Trying this again...

In what form does this 'core' take?

In what form does this 'core' take?

I personally think it's our soul, but that's just my interpretation.  You ought to ask the Swami who wrote it what he thinks the core is.

Yes, it's nice.

very cool Dharma, I would like to think my "core" is still good, time will tell huh?

Reminiscent of the Tao concept of the "that which is beyond all that."

Look, it cannot be seen - it is beyond form.
Listen, it cannot be heard - it is beyond sound.
Grasp, it cannot be held - it is intangible.
...
An unbroken thread beyond description.
It returns to nothingness.
The form of the formless, the image of the imageless, it is called indefinable and beyond imagination.

In what form does this 'core' take?

The form of the formless, the image of the imageless, it is called indefinable and beyond imagination.

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.

Reminiscent of the Tao concept of the "that which is beyond all that."

Very much so. The more I read and learn about different faiths, the more I see a common thread.  Just as the Tao just 'is', so the core just 'is'. 

It is similair to this one: "....then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."~ sweet, poisonous necter from under the serpents tongue.

It is similair to this one: "....then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."~ sweet, poisonous necter from under the serpents tongue.

Aeryck, I don't think it's similar to anyone but you....

About as similar as apples and volkswagons.

'But the core of our being is infinite, eternal, ever pure, without beginning or end.' ~ Come on Dharma, this is hysterical, you are actually buying into this. Try this again; Romans 3 : 10 - 18

So, you're saying the soul is not eternal or that the soul is not the center of our being?

IG

So, you're saying the soul is not eternal or that the soul is not the center of our being?

 What the swami is saying, I think, is that yes, the soul is our core and that yes, it is eternal.  That's what my personal beliefs are....

What the swami is saying, I think, is that yes, the soul is our core and that yes, it is eternal. That's what my personal beliefs are....

I think he was referring to aeryck's attempts to hijack your thread.

Sorry,
I was questioning aeryck. You (dharmagrl) I understood. I think MasonM is right though. What you and aeryck are talking about is very different.

IG

I think he was referring to aeryck's attempts to hijack your thread.

I was questioning aeryck. You (dharmagrl) I understood.

Yeah, I get that know...sorry, I can be such a dumbass at times. Aeryck: I went and read the scripture that you referenced. Do you have the faintest idea of what Buddhism and Taoism is about? Do you know what the core precepts of my philosophy are? I find it somewhat amusing that you would automatically think that 'they are quick to commit murder, wherever they go destruction and misery follow them, they do not know what true peace is' (romans 3, 15-17) without even knowing what I believe of what principles I try to adhere to. Just because I don't walk the same path as you, doesn't mean I'm totally devoid of morals or a soul.

'the core of our being is infinite, eternal, ever pure, without beginning or end' ~ Swami Nirmalananda.

Dharma, you have only quoted the second part [Romans 3:15-17] ~ of text that I linked for you. The first part below refer specifically to the core.

'As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:'~[Romans 3:10-14]

Dr Clay Jones on "Human Nature"and "The Destiny of the Unevangelized"

Aeryck:  I still dont get what that has to do with the core being eternal. 

I don't mind you coming and arguing your point, but please use relevant scripture. Apparently I'm not the only onw who doesn't see a connection between what I wrote and what you quoted...

'I still don't get what that has to do with the core being eternal.' ~

Hi Dharma, 'infinite, eternal, ever pure, without beginning or end' ~ referring to our being? ... Swami N. has here linked them together not seperated them. 'infinite-eternal-ever pure-without beginning-or-end' ~ referring to our being? the core of our being? How could someone arrived upon such a conclusion who lives on this planet. The lives that a lot of these Guru's live is cut off from reality, anaethtized by drugs, I hardly think that this kind of comment accurately describes the life we live here. Murder, rape, hatred, racism, lust, etc....we are a vile brood, each and everyone. I am afraid Swami N. was out of touch. Perhaps his 12 years of silence made him blind and deaf.

'infinite, eternal, ever pure, without beginning or end' ~ referring to our being?

Referring to the core of our being, not our physical selves.  Our souls are infinite and eternal...as for the drug taking, well I can't say for sure that this guy hasn't because I don't personally know him.  He might have, just as you might have. 

I guess what it all comes down to is personal belief.  I personally believe that yes, our core is eternal and unending.  You apparently don't.  I'm cool with you thinking differently than I....are you?

 

No, I'm cool. 'Ever-pure' does not fit in with 'infinite, eternal, ..........., without beginning or end' ~ makes it sound a little to much like a soap commercial. Can you imagine a cowboy movie where everyone is pure as driven snow...yech.

'Ever-pure' does not fit in with 'infinite, eternal, ..........., without beginning or end' ~ makes it sound a little to much like a soap commercial. Can you imagine a cowboy movie where everyone is pure as driven snow...yech.

I can see where you're coming from. I'm not sure that I totally agree with the ever-pure part; I think that some people are evil; that their cores are dark and sullied from the very beginning.....
...but I do agree with the infinite and eternal part.

And no, I cannot imagine a cowboy movie with no bad dudes.

The entire time this passage has been rolling around in my mind. 'And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.' ~ Most go all creepy on me hear, but what I understand is, that this is actually pretty cool, cause Jesus is saying that all of us get to live forever, the evil get to live in that state forever and ever, pretty gloomy dark and lonely, as is the case of how evil people end, but it will never end, infinity of evil.....woh, not cool. The other is something that is not emphasized enough, 'they that have done good' ~ eternal, infinite life ~ in Greek the term for life is Zoe...which is the fullness of the life of Christ...whew, that is .....incomprehensible. The choice certainly has always been there, for me certainly, either I can live in an evil way or a good way.....it is important I believe that one makes that choice as early as possible in life, so as to gaurantee a good reception in the afterlife. Either Zoe [2222] or evil.....I must look that up in the Greek : [5337] I use a thing called a lexical aid to the New Testament, in the back of my bible, most useful for the original meaning of a word - evil - Phaulos., vile, refuse, wicked, evil : foul. Someone or something good-for-nothing, from which nothing good can come; worthless, mediocre, unimportant. Distinguished from kakos [2556], bad, and poneros [4190], malevolent [John 3:20;5:29;Titus 2:8; James 3:16]. I hope I have not bored you. Selah.

Aeryck:  No, you haven't bored me.

I like your thoughts on evil and good.  I too think that what happens to us (us meaning good people) after we die is incomprehensible; no-one has ever been able to come back and tell us what it's like so we don't know, we have no concept, we cannot comprehend.

I used to think that when an evil person died - well, that that would be it.  The end.  No more.  Now, however...I don't think like that.  I think that those who are evil reap what they sow.  Their karmic consequences prevent them from being released from samsara, and so they stay and repeat the cycle again and again and again.

So, our thoughts on these things, whilst we have differing theologies...our thoughts may not be as far apart as we first thought.

 

Hi Dharma, I have done a tremendous amount of research into this subject and though I initially drew from many different sources; eventually I only concentrated on the King James New Testament, to keep a single minded focus. I was utterly startled. I had been told by leading theologians, that I should not bother it is all confusing, and basically I should just concentrate on outer darkness. Oh there was plenty of that type of stuff. I might have become snowed by Dante and Milton, but having read enough, I new I did not want to play. So here are the links to my research, if you have the time to take a peek. I wish I could publish the chart here but it is far to big, and a smaller version is illegible. Click here to get to the chart, it has a link at the bottom of it that leads to the article.....of the same title 'It is Written'....I did my research amongst the Jehovah's Witnesses cult ideas, for they reject life after death for evil people, they just say that are annihilated. They have many thoughts which have come about through those who have directly oppossed the teachings of Jesus, so it made a very nice guideline when answering them, I ended up answering a lot of questions that I have found people have asked. Especially I have discovered that Jesus spent fourty days with his disciples after he rose from the dead, and specifically he spoke to them of things, pertaining [big word] I suppose means 'all about' the Kingdom of God. He also promised that the Spirit would come once he left, and would remined us of everything he said, and guide us into all truth, telling also of things to come. So there is a lot in the New Testament. I was extremely disciplined and went to each book and asked the question everywhere for just under a year and a half, 'Where do the lost go when they die?' It was extremely hard to discipline myself to do this, but the rewards have been immense. I got a copy of 'Easy journey to other planets' by Swami Prabubhupada, quite easy reading style from a friend of mine who has been a Krishna for many years. She is most unique an wears the most beautiful and colourful robes. We had a great chat about stem cells and the placenta, Krishna's are extremely scientifically informed. Her name is Prasuti, and yet we smoked the old soapstone way back, play back.