Hello all: Introduce yourself in this thread or just read it to meet the members

[rebirther]

Hi to everyone,

I would also like to introduce myself. I’m a male, age 32. I live in Belgium.
I had this awakening experience when I was 17. Since then I’ve been trying to find my way in life more consciously.

I practice 2 techniques:
1/ rebirthing, hence my nick (not because I believe in reincarnation). Rebirthing is a breathing technique (conscious connected breathing), which releases patterns on some physical level. I practice it since age 21
2/ vipassana, the technique you all know so well, since age 30. I also like to listen to sounds, but the breath or the bodily sensations work equally for me.

I’ve just returned from a meditation and study retreat in Holland with Stephen and Martine Batchelor, this really amazing couple (http://www.stephenbatchelor.org/)
In the beginning there was a little disappointment about this study-aspect, because my concentration kept going up during meditation and down because of the study aspects. I had done 2 previous retreats in which I was really focused on the meditation and nothing else, leading to this release and ecstatic meditative state. But this retreat really deepened my understanding of the buddhism and the practice itself and I got to see so much in action (even in the heat of the moment when some mental pattern was raging through my consciousness). This really deepened my faith and courage to continue this work.
In between past retreats I rarely sat; now I don’t have this New Year’s resolution. I just try to sit 10 minutes a day and mind the breath as often as I can.

For me, the combination of those two techniques works best. There are similarities, but also clear distinctions, allthough the eightfold path resulting from it is no different. But they compliment each other. I’ll start a thread on it some day, when all this becomes more clear.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to sharing and discussing in the future.

[rebirther]

@ Joeri

Hi,

I just wanted to say I also experimented with LSD in my early 20-ies, also resulting in some mystical experiences / insights and also an Out Of Body experience. It's interesting in the way that my friends didn't have the same experience. I think it opens up a tendency that was maybe allready there?

Furthermore, I would agree with Matthew about it being difficult in the beginning, although I am also still there

Grtz,
reb

[melon]

hey i am new my name is olly, i must say that i do not know anything about Vipassana (so i wouldn't mind a quick schooling about what it means) i am on a spiritual path and meditating about 30 minutes a day and i have a yogo class once a week. i wanted to talk to other mediators because i don't have any friends or family who are meditating like myself. i hope this is the right forum if not could some1 send me a pm perhaps to some forum thats more related to what i'm looking for. cheeers :-)

[Matthew]

melon

Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of information here that can help you. I would suggest you start in the Dhamma Library where you will find a link to a pdf edition of "Mindfulness in plain English" - an excellent book for someone who wants to master Vipassana.

Also do not be afraid to ask questions and there is a short introduction to meditation in the "Dhamma: Meditation and the Path" board.

Looking forward to your contributions,

Matthew

[melon]

melon

Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of information here that can help you. I would suggest you start in the Dhamma Library where you will find a link to a pdf edition of "Mindfulness in plain English" - an excellent book for someone who wants to master Vipassana.

Also do not be afraid to ask questions and there is a short introduction to meditation in the "Dhamma: Meditation and the Path" board.

Looking forward to your contributions,

Matthew

great thanks matthew, i will have a read of the pdf, i have a lot i would like to know, such as learning to become a better meditator. i am a student, i live in ireland and i am 21 (probably a baby age for this forum!) and have decided to take up meditation seriously this year, in order to find a deeper meaning to my life. the future is very uncertain and i want to live a fuller, more satisfying life. AND i want to help others so i will be here to hopefully speech with people wiser than me that can give tips and teach me stuff... i'll post more once i've read some of the thrends and stickys.

Olly

[Yogi]

Hi all,

Joined your interesting forum today.
Hopefully can contribute something.
Am originally from Nepal, where I started Vipassana, in Dharmashringa.
Would anybody have any idea about where I get satipatthana discources online?

Yogi

[Matthew]

Hi Yogi,

Welcome to the forum.

accesstoinsight.org is a good source for Suttas and Buddhist scripture.

The Maha-satipatthana Sutta can be found here. If you want the Satipatthana Sutta it is there (maybe 2 or 3 translations) and there is a search function.

Matthew

[Yogi]

Hi,

Thanks for your help.I have mahasattipatthana sutra already from before.I was talking about goenka´s discourses on 7 day (was it?) satipathhana course, preferably on video format.But, I guess it is rare to find that online.Possibly have to order it from back home, or somewhere else.

But, to all the striving meditators, Buddha jayanti (birthday of buddha, the same day when he died and was enlightened of course ) is coming soon.Infact the celebration have already started.We celebrate it till may 9th, the full moon day of Baisakha.Thinking, if it was the year when Sakyamuni got englightened, he must be meditating really intensely at this time in Bodh Gaya. So, lets keep up with his fervor.

Still any help on finding those discourses would be most appreciated.
Bhavatu sabba mangalam!!!
Yogi

[Steve]

Hi,

My name is Steve, I've just joined up. I've been meditating for several months and am looking into it further. Any guidance on my journey as to where I can go for information and meditation techniques is greatly appreciated.

There's nowhere to go to group meditate in Bermuda, no temples :-( However, I would like to hear from anyone and any place in the Tampa, Zephryhills area to be precise as I vacation there three or four times per year.

Peace,

Steve.

[Matthew]

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the forums. I hope you find something here that helps you on your journey. I did a quick look-around the net and found this page which might interest you - though it's a year old it may still be active:

IF ANYONE IN BERMUDA WOULD LIKE TO JOIN A SUNRISE MEDITATION GROUP AT BARRS PARK ON PITTS BAY ROAD PLEASE EMAIL: intlsec.iipsgp.educationaid@gmail.com

Sitting regularly with others is a great addition to a solo practice routine. Hopefully if you have questions there will be someone here who can help, so never be shy of asking.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[Steve]

Thanks for finding this for me, I've never seen anything advertised here. Bermuda is a religious country and often such things as meditation, or spirituality are frowned upon. To give you an example, whenever a Harry Potter movie gets shown people stand outside with placks protesting witchcraft, seriously :-)

Thanks for the link I will now go and check into it and see what i can find out.

Peace,

Steve

[Matthew]

Steve

You are more than welcome. This place is a mutually aided self-help society in it's widest sense, with a common thread of Shamatha Vipassana practice at the core. I knew you could not be the sole meditator .. even in witch burning Bermuda

Matthew

[Daniel]

Hi all my name is Daniel I’m from Israel but now studying IT in Australia. Did my first vipassana in Dharamsala India. Out of the 1 year travel it was the best experience so I’m continuing the practice. From this forum I was introduced to the video and audio teaching of Thich Nat Hahn which I find very inspiring. It’s great to have this online community to stay strong on the path and unite.

[Matthew]

Welcome to the forum Daniel,

Thich Nat Hahn's teachings are quite profound. His whole life is a teaching. He lives simply growing vegetables in his garden in Plum Village in France surrounded by what has now grown to be on of the largest Buddhist communities in the west, taking in four surrounding villages and providing retreats and gatherings for the international Sangha of his followers in the "Community of Interbeing" and many others. He also travels extensively and has political clout on a worldwide scale which is quite a contrast and a living monument to the power of simplicity.

There are some links to other teachings by him in the "On The Net: Text resources" section of the library and also in "Book Recommendations".

Looking forward to your contributions and if you have questions don't hesitate to ask. You may get any number of answers you can investigate to find what works for you.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[flutter]

Hi all,

About six years ago, I had my first serious encounter with meditation. For many years, I was only occasionally practising, but in the recent months, I found may way into it again. I'm not a Vipassana practitioner (yet), but I have decided to develop in this direction. Originally, I'm inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh and the practice of mindfulness in everyday life and "Engaged Buddhism". Just last sunday I attended a dhamma lesson and a short retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh at the new EIAB (European Institute of Applied Buddhism) in Germany. It was a motivating and healing experience to practise mindfulness in sitting, walking, eating and speech. Now, I wish to learn more about the original Vipassana meditation. I found this forum through a link on facebook...

[Matthew]

Hello flutter,

Welcome.

Thich Nat Hahn is a great man. We have a section in the video library dedicated to his teachings and videos. Mindfulness in every day and every moment and activity is a powerful tool on the path. So is Vipassana meditation. I hope your coming here will help you bring these two actively together in your journey.

Matthew

[Lamp]

Thank you for the opportunity To become part of this community . I have been drawn to Buddhism since the mid 1960s while living in the Mojave desert in California. I would lay underneath the stars  of the desert sky and listen to Allen Watts on a tiny tinny  cassette player. I read several of his books , Then many years latter I read Thich Nhat Hahn books but still did not practice or take refuge. It is only about a year that I have established a  serious practice. I was a dedicated Christian for many years but after a stroke and a long period of taking care of My 89 year old mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease that I was able to settle down and  realized how Buddhist practice addresses suffering in a more realistic and dynamic way.
I meditate  ½ hour a day 2 times a day  and cultivate mindfulness and  adherence to  the precepts and  8 fold path. Walking meditation on fair evenings in my garden. I am about 50 miles from a center in the Washington  town of  Spokane and now that my mother has passed on plan to visit.
It must be obvious that I am not a young collage type but I certainly appreciate your beautiful reference and video library. Metta…Lamp
 

[Matthew]

Lamp,

Welcome to the community. This place does offer a useful point of contact for people who don't have a local Sangha and yes we're constantly adding new finds to the reference section.

Looking forward to your contributions.

May peace flourish,

Matthew

[jeramel]

Hello. I am Jeramel from Cebu City, Philippines.

[Matthew]

Welcome Jeramel,

I hope you find the forums a help in your practice.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[Rainbow Snail]

Hello Everyone!

This is my first post here, and I'm very glad to be here!  It is a blessing to find a community with this kind of discussion and I've already learned quite a bit from "lurking" in the forums.

I am not a Buddhist but samatha/vipassana meditation is an important part of my path.  I follow my own guidance and intuition regarding spiritual practices and this has led me to experiment with many different practices including yoga, Big Mind/Big Heart work with Genpo Roshi, many ways of connecting with earth energies, plant energies and animal energies according to the Shuar shamanic tradition, and a study of many of the ancient wisdom traditions including advaita vedanta, yoga philosophy, and Buddhism.

However the most important part of my path is my daily samatha/vipassana meditation.  I am still a beginner at this practice, although I have been meditating mostly daily for about two years.  During this time I've tried several different approaches to meditation to see how they feel to me, and to understand the differences between different types of meditation (e.g., the "concentration" types of meditation favored by the yoga tradition, vs. the "soft" types of "pseudo-meditation" favored by the "new-age" crowd, vs. the balanced approach of samatha/vipassana.  At this point I am beginning to get more serious about samatha/vipassana meditation, it feels like that is the core of my path.  So I am taking some steps to learn more about the practice -- including joining this community, reaching out to the community of local samatha/vipassana meditators where I live, and considering joining a 10-day course on samatha/vipassana meditation.

Many thanks for being here, and for allowing me to join the community!

Robert Grossman

[Matthew]

Dear Robert,

Welcome to the forums. You'll find we're quite an ecclectic bunch here with a wide range of experiences.

I think your characterisation of Shamatha/Vipassana as a balanced approach is quite accurate. There are many forms within this realm and some differ greatly from each other but the basics of calming and development of insight and compassion run through them all.

Looking forward to hearing more from you and if you haven't read it yet, the e-book "Mindfulness in Plain English",  by Henepola Gunaratana, is an excellent place to study Vipassana meditation. It's linked to in the Library here.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[Rainbow Snail]

Thank you for the welcome, Matthew!  And yes, I've read "Mindfulness in Plain English" -- it is a wonderful book, and in fact that is the book that got me started in this practice.  Though I've read several other books on samatha/vipassana meditation as well, it is Gunaratana's teaching that got me started and still guides me more than any other meditation teaching I've received.

Thank you!

[charlie]

Hello everyone,
I have just joined this forum and am looking forward to talking with you. I have only been meditating for a short while(around 3 weeks)
but have read several books on the subject. I did attend a meditation class 3 years ago but the class was closed after a few weeks.

Kind regards- Charlie.

[Matthew]

Hi Charlie and welcome.

The most important thing with meditation is to maintain a regular practice and be honest with yourself. It can be hard at first but it's achievable.

I hope the forums help you in some way on your path,

In the Dhamma,

Matthew