Gerard

Thanks for pointing out this stuff, which shows the importance of attending retreats in those settings.

Yes I totally agree with what you are saying; however the mental defilements (kilesas) as well as the ten fetters must be overcome in order to leave the illusion of Samsara. Once you attain that, which is not as easy as practitioners may think, you have attained arahantship. If you cared to read what Daniel Ingram writes in his page, material that I agree with because I have attended Vipassana retreats (two so far and many more to come), then you'll realise that this road is not an easy one to follow: That brings me to the question of audience. At any given time and place, there are only a handful at best that are ready to hear deep dharma and then convert that knowledge into liberating practice. This was true in the time of the Buddha and continues to be true today. Even among monks and nuns, you will not find many that are enlightened or even aspire to actually be enlightened in this lifetime (http://www.interactivebuddha.com/eleventharmy.shtml) Do you have any idea of how difficult is to conquer the mind? Try and see, especially after a meditation session when you leave your room and get fully immersed in society. Let me ask you something: Have you ever attended a full retreat? Not 3 days or so: 3 weeks + walk and sit over 8 hours a day and the last 3 locked up in your hut meditating a minimum of 16 hours a day.

No problem. Written communication is not perfect, as you know. Yes the 10 fetters blind us big time as well as the belief that we reached enlightenment when we haven't That is why attaining Buddhist enlightenment is so difficult. Good luck. Edited: typo.

Yes but what Daniel writes about (which really is Buddha's model using Western approach) is based on a system resulting from thousands of hours of Vipassana practice and karmic evolution. Nothing beats the old model of "sweat and tears." Your ability to put in the "hard yards" says as much about your personality as it does your likelihood of fruition. And let me tell you something, in this business it is much easier to read things than actually doing them but unfortunately knowing doesn't make you an enlightened being. Start doing that yourself and you'll soon find out that the dukkha nanas and vipassana jhanas are not mere imaginings; they are a natural part of the process towards arahantship. This is the starting point of our journey: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors...i/wheel370.html And this would be our goal once we put that into practice: http://www.mahamakuta.inet.co.th/english/b-way(11).html Good luck.

Essentially answered by Smile but there is more to that. You need to experience it and don't discuss what you go through with anyone as you will condition their minds which is counterproductive. Vipassana works deeply and affects all the different parts of the being: physical, mental, emotional, subtle and spiritual bodies. Imagine if you decide to start a training like this alone. It is more than the typical 1/2 hr Qigong session, you are working your way up to meditating more than 16 hours a day! I attended a 3 week retreat in northern Thailand last Christmas and without proper instruction I wouldn't have been able to to something like that if I were living in busy society by myself. Just try and see how far you go. What I meant is learning Vipassana alone is impossible. You need a instructor and the correct setting. People tend to forget that the Buddha himself used Vipassana to attain enlightenment!

One thing that spiritual practitioners tend to forget is this: 1. Belief in an individual self 2. Doubt or uncertainty, especially about the teachings (Dharma) 3. Attachment to rites and rituals 4. Sensual desire 5. Hatred 6. Lust for material existence, lust for material rebirth 7. Lust for immaterial existence 8. Pride in self, conceit, arrogance 9. Restlessness, distraction 10. Ignorance Also called the ten fetters. There are different levels of Buddhist enlightenment according how far you conquered them: 1. Stream-enterers or Sotappana: Those who have destroyed the first three fetters won't be reborn into any of the undesirable rebirths: animal, ghost or hell being. At most they will have to be reborn only seven more times (or possibly less) before attaining Nirvana. 2. Once-Returners or Sakadagami: Those who have destroyed the first three fetters and have lessened the fetters of sensual desire and hatred will attain Nirvana after being born once more in the world. 3. Non-Returners or Anagami: Those who have destroyed the five lower fetters, which bind beings to the world of the senses. Non-returners will never again return to the human world and after they die, they will be born in one of the higher astral planes, there to attain Nirvana. Attaining this state is portrayed in the early texts as the ideal goal for laity. 4. Arahants: Fully enlightened human beings who have conquered all fetters, having fully abandoned Samsara. The will attain Nirvana after death (Parinirvana). Attaining this state is portrayed in the early texts as the ideal goal for monastics (but it is not necessarily so). For instance, I have been meditating intensively lately and been struggling with fetters number 4 (sex), 5 and especially 7. I still got a long way to go, hopefully this lifetime is my last. But it is no easy task, for sure. I can assure you that the Buddhist model enlightenment is very real. I hope this sheds some light over your model which I find rather inaccurate.

Ditto.

Like the blind men arguing over the elephant, Buddhism as been corrupted by Buddha's followers; that is, the sangha. People easily forget that the Buddha was really an ascetic, a wandering being who attained ultimate enlightenment by walking the path, not by reading books and discussing about it. Whether it is Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sufism, Christianism or any other "ism" the final goal is to strengthen the spirit in such way that is able to break through the cycle of reincarnation and transcend all karma. The ascetic path is the quickest method as long as one's karma is ripe.

Read this: http://www.hermitary.com/articles/thudong.html Buddhism can only be understood by walking the path. All the best.

Start eating warmer food to activate the stomach-cauldron and ignite the fire in the spleen. Foods to Avoid or Limit dairy wheat cold drinks fruit juice processed foods refined flour, pastry, pasta, breads cold raw foods refined sugar and sugar substitutes coffee, alcohol deep fried foods peanuts and peanut butter bananas, avocado Foods to Add organic lightly cooked vegetables, corn, celery, watercress, turnip, pumpkin, alfalfa sprouts, button mushrooms, radish, caper brown rice, barley, amaranth, rye, oats legumes, kidney beans, adzuki beans, lentils small amount of lean organic meat, poultry and fish, tuna small amount of whole fruits, lemon sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds seaweed, kelp green tea, jasmine tea, raspberry leaf tea Foods to Add to Tonify Yang raspberry, peach, strawberry, cherry walnut, chestnuts, pine nuts, pistachios lamb, venison lobster, mussels, prawns, shrimp, trout black pepper, cinnamon bark, clove, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, peppermint, rosemary, sage, turmeric, thyme, horseradish, cayenne, nutmeg chai tea, jasmine tea Good luck.

Sorry but learning Vipassana alone is a BIG MISTAKE. Period.

Start prostrating, walking and sitting and observe all the changes you will experience inside of you and in the external environment. Do not cling onto anything as they are all impermanent. Do not compare or share what you experience with anyone else either. You can find more tips in my signature (check March & April entries) and in the following: http://www.mahamakuta.inet.co.th/english/b-way(7).html (walking meditation) http://www.mahamakuta.inet.co.th/english/b-way(8).html (mindfulness of breathing) As well as other allied topics (since that page adheres to the Theravada tradition and being Vipassana the main tool of practice). Good luck.

You never learn and experience Buddhism, Taoism and any other "ism" by reading others. Examples of how you learn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxJ7DX6FyqI...feature=related The rest is all yabba, yabba, yabba, blah, blah, blah.

I live in a slave country (like most today) governed by corrupt politicians: Australia. It has been recently dumped in the water supply in the city where I currently live: Brisbane. My question is how to remove this poison from tap water without having to purchase an expensive reverse osmosis filter system as it removes not only fluoride but all minerals. What can I do because I don't want to end up like a zombie. Thanks in advance. Source: http://www.geocities.com/northstarzone/FLUORIDE.html May you become enlightened in this very lifetime. Edited: typo.

This validates two things: 1. Anicca. 2. Karma. Osel Hita Torres is not ready to continue the spiritual path now but he might later on in life. Anicca again.

Pros: 1. More time to practice the spiritual path. 2. Less time for distractions and society's mind and energy pollution. Cons: 1. Food, hygiene and maybe shelter. Who is going to feed you while you wander around? Where are you going to wash your clothes? What if they wear off, who is going to provide you with new ones? I guess this wouldn't be too much of an issue if you happen to ask in monasteries and the like. 2. Visa issues //////////////////////////////////////////////////////// I am thinking of becoming one for at least 5 years possibly more but nothing over 10 years once I finish paying off my debts, finish Bagua training and have some money saved up for when I return. Places to wander: Mainly central Asia, China and India. I would like to hear your opinions on this issue. Thanks.

Thanks for your replies, guys.

Bla, bla, bla, bla.

I would ask: Who meditates here at all instead of spending too long in front of the computer.

Nice vid!

I guess that would be "Iron Shirt", right? Anyway far from what Taoism teaches.

I would like to hear ALL OF YOU.

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I don't see much difference between these two pages: http://www.elixxir.com/ http://www.underdogwealthsystem.com/?gclid...CFQogegodfhy4rg It's a scam and I can't believe you are asking this question. Slowing down the aging process is a by-product of spiritual training. Several factors involved: 1. Quality of pre-natal chi 2. Quality food 3. Quality air 4. Quality water 5. Stress management 6. Living in a non-urban area preferably in a high-mountainous region 7. Time dedicated to spiritual training (including long-term retreats) 8. Non-attachment 9. Acceptance of no-self and how do you put this into practice 10. Celibacy 11. Karma Good luck.