Share the knowledge! The R&R Library

Alkindus
Alkindus Members Posts: 1,677 ✭✭✭
edited March 2010 in R & R (Religion and Race)
Once, not so long ago people had to travel hundreds if not thousands of kilometers just to enter a place of knowledge, a university or school call it what you want. In order to be accepted in the community and gain knowledge you had to gain the respect of the scholars before they let you study the scrolls you probably came for.

Nowadays those books and scrolls that have been kept secret or remained exclusive for a selective group are avaliable for all of us. We dont have to go to Tibet to get Tibetan scrolls lol.


Whether you rock 老子, ´rumi´ or ´buddha´, this is the thread where you can post stories, sayings, book links, discuss everything freely, from videos to mp3's everything related to knowledge is welcome.


Here is some ´hongzhi´ 12th century zen master, from a book called 'silent enlightment'.


§ 11. The Ancient Ferryboat in the Bright Moonlight

A patch-robed monk's authentic task is to practice the essence, in each minute event carefully discerning the shining source, radiant without discrimination, one color unstained. You must keep turning inwards, then [the source] is apprehended. This is called being able of continue the family business. Do not wear the changing fashions, transcend the duality of light and shadow. Accordingly the ancestors' single trail is marvelously enacted. The residual debris of the world departs, its influence ended. This worldly knowledge does not compare to returning to the primary and obtaining confirmation. Observing beyond your skull, the core finally can be fulfilled and you can emerge from the transitory. The reeds blossom under the bright moon; the ancient ferryboat begins its passage; the jade thread fits into the golden needle. Then the opportunity arises to turn around, enter the world, and respond to conditions. All the dusts are entirely yours; all the dharmas are not someone else's. Follow the current and paddle along, naturally unobstructed!

§ 12. The Gates Sparkling at the Source

All Buddhas and every ancestor without exception testify that they all arrive at this refuge where the three times [past, present, and future] cease and the ten thousand changes are silenced. Straight ahead, unopposed by the smallest atom, the inherently illumined Buddha spirit subtly penetrates the original source. When recognized and realized exhaustively, [this spirit] shares itself and responds to situations. The gates sparkle and all bens behold the gleamings. Then they understand d that from within this place fulfilled self flows out. The hundreds of grass-tips all around never are imposed as my causes and conditioning. The whole body from head to foot proceeds smoothly.


§ 13. The Misunderstanding of Many Lifetimes

Emptiness is without characteristics. Illumination has no emotional afflictions. With piercing, quietly profound radiance, it mysteriously eliminates all disgrace. Thus one can know oneself; thus the self is completed. We all have the clear, wondrously bright field from the beginning. Many lifetimes of misunderstanding come only from distrust, hindrance, and screens of confusion that we create in a scenario of isolation. With boundless wisdom journey beyond this, forgetting accomplishments. Straightforwardly abandon stratagems and take on responsibility. Having turned yourself around, accepting your situation,
if you set foot on the path, spiritual energy will marvelously transport you. Contact phenomena with total sincerity, not a single atom of dust outside yourself.


§ 14. Self and Other the Same

All dharmas are innately amazing beyond description. Perfect vision has no gap. In mountain groves, grasslands, and woods the truth has always been exhibited. Discern and comprehend the broad long tongue [of Buddha's teaching], which cannot be muted anywhere. The spoken is instantly hard; what is heard is instantly spoken. Senses and objects merge; principle and wisdom are united. When self and other are the same, mind and dharmas are one. When you face what you have excluded and see how it appears, you must quickly gather it together and integrate with it. Make it work within your house, then establish stable sitting.


§ 15. Ten Billion Illuminating Spirits

The way wanders in the empty middle of the circle, reaching the vacancy where appearances are forgotten. The pure ultimate self blazes, brilliant simply from inherent illumination. Facing the boundary of the objective world without yet creating the sense gates, realize the subtlety of how to eliminate the effects of the swirling flow of arising and extinction! Rely only on the source of creation. If you feel a shadow of a hair's gap, nothing will be received. Just experience and respond appropriately. From this singular impact many thousands of roads open, and al things are preeminent. With this unification I radiantly speak the Dhama. The self divides into ten billion distinct illuminating spirits. Distinguish these without falling into names and classifications and accord fully without effort. The mirror is clear and magnanimous. The valley is empty, but echoes. From the beginning unbound by seeing or hearing, the genuine self romps and plays in samadhi without obstruction. When enacted like this, how could it not be beneficial?

Comments

  • TX_Made713
    TX_Made713 Members Posts: 3,954 ✭✭
    edited March 2010
    Who incited David to count the fighting men of Israel?

    (a) ? did (2 Samuel 24: 1)

    (b) Satan did (I Chronicles 2 1:1)





    In that count how many fighting men were found in Israel?

    (a) Eight hundred thousand (2 Samuel 24:9)

    (b) One million, one hundred thousand (IChronicles 21:5)




    How many fighting men were found in Judah?

    (a) Five hundred thousand (2 Samuel 24:9)

    (b) Four hundred and seventy thousand (I Chronicles 21:5)




    ? sent his prophet to threaten David with how many years of famine?

    (a) Seven (2 Samuel 24:13)

    (b) Three (I Chronicles 21:12)




    How old was Ahaziah when he began to rule over Jerusalem?

    (a) Twenty-two (2 Kings 8:26)

    (b) Forty-two (2 Chronicles 22:2)




    How old was Jehoiachin when he became king of Jerusalem?

    (a) Eighteen (2 Kings 24:8)

    (b) Eight (2 Chronicles 36:9)




    How long did he rule over Jerusalem?

    (a) Three months (2 Kings 24:8)

    (b) Three months and ten days (2 Chronicles 36:9)




    The chief of the mighty men of David lifted up his spear and killed how many men at one time?

    (a) Eight hundred (2 Samuel 23:8)

    (b) Three hundred (I Chronicles 11: 11)




    When did David bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem? Before defeating the Philistines or after?

    (a) After (2 Samuel 5 and 6)

    (b) Before (I Chronicles 13 and 14)




    How many pairs of clean animals did ? tell Noah to take into the Ark?

    (a) Two (Genesis 6:19, 20)

    (b) Seven (Genesis 7:2). But despite this last instruction only two pairs went into the ark (Genesis 7:8-9)




    When David defeated the King of Zobah, how many horsemen did he capture?

    (a) One thousand and seven hundred (2 Samuel 8:4)

    (b) Seven thousand (I Chronicles 18:4)




    How many stalls for horses did Solomon have?

    (a) Forty thousand (I Kings 4:26)

    (b) Four thousand (2 chronicles 9:25)
  • TX_Made713
    TX_Made713 Members Posts: 3,954 ✭✭
    edited March 2010
    In what year of King Asa's reign did Baasha, King of Israel die?

    (a) Twenty-sixth year (I Kings 15:33 - 16:8)

    (b) Still alive in the thirty-sixth year (2 Chronicles 16:1)




    How many overseers did Solomon appoint for the work of building the temple?

    (a) Three thousand six hundred (2 Chronicles 2:2)

    (b) Three thousand three hundred (I Kings 5:16)




    Solomon built a facility containing how many baths?

    (a) Two thousand (1 Kings 7:26)

    (b) Over three thousand (2 Chronicles 4:5)




    Of the Israelites who were freed from the Babylonian captivity, how many were the children of Pahrath-Moab?

    (a) Two thousand eight hundred and twelve (Ezra 2:6)

    (b) Two thousand eight hundred and eighteen (Nehemiah 7:11)




    How many were the children of Zattu?

    (a) Nine hundred and forty-five (Ezra 2:8)

    (b) Eight hundred and forty-five (Nehemiah 7:13)




    How many were the children of Azgad?

    (a) One thousand two hundred and twenty-two (Ezra 2:12)

    (b) Two thousand three hundred and twenty-two (Nehemiah 7:17)




    How many were the children of Adin?

    (a) Four hundred and fifty-four (Ezra 2:15)

    (b) Six hundred and fifty-five (Nehemiah 7:20)




    How many were the children of Hashum?

    (a) Two hundred and twenty-three (Ezra 2:19)

    (b) Three hundred and twenty-eight (Nehemiah 7:22)




    How many were the children of Bethel and Ai?

    (a) Two hundred and twenty-three (Ezra 2:28)

    (b) One hundred and twenty-three (Nehemiah 7:32)




    Ezra 2:64 and Nehemiah 7:66 agree that the total number of the whole assembly was 42,360. Yet the numbers do not add up to anything close. The totals obtained from each book is as follows:

    (a) 29,818 (Ezra)

    (b) 31,089 (Nehemiah)




    How many singers accompanied the assembly?

    (a) Two hundred (Ezra 2:65)

    (b) Two hundred and forty-five (Nehemiah 7:67)




    What was the name of King Abijah’s mother?

    (a) Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah (2 Chronicles 13:2)

    (b) Maachah, daughter of Absalom (2 Chronicles 11:20) But Absalom had only one daughter whose name was Tamar (2 Samuel 14:27)




    Did Joshua and the Israelites capture Jerusalem?

    (a) Yes (Joshua 10:23, 40)

    (b) No (Joshua 15:63)




    Who was the father of Joseph, husband of Mary?

    (a) Jacob (Matthew 1:16)

    (b) Hell (Luke 3:23)




    Jesus descended from which son of David?

    (a) Solomon (Matthew 1:6)

    (b) Nathan(Luke3:31)




    Who was the father of Shealtiel?

    (a) Jechoniah (Matthew 1:12)

    (b) Neri’ (Luke 3:27)




    Which son of Zerubbabel was an ancestor of Jesus Christ?

    (a) Abiud (Matthew 1: 13)

    (b) Rhesa (Luke 3:27) But the seven sons of Zerubbabel are as follows: i.Meshullam, ii. Hananiah, iii. Hashubah, iv. Ohel, v.Berechiah, vi. Hasadiah, viii. Jushabhesed (I Chronicles 3:19, 20). The names Abiud and Rhesa do not fit in anyway.
  • BiblicalAtheist
    BiblicalAtheist Members Posts: 15,668 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2010
    "Teach no one that they are what you would not want to be." ~ ACIM



    Dammit, I shouldn't have called And Step a ? , now that means I'm a lesbian!!