Will as you describe suggests a contingent attribution of meaning (which I would be entirely comfortable with) whereas your "necessary" attribution of meaning to duty is a fait accompli. Armies hate contigencies, people love it.
Glad to here this is distinction is not a problem for you. I guess my central question is why a very common perception is separation between sexuality and religion.
Would you be happier with "Liberal Christians" and "Conservative Christians. Splitting hairs isn't it. Moreover, Christians come in several colours, shapes and sizes. They do not all believe the same thing or practice in the same way.
You are different. Deconditioned, alert. Try a bit of counterfactual thinking. If you hadn't done the meditation etc would the tension you experience dissapear. How long since you saw these people? In general talking about my "religious" beliefs in an inappropriate context ( eg police interview)...
I think interpretation is inevitable in ordinary consciousness. The moment you finish reading this associative processes are at work. Maybe koans engage dissassociative processes as well leading to "tricks of consciousness" being unveiled. Incidentally, I think "samadhi" is an interpretation as...
That religion can organise. God/reincarnation/divine intervention can also organise. Chinese authorities see religion as an organising principle. Dont forget they are atheist.
Maybe they shouldn't worry too much about religion as a competing power structure. They have introduced capitalism which would have (I suspect) irreversibly undermined the feudal, spiritually oriented state Tibet once was. You see a link for the Chinese between religion and naissant democracy?
Sunstone, your interpretation of the Koan seems entirely plausible. Maybe you can help me with some information on how these are interpreted. Are Koan(s) up for discussion while the disciple is interpreting them? Does the master give feedback? How does the master interpret the response: are...
Hypnotism is not intrinsically bad or good. If you accept it is of Satan then it should be for you of God also. I think it is a unlikely to be of either unless you have this belief going into a session. If a hypnotherapist started talking of such things while you are under, ask for your money...
Several years ago the Chinese installed their own "Panchen lama", and recently two Catholic "cardinals". They are trying to control religion top-down. I interprete their actions as acknowledgement that organised religion poses a threat to their order. Is this because religion encourages...