jamesc2000

On 6/24/2020 at 5:36 PM, kiever said:

How I can be a medical Wellness tourist ?

Just need to make an appointment at a Health Centre I guess.

If you could choose only one.

Would it be awakening or a life of peace, kindness, compassion and forgiveness?

????

This might answer some of the important questions here.

7 hours ago, rockyysdt said:

The trick is to practice Mindfulness without attachment.

 

Your Mindful Observer observes the conditioned and impermanet.

Observes the breath, the body, the feelings, the thoughts, & the world around us.

But the Observer remains neutral.

The observed may be happy, sad, depressed, hurt, and many other things, but the Observer remains neutral.

With practice the Observer will become stronger than that which is observed.

Love all your posts.

Great insights.

And all very very helpful.

2 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

Thai noble truths

 

Bribe god with 100 baht

Buy amulet to protect

Get fortune from monk

Dump your unwanted dog at Wat

How does no 3 work?

The monk will give you gold from the temple 

or they will bless you with good luck and you win the lottery?

????

19 minutes ago, rockyysdt said:

The Buddha never coined the phrase Enlightenment.

 

Enlightenment is a 19th century word.

 

The correct word is to "Awaken".

 

When one enters the state of Nirvana they have Awakened.

 

Enlightenment seems to have taken over in Buddhist lexicon and is an example of the traps waiting for us in studying scripture.

 

Much better to follow the 4 Noble Truths and Eightfold Path to practice.

 

Awakening is about experience rather than intellectual pursuit.

 

Thinking, & feeling are things anchored in Samsara.

 

That of Nirvana is beyond thought.

 

Right on ????

The phrase that is stuck in my head is

where we are going there is nothing there.

I take comfort in that but it must be really frightening to some people.

What if people don't want to die? Or they don't mind dying if they have an after life.

Obviously an after life in heaven and not the other place down below.

Or people if they had a choice would want a long life and then an after life in heaven and if they had to go to the place below will choose a long life and no after life down below.

Anyway haven and hell are right here right now.

Peace and contentment and endless suffering from desires and aversions. And that's suffering from not getting things we desire and getting thing we desire and its not we thought it would be.

Not to forget aversions - getting things we really don't want.

So contentment is not only not wanting things its also happily accepting things and people we don't want. Losing the not liking of things.

????

Why does Nirvana gets translated to enlightenment?

I don't know if its just me but enlightenment to me seems like an enlightened person sees and knows everything.

But Nirvana comes from nabbana and that's supposed to be a common word for a flame on an oil or wax candle going out.

If a flame goes out and its the only source of light in the home then there must be darkness.

So enlightenment don't seem to be the most appropriate word.

But I can guess it means insight. That we are like the flame and we also extinguish when we die.

If the flame will go out one day, is there any point making the flame a better or richer flame?

So is there any point me being richer, wiser, more knowledgeable, more famous and have more possessions?

Or is it better to have peace and contentment so we don't suffer and also share that people that suffer can end their suffering if they also had that peace and contentment? 

Peace is the highest happiness.

Contentment is the greatest wealth.

The answer to life is not fulfilling all our desires.

It is to be free from desires. 

Enlightenment is being free from desires and to not want for anything.

This leads to peace and contentment.

If you are so content and want for nothing you don't need to seek enlightenment.

You are already enlightened. 

????

Just like Lucky. Lucky by name. lucky by nature.

Oscar Wilde is not a Buddhist but he made a very Buddhist observation.

There are only 2 tragedies in life. Not getting what you want and getting what you want.

People are not happy if they don't get what they want and people are also unhappy after getting it. 

We fantasize about things that we want and after we get it we find it wasn't what we thought it was. That even applies to enlightenment. 

Even desire for enlightenment bring suffering.

Because we will only be happy if we get enlightened. 

Then we cannot be happy until we get enlightened.  

Rich countries with their great healthcare and wealth, are rich people enjoying happiness, peace and serenity?

Or do they suffer from boredom, anxiety, stress, addictions, greed, malice, hate, loneliness, depression . . . . . .  and also death, disease and old age? 

????

Yes if my leg has gangrene and has to chopped off then Buddhist sutras isn't going heal my leg and make it good again.

Instead if I have anxiety about being a one legged man then Buddhism can help with the anxiety.

Is Buddhism relevant today with great healthcare?

I think more than ever. Imagine with the corona virus people are going out of their mind buying up all the mask they can find and every last roll of toilet paper and living in fear and anxiety.

True Buddhist practice can give people peace and serenity in these anxious and frightening moments.

????

Another side benefit of Buddhism is with meditation people will have clearer minds and researchers with clear minds will get break through into the cures faster.

Also with clear minds they may see better prevention methods but all these is just secondary. 

Please have an open mind that sitting meditation will always bring enlightenment

but in a way that maybe very unexpected. It maybe disappointing that you don't come out of meditation with an ah ha moment and see the answers to everything and can see into the future.

I never read any Buddhist sutras so I am guessing that Buddhism never promise people become superman that can fly and walk on water or be psychic and see the future and know the answer to every problem.

My limited understanding is that it teaches us to accept death, disease and old age with peace and serenity or even better with great happiness and serenity.

Someone gave a big hint to this when they said - enlightenment is easy but the hard bit is to see the world through the eyes of a child. With that freshness and wonderment.

????

Karma is kindness and compassion.

Here is the proof.

Kindness and compassion made replies to my "rubbish" posts.

So that Lucky will chime in with the truth of Buddhism.

Thank you everybody and to karma.

Karma is not only good, it works so elegantly.

We all benefited.

????

Happy and serene by accepting things as they are is enlightened and awakened.

Are there not different paths to reach a goal? 

Or;

Are there "higways" and "secondary ways" to reach the goal? 

Yes many highways and many secondary ways.

Good luck all. 

18 hours ago, rockyysdt said:

You've got an uphill battle on your hands.

Changing ones habits can be close to impossible, particularly as you age.

 

I liken it to the pull of gravity as you approach the event horizon of a Black Hole, such is the pull of habit/conditioning.

 

Studying Buddhism has its positives.

The trap is that you can spend years learning doctrine (which can be debatable).

You can end up becoming an expert, but be light on with practice.

There are many Buddhist experts who can quote the Sutta's but remain anchored in Samsara.

 

If you're keen to get going and don't want to waste time, I recommend you learn the core practices and then schedule daily practice.

 

1. Read about Buddhism and get involved with discussion, forum or otherwise.

This will encourage you and give you reason to continue.

Here is a good resource:

https://www.dharmaseed.org/

 

 

2. Practice Sitting Meditation daily.  

   I recommend practicing Anapanasiti which includes the 16 steps to Awakening.

   Two excellent guides by Ajahn Buddhadasa (he was a serious follower of the Buddha)

 

    a.  Anapanasiti (Mindfulness of Breathing) by Buddhadasa Bikkhu

    http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/anapanasati.pdf

 

     b.  Anapanasiti (Mindfulness with Breathing) by Buddhadasa Bikkhu  (for serious beginners)

     https://www.dhammatalks.net/Books3/Bhikkhu_Buddhadasa_Anapanasati_Mindfulness_with_Breathing.htm#

 

3. Introduce Daily Mindfulness practice.

     Basically create a neutral Observer (positioned roughly towards the rear top of your head).

     From when you awake, until when you fall asleep, the end game is to have the Observer constantly observing you.

     Concentration may last only a few seconds, but over time you can develop Mindfulness, for longer and longer periods.

     Observe, ones breath, ones body, ones thoughts, ones feelings, and the world around one.

     I recommend  Mindfulness in Plain English  Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

    

4. Attend Meditation Groups and/or Retreats.

For your vacation try to attend a live in retreat.

This will give you the feel of the task ahead of you and how strong a hold your ego has with your life.

 

If you live in Thailand a good retreat catering for Westerners is Wat Suan Mokkh.

10 day retreats beginning on the first day of each month.

Here you will live life in silence with sitting and walking meditation, concrete bed with wooden pillow, no internet contact, vow of silence and celibacy, and towards the end, one meal a day.      https://suanmokkh-idh.org/

 

 

My focus for you revolves around "practice".

Without "practice" everything is just academic, or ego massaging.

 

If you practice on your own initially, then look for literature which focuses on posture or the sitting position.

In my opinion, getting your sitting correct can be half the battle towards successful meditation.

Full lotus can be extremely difficult for Westerners and counter productive.

There is much opinion and controversy over the correct way to sit, but if you're getting on in years I find nothing wrong with a low back chair, but you may explore other things such as a zafu cushion, meditation stool or other. I also recommend contacting a rubber supplier to buy furniture grade foam with which to create a sitting area, a flat 1.6metre square area to protect your legs, knees and ankles, and a raised section for your bottom.

I recommend:   Will Johnson  The Posture of Meditation.

 

My main recommendation is, not to become a Buddhist expert, but to expertly develop your skills of practice.

Doing rather than thinking is the way.  ????

So are you saying sitting meditation is the only way?

If you cannot do it, you are screwed or remain anchored in Samsara in this life and every life after that forever and ever and ever?

Is there no alternative, is there no other path, is this the one and only way?

????

If its the only way then I am screwed, Sammy boy I am with you all the way, let join to each other at the waist cos I am never going to leave you.

Not that I don't want to its just there is only one path and its the path not everyone can take.

Of course there are other paths if there wasn't I would be happily writing this post.

I would be getting to know Sara better as we will be together for a very long time, a very very long time.

If you have to be stuck to someone might as well get to know them and get along better.

Now I don't believe we will all get stuck in Samara forever and ever I think the opposite, karma keep presenting us with learning opportunities to see things as it really is.

To see ourselves as we really are and to know not only who we are but more precisely what we are.

If we can see things as they really are then its bye bye Samsara. I am leaving you and I ani't never coming back.

If we only like the people that practice

and we only like people that don't drink alcohol, don't womanise and don't eat lots of fatty food

and only like people that get their sitting position correct.

Then how can you open your heart to people that never practice

and drink lots of alcohol and womanise and eat lots of fatty food

and worse of the worse don't have a correct sitting position?

????

Its the ego that splits up people that we think is on the correct path and people on the wrong path.

If there is no ego there is no difference to how we see them.

If there is no ego spaghetti and custard taste wonderful.

Its all good. 

4 hours ago, rockyysdt said:

You've got an uphill battle on your hands.

Changing ones habits can be close to impossible, particularly as you age.

 

I liken it to the pull of gravity as you approach the event horizon of a Black Hole, such is the pull of habit/conditioning.

 

Studying Buddhism has its positives.

The trap is that you can spend years learning doctrine (which can be debatable).

You can end up becoming an expert, but be light on with practice.

There are many Buddhist experts who can quote the Sutta's but remain anchored in Samsara.

 

If you're keen to get going and don't want to waste time, I recommend you learn the core practices and then schedule daily practice.

 

1. Read about Buddhism and get involved with discussion, forum or otherwise.

This will encourage you and give you reason to continue.

Here is a good resource:

https://www.dharmaseed.org/

 

 

2. Practice Sitting Meditation daily.  

   I recommend practicing Anapanasiti which includes the 16 steps to Awakening.

   Two excellent guides by Ajahn Buddhadasa (he was a serious follower of the Buddha)

 

    a.  Anapanasiti (Mindfulness of Breathing) by Buddhadasa Bikkhu

    http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/anapanasati.pdf

 

     b.  Anapanasiti (Mindfulness with Breathing) by Buddhadasa Bikkhu  (for serious beginners)

     https://www.dhammatalks.net/Books3/Bhikkhu_Buddhadasa_Anapanasati_Mindfulness_with_Breathing.htm#

 

3. Introduce Daily Mindfulness practice.

     Basically create a neutral Observer (positioned roughly towards the rear top of your head).

     From when you awake, until when you fall asleep, the end game is to have the Observer constantly observing you.

     Concentration may last only a few seconds, but over time you can develop Mindfulness, for longer and longer periods.

     Observe, ones breath, ones body, ones thoughts, ones feelings, and the world around one.

     I recommend  Mindfulness in Plain English  Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

    

4. Attend Meditation Groups and/or Retreats.

For your vacation try to attend a live in retreat.

This will give you the feel of the task ahead of you and how strong a hold your ego has with your life.

 

If you live in Thailand a good retreat catering for Westerners is Wat Suan Mokkh.

10 day retreats beginning on the first day of each month.

Here you will live life in silence with sitting and walking meditation, concrete bed with wooden pillow, no internet contact, vow of silence and celibacy, and towards the end, one meal a day.      https://suanmokkh-idh.org/

 

 

My focus for you revolves around "practice".

Without "practice" everything is just academic, or ego massaging.

 

If you practice on your own initially, then look for literature which focuses on posture or the sitting position.

In my opinion, getting your sitting correct can be half the battle towards successful meditation.

Full lotus can be extremely difficult for Westerners and counter productive.

There is much opinion and controversy over the correct way to sit, but if you're getting on in years I find nothing wrong with a low back chair, but you may explore other things such as a zafu cushion, meditation stool or other. I also recommend contacting a rubber supplier to buy furniture grade foam with which to create a sitting area, a flat 1.6metre square area to protect your legs, knees and ankles, and a raised section for your bottom.

I recommend:   Will Johnson  The Posture of Meditation.

 

My main recommendation is, not to become a Buddhist expert, but to expertly develop your skills of practice.

Doing rather than thinking is the way.  ????

You are absolutely right.

If anyone said what's below then they would have an uphill battle.

"I want to be enlightened."

"I want to achieve nirvana."

"I want to give up women and alcohol."

"I want to read up all the sutras."

"I want to redouble my efforts."

So many "I"s but cannot see.

The reason its in " " is precisely its not me saying it. 

There is no me to fight any battles. If there is no ego there is no battles, there is no winning. Who wins?

Anyway up hill, down hill if no ego no difference. Do you think down hill is good and up hill is bad? Its the ego that says one is good and one is bad and the ego wants the down hill and dislikes the up hill.

If you always want to win and never want to lose its only because of ego.

If no ego winning and losing is the same and either wouldn't bother you. If you feel good about winning and bad about losing is because of ego.

You really give me too much credit. I have no aim to be a Buddhist expert.

I never read the sutra or any other holy books and no intention to. 

That would be like riding an ox and looking for one.

????

3 hours ago, rockyysdt said:

 

Basically our Ego is a construct.

 

It is our personality and it's who we think we are.

A personality can have good, neutral and bad attributes, but is essentially impermanent.

Most anchor themselves on this ego which has no foundation.

 

One of the benefits of daily Mindfulness is to observe ones ego and the tricks it plays, to observe ones ego impartially/neutrally.

Eventually with practice there'll be 2 James, the Ego, and that which observes the ego.

Over time, that which observes the ego will grow in strength while that which is being observed will dimish.

 

One of the benefits of Sitting Meditation is that when one slips into "consciousness without thought" (this initially can be a shallow state and can deepen), one begins to experience an egoless state. 

 

The reason why I suggested you observe yourself, apart from beginning an important piece of Buddhist practice, is to gauge what your ego is up to.

 

For example, things such as, "why does your ego post"?

 

Understanding your ego's motives will be an indicator of how far your ego will allow you to go with worthwhile practice.

 

 

Thank you very much for your question.

The answer is not me, not mine, not I.

"why does your ego post"? Its not my mine.

your ego's motives - its not mine.

how far your ego will allow you to go - There is no me to go any where.

I am not sure why you rather talk about me that do not exist and not a subject like Buddhism which is so much more interesting.

But feel free to ask anything else you like.

I worry that you might not like my answers and I am sure this is not the case.

But if you really do not like "my" answers then you have to ask who is the "you" that is doing the not liking.

Today I saw a cute dog and I said to myself cute dog and then I ask myself is there such a thing as an ugly dog?

And my reply was if there is no ego there is no ugly.

If there is no ego there is no food I like or food I don't like, its all good.

No ego no beautiful or ugly people they are all people.

No ego means we can never be annoyed by another person's post.

The bigger the ego the more annoyance.

A post that is infuriating that must be a really big ego.

????

The credit is yours as without your posts I would not have learned so much. 

Thank you very much.

"I want to be enlightened."

"I want to achieve nirvana."

"I want to give up women and alcohol."

"I want to read up all the sutras."

"I want to redouble my efforts."

So many "I"s but cannot see.

????

How do we know if what we do and say is motivated by ego?

If we see people not practising true Buddhism and we say he is not practising true Buddhism and we shake our heads and she is not practising true Buddhism and we shake our heads

and think only I practice true Buddhism is that words and action motivated by ego?

No danger of that from me. I know so little about Buddhism I cannot say this is true Buddhism and that is not so true Buddhism.

????

Surely if we feel only we practice true Buddhism and others do not, that must be ego.

Ego creates separation and superiority and feelings of smugness.

If there is I and others there must be ego involved.

I was thinking hard how to diminish ego and I thought anything that makes us feel annoyed, angry, slightly miffed must be due to ego.

If there is no ego there is nothing to break our equanimity.   

I guess being happy and cheerful is the best antidote to ego.

Pigs? Pigs?

Some of them even killed the Buddha and eaten him.

A book can have all the solutions people are desperately looking for

but what good is the book if people never read it, know it even exists and where to find it?