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Ajahn Don
Stranger


Registered: 07/05/15
Posts: 482
Loc: The buckle of the Bible belt
Last seen: 9 months, 1 day
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Epiphanies? Don't bet on it.
#21946306 - 07/15/15 08:24 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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For those who think that any day now they will become enlightened, I have some very bad news. A single incident is not going to change your life. There simply is no other path (that I've found from 40 years of seeking) to enlightenment. You have to do the work.
That involves quietly following the breath, and bringing the mind back to the breath over and over and over. And over and over and over. Thousands and thousands of breaths. The mind is a puppy, active and undisciplined. It must be trained. The good news is this is not only possible, but not that difficult. I teach vipassana, insight meditation. I just ask my students to sit for 20 minutes a day, close their eyes, and follow their breath.
This isn't concentration meditation, although some concentration is required, more at first when the mind is bouncing around, but slowly that becomes less of a need. In fact, those who practice concentration find it isn't helping when they rise from the cushion. Mindfulness is a state of awareness, of being in the moment, without judgment, and with curiosity. This takes practice. It is so worth it.
Seven years ago I was an angry man, becoming very cynical and giving up hope of ever finding peace. Then a friend sent me a book by some little Vietnamese dude named Thich Nhat Han, a bench, and a cushion. It took a couple of weeks of dedication, but that began a journey to the present. I am aware. I have developed a gap between my emotions and my thoughts, and mindfulness sits in the gap. It actually does what it's advertised to do. Mindfulness is serenity insurance. Most of the time you don't need it, but you're glad when you do.
I have yet to take my first mushroom trip, so I cannot say what this is going to do for me, or to me. I will be sixty years old in two months. As a mindfulness student, it is going to be very, very interesting. I hope you'll be interested in what I'm doing.
Namasakan--which is the Pali term for namaste--which is Sanskrit.
Ajahn Gatasaro, but you can call me Donnie.
-------------------- "He's not altogether dense, but he's not altogether there."
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travelleler
a horse-fart in a hurricane



Registered: 08/30/08
Posts: 3,955
Loc: yonder mountains
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Re: Epiphanies? Don't bet on it. [Re: Ajahn Don]
#21946430 - 07/15/15 08:57 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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While agree somewhat your take seems cynical. Epiohanies exist and YES infact a single event CAN change your life.
go ahead and impress people with big words invented by people youve never met.
edit: I did read the rest of your post and felt compelled to add this.
your journey brought you here so you could continue your quest for fire. If you know the mind as well as a guy such as yourself can then youre in for a treat! mushrooms do not equal complete enlightenment but they certsinly are a gift.
Welcome and bon voyage
Edited by travelleler (07/15/15 09:04 AM)
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GoldenEye
...



Registered: 05/24/13
Posts: 4,340
Loc: Amsterdam
Last seen: 6 months, 19 days
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Re: Epiphanies? Don't bet on it. [Re: Ajahn Don]
#21946445 - 07/15/15 09:03 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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AroundtheSon
Learning to See



Registered: 01/11/07
Posts: 4,427
Loc: Midwest.
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Re: Epiphanies? Don't bet on it. [Re: GoldenEye]
#21946523 - 07/15/15 09:24 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Welcome Donnie.
There is a lot of research to support your mindfulness claims, and it is a growing trend in western practice as well. I do take a different stance about epiphanies, but also agree with the spirit of your text, that an epiphany will not make one wise. Rather, it appears one must walk the walk.
Hope you have fun Donnie.
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