OCT 1

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Listen to your heart singing the most beautiful truth. Let your mind rest in silence otherwise it creates fear and negative thoughts that spoit your day.

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Contributed by Carol Mickelsen 
I don't know if I am "all the way" awakened, because when things happen "close to home" that are painful, it still hurts a lot. But I do understand what it means on some level. And that understanding helps me, even though I still have the initial emotional reactions, I don't stay in them and stay in anger or sorrow for as long as I would if I had no understanding at

 all. So I can accept what happens and know that even the perceived or experience suffering is not permanent, and will in the long run be a help to me, rather than hurting me permanently. Does that make sense?
( Yes it makes sense, most people are always caught unaware of such situations and they feel horrible and painful. )

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~ Muso Kokushi
Spiritual Malpractice.
One may enter into the sphere of influences of demons as a result of spiritual exercises and experiences.
When a person takes pride in spiritual practices or experiences, that indivual is certain to fall into the sphere of influence of demons. This is not the fault of the practice itself but of attitude of the practitioner. Those who undertake spiritual practi

ces with wrong ideas, or develop wrong views in the course of practice, and those who become conceited and oppose the doctrines or methods of others, enter states of mind and modes of being that may be referred to as "hell."
( Lord Buddha before he ended his last breath, told all his disciples to follow the precepts and all rules and regulations of his teachings so they would not go astray and fall into the traps set by demons. Hence we need to remind each other as we go along the rightful path.)

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~ Muso Kokushi
Possession
People who undertake spiritual exercises with a sense of acquisitiveness, even with regard to " spiritual states, " are really doing the of demons, even if they feel they are being spiritual. Those who seek knowledge and extraordinary powers for the sake of personal gain and fame are also doing the work of demons.
When people are posessed by such inner demons, they may b

ecome receptors of external forces that artificially boost their intellectual or psychic powers for a time. Not realising that it is a false and deceptive condition, such people attribute this to themselves and become all the more conceited and possessed by the demons.
( Be aware of such masters who claim that they can make you rich and powerful. Please help to check with one other in the spiritual learning. Humility is still the best policy.)

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Enlightenment does not, therefore, refer to academic knowledge of the various teachings of Buddhism. Enlightenment means having gotten rid of ignorance and attained unconditional liberation.
( In fact Enlightenment is already within us, due to our ignorance, we tend to seek it in the outer world. So a miss is a mile away.)

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~ Muso Kokushi
Scholastic Learning
Scholastic learning can be a definite hindrance to real knowledge, especially when it is associated with self-importance. This applies both to literalists and to theoretical interpreters.
In Buddhist terms, to be learned in the real sense means to understand meaning. The real meanings of buddhism are beyond conceptual images and verbal expression.

( My master used to say that the true dharma can only be realised by closing up your five doors, remaining in silence and stillness and learn to transform the five poisons that followed you from the past into five wisdoms.)

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The outer world provides you with the materistic, high-tech experiences and know-how for survival purposes and the inner world enlightens you to go back to the real peaceful source eventually.