Living the cycles, being conscious of the cycles to come, and learning through them. That is what your 'soul' purpose demands, as it pulls your spirit, mind, body, and community forward...
Maha Dasha is called after the Great period in a person's life. A particular stretch of time in an individual's lifespan is ruled by a particular planet.
The first dasha (period) is determined by the Nakshatra that the sidereal Moon is tenanting at the time of birth.
>within Earth where our tale inevitably starts. Once thought to be the centre of the universe, it is from our planet that we are able to ‘perceive’ the other planets, and thus their rotational cycles around the Sun (and Earth).
Reply: Earth is center as we are the center of our experience. But when we become aware of our relationship with life we also see the relationship of earth to the cosmos.
That said, this does not diminish the self or the earth but shines a light on reality which inspires the soul.
I have been puzzling over omniscience and omnipotence. You maybe well aware that Buddhas claim omniscience but are not omnipotent. Why? Perhaps because being omniscience they see the profound and nested interconnection of all life and all cause and effect. They realize any action that is not fully considered may led to more harm than good. My speculation at least. So they move carefully with great regard for the mine/mind field of samsara.
The there is Yaweh/Jehovah//יְהֹוָה/Allah is supposed to be both "omniscient and omnipotent. However there are many excuses for this Gods lack of omnipotence. It seems to me he/she is equally constrained by the nested network of causes and conditions and thus unable to act impulsively lest the desired out come destroys all else that Yaweh deems good.
How does this relate to astrology. Astrology the little I understand of it is a light that shines into the future. Some reflections on the constraints put on freedom seem useful.
Ahh... Buddisim, the only 'religion' (if it can rightly be called such) that I hold any connection and truck with (although its intention towards lack of action, blamed on samsara, frustrates me, for all life is action and change, and reincarnation is not usually a choice).
Omnipotence is something beyond man and gods, only source can proclaim such, and we are way off course from source...
Omniscience on the other hand is not, it is within the wit of man...
We are all here constrained, bound in matter, shackled in spirit, mind encaged by the senses, and soul (for those of us who have earnt it) siphoned off as food for the demiurge.
Therefore, for me Astrology provides a blueprint, a map if you will, for shining a light on our condition (here in Earth - past, present, and future, for all exist now), and providing the tools to free oneself from samsara, and achieve the ultimate balance the Buddhist seeks.
Although, as with everything in life wm, I'm always happy to be proved wrong, and shown new paths...
> (although its intention towards lack of action, blamed on samsara, frustrates me, for all life is action and change, and reincarnation is not usually a choice).
My psychologist was a practicing Tantric Buddhist of the Tibetan strain, Gelugpa lineage. In Buddhism there is this thread that our intention is the most important. Thus he told me, examine and purify your intention and then fully engage what you intend to do.
In my case at least, I am blind. And though I don't perceive the mine field of Samsara, I proceed as best I can by setting as good and pure an intention as I can. Hippocrates said it well, "First do no harm". However from a Buddist point of view one cannot act without causing harm. A bind.
My dear (deceased) psychologist advised full, thoughtful and compassionate engagement. All is empty, which is another way to say all is full of causes and conditions. All is a continuum. So yes we can freeze with inaction or we can embrace the two truths and do our best.
>demiurge.
Seems you maybe or have Gnostic insight. To me they also refrained from action in the world.
>Although, as with everything in life wm, I'm always happy to be proved wrong, and shown new paths...
I love that. I share that deportment. Though I go down with a good fight. That is it takes more than a forked tongue to convince me. I do not say your tongue is forked. Or as my wife who is Korean says two tongues. Just that as we are tried by fire, I am transformed by the fire of intense inquery into an area of investigation. My biases and prejudice are purified by such fire.
That is true. Buddhism says and I accept it, that we are uncontrollably cycled by the causes and conditions we create. That would seem to indicate putting action on hold. But it is the action of the mind that generates the cycle. So the process of gaining trust from our mind seems the first step to me.
Why should our mind trust us. We have rarely brought true benefit to our embodiment. But trust is what we need to gain. Then an inner dialog begins. We really need to listen to our body as it holds all the answers. Our body doesn't trust us either. So like gentle breaking a horse, it takes time for trust to sprout and grow into a thriving co-evolution. And we are the ones that are transformed. All else is as it should be. We are really the ones being tamed.
There is a book worth reading, "Greek Buddha" by Christopher I. Beckwith. It is about Pyrrho's encounter with early Buddhism in Central Asia. It is a very unique take and has freed me from a rigid take on Buddha Dharma.
From the first chapter of the Book.
“Whoever wants to be happy must consider these three [questions]: first, how are pragmata
‘(ethical) matters, affairs, topics’ by nature? Secondly, what attitude should we adopt towards them? Thirdly, what will be the outcome for those who have this attitude?” Then Timon quotes Pyrrho’s own revelation of the three negative characteristics of all pragmata ‘matters, affairs, questions, topics’. The ethical meaning of the word pragmata is absolutely clear because other testimonies 5 show that it meant for Pyrrho exclusively ethical ‘matters, affairs, topics’. Accordingly, the word will be so translated below, or given in Greek as pragmata (singular pragma) following these prefatory remarks, Timon says, “Pyrrho himself declares that”
As for pragmata ‘matters, questions, topics’, they are all adiaphora ‘un-
differentiated by a logical differentia’ and astathmēta ‘unstable, unbal-
anced, not measurable’ and anepikrita ‘unjudged, unfixed, undecidable’.
Therefore, neither our sense- perceptions nor our ‘views, theories, beliefs’
(doxai) tell us the truth or lie [about pragmata]; so we certainly should not
rely on them [to do it]. Rather, we should be adoxastous ‘without views’,
aklineis ‘uninclined [toward this side or that]’, and akradantous ‘unwaver-
ing [in our refusal to choose]’, saying about every single one that it no
more is than it is not or it both is and is not or it neither is nor is not.
I was most helped by the above. I have state else where I am but a babe on the path. I mean this, it is not being humble. I have know realizations to point to. I have read and tried to apply, but to date I haven't even scratched the surface. Which at times makes me wonder if I have any reason at all to practice. But something keeps string in my heart and I "walk stumble and fall" as I proceed along what appears to me to be the path.
The woman I learned so much from early on was a Waldensian. Sadly not much on them as the Roman church exterminated them. She taught much that was off book in the 1970s and early 1980s. My wife can tell you how much I admire her even to day. But that did not blind me to her foibles if you will. I just don't make a good groupie.
After departing on my own path I investigated gnosticism. Sadly like the Waldenses they have been hounded to extinction for the most part. But I know something about it, not much really. Not at all compared to what has been destroyed.
Good Day Serphim,
I saw your work on Jack Hart. Searched your name and found you stack. I posted this on Jack Hart's stack that has your work on Astrology.
___________
Thank for all this work of digestion over your life time. Me I barely have my toes wet. Still I will comment as if I know something.
>rule a number of set years from the birth till death of (hu)man.
In deed the moon is the marker in vedic astrology too.
From https://horoscopes.astro-seek.com/dasha-vedic-astrology-online-calculator
Vimshottari Dasha Periods
Vedic Astrology Free Online Calculator
Maha Dasha is called after the Great period in a person's life. A particular stretch of time in an individual's lifespan is ruled by a particular planet.
The first dasha (period) is determined by the Nakshatra that the sidereal Moon is tenanting at the time of birth.
>within Earth where our tale inevitably starts. Once thought to be the centre of the universe, it is from our planet that we are able to ‘perceive’ the other planets, and thus their rotational cycles around the Sun (and Earth).
Reply: Earth is center as we are the center of our experience. But when we become aware of our relationship with life we also see the relationship of earth to the cosmos.
That said, this does not diminish the self or the earth but shines a light on reality which inspires the soul.
Thank you wm, for your eloquent comment and link, and I'm delighted that your soul was inspired...
The Maha Dasha is indeed the progressed moon cycle, and you are spot on...
Earth is our experience.
So much so that it is the subject of what's coming next in this series - 'Being this Story within Earth'
This piece is the first part of a story, and there are only so many words, so no room for Sirius, Soma, and Vulcan this time, but as the tale unfolds.
We are spiritual individuals, having a (hu)man experience here in Earth.
To quote from a meditation:
"Creation was planned before you came.
You can plan for yourself like the plan of the creation.
Creation is for all.
You are one among the many.
The plan for all is work, the plan for one is fate.
Fate for work is ritual, work for fate is heresy."
Do not diminish yourself, thank you for the informed comment wm.
I have been puzzling over omniscience and omnipotence. You maybe well aware that Buddhas claim omniscience but are not omnipotent. Why? Perhaps because being omniscience they see the profound and nested interconnection of all life and all cause and effect. They realize any action that is not fully considered may led to more harm than good. My speculation at least. So they move carefully with great regard for the mine/mind field of samsara.
The there is Yaweh/Jehovah//יְהֹוָה/Allah is supposed to be both "omniscient and omnipotent. However there are many excuses for this Gods lack of omnipotence. It seems to me he/she is equally constrained by the nested network of causes and conditions and thus unable to act impulsively lest the desired out come destroys all else that Yaweh deems good.
How does this relate to astrology. Astrology the little I understand of it is a light that shines into the future. Some reflections on the constraints put on freedom seem useful.
Ahh... Buddisim, the only 'religion' (if it can rightly be called such) that I hold any connection and truck with (although its intention towards lack of action, blamed on samsara, frustrates me, for all life is action and change, and reincarnation is not usually a choice).
Omnipotence is something beyond man and gods, only source can proclaim such, and we are way off course from source...
Omniscience on the other hand is not, it is within the wit of man...
We are all here constrained, bound in matter, shackled in spirit, mind encaged by the senses, and soul (for those of us who have earnt it) siphoned off as food for the demiurge.
Therefore, for me Astrology provides a blueprint, a map if you will, for shining a light on our condition (here in Earth - past, present, and future, for all exist now), and providing the tools to free oneself from samsara, and achieve the ultimate balance the Buddhist seeks.
Although, as with everything in life wm, I'm always happy to be proved wrong, and shown new paths...
> (although its intention towards lack of action, blamed on samsara, frustrates me, for all life is action and change, and reincarnation is not usually a choice).
My psychologist was a practicing Tantric Buddhist of the Tibetan strain, Gelugpa lineage. In Buddhism there is this thread that our intention is the most important. Thus he told me, examine and purify your intention and then fully engage what you intend to do.
In my case at least, I am blind. And though I don't perceive the mine field of Samsara, I proceed as best I can by setting as good and pure an intention as I can. Hippocrates said it well, "First do no harm". However from a Buddist point of view one cannot act without causing harm. A bind.
My dear (deceased) psychologist advised full, thoughtful and compassionate engagement. All is empty, which is another way to say all is full of causes and conditions. All is a continuum. So yes we can freeze with inaction or we can embrace the two truths and do our best.
>demiurge.
Seems you maybe or have Gnostic insight. To me they also refrained from action in the world.
>Although, as with everything in life wm, I'm always happy to be proved wrong, and shown new paths...
I love that. I share that deportment. Though I go down with a good fight. That is it takes more than a forked tongue to convince me. I do not say your tongue is forked. Or as my wife who is Korean says two tongues. Just that as we are tried by fire, I am transformed by the fire of intense inquery into an area of investigation. My biases and prejudice are purified by such fire.
>reincarnation is not usually a choice
That is true. Buddhism says and I accept it, that we are uncontrollably cycled by the causes and conditions we create. That would seem to indicate putting action on hold. But it is the action of the mind that generates the cycle. So the process of gaining trust from our mind seems the first step to me.
Why should our mind trust us. We have rarely brought true benefit to our embodiment. But trust is what we need to gain. Then an inner dialog begins. We really need to listen to our body as it holds all the answers. Our body doesn't trust us either. So like gentle breaking a horse, it takes time for trust to sprout and grow into a thriving co-evolution. And we are the ones that are transformed. All else is as it should be. We are really the ones being tamed.
There is a book worth reading, "Greek Buddha" by Christopher I. Beckwith. It is about Pyrrho's encounter with early Buddhism in Central Asia. It is a very unique take and has freed me from a rigid take on Buddha Dharma.
From the first chapter of the Book.
“Whoever wants to be happy must consider these three [questions]: first, how are pragmata
‘(ethical) matters, affairs, topics’ by nature? Secondly, what attitude should we adopt towards them? Thirdly, what will be the outcome for those who have this attitude?” Then Timon quotes Pyrrho’s own revelation of the three negative characteristics of all pragmata ‘matters, affairs, questions, topics’. The ethical meaning of the word pragmata is absolutely clear because other testimonies 5 show that it meant for Pyrrho exclusively ethical ‘matters, affairs, topics’. Accordingly, the word will be so translated below, or given in Greek as pragmata (singular pragma) following these prefatory remarks, Timon says, “Pyrrho himself declares that”
As for pragmata ‘matters, questions, topics’, they are all adiaphora ‘un-
differentiated by a logical differentia’ and astathmēta ‘unstable, unbal-
anced, not measurable’ and anepikrita ‘unjudged, unfixed, undecidable’.
Therefore, neither our sense- perceptions nor our ‘views, theories, beliefs’
(doxai) tell us the truth or lie [about pragmata]; so we certainly should not
rely on them [to do it]. Rather, we should be adoxastous ‘without views’,
aklineis ‘uninclined [toward this side or that]’, and akradantous ‘unwaver-
ing [in our refusal to choose]’, saying about every single one that it no
more is than it is not or it both is and is not or it neither is nor is not.
I was most helped by the above. I have state else where I am but a babe on the path. I mean this, it is not being humble. I have know realizations to point to. I have read and tried to apply, but to date I haven't even scratched the surface. Which at times makes me wonder if I have any reason at all to practice. But something keeps string in my heart and I "walk stumble and fall" as I proceed along what appears to me to be the path.
Well said wm.
Intention is the most important element, everything else is just perspective.
I perceive that you yourself are more than intimately familiar with gnosticism.
The woman I learned so much from early on was a Waldensian. Sadly not much on them as the Roman church exterminated them. She taught much that was off book in the 1970s and early 1980s. My wife can tell you how much I admire her even to day. But that did not blind me to her foibles if you will. I just don't make a good groupie.
After departing on my own path I investigated gnosticism. Sadly like the Waldenses they have been hounded to extinction for the most part. But I know something about it, not much really. Not at all compared to what has been destroyed.