Very nice to be so welcomed.... Thanks all for the greetings!

(Why do I have a double layer of formatting tools above the message box? and which tool do I use to post a link as part of a message text?)

You can see I'm a hardened expert in these matters, can't you....?

All the more reason to always 'test the teachings for yourself'.... So much can be "lost in translation" - and other complexities of lingual communication!

Thank you for the lesson.

The thing I have found most logical about Buddhism is that if it doesn't make sense, then question it further; because if it doesn't help you in your practice, then leaving it aside is acceptable. Always ask yourself: How does this help me be a better Buddhist? if it doesn't, then forget it. Move on...

St Francis of Assisi referred to 'Brother Sun and Sister Moon'. ('Frate Sole, Sora Luna'). He bestowed upon them a beneficence, a giving quality, that passes to us the benevolent intention of their respective virtues, or valuable gifts of 'light'. Whenever I see them in the sky at the same time (lik...

If people ask me a question to which I know a Buddhist-related answer is appropriate, I actually give them the choice: "Do you want an abridged version, or shall I go into this, big-time?" It's amazing how many people, given the choice, opt for the latter. About a third of the way in (see, I KNOW ho...

The 4 Holy Abidings are helpful in general: Loving Kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity. Oh, is that what they're called? I always thought they were the "Brahma Viharas" or 'The 4 sublime States'.... I live and learn. There's a lot to be said for Compassion Training. Without it, we...

Well, I do know the Pope has to be hoisted up on a chair with part of the seat missing, in order to prove he has male "equipment" and is not a female in disguise, as happened here.... http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/popejoan.htm I will add that this practice has long-since been discontinued. It se...

What tradition of Buddhism are you referring to? Does this 'flying' belief appear as a stated fact in all Buddhist traditions? Have you come across this claim as a general fact across the board, or are you cherry-picking the information from one specific tradition's writings? You seem to have a habi...

James the Giant wrote:Ah, um, I notice now that I made three references to attractive women in one post... Hmm, maybe Mara is working on that angle after all...

Probably Mara's daughters. They tried to give The Buddha a shedload of problems too, as I recall.....

Thanks David.
I presume you're the feller in the foreground, rather than the big guy at the back.

Nice to be here.

@dxm_dxm, have you actually been psychologically diagnosed by a behavioural therapist, as actually officially having this condition?

Hi, The no BS Buddhist here. So-called because even in my community, I'm known for not mincing my words, and telling it like it is. :guns: Compassion, to me can be divided into two broad streams; one, unskillful, or 'Fool's Compassion' the other, far better thought-out, or 'Wise Compassion'. I try t...