to do with me or not, I can't say. I hope it had fung all to do with me thinking bad thoughts about them, of course.
If you've been trying to improve your concentration for about twenty four years and ... exacerbate the Copenhagen Interpretation ... I'm skint, of course, so if you want me to think ill of someone ... I'll give them a horrible ending for about ten pounds an hour. Milarepa killed about thirty folk before he got so freaked he had to hide away and do the juju for the rest of his life.
I think this is more like voodoo or black magic than buddhism!
Mental formations, ideations, volitional impulses, thoughts ... sometimes these are not so good. Obviously, you should let them be and go. But it's like they're on a carousel, and keep coming round.
Anyway, back to the jobbie tomorrow. Dearie me!
I think faith, hope and charity are tim things. And the greatest of these is charity. You could call that last one compassion, it seems.
What about folk you don't like, Jack? Just get a gun and shooty them, Hotboy. Then some other joes or josephines will appear to take their place and you can shooty them as well.
This has not been a great weekend. Whilst drinking far too much and being on my ownio, several dislikeable apparitions have appeared. Sometimes I used to regard them fondly and sometimes .... but this weekend these apparitions have appeared in my mind's eye with much negativity attached. I've developed an unfortunate attitude, or allowed this to develope, about two people.
You only have a certain number of thoughts arising. This weekend these have included two folk who sometimes I have regarded as the wonderful people, but not just now.
Can I kill them by thinking about them in a negative way, Jack? Are you asking me, Hotboy, if you can kill folk by thought? Yes, Jack. That's both an absurd and interesting proposition, Hotboy.
Two folk fell out with me and both of them quite soon after suffered unfortunate retributions. Whether it was to do with me or not, I can't say. I hope it had fung all to do with me thinking bad thoughts about them, of course.
If you've been trying to improve your concentration for about twenty four years and ... exacerbate the Copenhagen Interpretation ... I'm skint, of course, so if you want me to think ill of someone ... I'll give them a horrible ending for about ten pounds an hour. Milarepa killed about thirty folk before he got so freaked he had to hide away and do the juju for the rest of his life.
I think this is more like voodoo or black magic than buddhism!
Mental formations, ideations, volitional impulses, thoughts ... sometimes these are not so good. Obviously, you should let them be and go. But it's like they're on a carousel, and keep coming round.
Anyway, back to the jobbie tomorrow. Dearie me!
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