Nirvana/God

Interesting point. Myself I'd tend towards the idea that religions do condition people in particular ways, some more so than others.
For the purposes of this discussion I think we can set aside theistic religions like christianity and islam, where the goal is concieved in a way very different to buddhism, vedanta or taoism.
It seems to me that all three of these paths refer to the same reality although in different ways. Brahman, Buddha nature and Tao are all said to be inconcievable, beyond the intellectual mind or rational faculties, yet all 3 are said also to be the true reality, which ordinary mind and consciousness obscure in some way.

 

Yes, it has to be lived and experienced. It is a good analogy with sex. This illustrates my point about the intellect and language - that they can be used to communicate the mechanics of something so that here, the virgin is not entirely clueless as to what goes where and when it's ready and even to hold each other afterwards or even to say no to begin with, etc.

The mind can only comprehend the mechanics of it, never live the essential and direct experience of it. Whilst the mind has this goal, the mind seeking or grasping at nirvana is indeed futile. The mind can reflect on the state and describe the goal, but it can never be it or attain it as such.

My conceptual understanding of nirvana is very simple. To live in perpetual peace, bliss, love and insight. Other people may have another concept of it or not have one at all. Although it is my aspiration, I understand that aspiration for nirvana is to be switched to letting go of nirvana for nirvana to be so.

Finally, that which seeks nirvana is not that which is it.

Attaining it is a myth for the very striving for nirvana creates the very gap that makes it illusive. Even though the mind may define something, it still must be let go off, both the intellect and the thoughts in it, for there to be realisation.

Nirvana is simply there, without the impediments. That realisation is beyond thought or religious belief, so finally, it is pereption of whatever is eternal and infinite. Yet, whichever beliefs are still held condition the experience and limit it if not abandoned as attachments.

Peace and love
Jnanic

 

I think we can be silent now.

 

If we are silent, that won't make for much of a discussion forum.

 

Moreover there is a tripartite division of supreme reality at the base, in Vedism it's the rishi,devata, and chandas, in Vajrayana it's the Trikaya and Three Roots. The point being that shunyata and purna vidyas both still speak of transcendence or nirvana as threefold.

 

Interesting. In the Kabbala also, there is the three-fold division idea.

 

Which would you rather have - discussion board or spiritual illumination?

 

both please.


:gossip:

 

Can't have your incense and burn it.

 

I'm still buying Sai Baba's Nag Champa - mainly because a.) I like the smell b.) despite the alleged sexual shenanegins and 'stage magic', he is building hospitals where before there were no hospitals.

 

Sai incense is wonderful. I also enjoy the tibetan variety and they standard south Indian jasmine incense.

 

Actually Bhaskar, on the topic of Sai - I've changed my opinion on him.

I still think he's faking the materializations, and I think he probably does like young men - but on balance, I think he's doing more good than bad in the world - and maybe he's actually exposing to some of the disgruntled ex-devotees their own shortcomings....

I have discovered a superb Indian family of insence makers in the UK

http://www.pure-incense.com/

Expensive, but worth it. This is absolutely the highest quality I've ever seen.

 

Good link on the incense.