david @ middleway

@middleway

#middleway @middleway Believe nothing, as you have been told it. Jumble & windbaggery, buddhism philosophy & opera. Some hamsters too.

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david @ middleway@middleway· 19d

As the glue holding together the Tibetan diaspora, His Holiness has long championed the middle-way approach: rather than outright independence, he seeks genuine autonomy and cultural preservation for Tibet #dalailama #ccp time.com/article/2026...

david @ middleway@middleway· Jun 18

Robert Thurman describes the Dalai Lama as a cool hero who manifests the power of the Kalachakra Buddha. He saw the Dalai Lama manifesting a pure land mandala palace above the Waldorf Astoria in New York City ... "Buddha is as buddha does. ..." ROBERT THURMAN INNER REVOLUTION

david @ middleway@middleway· Jun 18

"Buddha is as buddha does. Just be happy. At least act enlightened. Feel enlightened. It is more pleasant, and enlightenment itself will follow." ROBERT THURMAN INNER REVOLUTION Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Real Happiness

david @ middleway@middleway· Jun 17

May the Hero Scientists lead me on the path Of the clear light of orgasmic wisdom! May their best consort Angel host support me from behind, Deliver me from the dangerous straits of the between, And carry me to perfect Buddhahood! Robert Thurman trans of Tibetan Book of the Dead, the Bardo Thodol

When I roam the life cycle driven by strong instincts,
May the Hero Scientists lead me on the path
Of the clear light of orgasmic wisdom!
May their best consort Angel host support me from behind,
Deliver me from the dangerous straits of the between,
And carry me to perfect Buddhahood!

david @ middleway@middleway· Jun 17

Dalai Lama tribute to Professor Robert A. F. Thurman (1941 to 2026) tsamtruk.com/2026/06/17/i... "Bob and I shared many years of warm friendship since we first met in India in the late 1960s." #tibethouse #dalailama #Tibet

> THE DALAI LAMA
> June 17, 2026
> Mrs. Nena Thurman
> Tibet House USA
> 22 West 15th Street
> New York, NY 10011
> U.S.A.
> Dear Nena and family,
> I learned with deep sadness of the passing of your husband and my dear friend, Prof. Robert Thurman. Please accept my heartfelt condolences. My prayers are with you and all members of your family.
> As you know, Bob and I shared many years of warm friendship since we first met in India in the late 1960s. As a Buddhist scholar, his knowledge was truly remarkable, including his command of the Tibetan language. He devoted his entire professional life to sharing that knowledge, not only with his students, but with the wider world through his writings and teachings.
> He understood profoundly that the survival of Tibetan Buddhist culture is inseparably linked to the future of Tibet itself. I greatly valued his efforts on behalf of the Tibetan people and their culture, expressed so visibly through institutions such as Tibet House.
> Bob lived a meaningful life and has left behind a legacy that will continue to inspire future students of Tibetan Buddhism and culture for generations to come. I am sure that the merit he accumulated through a lifetime of service to humanity will bear fruit in lives to come.
> With my prayers,
> [Signature]
>

david @ middleway@middleway· Jun 9

Tibetan Buddhist Leader in Portland Is on Leave After Allegations of Sexual Misconduct A former student at Maitripa College says that for years, its leader used his position of power to obtain sex from her. www.wweek.com/news/city/20... @fpmtinc.bsky.social

In March, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition suspended Yangsi Rinpoche from teaching at all of its affiliated centers.

The organization did so after Bhaskaran and Elena Alfaro, another former student, filed a formal complaint with the FPMT in January. Alfaro alleged to the foundation that, first in 2017 and again in 2020, Yangsi Rinpoche slept with at least one former Maitripa student.

Documentation provided by Alfaro shows that when she sent a letter expressing concerns about Yangsi Rinpoche in 2016 to then-FPMT president Lama Zopa Rinpoche, he warned that Alfaro would endure spiritual torment if she even thought ill of her guru.

“If you get angry, arise heresy towards your Guru…one has to be born in the hell, suffering the most heavy suffering of samsara,” he wrote back in a March 2017 email. “Make this your principal meditation, otherwise you will destroy your life totally.”

david @ middleway@middleway· Jun 1

The text extracted from the file **1000153849.jpg** is as follows:
Rob
Rob Tinline | Americas Director | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Personal | Personal
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE - FCDO ONLY
From: JCS
Sent: 31 December 2024 09:25
To: JCS
Cc: Robert Tinline; JCS; JCS; JCS
Subject: RE: HMA-Des Engagement
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE - FCDO ONLY
Dear JCS,
I’ve now spoken with Philip. His view was as follows:
* LPM has been announced publicly as the next HMA Washington as a political appointee. The appointment is subject to agrement and security clearance;
* Prior to taking up this employment, LPM plans to participate in an international event relating to China. This is renumerated;
* As he will not by then have taken up employment with HMG, it is a matter for LPM whether or not he proceeds with this event.
He has asked that any concerns are flagged to SpAds so that they and No 10 can take a view as to whether they wish to intervene with LPM.
Please could you share a very short summary of views (BEW/China/Americas/HRD/Security) and I’ll take this forward?
Thank you,
JCS
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE - FCDO ONLY
From: JCS
Sent: 30 December 2024 11:46
To: JCS
Cc: Robert Tinline; JCS; JCS; JCS
Subject: HMA-Des Engagement
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE - FCDO ONLY
JCS,
You requested some lines on what we know about HMA-des's proposed engagement. Please see below. And I’ll message you separately with the informal view we’ve received from BEW and China Desk.
* HMA-Des has committed to participating in a panel event at investment bank UBS's Greater China Conference, hosted in Shanghai from 11-13 January. This is a major event with ~4000 attendees and considerable media. Many sessions are recorded. See some high-level detail here and a summary of last year’s conference here.
* We understand he would plan to attend virtually and participate in his Global Counsel capacity. We also understand that he would be paid for this engagement.
* HMA-Des has asked to start on FCDO payroll from w/c 13 Januar…

david @ middleway@middleway· May 13

Huey ...

david @ middleway@middleway· Apr 17

Never-legally-convicted paedophile Michael Jackson ... everyone forgets about Jordan Chandler, Gavin Arvizo, Wade Robson & out-of-court settlements “he had sex with them ... never denied is that he spent nights behind closed doors with lots of little boys” www.thetimes.com/culture/film...

david @ middleway@middleway· Apr 13

@bookgreeble.bsky.social Text in Tibetan looks #Dzogchen Naljor Chenpo or Mahayoga tantric practice ... Samten = Meditation Stability of meditative concentration is beyond ordinary thought ... In a state of pure awareness, the eye of wisdom does not waver. This, is the ultimate, original state ...

david @ middleway@middleway· Mar 30

I will worry about things later. In many cases, when you come back the next morning after a good night’s sleep, the anxiety will be gone. Nobuko Nakano is a neuroscientist. Her book Lucky People: A Neuroscientist’s Guide to Attracting Luck, Cultivating Success and Leading a Happier Life

Put anxiety out of your mind
Some kinds of anxiety are vague and hard to identify, so trying to view yourself objectively can help. If you are anxious, be aware that this is what you are feeling, then visualise it as something physical that can be separated from your body. Say to yourself, ‘I know I’m experiencing anxiety right now, and there’s so much I should think about, but for now I’m going to put this anxiety out of my mind and sleep tonight – I will worry about things later.’ In many cases, when you come back the next morning after a good night’s sleep, the anxiety will be gone.

david @ middleway@middleway· Mar 23

Wagner on Schopenhauer’s philosophy, ‘a gift from heaven' ... "What charlatans all these Hegels etc. are beside him! His principal idea, the final denial of the will to live, is of terrible seriousness, but it is uniquely redeeming ... Now at last I could understand my Wotan" #philsky

On looking afresh into my Nibelungen poem I recognised with surprise that the very things that now so embarrassed me theoretically had long been familiar to me in my own poetical conception. Now at last I could understand my Wotan, and I returned with chastened mind to the renewed study of Schopenhauer’s book.

david @ middleway@middleway· Mar 22

Buddha by Lama Tashi Norbu

Contemporary Painting of Buddha with Tibetan Text

david @ middleway@middleway· Mar 15

How in God’s name did I get here? Lol ... Fasten your seatbelts and hang on to your hair! The legendary Liza Minnelli is setting the record straight in her new autobiography, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! #skybooks #liza

So fasten your seatbelts and hang on to your hair—it’s been one helluva ride. Today, whenever I look back at that night as a nineteen-year-old Tony winner, the same question runs through my mind as it did then: How in God’s name did I get here?

david @ middleway@middleway· Mar 1

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! Happy St David's Day to, almost, all Davids "His name was David Gest. What in God’s name was I thinking? I clearly wasn’t sober when I married this clown” - Liza Minnelli

A young man with blonde hair running through a field of daffodils holding daffodils strategically placed to maintain his modesty
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

david @ middleway@middleway· Feb 18

Chazz: Mind-bottling, isn't it? Jimmy: Did you just say mind-bottling? Chazz: Yeah, mind-bottling. You know, when things are so crazy it gets your thoughts all trapped, like in a bottle?

david @ middleway@middleway· Feb 15

Deepak has always been a shape shifting Charlatan and obvious phoney ... Dismissing the #DalaiLama as a mere celebrity in saffron robes reveals a profound #ego problem, not #enlightenment. Pure #toxicity masked as #wisdom. #Shame on you #DeepakChopra.

From: Deepak Chopra
To: jeffrey E. jeevacation@gmail.com
Subject: Re:
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2016 12:48:43 +0000
I don't know
All that fans etc does not matter
Of course Im still riding the tiger
I don't know how to get off !
At the conference I met a Tibetan Rinpoche who comes from the Bon tradition . I'm generally suspicious of guru types but I spent some time with him and was v taken by his authenticity . He teaches the yogas of dream and sleep states .
I had questioned the Dalai Lama on this several times and realized he knew v little even on Tibetan Buddhism just a nice guy with a Nobel Prize and a lot of the world in awe because of his uniform ( saffron robes )
I have longed all my life to wake up to primordial existence having had glimpses
I'm going to invite this guy to be in residence at the center and learn these esoteric practices that allow you to go beyond thought I do that daily myself but I could improve on them in sleep and dream states
Deepak Chopra
2013 Costa Del Mar Road
Carlsbad, CA 92013
New Book: Radicalbeauty.com

david @ middleway@middleway· Feb 13

Tulku Urgyen (1920 - February 13, 1996) The way to practice is not to sometimes push to recognize mind essence and then give up. It is a matter of being deeply relaxed from within, and continuing in unfabricated naturalness. The natural state is effortless mindfulness.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (1920[1] – February 13, 1996 (Tibetan: སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་ཨོ་རྒྱན་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་, Wylie: sprul-sku o-rgyan rin-po-che) (Nepali: टुल्कु उर्ग्येन् रिन्पोचे) was a Buddhist master of the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages[1] who lived at Nagi Gompa hermitage in Nepal. Urgyen Rinpoche was considered one of the greatest Dzogchen masters of his time.
Born in Nangchen, Kham in Eastern Tibet[3] in 1920,[1] he was recognized by Khakyab Dorje, 15th Karmapa Lama as the reincarnation of both the Chowang Tulku and Nubchen Sangye Yeshe,[1] one of the 25 principal students of Padmasambhava.

Urgyen's father was Tsangsar Chimey Dorje, a vajrayana instructor who began giving Urgyen transmission for the Kangyur, the Buddha, and "The New Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa."[3] As he grew older, he studied Dzogchen with Samten Gyatso.

He had four sons, each of whom is now an important Buddhist teacher in his own right (Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche);

Urgyen spent 33 years at Nagi Gompa Hermitage, where he spent two decades in retreat, and eventually established six monasteries and retreat centers in Nepal. Boudhanath (Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery). Another is the Tergar Osel Ling Monastery

Urgyen Rinpoche died on the morning of February 13, 1996.

david @ middleway@middleway· Feb 6

Am I looking at Poison hemlock (Conium mac- ulatum), showing upper portion of plant with flowers at #Florence & the Machine ??

david @ middleway@middleway· Jan 31

The British Isles appear in this detail from a 1565 world atlas, created by Portuguese cartographer Diego Homem. Nennius’s book tells the story of the evil king Vortigern, a usurper of the throne, who allowed the Saxons to settle on the island of Britain.

david @ middleway@middleway· Jan 19

Mrs Jacqueline Kennedy wearing a one shouldered, green #Valentino gown in 1967

Jacqueline Kennedy in Valentino (Cambodia, 1967)
This image captures Jacqueline Kennedy during her widely publicised visit to Cambodia in November 1967. She is pictured attending a formal reception, likely hosted by the Cambodian head of state.
The Gown and Styling
Jacqueline is wearing a striking mint green evening gown designed by Valentino, a couturier who became one of her favourites during this era.
* Silhouette: The dress features an asymmetrical, one-shouldered design with a dramatic, cape-like drape cascading down her left side. The loose, flowing cut evokes a Grecian influence, which was a hallmark of Valentino’s style at the time.
* Details: The hem and edges of the cape are intricately trimmed with sparkling silver beading or crystal embroidery, adding texture and catching the light.
* Accessories: She pairs the gown with formal, white opera-length gloves and holds a small, metallic clutch purse in her left hand. She is also wearing statement drop earrings that complement the gown's trim.
* Hair: Her hair is styled in her signature bouffant, pulled back elegantly to reveal her face and the neckline of the dress.
The Setting and Context
Standing to her right is Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the Cambodian head of state, dressed in a black tuxedo. He appears to be presenting a selection of gifts to her.
* The Display: On the table before them are several open blue velvet boxes lined with satin, displaying ornate silver items—likely tea sets, bowls, or ceremonial vessels.
* Her Expression: Jacqueline looks down at the gifts with a polite, attentive expression, her gloved hand raised slightly near her chin in a gesture of appreciation or contemplation.
This visit was significant as it was one of her first major semi-official international trips after leaving the White House, helping to briefly thaw diplomatic relations between the US and Cambodia.
Would you like me to find out more about the specific gifts she was receiving in this photo?

david @ middleway@middleway· Jan 19

Terrible choices by the Corporation of London ... Shower of Bastards ... The Italian café at Parliament Hill Fields has been run by the D'Auria family for 45 years Alberto’s 80th Birthday Celebration and Farewell to Parliament Hill Cafe On 25th January, we will be holding a farewell party

Alberto’s 80th Birthday Celebration and Farewell to Parliament Hill Cafe
On 25th January, we will be holding a farewell party to say thank you and goodbye to all of our friends, family and customers. We will also be celebrating Alberto D’Auria’s 80th birthday on the same day from 12-4pm
A buffet will be provided

david @ middleway@middleway· Jan 18

Is psychedelic therapy just feeding patients "comforting delusions"? New research suggests it’s not about the beliefs, but the specific emotional architecture. Cova & Seragnoli (2025) propose a Two-Process Model of self-transcendence

david @ middleway@middleway· Jan 18

If you look closely at the figure's face you can see wavy lines emanating from the mouth area which is specific breathing technique required for Tummo, known as Vase Breathing (rlung bum pa). This technique involves retaining the breath at the navel to fan the inner fire.

icon depiction of the Yoga of Inner Heat, known in Tibetan as Tummo (gtum mo).

david @ middleway@middleway· Jan 18

Fascinating 🇩🇪 German Poster = Absolutely no hesitation. Slaps a massive #DOMCOM marketing tag to just say "Let's call a sub a sub" 😂 🏍️⛓️ 🇬🇧 UK/US vanilla "This year's biggest cinematic surprise" "A deeply moving love story." 😆 #Pillion #FilmSky #AlexanderSkarsgard #HarryMelling #gay

Here is the alt text for the four images provided:
Image 1
A split-screen movie poster for the film Pillion. On the left, a close-up of actor Alexander Skarsgård, who is wet and shirtless, wearing a silver chain necklace with a key attached. On the right, a close-up of actor Harry Melling, also wet and shirtless, wearing a heavy silver chain necklace secured with a padlock. The title "pillion" spans horizontally across both images in large cyan letters. A quote at the bottom from Indiewire reads: "A deeply moving love story... chains, gags and all."
Image 2
A movie poster with a coral-red background featuring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling. Skarsgård is dressed in a white, black, and blue leather motorcycle racing suit. He sits on a black motorcycle, looking serious, with his hand resting on top of Melling's head. Melling crouches below him wearing a brown leather jacket, looking forward. The title "pillion" appears in large cyan text. Above the title are press quotes including "SEXY," "HILARIOUS," and "BRILLIANT." The text at the bottom reads "IN CINEMAS 28 NOVEMBER."
Image 3
A movie poster set in a grassy park. In the foreground, a large Rottweiler and a small, long-haired Dachshund stand side-by-side. To the left is a blue and white parking sign that reads "Motorcycles only." The title "pillion" is superimposed in the center in large cyan letters. The actors' names, Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård, appear above the title.
Image 4
A German version of the Pillion movie poster with a bright pink background. It features the same image as the English poster: Alexander Skarsgård in motorcycle gear sitting on a bike with his hand on Harry Melling's head. The title "pillion" is in bright yellow. A prominent quote at the top in German reads "UNVERSCHÄMT FESSELNDE DOMCOM" (Outrageously captivating DomCom). Text at the bottom reads "NUR IM KINO."

david @ middleway@middleway· Jan 13

Small but Certain Happiness “ #YOLO is passé; #SBCH is here.” Hence people were now turning to the idea of finding SBCH, which stands for “small but certain happiness.” This phrase was first coined by the Japanese novelist Haruki #Murakami in his essay “Afternoon in the Islets of Langerhans.”

Small but Certain Happiness
“YOLO is passé; SBCH is here.” When I had asked people in Seoul what they were interested in these days, this was the reply I received. YOLO, which stands for “you only live once,” had led to spending beyond their means, and in the end made life more difficult. Hence people were now turning to the idea of finding SBCH, which stands for “small but certain happiness.” This phrase was first coined by the Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami in his essay “Afternoon in the Islets of Langerhans.”

david @ middleway@middleway· Jan 9

youtu.be/fZSMDaewz2A?... ... I did this for The Associates - Party Fears Two - after seeing Billy Mackenzie on Top of the Pops

Album cover for Sulk The Associates - Party Fears Two - Top of the Pops

david @ middleway@middleway· Jan 8

According to #Schopenhauer, the person who can say "yes" to accepting the suffering in exchange for the joy, has realised their connection to the eternal lifeforce and conquered the fear of death. #philsky Arthur Schopenhauer Life and Thought of Philosophy’s Greatest Pessimist David Bather Woods.

table.

Nietzsche put this thought into print in his 1882 book The Gay Science. Beforehand, however, a version of it made a fleeting ap- pearance in Schopenhauer's 1818 master- piece The World as Will and Representation. Schopenhauer proposed yet another kind of immortality, one that he thinks may be a source of consolation for death: since our true essence lies not in our individual exis- tence, but rather the lifeforce of which we are a manifestation, he argues, the essential aspect of ourselves can never perish.2 He

continues:

Someone who has thoroughly integrated the truths stated so far into his way of thinking, without at the same time hav- ing any personal experience or far-reach- ing insight into the continuous suffering that is essential to all life; someone, rather, who is perfectly happy and content with life and who, after calm reflection,

david @ middleway@middleway· Dec 26

Our king, priest and feudal lord – how AI is taking us back to the dark ages | Joseph de Weck www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... we risk losing the very ability to "find out what we are thinking"

we risk losing the very ability to "find out what we are thinking,"

david @ middleway@middleway· Dec 24

Where is SWAG by Justin Bieber ?!?!!