tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012179240296572398.post4790567646946182156..comments2024-03-28T17:16:14.568+00:00Comments on Retro-Forteana: Paranormal Classification, circa 250 BCAndrew Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17073306343984931484noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012179240296572398.post-18150208345720150802011-05-28T09:08:12.133+01:002011-05-28T09:08:12.133+01:00I didn't know that, but there is really very l...I didn't know that, but there is really very little Tantric influence or symbolism in the Theravada suttas, which is where this quote comes from. I still think the phrase was meant to be taken literally, and wouldn't have sounded as far-fetched in those days as it does today. But thanks for your thoughts on the subject!Andrew Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17073306343984931484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012179240296572398.post-28269867671085145352011-05-27T22:55:26.793+01:002011-05-27T22:55:26.793+01:001g- Sun and moon are tantric symbolism of internal...1g- Sun and moon are tantric symbolism of internal neurological energies.Gaia Fusionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07140221910303477684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012179240296572398.post-61739715489268460422011-05-25T20:58:43.278+01:002011-05-25T20:58:43.278+01:00I'm sure you're right - I'm not very w...I'm sure you're right - I'm not very well-versed in Mahayana sutras. I like the Pali writings, particularly the Abhidhamma, because of their objective, analytical style (proto-scientific, to use your phrase!) and they're generally devoid of myth and mysticism. That's what makes it so remarkable that these paranormal powers crop up there!Andrew Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17073306343984931484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012179240296572398.post-31007965541399681952011-05-25T19:45:35.893+01:002011-05-25T19:45:35.893+01:00Oh, well, I am also thinking of maybe Surangama Su...Oh, well, I am also thinking of maybe Surangama Sutra, which is admittedly apocryphal (as are many sutras though) but definitely not Pali. I see references to some of those things discussed in there as well although the Chinese may have obfuscated them a bit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012179240296572398.post-25346116970393314622011-05-25T18:53:52.199+01:002011-05-25T18:53:52.199+01:00That's interesting. I've never seen these ...That's interesting. I've never seen these powers discussed outside the Pali primary sources... I'd assumed they were a bit of an embarrassment to modern practitioners! I first encountered the list in the Visuddhimagga, which I've got on my bookshelf, but the discussion there is (at the risk of offending Buddhaghosa fans) rather long-winded to say the least. So I went back to the Digha version which I found on the web.Andrew Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17073306343984931484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012179240296572398.post-72364072841879715202011-05-25T15:27:31.789+01:002011-05-25T15:27:31.789+01:00I wouldn't call it necessarily non-scientific ...I wouldn't call it necessarily non-scientific but proto-scientific. The buddha did come up with a systematized study of the mind from the first person. <br /><br />This is the standard set of supranormal powers that are described throughout the Suttas and their commentaries. (Another notable but later source is the Vishuddhimagga.) As a practitioner, you're counseled against cultivating these for the sake of power because it's just another ego-attachment--and you might be chasing after this stuff forever. I met a monk once who had a "breakthrough" after which he could see past lives or "karma" (as he described it) of himself and others. He eventually said it was fruitless and the novelty wears off fast. I am pretty skeptical myself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012179240296572398.post-47721649726771027672011-05-25T09:12:00.264+01:002011-05-25T09:12:00.264+01:00That would be a neat solution if we wanted to give...That would be a neat solution if we wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt! In reality, I suspect they thought (in common with most non-scientific cultures) that the Sun and Moon were about fifty miles away -- so touching them while still standing on the Earth would be a superhuman but not impossible feat (like Reed Richards in the Fantastic Four)!Andrew Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17073306343984931484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012179240296572398.post-65506213401523363432011-05-24T22:40:10.532+01:002011-05-24T22:40:10.532+01:00touching the sun and moon might be speaking metaph...touching the sun and moon might be speaking metaphorically about remote viewing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012179240296572398.post-84663025619088390952011-05-21T19:42:48.098+01:002011-05-21T19:42:48.098+01:00"No smoke without fire"... that's an..."No smoke without fire"... that's an interesting comment, and the fact that the same ideas crop up in so many cultures certainly gives one pause for thought.Andrew Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17073306343984931484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012179240296572398.post-15097957467813843882011-05-21T19:27:38.669+01:002011-05-21T19:27:38.669+01:00THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS ARE FOUND IN THE LIFE AND...THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS ARE FOUND IN THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS AND THE ADVANCED SHAMANISTIC TRADITIONS. <br />SURLY THERE IS FIRE WHERE SO MUCH SMOKE IS FOUND.<br /><br />RIP PARKERRip Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14285545564377891230noreply@blogger.com