adept

And the richest, judging by the price of his DVD's, that is if anyone's buying them.

Thanks TI for your input on this matter. It does sound very like my experience, albeit in Buddhist Abhidhammic lingo. It could be that I'm on the verge of jhana by that definition. I'll see how it goes.

Surely this can't be right !

Hi Adam. I've practiced meditation for about a decade now. Lots of different approaches, but I always seem to come back to awareness of the breath. Only one session per day of half an hour, always in full lotus. I've never had any problem getting into lotus from day one. Maybe that helps, I don't know. I'm not sure how I came to this regular state. It just seemed to happen a few weeks ago. Maybe it's the result of years of practice suddenly bearing fruit. I started out, like some people, focussing on the dantian. Normal abdominal breathing. Then, without me consciously recognizing it, I found myself being aware of the mechanism of breathing. Being aware as I breathed in, and being aware when I breathed out. And that was it. I had dropped the focussing on the dantian without knowing I had. It all happened so naturally. As far as resources go, my interests have been varied over the years. From the TTC to the Pali Canon, to Zen and Ch'an. Then dropping Buddhism altogether because there's something I still don't get with it. It doesn't feel right for me. These days I seem to be drawn to Vedantic sources and to the Bhagavad Gita. It feels as if I'm re-discovering something which I've previously known, maybe from lifetimes past. We all have different paths, some which take us on many different routes. I still have a LOT of work to do on my morals and behaviour. I am currently trying to get to the root of my anger issues so it's not all rosy in the garden just yet. Hope this helps.

Hi TI I don't have any luminosity or brightness, on the contrary, it seems dark, but not in a frightening or threatening way at all. It feels completely natural and right to be there, as if I've always belonged there. I don't feel aware of anything in particular, but I feel aware. Hard to put into words that one.

And his 'O at a D's'

I think 'The Gospel Of Thomas' is required reading for anyone interested in Gnostic Christianity. I would love to learn more from the Sufism side of things.

Yes. Words tend to get in the way of the Divine.

Maybe 'evil' is the wrong word. I think Xunzi uses 'flawed' in some commentaries on his work. Yes, there is a lot of good in the world, but there are some seriously sick, twisted individuals, and groups/nations. This is why the Buddhist path doesn't work for me, however hard I have tried to understand and practice it. I just cannot have compassion and forgiveness for every sentient being. Some deserve punishment for heinous crimes.

1. In my case, it seems that EVERY time I meditate, I enter this state, within a few minutes. 2. It seems that Mind has dropped off altogether. No-mind. 3. I wouldn't say that this state is 'mindlessness' at all. Far from it. No mind is not needed in this state. 4. I'm not so sure about this 'bigger Mind' that you speak of, or of 'pre heavenly qi'. I only believe I have entered 'The Great Stillness', 'The Dao', 'The Source of all things', 'God consciousness' or any other term suitable for the un-nameable.

Here we go again !

The nembutsu is the heart of Pure Land Buddhism. The reason for it is for birth in the Pure Land of Amida, where you end the cycle of birth and death once and for all. It is a holy practice and shouldn't be taken lightly. I've never heard of someone reciting the nembutsu for material gain. Maybe you're confusing it with the chanting in the Nichiren schools.

Sorry, but this is NOT good advice. Knees should not pass the toes at all. This goes totally against everything I've been taught.

I'm also enjoying this thread. What a contrast Confucianism is to Buddhism ! For instance, this is from Xunzi: "The gentleman, knowing well that learning that is incomplete and impure does not deserve to be called fine, recites and enumerates his studies that he will be familiar with them, ponders over them and searches into them that he will fully penetrate their meaning, acts in his person that they will come to dwell within him, and eliminates what is harmful within him that he will hold on to them and be nourished by them. Thereby he causes his eye to be unwilling to see what is contrary to it, his ear unwilling to hear what is contrary to it, his mouth unwilling to speak anything contrary to it, and his mind unwilling to contemplate anything contrary to it. When he has reached the limit of such perfection, he finds delight in it. His eye then finds greater enjoyment in the five colors, his ear in the five sounds, his mouth in the five tastes, and his mind benefits from possessing all that is in the world."

But I thought you posted somewhere before that you were a PL Buddhist ?

Been getting into manga lately. Started with the cult classic Akira. I'm on book 2 now and it's awesome. Brilliant story and well drawn for an older example of the genre. Any manga/graphic novel recommendations ?

Hi Tulku

I think it's time for a break from these forums. Whether it's temporary or permanent I'm not sure. I'm using up way too much time and energy here. What used to be an enjoyable experience where thoughts were shared and notes compared has turned into a place populated by whack-jobs and certain members who feel the need to post in every topic. It's all become a bit suffocating to be honest. There are lots of good people here, most of them are long-standing members, and their advice and help still shines through.

Well, I've had a couple of weeks away and you know what ? I actually quite like being here. I think having a few nut-jobs makes it what it is. I've learned so much from the wonderful people here and investigated subjects completely unknown to me. That, alone, is priceless. Thank you everyone, for making this place what it is.

Fixed for you

Oh dear, you really are twisted. You condemn not just single persons but whole nations. Or should I say the females of a nation. Then what about the Chinese who eat locusts on sticks and animals penis's. Or the Japanese who eat sushi. African tribes who hunt and eat their own food. Would you talk to their females ? In fact don't even bother answering tulku/bodyoflight/eternalnoob/mak tin si.

Oh for God's sake

Tina Turner is a Nichiren Buddhist : http://youtu.be/PRr3zTzoVhk

Was it Ajahn Munindo by any chance ?