oogle
Dear Reader,
I cannot begin to express how happy I am how this thread has turned out....but I'm going to try!
The Opening Post was about the difference between Divine and Demonic activity.
Hasn't it gone well?!! I mean no harm to the demonic force, and wish you peace. When we give way to negative emotions, we are giving way to demonic forces within us, and outside. The activity of these forces is motivated by self-interest: it is to destroy, as mentioned in the OP. I didn't realise until coming here how this might actually work. We are sentient beings, and as such, have free will. However, there are two forces in the universe – one demonic, and one divine – and here we can entertain the idea of the law of attraction. We (through our habitual patterning) can become either selfish or selfless (demonic or divine). If we give way to the negative, demonic forces of destruction, we actually become demons! Likewise, if we give way to the divine forces, we will become enlightened.
Now the thing is...demonic forces hate practitioners and loving compassion. They stay at the level of information and will argue about this information for ever. Knowledge only comes through the practice of this information – and therefore the truth is experienced and known – and experiential knowledge can lead us to wisdom. Wisdom is the recognition of our true nature.
So you can see, as a reader, that you have a choice of which force you lean towards. And there will naturally be a conflict, because the demonic forces will probably seem more interesting on a superficial level! And until we are enlightened, we will have this mixture.
As I said before, this is a huge subject, and different paths will describe in different ways. Although we have individual paths, we may find there are those with whom we rub shoulders and that forms a collective path, a similar way of looking at things. This will depend on our temperament and capacity. I try not to talk about Buddhism, but within this system (as in others) there are many level, paths and methods.
In order to know whether a path is valid for you, you have to test it – but the outcome of every path will always be loving kindness, which includes generosity, patience, discipline, concentration and transcendental knowledge (beyond conceptual, conventional understanding).
The OP came in at quite a high level, so I'll try to clarify...
There are two approaches to finding our true nature: one is starting from the beginning of the book, and the other is starting at the end.
The path from the beginning of the book entails receiving information, practising it and gradually peeling away the layers of obscuring concepts. In Sanskrit, this is called way of shine and vipassana and can be a long process, but is sound and valid.
The other way is to be introduced to the end of the book straight away through what is known as the pointing out instruction. This is so that you know where you are at and why it is necessary to go back to the beginning and practice! But in this way, you have a clear idea of the top of the mountain.
I am not a teacher and not authorised to give the pointing out instruction but I can sort of give an indication. I'll try and keep it short: to fully understand this, you would need to read volumes and undertake a lot of reflection, meditation, practice and experience: you would have to test it for yourself as it goes far beyond these words. As I said, this isn't fit subject for a discussion down the pub!
Our being has 3 qualities: empty, cognisant and compassionate. This essence can then split into five enlightened activities of mirror-like wisdom, all accomplishing wisdom, the wisdom of equality, discriminating wisdom and the wisdom of spaciousness.
To simplify, our essence reflects everything, sees everything as one taste, can accomplish anything, is discerning and spacious. As individuals, we may have one or more of these qualities and in Sanskrit, they are known as the Buddha families. And all these qualities have a neurotic opposite: negative emotions.
These five wisdoms activate into the four enlightened activities and then again, you can see how these can be twisted into demonic activities. The path to enlightenment is made of gradual steps of refining perception. Perception changes at every level. Likewise, the path to endarkenment is the path of deception within the path of enlightenment...that is why understanding these two natures is so important, because recognition of the demonic side can enhance our practice. Shadows only exist because of the light.
I would politely request that people don't try to disrupt threads: a genuinely kind discussion would be preferable. Otherwise the flow is disrupted and this makes it hard for others to follow later on.
The signs of spiritual development are an increase in faith, compassion and intelligence.
Kindest regards,
Tony
Originally Posted by pie'n'eal
Bookmarks