.k.

Don't get caught up in labels...just meditate. that is a good point dwai, meditators often get caught up in trying to label each level or advancement in their meditation practise. this can send you down a path of delusion. When the practioner has a very strong and dedicated mediation practise, understanding of the finer details will develop and doubts and questions will be answered. Instead of just reading an intellectual view on the matter, you will have personal experience. that said..this is my understanding of dhyanas and samadhi. dhyanas (jhana) is the first to third jhanas Absorption into a single point or quality of the meditation object. Accompanied by bliss, serenity, one pointedness. samadhi is the fading of meditation object and bliss, the apparent fading of dualism. The mind expands and enters into a bright awareness, equanimity. The forth jhana. This state of Samadhi allows the mind to dissolve all ideas of separation, concept and feelings from self and object. Self/object and self/other dichotomy. This is considered right concentration from the dhammic view. Often misunderstood as a union of the meditator and the cosmos or the meditator and God. This state is still dependent on causes and therefore not final realization. this is being generous to the yogic tradition. .k.

what is Buddhism about then? if not the ending of birth. .k.

only someone that doesnt understand Dhamma at all would say such a thing. Karma is fundamental in Dhamma practise. Everything is subject to cause and effect. and reincarnation is a hindu concept, if you mean rebirth (totally diffferent) then this is also fundamental in dhamma teachings. So much so that the enrire goal of Buddhism is that deathless is the end of it (rebirth). Some people dumb down the Dhamma thinking that practsing ordinary mindfulness for ordinary happiness in ordinary life is the goal. Although you can probably sell this in a self help book, it is not what the Buddha taught. .k.

I would have to also agree. I have seen many many monks and 30 year meditators and none of them have sat in full lotus. many sit in Agnistambhasana siddasana is great as a meditation posture. but.... if you want to sit in full lotus my advice would be to sit in baddha konasana for min 10 minutes to open the hips, virasana for 10 minutes with back to floor, sit in addha padmasana both sides for 10 minutes each, while siting in this posture pull up with the foot and push down on the knee at the same time, the foot should be as far into the crook of the opposite hip as possible. the after this sit in Agnistambhasana on each side for 10 minutes. Then Bhekasana for 10 minutes. all these times can be varied until you can sit in each for at least 10 minutes. the practice of yoga asana is to stop the bodies messages interferring with the meditation process, in order to acheive this, you need to sit in an asana for a long time and listen and let go of the body. metta .k.

I also agree that the Franz Bardon System is excellent but one not to be taken on lightly. A budding initiate will need to dedicate a vast amount of time to bear fruit. A good and worthy teacher is, in my opinion, paramount in progressing properly. One that can guide you through the maze of desires that can and often do corrupt the unguided student. .k.

Hello, My teacher and some of my fellow students have told me that there are worthy discussions here at Tao bums on topics that are of interest to me. I look forward to chatting with you. metta .k.