The Diamond Sutra as I understand it

The Diamond Sutra (translated into chinese)

The Diamond Sutra is another prominent Buddhist sutra


The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia:-

The Diamond Sūtra (Sanskrit: Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra), is a short and well-known Mahāyāna sūtra from the Prajñāpāramitā, or "Perfection of Wisdom" genre, and emphasizes the practice of non-abiding and non-attachment. Note that the title properly translated is the Diamond Cutter of Perfect Wisdom although it is popular to refer to it as the Diamond Sūtra.

From my understanding, The Diamond Sutra is about the essential teaching of Buddhism, that of non-duality. That is the fact that there are actually no individual existences in this world.


IMHO, while I am certainly no expert, I believe the Diamond Sutra tells us what we now know via Quantum Physics. That all is an illusion and we just think we exist as individuals but we actually don't. Everything in our physical world can be broken down to atoms and atoms can be further broken down into empty space and even finer particles (with more space than anything else). In fact, while the "tangible" physical world is a world of duality i.e. hot vs cold, good vs bad, etc, at the tiniest level, it is actually just empty space i.e. just an illusion. So in actual terms, there is no in here and out there. We're actually interconnected in a massive energy field. So essentially we're in a state of complete non-duality: there are no individuals, no sentient beings. So the elderly Subhuti asks these questions of the Buddha and the Buddha explains and so the Sutra explains this essential teaching of Buddhism.


There are many "chapters" to the Diamond Sutra. It also mentions four marks in which we, humans, are caught. And if we cannot liberate ourself from those four notions then we are not an authentic bodhisattva.


Take this for an example: if we look at say a pen. In our mind, there is an appearance of say, a mark or ink if you prefer. Our minds captures this appearance and we have sort of an idea or rather a perception of the mark (ink) and vice versa. The subject and object depends on each other to co-exist. One makes the other and the other is made by the other.. get it? That mark (or ink mark) results in us having concepts, perceptions and even notions about them of how things are etc etc. So, the appearance helps the mind to form perceptions and notions and the mind catches the appearance of the ink mark to make a concept. So both are responsible. However, most of the time, our perceptions and notions are not entirely correct.


The best example to illustrate this is marriage. When two person fall in love are they really falling in love with each other or their perception of each other? She's beautiful, she is graceful, she is this and that. He is soooo handsome, strong, manly... etc etc. So in each other's mind, they see some concept (perception) of the other which may not be real. It was the concept/perception that they've attached to that person. And this perception/concept feeds on each other. And our loving mind is then created with the help of the appearance of the other. This loving mind grasps at the appearances to form a notion, a perception about the other person. And the object of our love is the appearance of the other person, which we have created in our mind. It is the meaning that we attached to an image created in our mind. the image is but an illusion. After marriage, that illusion falls apart when the other "parts" of both individuals are noticed" for the first time. Actually, those traits were there all along, we chose not to see it. So, a new form of illusion then starts to take hold and the process repeats but this time negatively.


Whew... I'll go into more later. Very taxing.


Related past post"

1. Heart Sutra
2. Boddhisattva - what is a boddhisattva

From The Secret - partnership with Law of Attraction

You are in a partnership with the law of attraction, and it is through this partnership between the two of you that you are creating your life. Each person has their own personal partnership with the law of attraction. You use the law for yourself; everyone else uses the law for themselves. You cannot use the law of attraction on someone else, against their free will. And when you think about it, thank goodness the law operates this way. If it did not, then anybody else could create something in your life that you did not want.
You create through your thoughts and feelings, and no-one but you can think your thoughts or feel your feelings.

From The Secret - Good is underneath every single thing that appears to be negative

If we can know that good is all there is, including in a negative situation, then we will see a negative situation transform into all good. Most people keep the good away from themselves because they label something as bad, and then, of course, that becomes their reality. But there is no bad in the Universe; it is just our inability to see things clearly from the bigger perspective.
Peace comes from knowing that good is all that exists.

From The Secret - let others change naturally

Never try to compel others to change; leave them free to change naturally and orderly because they want to; and they will want to when they find that your change was worthwhile.

"To inspire in others a desire to change for the better is truly noble; but this you can do only by leaving them alone, and becoming more noble yourself."
-CHRISTIAN D. LARSON
(1874-1954)
Mastery of Self

Dumb Egoistic People who just want to be right

Most of us would know of people who will stick to their guns come what may. To us they are like soooo stubborn or just persistent or just plain egoistic.


It is said that the difference between stubbornness and persistence is success. If a person continues plodding along after many others have failed... well... if he succeeds, then people look at him as someone persistent. If he fails, then they say, he is so stubborn.


But what about those who just want to be right? What are they then?


Honestly, I also don't know. But let's look at an example:


Say someone, who really don't have anything going for him/her just want to be right about anything he/she says.


If, say, a seer (or sage etc) advices that it would be good for him/her to do something or go somewhere etc etc.


And originally, he/she had toyed with the idea also. But because the advice came from someone he/she does not like, he/she now discards that advice and decides that come what may, he/she will never go down that path.


And to the extent that he/she will look for evidence or reasons or purposely create events to support his/her decision not to take that advice.


Weird huh... But there are weird people like this. Talk about self sabotage.


Well.. It is their free will to choose to self sabotage themselves. However, I think they should seriously look at themselves in the mirror and ask what are they creating for themselves or their family?


The "unexplainable" unreasonable dumb path they are choosing will ultimately destroy themselves only. There is only so much their families can take. This is the 21st century. No spouse is going to stick around and let you throw your egoistic self sabotaging attitude around for long. So chances are, the spouse would eventually desert him/her as their spouse free will would say, "I'm not going to suffer because of this person".


Sigh.. I hope these people wake up soon... For their own sakes.

From The Secret - Infinite wisdom

When you know that the infinite intelligence of the Universe exists, you can tune into it and draw anything from it. The past greats drew what they wanted from the infinite wisdom of the Universe and then produced it in our physical world. Although they took inspired physical steps, it was hand in hand with infinite intelligence, and so everything flowed to them effortlessly to create beyond what any human being had conceived before them.

From The Secret - power of tithing

One of the biggest things you can do to change your circumstances around money is to take ten percent of what you receive and give it away. This is called the spiritual law of tithing, and it is the greatest action you can take to bring more money into your life.

The Heart Sutra as I understand it

Boddhisattva Kuan Yin
(chinese female version)

The Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sutra (aka Heart Sutra) is one of the most prominent sutra together with the Diamond Sutra in Mahayana Buddhism especially for those who follow the Boddhisattva Kuan Yin (aka Boddhisattva Avalokitesvara). I had that urge to take a look at it... a look only... coz I'm no expert...and see what it could possibly mean in general spiritual terms. 


The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

The Heart Sūtra (Sanskrit: प्रज्ञापारमिताहृदय Prajñāpāramitā Hṛdaya; Chinese: 般若波羅蜜多心經; pinyin: Bōrěbōluómìduō Xīnjīng) is a Mahāyāna Buddhist sūtra. Its Sanskrit name Prajñāpāramitā Hṛdaya literally translates to "Heart of the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom." The Heart Sūtra is often cited as the best known and most popular of all Buddhist scriptures.

Below is the Heart Sutra translated (I don't know if it is accurate) to english by Master Hua:

When Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva was practicing the profound prajna paramita, he illuminated the five skandhas and saw that they are all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty. 

The Heart Sutra

Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ rom form, Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is form. So, too, are feeling, cognition, formation, and consciousness. 

Shariputra, all dharmas are empty of characteristics. They are not produced. Not destroyed, not defiled, not pure, and they neither increase nor diminish. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, feeling, cognition, formation, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no sights, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or dharmas; no field of the eyes, up to and including no field of mind-consciousness; and no ignorance or ending of ignorance, up to and including no old age and death or ending of old age and death. There is no suffering, no accumulating, no extinction, no Way, and no understanding and no attaining. 

Because nothing is attained, the Boddhisattva, through reliance on prajna paramita, is unimpeded in his mind. Because there is no impediment, he is not afraid, and he leaves distorted dream-thinking far behind. Ultimately Nirvana! 

All Buddhas of the three periods of time attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi through reliance on prajna paramita. Therefore, know that prajna paramita is a great spiritual mantra, an unequalled mantra. It can remove all suffering; it is genuine and not false. That is why the mantra of prajna paramita was spoken. Recite it like this: 

gate gate par agate parasamgate bodhi svaha!

Whew... that was a mouthful. Like I said, I'm no expert. But I do believe the Buddha and the Boddhisattvas were attempting to explain certain truths to the people of their time. And I do believe that all origins of religions are somewhat from the same source albeit misconstrued and/or abused over time by human beings. And the east (India, China etc) definitely treated their prophets/Avatar/Messiahs better compared to the west (middle east and westward) where they either send them to the cross or create wars against other religions.

Boddhisattva Avalokitesvara
(male version)

Anyway, we do know now, through science, that we are actually energy (or empty space if you want to be blunt about it). Many people will dispute this but that's their problem if they want to deny their own existence and true nature. Take our body and break it down to the smallest part, we get cells. When we break the cells down, we get atoms and molecules. Go further in, and we get nothingness or just energy. So essentially we are energy or emptiness if you prefer. This explains the first 3 paragraphs already. we are essentially space and therefore all physical, emotional aspects etc are all non-existence in a certain way. God force is pure energy with consciousness (and yet without consciousness). 




And once we realize this, or to put it in a better way, enlightened to our true nature or what we really are i.e. God force (or universal consciousness or etc etc whatever you want to call it), then we must also realize that all the things that we get hooked up with is actually nothing... It's like, "What the hell man, stuff are stuff and its no big a deal". This then explains the 4th paragraph.


The 5th paragraph may be baffling. In fact, most buddhist scriptures like to talk about Buddhas of 3 periods of time: past, present and future. Well, like I said, I'm no expert but in spirituality, time is a concept that we "invented" in the physical realm. In the spiritual world, the concept of time does not exist. All instances are already played out to perfection. So it could be that that paragraph is trying to tell us that it is by knowing what this sutra attempts to tell us that we can be enlightened (or come to realization) to our true nature irregardless of time... that's my guess.


But why then is it called Heart Sutra? Why Heart? Well we know that The One Source is all compassion and love. So, could it be that the sutra is telling us that once we know our true nature which is the God force (for we are created in HIS likeness), we can only be Love and Compassion because that's God force, and hence that's why the sutra is called the "Heart" Sutra?. How else to explain love and compassion other than to point to our heart for the people at that time in history.


Well.. That's my 2 cents on the Heart Sutra...


Somewhat related post:

1. Boddhisattva - what is a boddhisattva?
2. The Diamond Sutra

Magic wands (updated)

We've talked about magic and energy etc. But now it begs the question, what about magic wands? Are there such things? And if there are, are they like what we see in Harry Potter?

Crystal Wand used in Pranic Healing

Well... If magicians (energy manipulators) existed and still exist today, then of course there are magic wands. However not the way we think. When we say magic wand, the image that comes to mind is that of a long stick with a white tip that an illusionist uses with his tricks. Sorry to disappoint you but that ain't quite right. While in ancient times wands may have been made of crystal, metal, wood or some nature material ala Harry Potter style, it's appearance may not be so obvious. In classical Greco-Roman mythology, the god Hermes/Mercury has a special wand called a caduceus.

Phurba

In Ceremonial magic, wands are one of the magical tools used by practitioners for the channeling of energy. Thus a "magic wand" is a tool used by the magi to enhance his/her ability to manipulate energy. In my opinion, it can be anything, which has the properties that the magi desires. Modern "magicians" (healers, esoteric practitioners etc) most likely will use crystal wands. Those long quartz crystals with one or both ends pointed. Or they may have affinity to some ancient tools like the Tibetan Phurba, a short metal dagger like wand with a head at the blunt end.

Wand from Harry Potter movies

However, I'm of the opinion that a magi may come to a point when anything out there can be a wand. Think of it this way. We'll use martial arts swordsmanship as an example. we first learn to use our hands and legs i.e. the basics. Then we start using the sword, maybe a typical Chinese sword. Then as we progress, the sword type needs to be changed to match the expertise of the swordsman. The weight, agility etc all feature in the swordsman's increasing skill. And then there come a time when the swordsman reaches the highest level of skill, he no longer needs a sword because anything, including grass, can be used as a sword. This is just an example I picked from one of those HK kungfu series Return of The Condor Heroes by Jin Yong :-p . But the parable is there with wands. Same concept in my opinion. Of course this is assuming the magi comes from an esoteric school that uses wands.

Using a Crystal wand for healing

Also, I'm sure some magicians of ancient times would use staffs ala Lord of The Rings to channel concentrated energy but I don't think modern day magicians, out of practicality, do anymore. I can't imagine walking downtown with a staff. But having a crystal wand in my pocket is manageable and I pass off as just another whacko new age energy healer. ;p




However, having said all that, I'm sure that even today, certain esoteric schools would have special wands (much like in ancient times) for sale for their practitioners. And chances are that ordinary folks may never get to see it unless they become a practitioner. Heck..you may not even know something is a wand even if it is presented right in front of you.


A high powered magi doesn't need a wand and can turn any object into a tool to concentrate his/her energies.


Related post:

1. Magic and chi
2. Magic
3. Does Energy Healing work

Feeling energy with your hands

Is it possible to feel energy? Again, like seeing, a resounding yes.
However most of us cannot, not because we can't, but because we're so caught up with the physical world our senses are numbed. Furthermore how many ordinary humans are truly aware of their surroundings? A minuscule.
Ask a QiGong or TaiChi practitioner, (not the wannabes) and they will tell you how the chi moves/flows.
Ask a yogi doing Dhyan, Kundalini or some other intensive meditation (again not the wannabes) and they can even describe which chakra the chi is flowing to when they're meditating.
A simple exercise that anyone can try is to use our palms which happen to be the most energy sensitive part of our physical bodies. Here's how:

• 1st you sensitize your palms by gently rubbing each palm with the other hand's fingers to activate your palm's chakras.
• Next, imagine you are holding an imaginary ball with both hands in front if your body in a comfortable position.
• Keep focusing on the empty space between your palms (the empty space that is the imaginary ball)
• Now breathe in and out deeply while you continue focusing at that space.
• Keep doing that deep breathing while focusing on that empty space between your palms.
• Do you feel a sensation between your palms (or hands)?
• Now while you continue the deep breathing and maintaining your focus as before, slowly move your hands apart a few cm. What do you feel?
• Next move your hands closer a few cm. What do you feel?

If you are unsure, well don't think, just feel. If you have never experienced this before, your logical mind would not have any past experience to draw on to describe this sensation. That's why I say don't think, just feel. Then describe what you feel. Here's some typical sensations you may feel depending on how sensitive you are to energy:-

1. warmth in between the hand (that space where the imaginary ball is);
2. A tingling sensation at your palms and maybe even fingers;
3. A mild current like sensation at your hands;
4. As you moved your hands slightly further apart you may have felt something pulling your hands together;
5. and when you moved them slightly nearer you may have felt some resistance.

Congratulations if you felt any of the above, you've just created an energy ball. What happened was as you breathed deeply, you were absorbing air Prana (chi) into your body and sending it out through your hands (fingers and palms) into that empty space between your hands. The accumulated chi forms an energy ball in between your hands. As you moved your hands slowly apart and together a few times the energy ball had an opposing reaction to your action.
Another simple exercise but one needing tools is with crystals. Not any crystal but crystal wands. Those pointy sharp ended long crystal wands. But I must say, you need an experienced person (healer) to help you here. The healer will use the wand. You just sit and be aware. Say you open your palm and be aware of your palm. Let the healer move the crystal around your palms. You should feel a strong piercing sensation moving on your palm tracing the movement of the crystal. Note, the crystal is NOT touching you.
If you don't feel anything, then you've literally got really thick skin (not sensitive to energy at all). This could be a sign that you've got loads of crap on your aura thus your body just can't feel it at all i.e. totally numb except for physical touch.


Related post:

1. Seeing energy
2. Energy!
3. Magic and chi
4. Magic
5. Does Energy Healing work?