A rather Buddhist take on the Shin Megami Tensei series that reflects some of my own views, give or take a few. A simplified but decent explanation of Nirvana/Moksha and Mitra / Maitreya Buddha. In the series, one can see via psychology, metaphysics, and faith how comparative religion and proper practice can bring Oneness with God/Dharmakaya via Apotheosis. In this, the Gods and even Asura or (Demons) are divine guides within you and all around you but still remain individual entities themselves and a reflection of God as you are a reflection of God. (metagenetics and metaphoric nature explain this). The biblical "made in his image" is a perennial and metagentic truth. As God expresses himself in multiplicity so too does his image reflect in each individually , yet with similar grouping between each. Same with similar pantheons but with different evolutionary expressions by the different people. Traversing the wisdom, challenges, and compassion of these divine via devotion and accepting them as Yidam or supreme Gurus that are your examples, one seeks Apotheosis, Nirvana, Moksha, and Dharmakāya.
https://youtu.be/8lpgOBAFCK0?si=Q6IVsgbryViy3R5z

"Comfort can be your greatest enemy to your freedom.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with comfort, and may you always have it, but if you become excessively attached to it, and if it is making you lazy, you will not move on the Buddhist path.

If this happens, you need to contemplate the uncertain time of your inevitable death, and your potentially endless rebirths and suffering if you do not make the most out of the precious human existence that you have right now."

~ Chamtrul Rinpoche

A children's book about Hell (Naraka) I found at the bookstore today.

Rant: Buddhism =/= Life denying, Atheistic, anti-Local culture. This is a response to a few replies and posts I have seen recently as well as trends / stereotypes regarding Buddhism I have encountered. https://www.patreon.com/posts/90087843

Bing AI prompt "Bodhisattva's of the Earth"

The lyrics to this song have a rather Vajrayana quality.

https://youtu.be/7a7N5jD-2QU?si=j6upUBHBFy1SxPlB

Lighting Rod - Offspring

I am waiting on a mountaintop
For the moment that the sky will strike
My apologies are forever lost
Soon to ashes in a flash of light

Miles away from me
Hope is fading soon
Gone forever is a waste of time
My intentions like this waiting room
Only bring to me a fading light

Locked up forever inside
I look to the stars and ask why
Oh, if they could just change my dark heart to feel
All our self away
Thrown away

I am waiting like the single bloom
Lost forever in the storm of life
My intentions like this waiting room
Only bring to me a fading light

Locked up forever inside
I look to the stars and ask why
Oh if they could just show these wounds how to heal

Here I am (Oohh...Why?)
My last stand (Oohh...Why?)
And I know for all the rising and falling there's nothing to show

Throw me down, throw me down, throw me down...

It's been raining
And I will pay
World must come to me
I am a lightning rod

I am waiting
On a mountaintop
World above me
He will strike me

Locked up forever inside
I look to the stars and ask why
Oh if they could just change my dark heart to feel

All I am (Oohh...Why?)
My last stand (Oohh...Why?)
And I know for all the rising and falling there's nothing to show

This is an interesting video.
I agree and disagree with the presenter here theologically with my "dharma" as he puts it, and I don't fully agree with his stance against certain forms of transcendence (apotheosis) or that there isn't evil. I think there is evil in the imbalance and there is indeed adharmic forces whose worldview is of imbalancing Chaos in this era / Yuga. However, I 100% agree with his take on Dharmanation, Frank Morales, Frank's views towards Asatrú (trying to underhandedly lower Odin for conversion) and his anti Tantric stances.
Basically if you listen to Frank you are listening to a Christian sermon with Vaishnavism as a front.
Where I will agree with Frank (Acharya) is he positivity of his message, the meditations on "God," having the sacred scriptures, and having a standard of morality.
If it weren't for his and his followers' intentional anti Shaivism / Buddhism approach and attempts to undermine and manipulate Germanic Paganism (and other Western paths) I would have no beef with him.
https://youtu.be/vaSTYwio3aU?si=aPiW01bKxmmVAOgv

I have seen an uptick of right Buddhist groups and adherents who are starkly anti-Pagan, anti-folk faith, and anti-divinity. In turn, this has prompted Pagan groups to make anti-Buddhism statements.

This isn't how Eastern cultures who received Buddhism function.
That isn't to say that there wasn't any strife or disagreements (mostly with governments) but the folk and Lay religion, especially thsoe of Indo-European faiths, were almost always absorbed into the Buddhist cosmology, respected, and allowed to continue within it. Oftentimes, the Priests became representatives of both. Performing rites and teaching the proverbs and morals of both.

We see this in the Bön religion of Tibet and also in Shinto Japan (as well as historical and rural China).

This works even more so in Indo-European faiths and cultures where the Gods are regional interpretations of the same.
This was seen in Bactria, Ghandahar, Kushan Empire, etc. Of course, each local expression should be respected.
When I say syncreitc, I mean IE.