Search found 15086 matches

by mikenz66
Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:02 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Phenomenological Buddhism and Element Meditation
Replies: 14
Views: 605

Re: Phenomenological Buddhism and Element Meditation

Here is my take. Close your eyes and try not to conceptualize a "body". What sensations are being felt through the "body" as experienced? Hardness (of "teeth', "nails"), warmth, motion (breathing, heart beat, flowing), and wetness (mouth, tears, snot). How else ca...
by mikenz66
Wed Feb 28, 2024 6:45 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Practices around Dependant Origination
Replies: 56
Views: 2103

Re: Practices around Dependant Origination

All I’m trying to caution against is the idea that jhana is a practice divorced from a lifestyle. If that's the case, we have no disagreement. :clap: What I have been arguing against is the idea of a single, purely linear, development model. That the development of lifestyle and so on is gradual an...
by mikenz66
Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:04 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Practices around Dependant Origination
Replies: 56
Views: 2103

Re: Practices around Dependant Origination

And experienced teachers have advised enough people to know that different people develop in different ways. That there are different development trajectories is quite clear in the suttas. Going to have to politely disagree with you here. There are certainly some notable exceptions in the suttas, b...
by mikenz66
Tue Feb 27, 2024 9:25 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Practices around Dependant Origination
Replies: 56
Views: 2103

Re: Practices around Dependant Origination

Can’t speak for Joe, but the virtue and sense restraint, but more to the point, the lifestyle, cannot be overstated. Too many contemporary notions of meditation point to available benefits on account of mental striving alone, and that is really misleading. Yes, there are all kinds of feel-good idea...
by mikenz66
Tue Feb 27, 2024 7:20 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Practices around Dependant Origination
Replies: 56
Views: 2103

Re: Practices around Dependant Origination

Can’t speak for Joe, but the virtue and sense restraint, but more to the point, the lifestyle, cannot be overstated. Too many contemporary notions of meditation point to available benefits on account of mental striving alone, and that is really misleading. Yes, there are all kinds of feel-good idea...
by mikenz66
Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:38 pm
Forum: Abhidhamma
Topic: Mind/Sense Door Averting Development
Replies: 8
Views: 789

Re: Mind/Sense Door Averting Development

The way is not doing something to have some hoped for result- but rather it is a gradual seeing behind the illusion, to reveal the magicians tricks. So if, for instance, I see that craving is arising from the sense door of the ear, would it not be wise of me to shift it towards a nuetral sensation ...
by mikenz66
Mon Feb 26, 2024 6:12 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Practices around Dependant Origination
Replies: 56
Views: 2103

Re: Practices around Dependant Origination

Yes, I think that's an excellent approach. I also try to notice how contact with an object like the breath leads to a particular feeling, during samatha meditation. There's a very clear demonstration of "touching" ( phassa ) in the experience of the breath at the nostrils. And when piti a...
by mikenz66
Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:25 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Practices around Dependant Origination
Replies: 56
Views: 2103

Re: Practices around Dependant Origination

Hi McQueen, If you're serious about this, I recommend reading ven. Nanananda's Nibbana Sermons (aka "The Mind Stilled") and reflecting on how what described applied to your own experience. Paticcasamuppada simply won't be understood by technique. I'd also recommend Ven Nananda's (an others...
by mikenz66
Fri Feb 23, 2024 6:42 am
Forum: Pāli
Topic: Pāli keyboard
Replies: 5
Views: 276

Re: Pāli keyboard

It appears that underdots are not very common. Macrons and tildes and overdots are often available on phones by just holding down the key. On a computer, if you have a compose key set up (standard on Linux, etc, but I think it can be an option on Windows by adding software like WinCompose) it's easy...
by mikenz66
Thu Feb 22, 2024 6:47 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Sheaves of reeds
Replies: 115
Views: 3478

Re: Sheaves of reeds

Hi Pulsar, ... Buddha Dhamma says one thing of nama rupa, that it is all mental, no patigha is involved. In the interpretations of Sutta on the tangle that you bring, are the commentators relying on Buddha Dhamma or Abhidhamma? If their interpretation is dependent on Theravada Abhidhamma, then patig...
by mikenz66
Wed Feb 21, 2024 9:12 am
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: Ajahn Martin is Despondent
Replies: 66
Views: 3727

However, I still believe, that questioning for reasons is an unavoidable by-product of accepting western disciples. It can make it very difficult to overcome doubt and develop faith -- I personally struggle with it constantly. I also believe, that it might be more difficult for western people to sh...
by mikenz66
Wed Feb 21, 2024 3:26 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Sheaves of reeds
Replies: 115
Views: 3478

Re: Sheaves of reeds

Why does Nanavira bring in Inertia? Can you clarify? The subject of inertia and designation is about characteristics of namarupa, and the subject of SN22.94 is 5 aggregates, not namarupa. To answer Pulsar, "inertia" is one way of translating paṭigha https://suttacentral.net/define/pa%E1%B...
by mikenz66
Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:18 pm
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: Ajahn Martin is Despondent
Replies: 66
Views: 3727

Re: Re:

And something quite human becomes visible when I hear this talk: the Ajahns assertion, that in his time at Wat Pa Nanachat, such questioning for a reason why to do things a certain way never happened. I have read enough accounts of people who also were there, at exactly his time, and the questionin...
by mikenz66
Sat Feb 17, 2024 9:22 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Falling & Rising Origin
Replies: 1
Views: 169

Re: Falling & Rising Origin

Hi, Did Mingun Sayadaw, Aletawya Sayadaw or Theelon Sayadaw taught the "Falling & Rising Technique"? Hi JohnSo, You might start with the Wikipedia article and the links there: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahasi_Sayadaw and on Bhikkhu Pesala's site: http://www.aimwell.org/index.html ...