The Jain interpretation of karma.

[Patrick Brown]

I was interested to discover that the Jain's see karma as a physical thing i.e. A form of very fine matter which is interesting when you consider 'wave-particle-duality' and the fact that everything that exists can simply be seen as energy patterns. In fact the occult view has long held that our auras are made up of graduated forms of very fine particles. Occultism also suggests that at death our aura kind of explodes and then reorganises itself into layers rather like onion skins. These layers are said to encapsulate the spark of conciousness yet over time they slowly disintegrate. This slow disintegration is often said to be experienced, by the conciousness, as a movement into higher states of bliss as well as being likened to the astrals, bardos and lokas. Of course the conciousness once it has merged into the global monadic conciousness then reappears and is clothed in matter as it descends back into egoic conciousness.

Now once one reaches a certain level of perfection the individual spark can choose whether to keep returning as a Bodhisattva, Saint, Christ, Adept etc to help others reach perfection or simply merge with the higher conciousness. There is an ongoing argument in Buddhism about which is greater, the merging into a higher conciousness, entering nirvana, or the role of the Bodhisattva who returns until all sentient beings, within our globe/monad, have entered nirvana. This is the esoteric meaning of “the first shall be the last and the last shall be the first” which sounds somewhat paradoxical until one has the keys. I might add here that those that choose to enter nirvana are sometimes seen as spiritually selfish although I wouldn't be quite so harsh or quick to judge.

I could talk about the spiritual hierarchy and the antahkarana or the 49 days in the bardo after death which relates to the growing feotus which experiences a release of DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) 49 days after conception but... LOL

Just for the record I've yet to source medical evidence for the release of DMT 49 days after conception so any links would be gratefully appreciated. Basically the DMT release is the point at which the egoic conciousness begins it's concious decent into rebirth, apparently.

More about Jainism here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism

This might also interest some of you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_36_tattvas

[Christie V.]

Fascinating stuff. I've not heard before about the DMT release in fetus's before, very interesting!

[Patrick Brown]

Might find this of interest (worth reading the reviews): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dmt-Molecule-Revolutionary-near-Death-Exper...

Haven't read that book myself as I don't read much these days. Might do a bit of research about the release of DMT in the foetal brain. It's also interesting to note that DMT is released into the brain at death! The Evans-Wentz version of the “Tibetan Book Of The Dead” is still considered by many to be the best translation although I'm unsure as to whether the current edition has the full commentary by Carl Jung. Any way the “Tibetan Book Of The Dead” is a classic but should be realised to relate as much to this world as to the next which is why Jung's commentary is so interesting.

Discussion thread about DMT here which might be of interest: http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4546

[Patrick Brown]

Well I couldn't find any evidence to substantiate the release of DMT in the foetal brain although I did discover that DMT is very similar to serotonin!

Here's a few vid clips I found which are interesting although not compelling. You always have to be wary of buying into the 'easy view' of such evidence. I been into this stuff on and off for over twenty years and I believe that any entities one sees in the dream realms (bardos, lokas, astrals) are simply emanation from our own mind. I think the idea of a telepathic connection between all concious minds may well exist which explain some of the more hard to discredit evidence.

This telepathic connection may well explain 'group hallucinations as well as shared astral experiences i.e. Shared out of body experiences. I've spoken to people that have told me they have experienced dream conciousness with other members of the family and both parties can recall their experiences upon waking. Of course these people may have been bullshitting but other evidence does exist for telepathy.

[ENIAD]

Interesting blog and videos : )

[Patrick Brown]

Glad you enjoyed it ENIAD.

Very best,
p

[Scott]

Maybe, maybe... I'm interested in transformation/transcendence of myself/my mental illness, so this substance interests me. The cure for mental illnesses and emotional pain is what interests me, not spiritual matters, so i tend to focus on the practical physical world problems/cures, and not that spiritual stuff. I've been to Europe, Libya, Mexico, the U.S. and Korea, and haven't seen any evidence of anything other than an ordinary physical world inhabited by ordinary people. If Ayahuasca can't help mentally ill people, or help alcoholism/addictions then i have no use for it. And if this is a harmful substance, then no one needs more pain caused by Aya., do they? I suggest extreme caution for the people like me.
Does all that make sense? Sorry if i've meandered, but maybe you get the gist?
Thanks for the soap box, anyway!

[Patrick Brown]

Well people can interpret things in different ways and the causes of alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness etc. may be many and varied. All I can say regarding the Jain idea that karma is a physical thing is that it’s makes sense to me. Basically to completely change your physical world, in a positive sense, can only be beneficial. I could even go so far as to bring in the “nature nurture” argument. Certain environments may increase the likelihood of certain ailments and conversely increase the potential for growth and success. I can speak about this as I’ve had firsthand experience and am still dealing with it i.e. Sensitive, intelligent, artistic but not gay, good looking guy living in a limiting environment! It’s ironic that many of the people I used to know that have furthered themselves in life have moved from the area I live in. The same sort of thing can be true for people that excelled in there youth yet when put in a different environment have succumbed to drugs, booze and promiscuity.

So even though many will argue that our genetics determine our life course I think it’s pretty obvious that people tend to adapt to there environment for better or worse. Clichés such as “fish out of water” and “when in Rome do as the Romans do” come to mind. Of course some people will have greater will power and resist peer pressure, temptation etc yet whether this is a good thing is open to debate as a degree of balance may be more important so as not to feel isolated.