Deva settling on earth

marcteng SG

1) is the story on nui lang and zi nu real story or a folklore?

that zi nu came down to earth and married nui lang and have kids thereafter?

2) if there are any evil ghost or demon wreaking havoc on earth, will any devas, pusa or monks intervene?

sinweiy SG

no sure. but i've heard of 2 fox spirits transforming as human, and who later became the disciples of a Tibetan Master.

marcteng SG

no sure. but i've heard of 2 fox spirits transforming as human, and who later became the disciples of a Tibetan Master.

where u heard? is it in Singapore or in china or taiwan?

sinweiy SG

can't recall...either Tibet or China.

marcteng SG

no sure. but i've heard of 2 fox spirits transforming as human, and who later became the disciples of a Tibetan Master.

fox spirits is it under demons? cant be ghosts rite? or are they from asura realm?

marcteng SG

so we are so called descendants of the deva, aka the light sound heaven realm from the 33 heavenly realm.

I suppose that can be evolution, from a devas to a human being.

An Eternal Now SG

Animal spirits are ghosts.

marcteng SG

Animal spirits are ghosts.

animal spirits are ghosts? hmm. you mean animal ghosts? but how can they be transformed into humans? you need to be reborn as a human to be a human.

sinweiy SG

there are other supernatural creatures as well. sometimes, u read them at the beginning or end of a sutra. Shurangama even mentioned of so called 'immortal'.

sinweiy SG

Shurangama even mentioned of so called 'immortal'.

http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Buddhism/Shurangama/ps.ss.02.v7.020526.screen.pdf

“Furthermore, Ananda, there are people who do not rely on proper enlightenment to cultivate samadhi, but cultivate in some special way that is based on their false thinking. Holding to the idea of perpetuating their physical bodies, they roam in the mountains and forests in places people do not go and become ten kinds of immortals.

“Ananda, some living beings with unflagging resolution make themselves strong with doses of medicine. When they have perfected this method of ingestion, they are known as earth-traveling immortals.

“Some of these beings with unflagging resolution make themselves strong through the use of grasses and herbs. When they have perfected this method of taking herbs, they are known as flying immortals.

“Some of these beings with unflagging resolution make themselves strong through movement and cessation. When they have perfected their breath and essence, they are known as space-traveling immortals.

“Some beings with unflagging resolution make themselves strong by using the flow of saliva. When they have perfected the virtues of this moisture, they are known as heaven-traveling immortals.

“Some beings with unflagging resolution make themselves strong with the essence of sun and moon. When they have perfected the inhalation of this purity, they are known as immortals of penetrating conduct.

“Some beings with unflagging resolution make themselves strong through mantras and prohibitions. When they have perfected these spells and dharmas, they are known as immortals with Way-conduct.

“Some beings with unflagging resolution make themselves strong through the use of thought-processes. When they have perfected thought and memory, they are known as immortals with illumining conduct.

“Some beings with unflagging resolution make themselves strong through intercourse. When they have perfected the response, they are known as immortals with essential conduct.

“Some beings with unflagging resolution make themselves strong through transformations and changes. When they have perfected their awakening, they are known as immortals of absolute conduct.

“Ananda, these are all people who smelt their minds but do not cultivate proper enlightenment. They obtain some special principle of life and can live for thousands or tens of thousands of years. They retire deep into the mountains or onto islands in the sea and cut themselves off from the human realm. However, they are still part of the turning wheel, because they flow and turn according to their false thinking and do not cultivate samadhi. When their reward is finished, they must still return and enter the various destinies.

so perhaps they or ''妖精'' are part of human realm who practice some unknown ways. and i think immortal does not mean live forever, maybe live very very long time but still can 'die' by accident.

marcteng SG

where is Mount Sumeru? not in this world rite?

only those who are enlightened can see Mount Sumeru?

marcteng SG

there are other supernatural creatures as well. sometimes, u read them at the beginning or end of a sutra. Shurangama even mentioned of so called 'immortal'.

if asteroids / comets threaten the survival of our earth, will the 4 heavenly beings or any other heavenly realm beings assist us by averting the asteriods / comets? similarly if any evil spirits were to wreak havoc on our world, will any heavenly beings assist to rid of the spirit and protect us?

sinweiy SG

this is natural disaster, those that can help may be limited in power. some may want to and some may not be able to help and some may not know and just enjoy their heaven.

just like for example, if the forest/jungle were to catch a big forest fire, will YOU go and put out the fire or help those animals/insects that are trap in the fire?

i mean it's pretty broad.

sinweiy SG

where is Mount Sumeru? not in this world rite?

only those who are enlightened can see Mount Sumeru?

In the mythology of Tibetan Buddhism, Mount Meru is a place which simultaneously represents the center of the universe and the single-pointedness of mind sought by adepts. Thousands of miles in height, Meru is located somewhere beyond the physical plane of reality, in a realm of perfection and transcendence. Symbolic representations of Mount Meru are commonly found in Tibetan mandalas, contemplative diagrams designed to aid meditators in focusing.

It is said that Meru has its roots in hell, and its summit in heaven. Meru is surrounded by seven rings of golden mountains, each separated from the other by one of seven circular oceans. It is crowned by a golden palace wherein Indra, king of Hindu gods, resides. This entire superstructure rises from an outer ocean, and is flanked by four main continents, each with two subcontinents.

The southern continent, Jambudvipa, corresponds to the physical earth. Each of the other continents represents a nearby planet upon which transmigrating souls following the yellow light-path may be reborn. However, it is said that all of these worlds are undesirable, for they are non-human worlds inhabited by sheep, cattle, or horses. The teachings of Buddhism clearly state that existence as a human being is the only way to achieve Buddhahood, so rebirth in any other form (including that of a deva or demigod) is a distraction from the path to enlightenment.

what's your understand of Mount Sumeru?

i wonder perhaps, technology now can see the physical part liao.

marcteng SG

what's your understand of Mount Sumeru?

i wonder perhaps, technology now can see the physical part liao.

this is not what I have heard of Mount Sumeru. I listened to audio CD's that you must be enlightened to be able to see Mount Sumeru. It is certainly not on your earth here.