Here is the answer why do people today do not achieve Bodhi

[whitewedding]

Here's a quote from mindfulness in plain english:

"Too much awareness without calm to balance it will result in a wildly over sensitized state similar to abusing LSD."

Who's T Lobsog... ?

[tiltbillings]

How is working with an experienced meditation teacher any substitute for meditation experience?

If you had worked with a teacher, you would know. One of the benefits is that a teacher can help you from taking too seriously stuff that one might experience that warrants not being taken seriously at all. In other words, it keeps one from toddling down the garden path and thinking such a toddle is a serious journey on the Eightfold Path. Self deception is a very big danger for the self matriculator. A good guide on the path can point out things that you likely will not have noticed or correct one from taking questionable assumptions as being more than they are.

"Too much awareness without calm to balance it will result in a wildly over sensitized state similar to abusing LSD."

And in all likelihood the Ven author would say that any use of LSD is an abuse of LSD.

[Tex]

Hi, Steve.

I'm just curious why you would want to add on to the Buddha's meditation instructions?

If we've not yet reached the "X" at the end of the map ourselves, why would we start to redraw the map in the middle of our journey, and how could we be sure of where we're leading ourselves?

[tiltbillings]

I would recommend, Steve, that you pay attention to what others here say. There are a number of highly experienced people here.

[whitewedding]

I am not adding anything onto his instructions - I'm just doing exactly what he says (it's quite clearly described in the 7 factors of awakening part of the anapanasati sutta).
Also - I'm not redrawing the road map at all. The road map is right - I just think that we should then link it all together into one until.

I will listen to people - but not that guy I was just talking to - he has nothing helpful to say.

[whitewedding]

sorry - I meant 1 unit - not "until".

Peace,
Steve.

[whitewedding]

I will listen to people - but not that guy I was just talking to - he has nothing helpful to say.

Oh sorry - you are the guy I was talking to - lol.

[Kenshou]

I am not adding anything onto his instructions - I'm just doing exactly what he says

I am not so sure about this.

[tiltbillings]

I will listen to people - but not that guy I was just talking to - he has nothing helpful to say.

Oh sorry - you are the guy I was talking to - lol.

Geez. Talking to and about yourself? It is just not clear.

[Anicca]

I will listen to people - but not that guy I was just talking to - he has nothing helpful to say.

Oh sorry - you are the guy I was talking to - lol.

It's a nice day for a white wedding.
It's a nice day to start again.

What was the original topic of this thread? Oh, yeah - Here is the answer to ...
Why Do People Today Not Achieve Bodhi?

[Ben]

Hi everyone

Its time to return this thread to topic.
Any further off-topic posts will be removed and serial offenders may be subject to moderator attention.
Thanks for your cooperation.

Ben

[whitewedding]

The answer is quite simple. People are putting too much effort while meditating. And I will just say wu-wei. Hope some of you contemplatives will understand.

Apparently lots of people do (they just don't tell unenlightened people about it because they obviously get deemed insane). He says in this book (which is an amazing book)...
http://www.interactivebuddha.com/mctb.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[whitewedding]

I will listen to people - but not that guy I was just talking to - he has nothing helpful to say.

Oh sorry - you are the guy I was talking to - lol.

It's a nice day for a white wedding.
It's a nice day to start again.

What was the original topic of this thread? Oh, yeah - Here is the answer to ...
Why Do People Today Not Achieve Bodhi?

lol - yeah - good call.
I have just returned it to it's original topic with some very good news (see above).
Sorry for taking it off topic.
Steve.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Steve,

Did you know Daniel Ingram has a forum?

I don't mean to sound dismissive of anything you've been saying here at Dhamma Wheel, but I can't help thinking you might actually get a bit more traction with your line of inquiry at his site.

You're welcome here of course - I'm just letting you know your options.



Metta,
Retro.

[Brizzy]

..........and people think I'm a trouble maker!

As far as not achieving bodhi - does this mean making the first breakthrough (sotapattana)? If it does, then I think many people these days do achieve it and without recourse to meditation.



BTW............. Is it more of an offence to be offensive online or to undermine a populist teaching with rational argument and sutta references?