Author Topic: Hello all: Introduce yourself in this thread or just read it to meet the members (Read 37466 times)

autumnramc · « **Reply #175 on:** Sunday 04 January 2009, 03:33 AM »

Hello=) I am Autumn. I registered to this community for advice in freeing myself from my mind and guidance through some trouble I am experiencing.

frepi · « **Reply #176 on:** Sunday 04 January 2009, 04:46 AM »

You are welcome. Meditation can surely help you, as long as you are ready to put on the efforts. No "clenching teeth" effort but regular practice is necessary, ideally every day. Please consult the section
http://vipassanaforum.net/forum/index.php/topic,34.0.html
for the basic. Some info is also available on the web in the section
http://vipassanaforum.net/forum/index.php/board,3.0.html

Going on a retreat is still the best way to go if you can spare the time. No book can replace an experienced teacher. I attended Vipassana "Goenka tradition" (http://www.dhamma.org/) but this is just one of many vipassana traditions. In a retreat, you'll learn to go beyond your current limits and you'll be able to concentrate 100% on the teachings.

Good luck

Matthew · « **Reply #177 on:** Sunday 04 January 2009, 11:54 AM »

Hi Autumn,

Welcome. Frepi made some good recommendations for you there.

Have a read around the boards and if there are specific things that come to mind you will find the right place to ask.

Matthew

JimSproul · « **Reply #178 on:** Friday 09 January 2009, 02:59 AM »

Greetings All -

I am a Buddhist of Tibetan Lineage. This forum is a little different than what I have studied. I am very interested to read your views.

- jim

Matthew · « **Reply #179 on:** Friday 09 January 2009, 10:33 AM »

Dear Jim,

Welcome to the forums.

My training is also predominantly within the Tibetan tradition - Karma/Kagyu and Nyingma teachings. My root teacher is Her Eminence Khandro Rinpoche and I have also received teachings with Shambhala from Mipham Rinpoche. I also have Zen influences and a strong Theravadin approach but this grew within me from the teachings of Khandroma. I have not followed the Vajrayana path mainly as Khandroma told me everything I do is Vajrayana anyway - because I have been around the Dhamma for so many lifetimes.

Personally I'm agnostic about reincarnation - in the strictest philosophical sense - yet I do have a deep and natural understanding of Dhamma for some reason.

Very interested to hear your contributions.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

Spiral Mindscope · « **Reply #180 on:** Saturday 17 January 2009, 08:34 AM »

Hello All. I'm here as Spiral Mindscope. It is derived from a human mind's understanding of the cosmos as unfolding arcs of increasing complexities, starting with the body, the mind and eventually the spirit. I was born a Hindu but I consider myself to be a pantheist - anything goes as long as its peaceful, tolerant and inclusive and integrative. I havent learnt from any masters but have been doing yoga since childhood - off and on- and it now feels as though silent witnessing of self, other and the world around me has become part of me. I work with serial offenders who also have personality disorders and I daresay its my inner beliefs in the essential goodness of mankind that keeps me there rather than any professional knowledge I have, which of course helps too. I found this site at the top of a google search and liked the tone of the messages and some of the threads. I hope I'm welcome.

mettajoey · « **Reply #181 on:** Saturday 17 January 2009, 01:51 PM »

Hello Spiral,
We are "peaceful, tolerant and inclusive and integrative" as well. Thusly, you are very welcome and great fit!
Nice to have you,
-Joe

alex · « **Reply #182 on:** Wednesday 21 January 2009, 10:15 PM »

Hello everybody!

Let me please introduce myself. I am a typical German and live in Spain.

I have had meditation experience since over ten years, with about one retreat from 7 to 10 days per year. I started in the Goenka tradition, but soon continued with students from Achan Chah (sp?), if that means anything to you.

Last year I had a 7-day self-retreat (the hermit way) in the mountains here, which was super-intensive, so intensive that I am motivated to deepen the practice and intensify it even more. This year I plan to do 2 weeks. If that works out I go for 30 days ;-).

I was never really interested in Buddhism, only Vipassana meditation, until recently. But the sheer quantity of teachings, schools and theories are overwhelming and confusing right now - let alone the fact that many contradict others. My first lesson learnt: Infallible popes are good for simplifying religions!

Simply by counting the number of I's in this intruduction you may deduce that I (again!) have not made much progress in the Buddhist sense. I don't mind! I meditate because I think that I look quite cool on a cushion (no, actually I use a bench). (There are 5 "I"s in the last sentence alone, you see?).

Regards,
Alex!

greenhorn · « **Reply #183 on:** Wednesday 21 January 2009, 10:42 PM »

Hi Alex!

Hehe, I liked your introduction (the photo not so much, though

; but what can you expect of typical Germans living in Spain? hehe, just teasing). I think you have made a lot of progress in those 10 years. You were able to give me a very good explanation of mindfulness!

Don't mind the Is. It's just semantics. Plus, you were introducing yourself, so no way you could have escaped..your Is.

Cheers!
Monica

Matthew · « **Reply #184 on:** Wednesday 21 January 2009, 11:51 PM »

Once there was a layman who came to Ajahn Chah and asked him who Ajahn Chah was. Ajahn Chah, seeing that the spiritual development of the individual was not very advanced, point to himself and said," This , this is Ajahn Chah."

On another occasion, someone else asked Ajahn Chah the same question. This time, however, seeing that the questioner's capacity to understand the Dhamma was higher, Ajahn Chah answered by saying ,"Ajahn Chan? There is No Ajahn Chah."

There's your spelling

Welcome Alex.

Matthew

heret · « **Reply #185 on:** Monday 26 January 2009, 01:49 PM »

I am heret, a beginner in vipassana from Estonia. Have been practising Iyengar style of yoga for years and as it is said, when the student is ready the teacher comesâ€¦ And for me it was the guiding to vipassana. For that I am thankful to Gil from Israel, a vipassana practitioner I met in India in oct 2007 and whose compassionate being motivated me to find out what the vipassana is. So if you might read this forumâ€¦ thank you.
I have found a good combination of vipassana and hatha yoga that works well for me and amazing changes take place in my life at the same time my awareness grows..
Thank you for that practical forum!
Be well, be in peace!

frepi · « **Reply #186 on:** Monday 26 January 2009, 04:27 PM »

Wow This is sooo cool . It is the United Nations here!!!

Matthew · « **Reply #187 on:** Tuesday 27 January 2009, 06:02 AM »

Welcome again Heret.

I think you're starting to get a grip on who we are Frepi

Matthew

marilynhawken · « **Reply #188 on:** Friday 13 February 2009, 03:37 AM »

Hi, My Name is Marilyn. I am from Singapore.
A beginneer in Vipassana Meditation, learnt under retreat Temple guidance in Northern Thailand.

enjoy meditation very much, learning and discovering the struggles in life and meditation.
discovering puzzling interest in can meditation really help the mentally ill persons, who are not brain cells damaged.

why people indulge in 6 senses, is it because they cant face the pain alone. Is it because entertainment is like a painkiller.

Many many questions, but so slow the days come with the answers.

Matthew · « **Reply #189 on:** Friday 13 February 2009, 05:43 AM »

Welcome Marilyn

cylinder · « **Reply #190 on:** Tuesday 17 February 2009, 05:06 PM »

It's nice to be here!

I'm most at home with Mahasi and the Thai Forest Tradition.

Ajahn Sumedho and Eckhart Tolle keep inspiring me

Matthew · « **Reply #191 on:** Wednesday 18 February 2009, 02:17 AM »

cylinder

Welcome!

May of us have found inspiring coherence in Tolle's work that meshes with our meditation experience. I would love to take some long retreats in the Thai Forest tradition if that becomes open to me.

Peace,

Matthew

ravalbapu · « **Reply #192 on:** Sunday 22 February 2009, 08:20 AM »

My greetings and good wishes to you,
I came accross your sangh through an anti-cult forum where I was trying to find out if goenka's organisation was degenerating into a cult.( Lately I heard stories to that effect, hence the search. I am doing mindful 'satipatthan for the last 17 years and can tell that no guru or teacher is required.)

Though I am a spiritually arrogant person and have equal disrespect for all organised religeons and gurus,masters,swamis,popes mullahs et al I thought Goenka and such others like Nhat Hanh were doing a good job.

Any way my findings are not relevant to you, but I congratulate you for your efforts.
Ravalbapu

Matthew · « **Reply #193 on:** Sunday 22 February 2009, 02:35 PM »

Welcome Ravalbapu

Looking forward to your informed contribution to discussion. I have equal disrespect for any organisation or teacher who is not consistent and clearly acting in good faith and with humility. I share an appreciation of Thich Nat Hahn's style and teachings.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

mettajoey · « **Reply #194 on:** Monday 23 February 2009, 01:23 PM »

Quote from: ravalbapu on Sunday 22 February 2009, 08:20 AM

Any way my findings are not relevant to you, but I congratulate you for your efforts.
Ravalbapu

Hi Ravalbapu,
I'm not so sure that your anti-religious findings aren't relevant to us. You may have trouble finding another spiritual site so against formalized religion, even Buddhism.

It's that special irony that the best intentions can go horribly awry, especially religion. Possibly because it sits right in the way of each individuals personal discovery. Like diet and exercise people want a silver bullet that will just take care of everything and spirituality isn't immune.

So please, find away.

-Joe

gator_7 · « **Reply #195 on:** Wednesday 25 February 2009, 03:53 AM »

Hi,

I am Ashu (25 yrs old) from Phoenix, AZ. I have been practicing Vipassana for the past 7 years. I'm glad to have come across this forum. Hope to interact with fellow meditators here.

Be Happy.

Ashu

ravalbapu · « **Reply #196 on:** Wednesday 25 February 2009, 01:30 PM »

Salutations to both administrators,

'word' is the greatest deceiver. Word is an imagination verbalized. When collective imagination falls sick, the word falls sick.

And truth can not be expressed in a word or words. Therefore, axioms like ' always tell the truth' etc. etc. have no relevance.

When we realise the 'meaning' without the use of the word, it is wisdom or pannya or sapience or whatever you call it.

It is now hereness to nowhereness or vice a versa.

May you remain in bliss. In this time of adversity we need mindfulness of our extinction.

It is easy,
because if I can do it you can do it!!!

raval

Matthew · « **Reply #197 on:** Thursday 26 February 2009, 06:17 AM »

Welcome ashu.

We're glad you found us too.

raval - could you start a topic somewhere on the boards rather than fill the welcome thread with discussion please.

Matthew

Venture · « **Reply #198 on:** Tuesday 17 March 2009, 01:32 PM »

Hey guys ! I'm a 26 year old dutchman. I love to travel around the world, and I work in psychiatry. My fascination with enlightenment, brought about by LSD use has led me to Vipassana meditation. I'm trying my best to live each moment to the fullest and be completely present, but I'm having a hard time to find the discipline to sit on a pillow for more then half an hour... Regardless I feel like my appreciation for other people and my power of concentration and memory are increasing a LOT. Just by remebering to be right now as much as possible. I especially love listening to sounds around me, no matter what makes the sound.

One thing I want to learn is how to hold that attention while doing more complicated things.

I'm learning about buddhism and spirituality in general by reading books and listening to recordings of people that strike me as knowledgeable and wise like Alan Watts and Shinzen Young.

So, Hello everyone, and I think we'll have an interesting time.

My name is Joeri , by the way

Matthew · « **Reply #199 on:** Tuesday 17 March 2009, 05:06 PM »

Joeri

Welcome and I hope the forum helps you in some way with your needs on the path. I too am very inspired by Shinzen Young and Alan Watts.

Matthew

ps Holding attention while doing more complicated things is difficult in the extreme at the beginning. Your attitude of being mindful every moment will help you get there though.

Author Topic: Hello all: Introduce yourself in this thread or just read it to meet the members (Read 37466 times)

autumnramc

frepi

JimSproul

Spiral Mindscope

alex

greenhorn

heret

frepi

marilynhawken

cylinder

ravalbapu

gator_7

ravalbapu

Venture

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