h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have seen you refered to as A Zen Buddhist called Ben, but from what I have read in your postings, you seem to be more of a Tantric Buddhist. I'll put a link on My Space.

Alji

Hi Alji

I am not much of a practicing Buddhist at all, so I feel something of a fraud in this context. (Are you referring to one of my signatures in a post, or to something someone else said about me?)

I do sometimes sign myself a buddhist called Ben, but that is usually to make some kind of point. I occasionally meditate, and I go on Buddhist retreats once a year, but I eat meat, and don't always abide by the 5 precepts.

Buddhist philosophy makes complete sense to me (reincarnation, karmic cause and effect, stuff like that). And I like the fact that Buddhism is about practice, not theory.

Thanks for visiting

With metta,

Ben

*sticks his nose in*

I must say, that I see a lot to like in Buddhism. Ideas like 'perfect charity' appeal to me, and I like the fact that rejection of dogma seems to play a big part in Buddhism. However, it's ideas such as re-incarnation, and 'hungry ghosts' that baffle me.

You seem to be having trouble staying off site. The reference was on someones space. I think Tantra should be right up your street. Let me know what you think. BTW I'm also a meat eater. It is said that it makes you more aggressive.

Alji

It seems likely that carnivores such as lions & tigers etc. could be deemed more aggressive than non meat eaters such as sheep and goats `cause if they were `passive` they would starve to death. Human males are aggressive per se.

I know many non-aggressive males and some very aggressive females. My cousin's daughter was attacked by one girl whose boyfriend had been looking at her in a local pub. The girl tried to cut her face with a broken bottle.

Alji

A non-aggressive male is a contradiction in terms. Most males described as such are not; they simply assume false colours.
When the wind changes, they hoist the Jolly Roger.

Ambling back to Buddhism, I am going to a FWBO retreat over the holidays. I went to the London FWBO retreat last year, but this year I am going to a much smaller one. 7 days. I don't know if I can manage that. Still, it will be interesting, and a chance to be still for a while.

I have not read much of the Tantric stuff yet. I'd rather find a group. Buddhism is experiental so far as I am concerned.

Thanks again Alji.

Ben

I've put a little something for you on My Space, have a nice time at the retreat. When will you be away?

Alji

It's me! It IS me! (How did you know?)

I am going from the 20th or the 21st (cant remember off the top of my head) for 7 days. I think it will be tough. Rainbow has just invited me to lunch on Christmas day if it all gets Too Much, so I have my 'get out of Jail free' card. But hopefully I'll be omming like a goodun for a week.

Thanks for the pic! I love it!

Ben

How did it go? The retreat that is.

Alji

So good. Really good.

I am aware that I am more secular than many of the women there. My preference would to be a lay person and only intermittantly practicing in a Buddhist culture, I think. Probably a result of lifetimes of being just that, of course. And I didn't feel I had come home. I will be checking out the tibetans at some time.

(I looked around the tantric sites, but am really not into sex as spirituality. Though I AM strongly into the spirituality of the physical. But a lot of them just seem to be an excuse for getting other peoples' kit off and belittling any reservations they may have.)

However this retreat was not in the least tantric. We spent the evening of the 24th all the 25th and the morning of the 26th in shared silence, and as one woman said, a day's silence is worth a couple of years' therapy. I have written 7 poems in the last year, three of them in those three days. (They are in my personal space).

It was just what I needed. Space, stillness, sharing, and kindness. It was a little po-faced. Most people seemed to be there 'to deepen their practice'. I was born to laugh, and I do. But it was great. I really enjoyed it.

Know any good tibetans?

Ben

I have to agree with you as to most of the Tantric Websites (mainly the American ones) but there is one in New Zeeland which gives you the philosophy of tantra. (I will have to find it.) I will put a link on 'My Space' for the true meaning of Tantra.

Alji

I think you already did. But New Zealand is so far away...

All the best

Ben

I see you need the physical interaction provided by other likeminded people.( I thought I had Zealand wrong ). Have you checked 'My Space'?

Alji

I took a look, and then realised it was an NZ site. I'll take a deeper look.

Are you based in the UK Alji?

Ben

South Wales, the land of song, the red dragon etc.

Alji