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Transient 19 y
A story of impermanence.
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Transient
A famous spiritual teacher came to the front door of the King’s palace. None of the guards tried to stop him as he entered and made his way to where the King himself was sitting on his throne.
”What do you want?” asked the King, immediately recognizing the visitor.
”I would like a place to sleep in this inn,” replied the teacher.
”But this is not an inn,” said the King, ”It is my palace.”
”May I ask who owned this palace before you?”
”My father. He is dead.”
”And who owned it before him?”
”My grandfather. He too ... read more Masterpiece 19 y
This one will bring up many perceptions.
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Masterpiece
A master calligrapher was writing some characters onto a piece of paper. One of his especially perceptive students was watching him. When the calligrapher was finished, he asked for the student’s opinion - who immediately told him that it wasn’t any good. The master tried again, but the student criticized the work again. Over and over, the calligrapher carefully redrew the same characters, and each time the student rejected it. Finally, when the student had turned his attention away to something else and wasn’t watching, the master ... read more It Will Pass 19 y
Getting beyond duality to the space between.
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It Will Pass
A student went to his meditation teacher and said, ”My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or I’m constantly falling asleep. It’s just horrible!”
”It will pass,” the teacher said matter-of-factly.
A week later, the student came back to his teacher. ”My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It’s just wonderful!’
”It will pass,” the teacher replied matter-of-factly.
read more Egotism 19 y
A demonstration on egotism.
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Egotism
The Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty was a national hero for his success as both a statesman and military leader. But despite his fame, power, and wealth, he considered himself a humble and devout Buddhist. Often he visited his favorite Zen master to study under him, and they seemed to get along very well. The fact that he was prime minister apparently had no effect on their relationship, which seemed to be simply one of a revered master and respectful student.
One day, during his usual visit, the Prime Minister asked the master, ” ... read more True Self 19 y
The ego (personality) is a fabricated truth. Turn it off to find your true self underneath.
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A distraught man approached the Zen master. ”Please, Master, I feel lost, desperate. I don’t know who I am. Please, show me my true self!” But the teacher just looked away without responding. The man began to plead and beg, but still the master gave no reply. Finally giving up in silence, the man turned to leave. At that moment the master called out to him by name. ”Yes!” the man said as he spun back around. ”There it is!” exclaimed the master.
read more Holy Man 19 y
A zen story.
Word spread across the countryside about the wise Holy Man who lived in a small house atop the mountain. A man from the village decided to make the long and difficult journey to visit him. When he arrived at the house, he saw an old servant inside who greeted him at the door. ”I would like to see the wise Holy Man,” he said to the servant. The servant smiled and led him inside. As they walked through the house, the man from the village looked eagerly around the house, anticipating his encounter with the Holy Man. Before he knew it, he had been led to the back door and escorted outside. He ... read more * Integral Consc. 2 * 19 y
Part two of Ken Wilbers encompassing theory on consciousness.
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Part Two of Integral Consciopusness
Ken Wilber
Of the dozen major approaches to consciousness studies that I listed in the Introduction, the quantum approaches are the only ones that I believe lack substantial evidence at this time, and when I say that they can be included in an integral theory of consciousness, I am generously holding open the possibility that they may eventually prove worthwhile. In Eye to Eye I review the various interpretations of quantum mechanics and its possible role in consciousness studies, and I will not repeat that ... read more * Integral Consciousness 1 * 19 y
Wilber is often considered the Einstein of conscoiusness. Read his theory and see why. Here is part one.
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AN INTEGRAL THEORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Ken Wilber
Journal
of Consciousness Studies, 4 (1), February 1997, pp.
71-92
Copyright, 1997, Imprint Academic
Abstract: An extensive data search among various
types of developmental and evolutionary sequences yielded a `four quadrant’
model of consciousness and its development (the four quadrants being intentional,
behavioural, cultural, and social). Each of these dimensions was found
to unfold in a sequence of at least a dozen major stages or levels. Combining
the four quadran ... read more Without Fear 19 y
"Happy are those who do not fear death. They know no fear and therefore cannot be controlled."
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Without Fear
During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived - everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasn’t treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger. ”You fool,” he shouted as he reached for his sword, ”don’t you realize you are standing befor ... read more Elephant and Flea 19 y
Stories can point in the direction of the zen concept.
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Elephant and Flea
John Suler, Ph.D
Roshi Kapleau agreed to educate a group of psychoanalysts about Zen. After being introduced to the group by the director of the analytic institute, the Roshi quietly sat down upon a cushion placed on the floor. A student entered, prostrated before the master, and then seated himself on another cushion a few feet away, facing his teacher. ”What is Zen?” the student asked. The Roshi produced a banana, peeled it, and started eating. ”Is that all? Can’t you show me anything else?” the student said. ”Come closer, ... read more ~ Mindfulness ~ 19 y
Here is a great way to get started with the practice of meditation. Mindfulness is considered by many, a key practice to raising one's consciounsess beyond mind and even heart.
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Mindfulness in Plain English
Contents
Publication
History and
Distribution Agreement
About
the Author
Preface
Introduction
Chapter
1
Chapter
2
Chapter
3
Chapter
4
Chapter
5
Chapter
6
Chapter
7
Chapter
8
Chapter
9
Chapter
10
Chapter
11
Chapter
12
Chapter
13
Chapter
14
Chapter15
Chapter
16
read more ~** Ostrich Syndrome **~ 19 y
"But if indeed there is a threat in the present or in the future, it is best to look at these negativities rather than playing ignorant or being ignorant of them, but not to be frightened by them, and to look at them only long enough to recognize where they are and then to shine your Light, the Light of the Highest and the Best, the Light of Divinity, to heal the situation, to bring about the beginning of harmony, the development and evolution of harmony to that situation"
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THE NATURE OF THE TRUE SPIRITUAL PATH
This Awareness indicates that when there is the duality, or that which is the vibration, and there is that flutter of Darkness and the flutter of Light, it is possible for mind to focus on the Darkness and ignore the Light and thus say: ”I see much Darkness, much error!” It is equally possible for the mind to focus on the Light and ignore the Darkness and to say: ”I see much Light, much harmony!”
This Awareness indicates there are those who argue that entities should always focus upon the Light and ign ... read more Can Love Save the World? 19 y
"The great wound we face as a species will have to be acknowledged at a depth that most of us have only begun to imagine if we are to carry this wound in a way that leads to planetary healing."
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Can Love Save the World?
Wounded
by Michael Lerner
A few weeks ago I attended a conference on ecological health. Its purpose was to look at the “big picture” of what is happening to the earth and how it affects human health, animal health, and ecosystem health. For three days we listened to speeches on the science behind the five generally acknowledged “drivers” of extinctions: climate change, ozone depletion, toxic chemicals, habitat destruction, and invasive species.
The usual narrative on these matters is that speakers first pre ... read more Esoteric Theory 19 y
Theory of the nature of reality.
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ESOTERIC THEORY
Alex PATERSON
Esoteric theory is an ancient and perennial alternative hypothesis as to the nature of reality to that held by most people in Western society. By definition, Esoteric means ”intelligible to initiates only” and through the auspices of that process esoteric theory has survived largely intact throughout human history.
Esoteric theory postulates that the physical Universe as perceived by humans’ five senses is but just a tiny aspect of a far more complex and vaster total ’reality’. The basic tenet of esoteric t ... read more Critique of Christian Theology 19 y
"Throughout its history, the Christian Church has been at the forefront of this process, often in the pursuit of secular power and wealth for rather base and venal reasons, leaving a trail of misery and destruction in its wake."
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A CRITIQUE OF
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
by Alex PATERSON
http://www.vision.net.au/~apaterson/esoteric/christianity_critique.htm
Updated: 12 May 2003
MASTER INDEX of articles written, placed online or recommended by Alex Paterson
INDEX OF SPIRITUAL articles written, posted online or recommended by Alex Paterson
INTRODUCTION
All human institutions are products of their history and as such reflect the values associated with that history. In this respect the Christian Church is no different from any other institution. This article briefl ... read more Nature of Our Being 19 y
:..those who have experienced some form of holotropic state 2 will understand immediately the veracity of the statement associated with their experience of being at ONE with the Universe (Oneness) in that state."
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THE NATURE OF OUR ’BEING’
Alex Paterson
The US psychiatrist, Stanislav Grof, aptly describes ’reality’ as we perceive it as a ’game’, because in essence we and the whole Universe (and that includes all experiential realms, not just the physical universe) are nothing more than a figment of the Creative Principle’s imagination. 1 Even our very nature of being separate ’sparks of life’ with a ’separate’ consciousness and free will is in essence just a grand illusion, for in actual fact we are God and as such there is no real separation between us ... read more Belief Systems 19 y
"Most humans currently live their lives in this realm around the belief systems of others, be that of their parents', peers', mentors' or society's and because of this they inadvertently give up their ability (and responsibility) to define their reality and have control over their lives."
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THE NATURE OF REALITY
Alex Paterson
It is clear to those with spiritual insight that the Universe is the product of the consciousness of SOURCE. 1
Whether they are consciously aware of it in this realm or not, all humans are awesome multi-dimensional spiritual beings who create their reality (in all realms) through the thought processes of their MIND. 2
As such, all humans are entirely responsible for their circumstances and what ’happens’ to them whether they are aware of it or not. This process operates in the Physical Universe under cle ... read more |