..."such mundane rituals".... there's a certain sophistry and conceit to your words.... ...perhaps it takes a literature student to read it....
So maybe I came on a bit strong for such a gentle psychonaut. Let me ask a question then. What is the karma of prayer?
The result of kamma is the same in any form used to create it. With the will to act, with the will to speak, one acts or speaks. Mind is the forerunner of all states, whether evil or good. Mind is chief. If one acts or speaks with a wicked mind, suffering follows. If one acts or speaks with a pure mind, happiness follows. HTML: HTML: HTML: HTML:
It's good to have a formulaic certainty. It prevents the necessity for deep thought. Which can be a hindrance to clarity. However, it also prevents liberality, and ability to 'go with the flow' which is almost the most powerful technique that one has for development. If the subject of prayer is one which evokes no positive response then it's hard to understand how other more formulaic idealogies are bound to help one. Sounds like you're a cittamatrin, Darrell. I don't subscribe to your view. In Dzogchen it's said that Rigpa is separate from the mind. Thus there is a state of experience which superceeds mind, and therefore it cannot be said that mind is the cause of all things.
Buddhist moderators seem to always like deleting things they disagree with. Same thing always at Esangha. Funny how those who are claiming that others are 'angry' or 'confused' and so on are the first to be offended and in their utter clarity be so sure about editing and deleting others thoughts. I guess this part of this board is now off limits for me. So ciao.
