...I'd have to deal with the pet first.... http://www.fantasygallery.net/bader/art_0_bamboo-Forest.html
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "seventhray1" <steve.sundur@...> wrote: > > > > Are you sure you don't mean this Kwan? > > http://www.usa-hero.com/kwan_michelle.html > <http://www.usa-hero.com/kwan_michelle.html> > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Yifu" <yifuxero@> wrote: > > > > Interesting idea...thx for mentioning it; though I prefer Goddesses > such as Kwan Yin....; ymmv > > http://www.mykwanyin.com/images/00kuan_yin_1_.jpg > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "emptybill" emptybill@ wrote: > > > > > > > > > Can we take our own future enlightenment as our ishta-devataa > > > (meditation deity) in this lifetime? > > > > > > > > > > > > One of the definitions of final enlightenment (samyak.sam.bodhi) is > > > omniscience (sarva-jñana) and supremacy over all states of > existence. > > > > > > > > > > > > Patanjali Yoga Sutra 3.49 says: > > > > > > Only one discerning (khaati) the difference (anyataa) between > purusha > > > and sattva gains supremacy (adhi.staat.rtva) over all states > (bhaava) > > > and all-knowingness (sarvajñaat.rtva). > > > > > > > > > > > > The Buddha is said to be omniscient, but only in the limited sense > that > > > although he can see whatever he chooses, he does not perceive > everything > > > simultaneously, but must turn his mind to whatever it is he wants to > > > perceive. Thus in the Theravada tradition, the Buddha denies that > anyone > > > can see everything in a single act of cognition (ekachaitanyam). > > > However, one of the signal events of a Buddha's enlightenment is > > > direct perception of his own past lives. This means he is not bound > by > > > the conventional ideas of separation between the past, the present > and > > > future. > > > > > > > > > > > > Thus the obvious question: > > > > > > > > > > > > In the future, in your fully enlightened state, are you looking at > > > yourself right at this very "moment"? > > > > > > > > > > > > Considering this ultimate universal-supremacy and omniscience, can > you > > > take yourself as your own ishta-devatta, as that one who transforms > you > > > into Tad-Ekam or "That One"? Not some airy-fairy "higher > > > self" but in the immediacy and directness of this present awareness? > > > .. > > > > > >
