seekingbuddha

For quite some time, i have felt that the search feature of this website lacks flexibility and power. For example, today i wanted to find an old post that i had made, but i could not remember the name of the thread topic in which i posted it in. I know the search allows for searching "members or forums etc". But, often when i supply some keywords, the hits are presented in "most recent first" format, with no option to say "most relevant search result first". So, my suggestion is to either extend the search feature with things that are commonly seen in other websites, with a button that brings up "advanced search settings". Another option is to use google search button that can be integrated into the website. Right now, i have to go to google website, if i really want a good search performed on this entire site. I would rather do it here in the forum site itself.

This is a good thread, let us carry on with posts relevant to original topic

Thank you, i didn't notice the settings icon until you gave the images. That helped. The sorting order could be improved still with more options like "relevancy" - for example if all the given words occur close to each other, it could be more relevant. This would help in case the exact phrase is not remembered by the searcher. Searching is quite important, since this forum has a wealth of info buried in old threads.

The problem occurs, when someone has posted in numerous threads and he does not know which thread carries a particular sentence that he/she may have typed in the past. Clicking through each thread would not be an option in this case. A generic search for words, across various threads and forum sections, with ability to narrow down using filters like time frame OR username OR forum subsections to search AND sorting order of results based on different criteria would be useful. I have seen such abilities in other forums that i belong to.

Orion, As 9th points out, there is some benefit in discussions and words of intellect, though we all understand that words are not sufficient to fully delineate certain experiences that we discuss. True - logical understanding or affirmation, is not the same as realization. One starts with (pariyatti) understanding the logic at intellectual level; Then progresses to get glimpses of realization, even though there are multiple depths to any realization. I do not deny my existence; that is our reality. But i deny the notion that there is anything inside this body+mind, that is ever lasting and permanent, which i can tag as I/ME/MYSELF. This is the teaching of my Supremely Enlightened Teacher; meditation on this teaching will eventually confirm the truth of the teaching beyond intellectualization. Even with the above knowledge, I still do not deny my Ego. In fact, i have bigger than average EGO, as affirmed by my friends. This is my karma, which i built up over past decades. Now, i will strive on, to burn away my karma (see below for definition of karma). I see my EGO as one of the main sources of hinderance. I can see that my Ego clings to the notion ME/I/MINE, and it is causing me all kinds of suffering. But, i am unable to let go of my Ego. I keep trying to chip away at my EGO as part of my practice; because that is what my teacher advices. My hope is that as i keep trying, my EGO will diminish over age and wisdom, and provide me a pleasant abiding in this very life. I don't have to necessarily believe in next life. As happy as i can live, i can also pass away happily. It is also my belief that many of us here, the intellectual/spiritual types, carry a good dose of EGO - seems to be part of our personalities, because we realize that "we think" more than an average person does. I have not seen directly or experienced the reality of rebirth. So, i set it aside without being too pushy about it. There is benefit of practice, right here in this life, as we have all realized and seen directly. Practice leads to higher levels of mind, higher levels of peacefulness in mind; it leads to lessening of suffering, or at least gives us the ability to deal with suffering in this very life, in this very moment. Regardig karma ......I can also restrict my "definition of karma" to "actions i have performed in this very life, in my youth". If i go by this definition, i can easily see that my past actions are affecting my present day. I am suffering this very day, because of the decisions and actions i undertook in some years ago. So again, one does not have to believe in rebirth or past births, to see that karma is actually working; it is a decent hypothesis to work with. I do see and understand your words, and they carry wisdom. The reason i visited this thread now is because of my newfound understanding of "bliss" which you were talking about in your OP. Some of what i said earlier maybe incorrect, because wikipedia definition (of bliss) says .... In the Pali Canon and related literature, the term is used in a general sense to refer to "well-being and happiness". So, if we take this definition of bliss, then yes, I can see that suffering would deny this state of mind. I simply accept my suffering, my lack of bliss, try to work with it, and use it as foundation upon which i can build my practice.

I looked around to find a thread where i can suggest improvement to this forum, but could not find it. The welcome area has a note saying contact "concierge group" with questions, but there is no mention of how to find a member of that group.

Yes, i see them now. Will post my suggestions for forum in that area. Thx.

Strange. I can not see The Pavillion or OFF topic, when i click on the link you provided (home page). I tried clicking on the "Forums" navbar item on the home page and still see nothing like you mentioned. I am on OS X using latest Safari for browser. What am i doing wrong ?

Orion, I am glad to see that you have no fear of dying. I hope to prepare myself for that event, with what i have tagged as "near death meditation". Then, I can pass through that natural process with a clear mind, and ability to transition into a higher being (if you accept certain teachings as true, though not directly experienced by us). I came in because i wanted to say something about suffering. Mental suffering is an ongoing process in my life too, though the mechanism of craving & clinging has been experienced directly, as the root causes of dissatisfaction in this life moments. Having tasted some higher truths (which many in the west seem to prefer to tag as Awakening or Awakened), one strives to maintain that state of mind, in as many life moments as possible. It is impossible to dwell in that state continually, for those of us who still have attachments to mental constructs and various other things. So, the way i think of it is as follows : "I have created all this suffering in my life, and i continue to entertain this suffering in present moment, because i performed certain (bad) actions in the past. Call this karma or bad seeds planted in youth & ignorance. So, this suffering is a natural process, and bliss is being denied as a everyday experience; though my friend seems to live in that blissful experience frequently, if not every day. So what ? My task is to strive on, strive on, to keep things in proper perspective: 1. There is no I/ ME/ SELF/ Soul. 2. This body, mind, experiences are simply a manifestation of THE ONE (call it using any other words you choose). 3. There is nothing but The ONE, and everything is The ONE. As long as i dwell in this realization, frequently and deeply, i am progressing in this life and the next one (if such exists). " So, my decision is to remind myself and meditate on the above everyday, no matter what life presents - suffering or bliss, it does not matter to me. All that matters is that i am established in the "bases" (such as ever deepening awareness) that i have experienced during my meditation retreats. Suffering is becoming a tool, a foundation upon which i can build my bases. Up and downs of life go on, as usual. It is difficult to maintain this awareness, for those of us who are engaged in speech and actions (i.e.. work, social interactions, what must be done while living in society). To the extent the practice is done, to that extent my suffering is being reduced. I try to stop my cravings as they arise, as i look at a beautiful woman or a material thing that i desire, or as i look at the fact that my life lacks bliss/happiness. I tell myself "why crave/desire even that, when i know it is fleeting / ever-changing ?". In the blink of an eye, life span is over, but I can realize this deeply enough, only at the point of death.

This is a good discussion that you have started. I have inserted my comments after each section of quotes..... I do not think this is "dis associating" as a mentally traumatized person would do. But, it does feel similar to that. Just like all experiences, there is a period of arising, a period of plateau (or sustaining), and a period of cessation. I have come across the words "dark night of the soul", as a phase that one must go through. Have you looked into that ? I am not saying that you are going through one, but just that it maybe something that you need to be aware of. I would like further clarification on your statements above, even though i understand what you mean. Does the above imply that you "stay in awareness of 1)your body, 2)body sensations, 3)mind and 4)mental constructs" all the time ? If not (as my guess is), How frequently you come back to the state of awaress of the above 4 or part thereof ? I do not think paying attention to the presence or lack of bliss is useful in any way. I wondered about this for a while, and then i let it go. I concluded that it has to do with the past sankara (karma) of each individual. You have already pointed out in later post that no one can stay in bliss 24x7. Bliss is a state of mind, and it arises and passes like all other mental states. The realization you have pointed out here is profound, and there are levels to all realizations, IMHO. There is no I, no SELF, no ME, no MINE. This realization goes deeper and deeper until Enlightenment, when the most subtle traces of I/ME/SELF get destroyed. We can talk more about this point in PM, if you wish. I would venture to say that the state you have realized is actually higher than "bliss/joy state of mind" which is transient. What you are describing is ever present undertone of equanimity and subtle tranquility of mind - an undertone to all life experiences. For example, you can sense that it is present even when you are watching a movie or when you are fucking someone. Does it rear its head every now and then, interrupting the "show" that is going on in your life ? (correct me if my description is wrong). Please describe your level of dis-association, your level of awareness as you go through daily life. Another useful thread i participated in (Awakening Vs Enlightenment) points out that the word "awakening" is being abused in west. Read that thread for details. The first post by "9th" correctly points out that Being awake is totally different from getting "initial glimpses into the path, into the truth". A lot of us get initial glimpses into various states of mind. But, integrating those states of mind that we have found into our daily lives requires lot of work. Most are not willing or capable of putting in the work needed to integrate the truth into our daily life. "Awakening to the path or truth" is easy, but "Being awake" is profoundly high state that is reached, usually after many years of hard work. For now, i suggest that you throw out the word "awakening" and concentrate on your progress, because progress makes everything else irrelevant. It is nice to have chat with "Sangha" and confirm that we are progressing in the right direction. Since many of us do not have access to a "fully liberated teacher" this kind of forums give us feedback from multiple people who may have had similar experiences.....We live in a great age, the birth of internet.

You have created a thought process, a logical pathway to justify that whatever you are doing has no fault. Consider that many practices have been developed and handed down over centuries, and hence it carries the experience of millions of people. Would you be willing to give respect to the experience of millions of people who lived before you, practicing most of their lives OR would you give respect only to your own experience ? Something to think about, while you contemplate the suggestions of others here. In addition, please do not use the word Jhana. It carries a meaning that is beyond what the western world has interpreted it to be. You are simply experiencing pleasurable state of mind, as your strength developed over year and half. Physically you have grown stronger, and this in turn has reduced your pain, increased your ability to enjoy "simply being". I know very little, but i know enough to respect the opinion of others and give it due consideration.

Matrix movie is the hollywood take & twist on Enlightenment. Someone had creative juices flowing.

When we think that giving up Self/Personality/I-notion/Ego is equivalent to destruction/death/zombie state, that is actually a thought that arises out of our lack of experience of this state; it is a misunderstanding that arises out of ignorance and fear of giving up the "SELF" notion that we are so used to from our childhood. Our society has been built for centuries around this "Selfishness" and hence, we are unable to imagine a society where it is possible to live without the notion of SELF. I am of the opinion that humanity is not yet ready for Self-less living (as a species), but individuals like J.Krishnamurthy, Jesus, Buddha, Lao Zi have taught us that it is the best possible state of mind that a human can attain to. I also suspect that many in this forum have had glimpses of how such a state of mind, where "I/SELF/EGO" is totally dissolved. The fear arising in such a mind-state is extreme, and thus will not allow a mind to sustain in that state for long. Even the process of striving to attain to that state is highly fruitful, and allows us to live in a higher plane than most of humanity. The path we all follow leads us there, but we all know that we don't need to reach the goal in order to live a happy day-to-day life, as ordinary folk within society (unlike monks living in total isolation).

In years past, i have been lonely during the holiday season, and know the feeling. So, i would like to take this opportunity to wish all the kindred souls here a peaceful season ahead. Drink the wisdom of spiritual practices, rather than drinking intoxicants to drown any loneliness. Rolling in sorrow of heart is ok for some time, but not fruitful on an extended basis. On this thanksgiving day, i thank my guardian angels for showing me the noble path that leads to eternal peace.

Tomorrow being full moon day, and watching the moon that was so beautiful today, i got reminded of the need to discuss this. I asked my acupuncturist what TCM has to say about full moon. The reply was that full moon has effect on the human body. So, i wonder what effect people have noticed on full moon day or surrounding days. What have you experienced in your body or/and in mind during these days ? Any other knowledge/quote from ancient scriptures regarding this topic can be discussed in this thread.

I have been observing my energy levels over the past 1 month, to keep tabs on how it changes with phases of the moon. Of course, this is non scientific, one man experiment with little ground for conclusion. But, since i have a steady, predictable, secluded, mostly-silent, daily life the external factors on my experiment/observation are limited. Today is full moon day again, and i have observed that my body/mind energy waxes and wanes with moon. In last few days, my energy level has naturally become the highest it has been in past one month. Being a man of science, I don't discount that other factors like food or exercise maybe playing into this. Usually i sleep less compared to others, but in last 2 nights i naturally woke up after 3 hrs of sleep. Over last 2 days, my meditations at night have been stronger than average. When i was a teen i did not believe in astrology, and over my middle ages i held a neutral view towards anything that i did not know for sure. Now, i am starting to accept that at least sun & moon play a role in my life. Further experimental/anectodal evidence can be useful in this thread.

Lot of useful and insightful suggestions have been given by others here. I congratulate you for seeking, early in your life. As long as you stay on this path, your life will be better off than "without it". All the enlightened/wise/high teachers of humanity taught us the same essence..... Make effort to develop wholesome thoughts & actions. Make effort to destroy unwholesome thoughts & actions. All your concerns will be solved (over time, over the years), if you keep these two sentences in mind everyday.

All the enlightened ones that we know, have taught us the same thing...... Let morality/virtue/Sila/wholesome-ness be your shield of protection. This shield of protection grows more powerful, over time; so keep at it without giving up.

Welcome, and my best wishes to you for progress in your noble search.

When you take up these noble practices, your life will unfold in a more happy/peaceful way if you compare it to what could happen in your life without these good noble aspirations. Someone who has good imagination would imagine the kind of life he/she wants in future, and start taking steps that will potentially create that kind of future life. You aspirations are noble. So, i want to offer my experience based knowledge. May i ask your age, sex, some background info, so that i can offer appropriate suggestions ?

This simple exercise pleasantly surprised me. I did not move my palm around, because the friction created excessive sound. But without moving, listening to the inner sound, i could distinguish two types of sounds, both concurrently present : A sound that is similar to a calm thunder of a waterfall A sound similar to electric current passing on high voltage power line - this sound also had similarity to the "OM" sound mentioned in the Hindu scripts. Fun coincidence is - we have a unit related to electricity called "Ohm" I wonder what other sounds people here can distinguish in this little experiment.

Nikolai1, reading your post makes me think that you could use the help of lot of solitude, seclusion and meditation/introspection/contemplation. You simply need to "rest" your mind, with nothing to do, nothing to even think about, and nothing to indulge in. Retreat into nature and doing nothing for a while, instead of wasting money on therapy.

All these are true and useful words. We can't even fathom how people lived without too much lies, just 2000 years ago and people valued the words they spoke. It is sad that we don't understand how much power words carry with them. Indeed, the face tells a lot about a person's mind. I bet a lot of us can easily tell/sense a person's spirit by the way he/she carries himself/herself.

What a wonderful thread that i have stumbled on. I feel i am in Sangha. The following words of Jung seem to describe the predicament that the OP expressed:: "....If he does not find the soul, the horror of emptiness will overcome him,......" Maybe i am mistaken, but is it possible that the OP was not talking about suicide, but about the emptiness that overcomes someone, if she/he is not able to make continued progress after the initial discovery ?

Sunshine, It will also help if you make your foundations stronger. Practice wholesome life. Knowing that you are strong in your morality will give rise to confidence that no evil force can touch you. Dump unwholesome actions & thoughts. This will take time, but do not give up; keep trying again and again. This will be more powerful and long lasting in your life, than any other methods that you attempt.