Importance of Symbols & Religions.

I've watched a film about Jung's Psychology and Symbols.

Here's summary:

In Jungian Psychology, as opposed to Freud's one ... topics of Mythology and Religions have important place. Ignoring these is a big mistake, when one tries to understand modern civilized man's Mind, or at least I think so.

Human Mind is like a riverbed. It has no water in itself, but when water flows in, it is given specific form, shape and direction.

Similarly, Human Mind is like riverbed... when object of perception flows in, is seen by senses and flows into Mind, emotions and thought processes are activated.

This Mind's Riverbed was shaped by evolution, like physical body... and is called: 'collective unconscious'.

We've inherited from our ancestors certain tendencies, tendencies to interpret and to react to certain symbols in a certain way.

In this film some of the biblical symbols were explained:
- Snake (danger, enemy, poisonous) and Tree (roots in ground, trunk that gives stability and tree's crown that reaches heavens) in Garden of Eden,
- Mount Sinai (climbing mountain means detachments from daily chores, means reaching for spirituality), and the 10 Commandments of Moses (tablets of stone that bring the laws and stability to society),
- Great Flood and Noah's Ark (great water is like chaos, cataclysm).

Bible uses these symbols to tell something about a man, what he/she was before and how he/she is now.

When we observe a symbol via our senses, before we understand it, we react according to Bible's transmission.

I think that we would revert to primitive and brutal tribal mentality, if not religions.

Despite all of their faults, religions help humans to be civilized, to communicate with each other, to go beyond the tribe mentality.

Are symbols important at all?
- When we walk the street, when we see red light, we obediently stop and let cars pass until light turns green.
- When we look at smartphone, we recognize symbol of green headphone, despite that new phones are not like modern ones anymore.
- When we enter a coffee bar, we see a simple symbol of the cup and steam, and we know that we are in 'right place'.

There are research efforts that prove that without symbols, humanity and civilization would revert into chaos, like it was in the past.

As for archetypes:

Jungian archetypes are universal, inherited patterns of thought, imagery, and behavior residing in the collective unconscious, forming the basis of human experience across cultures. Originally conceptualized by Carl Jung to represent innate, symbolic psyche elements, these archetypes include core figures like the Self, Shadow, Anima/Animus, and Persona. Perhaps I am wrong, but I think that archetypes are tendencies that give symbols certain forms, like riverbed gives form, shape and direction to the water.

My thoughts on Buddhism vs. Eternalism.

Probably no one will radically change after reading this article alone, but perhaps different people will understand each other better. I hope that this understanding will bring peace, between followers of the Heavenly God, between followers of the Hells' God, and between Buddhists. I think and hope that wisdom and better understanding will bring more peace between those who oppose each other so far.

Perhaps I miss some important points, or misinterpret some things, but that's how i think and believe for now:

In Abrahamic Religions, and in Hermeticism, it's believed that Union with God lasts forever, that heaven never ends. It's co-creation of the music of creation that lasts forever.

In Buddhism, we think/believe that no heaven or hell lasts forever, when God 'spends' all of his or her good karma, he or she dies, and his or her heaven collapses with him or her as well.

My personal opinion is that hell is heaven for the chosen, and paradise can be found even in hell, when someone earns that privilege - for example by succesful service for hellish rulers/authorities.

It can be the very long time before heaven or hell falls apart, but it's unavoidable.

As an internet friend said, more or less: 'religious reunion is a process; unity is dictatorship and stagnation, an attempt to delay unavoidable collapse'.

I think that to earn reunion and a 'few moments of unity', one has to work for that. Even Love falls apart when no one cares, when it's not 'maintained'.

Buddhists believe that only Enlightenment is eternal, but even Buddhas after rebriths 'earn' their position again, work again for benefit of all beings, awaken their energies and power in new ways - because the world changes and needs development of new ways for helping others.

Enlightenment does not mean 'basking in luxuries' at the cost of Sangha (buddhist community), Buddhas work and help beings, but still are happy and full of power. Even deaths and rebirths can't take these away from those who reached Enlightenment (from Buddhas).

In a way, death and rebirth is an opportunity for change, to adapt to the changes in the world, to help in new, current ways.

It's an opportunity to fight against new types of suffering ... and for opposing new, harmful trends in the world.

Sects, Anti-Sects & Non-Sectarianism.

Over 10 years ago, when I was young and ambitious, and somewhat radical, I wanted to be
anti-sectarian, to 'heal buddhism'.

But anti-sect is also a sect (sect is movement of religious protest).

Now I prefer to be just a non-sectarian buddhist.

That way I've 'healed' buddhism from my own stupidity and ignorance. 😉

For those interrested:
> Buddhist Rimé Movement, that promotes non-sectarianism and open dialogue. Different lessons for different beings, all within buddhism without splitting it into sects.
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A nice song about religions, spirituality, sects and abuses:

Spiritual Materialism.

Thoughts appeared in my Mind, and I've decided to focus more on Spirituality, to serve Buddha Karmapa, His wife, & Lama Ole Nydahl, that way.

While I am open, can serve any way ... concerns arose in my Mind, concerns that say that I should adress the problem of Spiritual Materialism, among other services for Buddha Karmapa, His wife and for Lama Ole Nydahl.

Liberation, what is Freedom?

/ work in progress. /

Things to consider:
1. It's written that nothing can harm one who defeated his/her own ego, who reached Liberation.
2. Is freedom from one's faults only a beginning?
3. Can death harm Liberated One, when there's Rebirth?
4. How a fight for Freedom is related with Realization of one's good karma?
5. It's said that when one develops quickly, friends who surround him or her also progress swiftly. Closing to liberation is swift progress, isn't it?

--
Thanks to Buddha's Lessons we can do more, help other beings better. Our Mind, Speech and Bodies develop, we learn faster and reach our highest limits, realize our potential as best as we can. Thanks to this, we are more competent, skilled, more ethical, aware, and this results in more meaningful actions.

When our speech and actions are meaningful, others can benefit from us more. :)

And when others benefit from us, we also benefit. Karma returns, not only in form of better pay for our work.

Also, we feel more free, not only from our faults.

Beneficial uses of Anger & other Negative Energies.

I think everyone has their dark side, that perhaps can be called: 'Shadow'.

I think it's best if these are handled well, by mind-calming practices, for example.

But, also, these can be harnessed and used to protect someone from harm.

Harming someone, for example by black magick, generates a lot of 'bad karma', but when it's used to protect someone - it can also generate even more of 'good karma'.

This blog's author is on Protector Way, on Mahakala Way, so I learn dangerous tricks like black magick, hacking, and earlier in life - also martial arts. Best if these are not needed to be used at all, but if someone precious needs to be protected - I won't hesistate to do it, even if it brings some harm.

I don't want to be a criminal though, but in many nations, the right for self-defence and protection of others is allowed by law, when used with: 'the minimum force approach'.

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P.S. In Buddhism, there are also Wrathful Deities, fierce, energetic manifestations of enlightened Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, or Dharmapalas (protectors).

What is Mind? How it differs from Brain?

'Mind: Experienced as the habitual stream of clear and conscious experiencing. In its unenlightened state it expresses its ability to think, perceive, and remember through the consciousness. Its true enlightened nature is free of any self-centeredness and perceives itself as not separate from space - as indesctructible, limitless awareness. The recognition of its nature leads to fearlessness,
self-arisen love, and active compassion'.

-- Quoted from: 'Fearless Death' by Lama Ole Nydahl.

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Blog author's comments:

Brain and Mind are not the same. Brain is part of physical body, it's filter of the Consciousness. Mind itself is immaterial, indestructible, and can be experienced as process.

Difference between Reincarnation and Rebirth.

I was searching for answers in the internet, and found answer from Google's AI that aligns well with my current knowledge.

Reincarnation (primarily Hindu) involves the transmigration of a permanent, individual soul (atman) from one body to another, essentially remaining the same person. Rebirth (primarily Buddhist) denotes the continuation of karmic tendencies and consciousness without a permanent soul, where the new life is a result of, but not identical to, the previous one.

Key Differences:
- Core Belief: Reincarnation relies on a permanent soul (essence); Rebirth rejects a permanent self (no-soul or anatta),
- Mechanism: Reincarnation is the transfer of the same 'being'; Rebirth is the causal continuation of energy/karma,
- Scope: Reincarnation usually refers to moving between human bodies; Rebirth can encompass transitioning between various realms of existence (human, animal, hungry ghosts, etc.),
- Tradition: Reincarnation is central to Hinduism; Rebirth is central to Buddhism.

Essentially, reincarnation is a 'type' of rebirth, but the two concepts diverge on whether the essence, or merely the consequences, of a life moves forward.

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Blog's author's speculative elaboration:

As I understand for now, death is one of the Mind-States. At the moment of death, state of mind changes and this can be felt like loss of a body and teleportation to another world, 'realm of death' of sorts. Rebirth is another radical mind-state change. I understand that consciousness itself does not die, it's just mind state that changes. Mind itself is indestructible, immortal.

See also, if You wish:
- Reincarnation, quote from: 'The Way Things Are' by Lama Ole Nydahl,
- What is Mind? How it differs from Brain?

Protection of the Speech.

Words can Hurt or Heal, can Protect as well.

Today I made wishes, to serve eloquent buddhist friend (I won't disclose her name), as a wordsfencer, someone who is useful in speech-fights, mostly in 1-on-1 fights.

I am not greatest speaker, but I hope that I'll learn by serving her that way.

The 'fight style' with words, mostly fencing (but also some of group fighting) I called Kotoba Jutsu, which - in japanese - means:
- Literally: 'Word Technique' / pl: 'Technika słowa' /,
- Precisely: 'Technique of fighting using word(s)' / pl: 'Technika walki na słowa' /.

Why japanese words?

It's a form of tribute and respect to the Japanese Martial Arts I've practiced earlier in this life.

Words can be like the Katana Sword after all.

First thing to learn is when to NOT use it.

Second lesson is to Protect the weak.

I wish to be a wordsfencer who can fight using either polish and/or english language.