C T

Yes one can do loads with empty pots. Its the ones that are full that gets shoved to the back-burners. Having answered your question, you dismissed it as irrelevant. (Shrug)

Exactly? Well, to the generally masses, of course... If you are looking for specifics, then i would say 'a timely wake-up call to myself'. Do you mind?

Please re-read the first sentence of the post in question. Thank you very much sir.

This 'some writing' exists in all systems. Some are clearer, easier to use, while others are more befuddled, leading to hit-or-miss outcomes. For the minds that want everything to be simplified (read infantile) you may want to liken them to recipes. Recipes are not constitutional laws, which are inflexible things - recipes are flexible, workable and very much left to be moulded experientially as one stumbles around the cosmic kitchen. All the Buddha did was to hand out recipes. Some tried them, and tasted the results, and found them to be flavorsome. Others did not like the prescribed recipes, discarding them even before attempting any useful experiment. Those who found favor with the recipes are given all the freedom to add things on or take things away to suit the individual taste. This experiential mode while being engaged in IS the freedom... the allowance to observe the elated moments as well as the frustrating ones, and learn to regard these without any judgement, condemnation, or self-punishment. Those who enjoy cooking often say the fun is in the process, not the end-result. Thats why great Chefs do not overly concern themselves with the end-result, for them the satisfaction lies in the little touches they instinctively know when to add or remove, and they also know that other lesser apprentices will only learn this thru deep interest, motivation, time and effort, combined to read 'fruitful experiences'. Focus too much on the outcomes, and the joy of the process can easily be missed. This is what separates the great creative geniuses from the apprentices. While apprentices fumble around asking if things were true, looking for distractive outer displays, the master chef's main concern would be to ask, "Does this work?" Find out for yourself. If unwilling to, its definitely not the fault of the recipes.

No, the topic title says, "Are you meditating or are you self-hypnotizing yourself?". Do you see the word 'trance' anywhere? My posts indicates a precise response to the specific question set up by the OP. More red marks for you Ralis! Your professor told me to mark your comprehension skills "FAIL"... :lol:

Based on the fact you have not progressed on since getting all those red marks four score and twenty years ago... (Just kidding R!)

Diamonds on velvet fridge magnet on the fridge lopsided Van Gogh...

Yes i am aware you did not write the article. I just said you posted it. Translation can be a pain. Not being critical of the contents at all sir, merely saying that reading some of the BI words in the context i could not figure out what the author was getting at in some parts. That's all. Appreciate the effort you made nonetheless..

The material posted by TheTaoBum, injected with Bahasa Indonesia here and there (presumably to impress westerners) made no sense to me. I speak that language, and Bahasa Malaysia perfectly, and yet i could not relate to some of the things the author is inferring. Not saying the material itself is flawed, but with the addition of those foreign words (some of which are not even spelt correctly) kind of gave the impression that there is something not very right with it.

Hi Taomeow, This will take some concentration i tell ya! I just (not) made a resolution that come next year, besides doing the above, i will attempt also to visualize a buddha (plus all the other 'side' effects like big toes, a lotus out of each and so on, etc of course..ahem!) on each single petal of each and every lotus flower! Howzat?!! hehe aahhh... the joys of fantasizing...

left to call one's own like a dainty numero outside my cottage...

Okay am back now... on to some other points of interest: Imo, if the method one employs does not fulfill, or merge the gap between formal meditative practices and when one leaves the practice to return to daily activities, thereby enhancing one's awareness around this area, then this method, if it was that which i am using, i would drop it immediately. For me it would be an impotent method, which achieves nothing. Why do i say this? For one, it creates dependency, meaning that situations could arise where the outer perceptions of things happening around us gets so overwhelmingly heavy that sometimes we find that we just want to forget everything for awhile, wherein we then 'tune out' thru this method (whatever it may be, could be some stimulant, depressant, any activity, even some types of so-called 'meditation' that temporarily numbs the person). And this i find is not the real function of traditional meditative models taught by the more astute paths. You used the term 'anchored' which i think is most appropriate here - these 'escapist' methods does precisely that - it weighs a person down, when in fact, the real purpose should do the exact opposite. One has to be really discerning as to what methods one choose as a means to reestablish a connection with that aspect of being that is beyond dualistic notions, for if not, there could arise a time when the dependancy on the lesser and incorrect methods become chronically imbedded, thus forming yet another layer of delusion that needs extra effort to release. Personally, after many years of bumming around, i have now settled upon Mindfulness/Insight Meditation as a formal practice. Sometimes different visions would come up, or different sensations can be felt, some are most blissful, others less so, while some are downright unsatisfactory, even ugly. Nowadays I tend to view these mental arisings for what they are, and simply rest in their empty, yet luminous nature, without hankering after or avoiding anything. Being not overly concerned with attaining any spectacular states or mind displays, there is simply a continuous watching brief going on. Now that this has become more pervasive in my life, there is no longer much need to set aside specific times to do much formal sitting practices anymore. When there is a sense that i am drifting, daydreaming, or becoming distracted, agitated, frustrated, angry sometimes, this very sensing awareness spontaneously bring me back to mindful attention to whatever/whoever is present in the moment. I allow the less pleasant states their space too, that is if they want to pop up and impose themselves... i dont welcome them, neither do i reject them - after a while, i can notice that they no longer want to play with me so much because by simply watching, there is no fuel to feed their energy, and they lose interest and then just dissipate on their own. Hope this helps. If not, i am sure the more experienced Bums here will assist in any way they can. For example, there are many specifics mentioned by Vaj in his posts which, if one can overcome the seemingly daunting aspects or points there, are actually very precise and certainly worth considering should one decide to explore the more Buddhistic methods. If not, then beginning with basic Shamatha/Vipassana (broadly used in many mainstream traditions) is more than sufficient to set a solid, technical foundation in meditation. Thank you for your query. Wish you the very best in your journey.

Hello Bird, Thru acknowledging that one is not calm (or facing up to, and understanding other emotional/mental arisings) is already a big, progressive step forward for one who undertakes meditation. One of the main aims of sitting practices is to bring one to a place of being able to systematically and gently look at what is happening within one's mindspace without any sort of harsh judgements, or feeling the need to do anything in particular to reprogram one's state. One aspect of Shamatha (calm abiding) is to practice to the point of retaining equanimous poise - meaning there is only 'watching' going on. We simply allow whatever arises to come, stay awhile, and then leave on their own accord, and observe this over a period of time, so that we get used to the process, with the aim of eventually rehabituating the way we view things. Once this process sets in, the discursive mind (or what you call the monkey mind) will begin to tame a little, and thoughts, which seem to be jumping all over the place before, will slowly settle, and the beauty thru this practice is that after a while we do not really have to do much to bring this about. It becomes a new habit. For me, this is mindfulness. And it can carry over to the secular life as well... in fact, there will come a time when everything one does becomes a practice, a formality of grace, poise and ease - normal activities, like waking up in the morning, having breakfast, drinking tea, washing dishes etc. will begin to take on new meanings. The way we relate with others also deepen, because we can become more present for others. Our senses will sharpen, we can see things for what they are, we can listen better, feel better, taste better, and most importantly, the mind settles without any problems into its own natural state, which is one of calm abiding. So meditation is not so much about creating this calmness, but to allow one to reconnect with this original state of calm, and then thru familiarization, allow this new found insight to permeate one's daily life. One Meditation Master said, "Meditation is not; getting used to is." Meaning that meditation is not what people think it is - sitting with serious faces, forcing the body into awkward positions, coercing the mind to be unnaturally altered, these are only some kind of tools - beyond this lies the true purpose, which is carry whatever mindful attention we gain thru formal practices into our everyday, mundane activities so that distractions will no longer affect us in ways that makes us want to either run away from what we perceive as problems, or unpleasant situations/people/self, and/or run after what is perceived as the opposite states. In short, one who meditates will come to a point where all forms of grasping and aversions will subside, and when they do eventually, then what remains will be simple clarity and equanimity. One becomes not so easily disturbed by emotions and whatever goes on around by simply recognizing that these, as with all things, will naturally arise and subside into the vast expanse of one's own mind, with or without our projected attachments or aversions to prompt their comings and goings. Once we can see this as fact, the tendency is that we will cease to struggle so much. And this then sets the stage for wisdom insights (Vipassana) to arise without any hindrances. (see this for Vipassana: http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1649) I am not sure if this has addressed some part of your query here, Bird. I know i have not had time to think about the last question you had posed. I have to run now - late for a breakfast meeting, so will come back to it after that. All the best!

playing without jock who is on long vacation due back tomorrow... (kiwis indeed!! haha)

She that knows the Tao knows that the highest High and the lowest Low meet at some point, that is why i have reflected that both are beyond views. Whomsoever attempts to theorise what the Tao knows or not know is merely defining according to the finite mind, which is why there is the philosophical deduction that high and low define each other. This is a human observation, based on pragmatism, and not from beyond that scope. Whatsoever lies beyond this scope is essence-less, nameless, and is beyond measurable comprehension. The notion that Tao be served denotes subservience. There is no subservience, which is a forced mode of being. Simply allow all things to return to their own nature. Any forced manipulation, no matter how subtle, whether of body or mind, gives rise to the Tao. When things are left alone, Tao is never needed. Without even the need for Tao, Everything can then be felt as they naturally unfold, bloom for a while, and then subside. This is the way it is. Practice not to practice. Unlearn. Connect to the natural state. Even the slightest, subtlest attempt to glimpse into Tao means that at that moment of trying to see, one is removed from and misses the continuum. just musing... (Sorry Bob - dont mean to be contrary. Just trying to be 'smart').

Thank you Sensei! Timely reminder this. ...... ...... ...... The highest of the high have no view. The lowest of the low is the same. Problem is i am often caught in between - when i am low, i cannot accept that, and want to take the high position. Then being unable to reach the highest high, i fall down with a bump. Not satisfied again with that, i struggle with this same dilemma over and over, like a yoyo, and before i know it, my life is almost over, with only 40 years left, 25 of which would ensure the further diminishing (thru Parkinsons and related complications hehe) of the small degree of maturity that i have painstakingly nurtured with practicing extreme austerities. Perhaps if i learn to accept this withering self without any resistance, that would indeed return me to the lowest of low, and unencumber me at last! What a relief that will be... Free at last to wander the lowly places, like water returning to Source by simply being itself. (No matter how high we try to lift water, it somehow always naturally return to its own level (not referring to the One of All here)... yielding, yielding, yielding. Since the body is mostly water, it should be our nature to understand and live according to the path of least resistance, our birthright in fact. In this manner, where is the need for any religion, or Truths, or any sort of philosophical/spiritual wisdom, for that matter? Mostly we are just buying time with the added bonus of holier-than-thou distractions. That is how many became 'smart' (like Adam eating the forbidden fruit!), contraction sets in, creating the desires to rise and conquer the heavens now that dominating the earthly realms thru irresponsible plundering no longer appeals to the ignorant. This, i am afraid, is the fundamental failing of Man, this lack of pliability/adaptability to simply let things be, to live within what is provided for by Nature. Now take this individual 'spiritual thirst' and translate it to the whole of human existence, and one can see the same dynamic expressing itself on a more mundane, physical level. For those who want to know why Man can be so foolish upon itself, this is one of the reasons... this basic dissatisfaction gnawing at the inner being - if one is truly content, there is really really no need for any grasping at anything, no matter how noble this 'anything' may appear to be. Man will then just live in harmony. Unfortunately this is not so, hence the Tao was born.) Just thought i'd say this too. Forgive me if this seems totally nonsensical. A7 Sensei said i needed more rest. Me thinks he could be right!!

In the true meditational forms, there is no loss of alertness and awareness. On the contrary, one's alertness and awareness will become more pervasive over practice time. Trance is often the willing inducement of a state other than that which naturally arises. It can be implied as a form of escapism. In true meditation, one seeks to understand the underlying causes of why there is this need to escape in the first place. It could mean facing up to whatever arises squarely, without running away from unpleasantness or trying to hang on to the more pleasant, bliss-like states. This forum also had a similar topic: http://www.vipassanaforum.net/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=284.0 Have a read if interested.

That which is willingly vulnerable does not have any strength to lend to that which seeks to dominate. Not finding any strength, the force of wanting to dominate dissipates on its own, without the 'weak' needing to do anything to activate the dissipation. This is the purest form of strength.

Too much i see... circulating in the wrong place. Seeing how you react to things people say, and the need to stick ugly labels on people, and calling names, your lack of manners, and putting down the disabled (alluding to the Special Olympics as being for idiots), its pretty obvious you have the heat retained in the upper chakras, when the real masters all have theirs simmering ever so steadily at their lower abdominal areas. Even your avatar points this obvious state out clearly... what with the dragon over the yinyang symbol... (Awaiting your spray of insults here) God bless whoever takes you as a teacher.

Hi Kate... Thanks for getting back. I almost wrote a thesis sort of reply to your post, then re-read what was written, and decided to erase it all. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to see that sometimes not saying something is so much more gratifying than trying to show off one's assumptions, pretending that i know you better than you know yourself. You are like my buddha of the day! (Its 7 am here!) Btw, irritation/adverse reactions can be a good thing - gives you something to reflect upon and work with! hehe

Tao Bums in heaven a laundry bag in each hand to exchange for peace...

More than this, Kate... much much more. Its not so much about swimming against or with the current.. its about finally being OK with oneself when one realizes sinking has become inevitable... "...so even if the hot loneliness is there, and for 1.6 seconds we are able to sit with that restlessness, when yesterday we could not even sit for one, that's the journey of the warrior." "I used to have a sign pinned up on the wall that read: 'Only to the extent we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us." "A further sign of health is that we do not become undone by fear and trembling, but take it as a message that its time to stop struggling and look directly at what is threatening us." (Quotes from Pema Chodron)

squeeze out lemon life then find some use for its peels perfect astringent...

just a lame attempt not to underestimate the didactic value of the humble crumbs, thats all... :lol:

my exciting life picking at strewn bits of crumbs scattered near toaster...