rockyysdt

Thanks Bruce. Can you expound a little? Are you saying "some deify pure unconditioned awareness but that this state is also simply part of the aggregates and therefore impermanent?" If so, what is there beyond, and/or was beyond never part of the teaching?

In the teachings of the Buddha, there are a number of high level elements. If I am incorrect in these, please correct me. That which was never born can never die (deathless). As our ego is an accumulation of conditioning over our life/lives, it is impermanent. Death is followed by endless cycles of re birth into future lives, driven by attachment to craving. The cycle of re birth continues, until one is awakened as a result of practice resulting in the quenching of craving. Is the process of deep meditation (awareness without thought) the path to becoming aware of the unconditioned or deathless state (this state already exists, but we are unaware of it)? If so, is this that which is common to the re born states? Is this that which "awakens"? If there is nothing beyond the cessation of re birth, isn't this annihilation, as at least re birth gives you future cycles of life, all be it, good ones as well as bad ones? Or, if pure unconditioned awareness is that which continues, why are we unaware of it during the unconscious state?

Thanks Sheryl. It might be geo blocked (I'm attempting access from out of the country). Is it possible for you to pass on the contact details of the recommended government hospital in Nonthaburi. I would be greatful.

Thanks Sheryl. I cannot thank you enough for access to your experience and advice. I'll work towards exploring your lead. As of tonight my attempt to access the website fails. It could be that their website is down. I'll keep trying.

Hi Sheryl. She's never told me where she sources her replacements. I know she has little faith in the public system as they were going to amputate both her legs. She refused to sign the consent and transferred to a private setting where they saved one of her legs. It's possible she's going to a private group. I'll make some enquiries. She lives near Thabo so maybe she might come under the Thabo Hospital or perhaps Udon Thani which might be the biggest Hospital in that region. She may or may not know what she has free access to under the health system. What pathway do you recommend? Will this lead to quality prosthetics, or do they offer what she's been using? thanks greatly

Hi. Hope someone can assist. I have a friend who lost part of one of her legs in an accident many years ago. The Thai medical system introduced her to a false limb, I think made of some kind of plastic material. It has a cushioning section which insulates her stump with the leg. These last her approx 1 to 2 years before breaking or becoming unstable. If the clinic doesn't do the measurements correctly, or the producer is inaccurate then the imbalance places stress in the hip area. Also compression of the cushioning causes the length to be compromised. The result is a painful stump and wear and tear in the hip due to the imbalance. Are there better quality prosthetics available? Something with user adjustment for length, better quality cushioning and some kind of spring to cushion the shock when walking. Can one acquire such a device economically? Cheers R

Early in my practice I faced many obstacles affecting meditation. Not only from trying too hard (you should never try but simply present and wait for the gift to come), but also from having expectations. Also going from one teacher to another, from one technique to another, but failing the most important part, regular practice. Maybe due to my Western lifestyle, I could never hold the lotus position. I found sitting in a comfortable chair, or on the edge of a zaffu cushion best suited me. Buddhist teachers would tell me that lying on the floor was incorrect. In the early days I found lying on a carpeted floor, or on a yoga mat yielded periods of quality silence. After a period of observation of the body to release tension I would focus on the breath I could establish periods of being without thought. On several of these (I can't call them sittings), it felt like there was nothing beneath me. There would be no thought, and no consciousness of time nor place. As I began coming out of these periods my initial feeling was that I was floating above the floor. I still might do lying meditation during periods when my back is playing up, but prefer sitting when I can. Partly because you can sit anywhere in public but lying might not appropriate or practical in public. But because some teachers have indicated that progress would plateau. Something to do with the alignment of the chakras. As indicated in another topic I used to smoke many years ago. Now that c is legal the mind visualizes temptation. I fear the deterioration of my passport to good practice, my lungs, but also don't want to experience inspiration rolled up with a vegetative lack of motivation. What are your techniques?

A great idea. It's sad, as the poor behavior we witness gives many the excuse to believe that it's the teaching which is wrong.

When I've been mindful enough of late, I've been observing myself. I've noticed that after a drink or two, I tend to more easily break resolutions, and/or attempts to change bad habits. It ends in a full circle of resolve to change, ignore temptation, have a drink, and cheat. Cheating might involve many things, such as eating poorly, drinking, missing exercise, missing practice, having too many coffees, or even thoughts of having a smoke. In the mean time life ebbs away as you get closer to running out of time (tu es mort).

My thinking was that breath is fundamental to practice. I felt that chronic smoking compromises the quality of breath. The fine particles associated from smoking can accumulate in the lungs and lead to shortness of breath, worsen asthma, and reduce the ability of the air sacs to transfer oxygen and carbon dioxide. Is it possible that there are always examples of alcoholics & heavy smokers such as the forest master, who may do well, but are the exception?

Moderation is important, but isn't it important what you choose to moderate? Especially if what you moderate can eventually affect your goals.

I used to place Monks on a pedestal. I learned that Monk hood, amongst other things, offers devotees freely given resource allowing them to focus on their practice. The difference between a Monk and anyone else, is that Monks have devoted their life towards practice, and that the community freely offers resource in order for the Monks to focus on their journey. When I learn of stories where Monks regularly chew betel nut, I think firstly that Monks, like everyone, are subject to aversion, delusion, and greed.

The meditation practice I'm familiar with revolves around breath. Observation of breath. Breathing in, breathing out. Observation of the space between the in breath and the out breath. The effects of Short, or no breath, vs deep breath. Achieving a long regular, relaxed breath without feeling winded or strained. With cannabis shops one sees these days just about everywhere I sometimes feel temptation. But I also I automatically visualise the damage regular smoking might have on my practice. I think of my lungs as a passport to successful Meditation and Mindfulness. This thought generates an aversion in me towards smoking of any kind. I think, why would I harm one of the most powerful tools available to me in pursuing my quest? Don't know what others might have experienced mixing the two??

A few observations I made regarding some of the differences: Alcohol & drugs take minimal effort, while sitting & mindfulness practice needs considerable regular effort. Habitual use of alcohol & drugs appears to result in diminished affect. Increasing dosage to compensate can result in health issues. Sitting & mindfulness practice is totally natural, untaxed, & experiences can increase with practice (some say all the way to infinity). In most places it's not a criminal offence to be high on mindfulness.

Since decriminalization the country is awash with all kinds of Cannabis, including access to potent strains. Navigating life with its diversions and temptations, how difficult has it become to avoid negative habits? Instant access to mind altered states vs a slow lifelong dedicated practice of mindfulness. Although Dharma has the potential power to reveal the infinite, progress is not instant, often taking many years to seep in and transform. On the other hand the temptation of using cannabis can yield instant experience, while also creating a habit often difficult to break. What encouragement can be harnessed to help a traveler to maintain Dharma?