My spiritual EGO (real spirituality?)

"Living is easy with eyes closed." Wake up. Don't hate me b/c I'm beautiful. Hate me for my ego.

Irah Morffi (@irahmorffi) • the most enlightened girl on internet (I mean "metaphysics researcher" who totally does not love herself and everybody's jealous of, totally not that).

• Irah Morffi (@irahmorffi) • Threads, Say more
• Irah Morffi (skool.com)

Einsturzende Neubauten Yü-gung (Fütter mein ego) [German "Feed My Ego"]

I'm a limited liability corporation in Florida.

IRAH IS NOT A DOCTOR OR A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. No, really. She is a for-profit spiritual life coach who focuses on self-improvement. Dealing with emergencies or medical situations? Please seek medical help from professionals. The company [that is the future Irah Morffi, Inc] was founded in 2020 under LLC NYARAH INC in Plantation, Florida. (Registration number 221041595397).

High vibration living now?

The bliss (piti) of meditation as samadhi (calm meditation with absorption)

Happiness (joy) is the way to meditation: meditationsteps.org

How do I know if I'm enlightened?

Ajahn Brahmali: Fake or deluded stream-entry

(Buddhist Insights @ Empty Cloud) Streamed live on Dec. 26, 2021. How can we relate to phony or deluded claims of stream entry, the first stage of Buddhist enlightenment (bodhi)? Ajahn Brahmali answers questions from fellow Thai tradition Theravada Buddhist monastics. To learn more about Buddhist Insights, see: linktr.ee/buddhistinsights

• Q: How does one know whether the first stage of enlightenment (stream entry or sōtapanna) is reached? | Ajahn Dtun

Marianne Williamson: What is Enlightenment?

Marianne Williamson (jimmydorecomedy.com); Seth Auberon, Pfc. Sandoval, Wisdom Quarterly

"Buddhism For Dummies" (second edition)

Dummies.com, Buddhism For Dummies, 2nd Edition; Editors, Wisdom Quarterly

Here's an easy, hands-on guide to a widely practiced and ancient tradition.

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Buddhism, one of the world's most widely practiced religions, is a fascinating yet complex Eastern religion that is rapidly spreading throughout Western civilization.

• What does it mean to be a Buddhist?
• What are the fundamental beliefs and history behind this philosophy/religion?

Buddhism For Dummies explores these questions and more in this updated guide to Buddhist culture.


Gain an understanding of the origins of this ancient practice and how they're currently applied to everyday life.
 
Whether you searching for Truth, a student of world religions, or just curious about what makes Buddhism so widely practiced, this guide is for you.

In plain English, it defines important terms, explains key concepts, and explores in-depth a wide range of fascinating topics.

• New and expanded coverage on all the various schools of Buddhism, including Theravada, Vajrayana (Tibetan), and Mahayana
• The continuing relevance of the Dalai Lama
• Updated coverage on daily spiritual observances, celebrations, styles, practices, meditation, and more

Continuing the Dummies tradition of making the world's religions engaging and accessible to everyone, Buddhism For Dummies is your essential guide to this fascinating tradition. More

KOAN: Beiko's No Enlightenment

Dhr. Seven, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly with Roshi Jeff Albrizze (PasaDharma.org), Book of Equanimity, Case 62; ZCLA (ZenCenter.com); Alan Watts(KPFK.org/Pacifica Radio)

Zen is a Mahayana school that developed in China during the 6th century as Chán (jhana). Zen spread south to Vietnam, northeast to Korea, and east to Japan (desktopc.com).

Kipp Ryodo Hawley (left), Lorraine Gesho Kumpf, John Heart Mirror Trotter, Mark Shogen Bloodgood, George Mukei Horner, ZCLA at special open house service (Wisdom Quarterly)

  

PREFACE TO THE ASSEMBLY

(photographybydavidmcmeekin/flickr.com)

The primary meaning of Bodhidharma's principle muddled Emperor Wu's head.

The non-dual [Mahayana Buddhism adopted the Brahminical, Vedic, Hindu concept of Advaita rather than keeping to what the historical Buddha taught] Dharma gate of Vimalakirti made Manjushri's speech go wrong.

Is there anything here of enlightenment to enter and use?

MAIN CASE

Attention!

Master Beiko sent a monk to ask Kyozan, "Do people these days have to attain enlightenment?"

Kyozan replied, "It's not that there's no enlightenment,

But how can one not fall down into the second level?"*

The monk related this to Beiko, who wholeheartedly approved it.

• *How can one not remain stuck in "the second level," that is, in one's foundational serenity (zen) practice rather than ascending to final liberating-insight (vipassana)?
• AUDIO: Alan Watts explains Zen, koans, "Haiku" (Pacifica)

APPRECIATORY VERSE

Kwannon in the garden (WQ)

The second level divides enlightenment and rends delusion.

Better to promptly let go and discard traps and snares.

Merit, if not yet extinguished, becomes an extra appendage.

It is as difficult to know wisdom as to bite one's navel.

The waning moon's icy disk; autumn dew weeps.

Benumbed birds, jeweled trees, dawn's breeze chills.

Bringing it out, great Kyozan discerns true and false.

Completely without flaw, the splendid jewel is priceless.

 

Outside the "Gateless Gate" of the uber urban Zen Center, Los Angeles (WQ)

What is Buddhism?

Buddhist Chaplain Unibodhi, (University of Sydney); Wisdom Quarterly

"Buddhism" is neither a religion nor a philosophy; it is a path of practice summed up in four ennobling truths. Meditation is development to superheroic heights (naturalnews.com).

Buddhism tells us that everything in the world arises due to causes and conditions and is subject to change. Nothing is permanent. However, it is in this process of change that we can cultivate profitable conditions (merit) that lead us to a better future. Buddhism points out the causes of suffering and, moreover, how we can bring suffering to a final end.

Buddhists look upon the Buddha as a teacher. He is an ideal teacher who has realized the truth of life and phenomena in the universe. He has freed himself from greed, hatred, and ignorance -- and he assures us that we can do the same. He was pure in conduct and perfect in wisdom and compassion.

He shared his experiences and taught us methods of practice to evolve. It is by making our own effort, putting into practice these teachings, that we can gradually develop a calm, rational, and compassionate mind, purifying our conduct and ending our suffering.

We, too, can attain perfect wisdom, compassion, and other virtues just like the Buddha, who pointed out that:

By ourselves is wrong done;
By ourselves we pain endure.
By ourselves we cease from harm;
By ourselves become we pure.

No one saves us but ourselves;
No one can and no one may.
We ourselves must walk the path,
Buddhas only point the way.

(Wisdom Quarterly translation, Dhammapada 165)

Four Truths that Ennoble Practitioners
Dharmachari Seven, Wisdom Quarterly
The first truth one realizes long before coming to Buddhism is that life is beset by unpleasant and unsatisfactory experiences.

There is disappointment. This message is forever useful and fresh because it leads to the second realization: There is a cause.

There are reasons why this is happening. Our distress does not pop out of nothing. What are the causes and supporting conditions for it? More importantly, what are the causes and conditions for happiness, peace, and freedom?

That happiness, peace, and freedom from all that is disappointing is the third truth, the truth of nirvana (the end of suffering). But so what if there is unhappiness, so what if it has a cause, so what if there is a solution, what does any of that matter if it were not for the fourth truth: the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering?

So the Four Noble Truths are all about ending suffering. They lead to enlightenment and nirvana, the ultimate. Nowadays we would be less put off if Buddhism were not phrased negatively focusing on suffering: There is an illness. There is a cause. There is a cure. Here is the cure.

The Dharma in a nutshell could just as easily be phrased positively: There is a cure. There is a cause of getting better. Of course, it goes without saying that there is an illness. Here is the cure!

The fourth truth is the Noble Eightfold Path, a tightly packed set of instructions that must be unpacked to be put into proper practice. All told, the practice that leads to enlightenment has 37 requisites.

Introduction
The Noble Eightfold Path and its Factors Explained
Preface

• I. Right View
• II. Right Thought
• III. Right Speech
• IV. Right Action
• V. Right Livelihood
• VI. Right Effort
• VII. Right Mindfulness
• VIII. Right Concentration
  

Practicing the Path...

Thich Nhat Hanh: What is Nirvana?

What is Nirvana? (Thich Nhat Hanh)

Thich Nhat Hanh (of Plum Village) on the reality of nirvana (LINK)

Meditation Masters: Advice on Enlightenment

Ven. Dhammadipa "The Approach for Western Buddhists" Phat Hue Pagoda, Germany

Tamil Siddha master on the question, "What is Enlightenment?"

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Simple Hermit on reaching enlightenment by unlearning

From the works of living enlightened master Paramahamsa Nithyananda. In this clip taken from Shiva Sutras discourse entitled "Discover who you are," Swamiji explains that truly relaxing from the very idea of enlightenment will take you to the experience. In the initial level the inspiration and the thirst for enlightenment is required to bring you to be centered. Once this happens, just relaxing about the very idea of enlightenment liberates you. The complete discourse may be ordered online at http://www.lifeblissgalleria.com/