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God Pod or Life, the Universe and Everything

A creative, open and playful discussion group on God, spirituality, art, politics… in other words, on life, the universe and everything. Yes, the answer is 42 but what is the question? All are welcome, and invited to engage in  dialogue with love, mindfulness, and respect.
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There are many religions and philosophies. Which way resonates for you?
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  WonderlandAlli : The Chicken Warrior

Buddhism and Ghosts? Possessions?

WonderlandAlli said Oct 28, 2008, 1:22 AM:
 

I'm not sure if this is where I should ask but I am having little luck finding an active place to post this. I apologize if this is the wrong place.

Most of the things I've seen about ghost hauntings and possessions have been mainly from a Judeo-Christian standpoint, especially posessions. The question came to me, what is the Buddhist stand on these kind of happenings? I'm referring to the kind of things you see on Ghost Hunters or Paranormal State.
  Nicole : wakingdreamer

Re: Buddhism and Ghosts? Possessions?

Nicole said Oct 28, 2008, 3:18 PM:
 

Good question! And this is a fine place to post it.

Now of course Buddhism is not monolithic so it would depend on the strand, but there's an interesting article here about Hungry ghosts

You might find this Dharma talk worth reading too: Vietnam Buddhist Monastery Lumbini

Peace,

Nicole
  Alan : Life to life.

Re: Buddhism and Ghosts? Possessions?

Alan said Oct 28, 2008, 8:04 PM:
 

I think I may be able to supply one…


think of a stream… with ripples in the surface.  the ripples seem constant, but they are not.  If we look at an individual ripple, in every 'moment,' different water is composing the ripple than composed it a second ago: it is literally not the same thing from one instant to the next.  

So, if the ripple in the stream is never the same material, what is it?  

It is a form water takes as it moves along it's course, and nothing else.  

Now, imagine a conscious stream.  In this stream, the water thinks “I am,” in a way that does not assume oneness of the stream and all things.  This stream thinks: “I am a stream, separate and on my own.”

There's a ripple, but when the water is in that ripple– in that form– it identifies completely with that form.  

Usually, when the water thinks: “I am a ripple,” it does so inside of the ripple's form… and when it flows past the ripple, it will think: “I am not a ripple, I am the current which flows into and between the ripples.”

Until it gets into another ripple… then it thinks: “I am a ripple.”

Eventually, the water may be in a ripple that comes across the idea of reincarnation…

–

Here's where the ghost comes in– if water identifies to a very, very intense degree with a single ripple, when the water is swept down-river, past the form, it may continue to identify with that specific, past form.  It may still think “I am that ripple,” instead of “I this current.”

Nirvana is the sum of all this water we are, that is all we are and all we live in.

—

A ghost is like water thinking that it is a past ripple.  It's the light of a soul thinking it was the form (body) that it flowed through.  This identification with a passed form gives the light the soul is a new form… one that 'haunts' people occasionally.   That is really nothing but energy at all… an ego without a host body.  

Usually they just hang around in the places which had the most resonance to the past form (body, life), in a state that gently erodes until the light they are frees itself to the whole.

The reason ghosts are often linked with suffering is because intense suffering (by the self or caused by the self) is usually the intense energy that causes such a deep identification with form that it can outlast the form itself.  

Possessions I think are slightly more complicated but basically a 'ghost' and a human to a degree merge energies during it, and then the family members of the human find someone who can bring light back into the situation shows up, and light clears up the misunderstanding of the ghost type which passes on.  

: )
  andrew : ~SmAsHInG dUaLiTy~

Re: Buddhism and Ghosts? Possessions?

andrew said Oct 28, 2008, 8:52 PM:
 

so how do you explain friendly ghosts there casper, opps alan…….
  Alan : Life to life.

Re: Buddhism and Ghosts? Possessions?

Alan said Oct 28, 2008, 9:13 PM:
 

“friendly ghosts” are as water which retains the memory of form, of all the ripples it's been and will ever be.   


Some, including me, channel entities which refer to themselves as a collective consciousness, made up of all who live and ever live.  Esther Hicks does so with that which identifies itself as “abraham.”

All who live and ever live are a subset of god/the universe/universal consciousness, and as such all forms which spirit ever held are ever-existent.

: )
  Nicole : wakingdreamer

Re: Buddhism and Ghosts? Possessions?

Nicole said Oct 29, 2008, 8:16 AM:
 

that's a wonderful analogy, thanks Alan!

Cool new icon by the way!

Love,

Nicole
  Eli : Swami

Re: Buddhism and Ghosts? Possessions?

Eli said Oct 29, 2008, 8:27 AM:
 


Buddhism does teach the existence of ghosts through story and imagery, most specifically through what are called, “hungry ghosts.”  Hungry ghosts are used as a metaphor demonstrating that ghosts do suffer through attempting to fulfill earthly desires.

For more, see here

Eli
  e : .

Re: Buddhism and Ghosts? Possessions?

e said Oct 31, 2008, 11:42 AM:
 


 

In Buddhism you have 3 types of greed that propel one to act (commit karma) and thus be reborn in samsara: greed for sensuality, greed for being and greed for non-being. Hungry ghosts lack “being” and so are hungry to be born or are hungry to “be”.

lov e