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

[charlie]

Hi Mathew and thanks for your reply and welcome.
I agree with you here and for a long time did not commit myself to a regular meditation session. I seemed to spend a lot more time reading about Buddhism than meditating. I wanted to learn as much as I could before commiting myself to the Buddhist way.
My parents were christians and so I was influenced by that in my younger years. I first began my search for the truth at the age of ten after a number of tragic events forced me to question my existence within the world. During that time, I had some  experiences that set me firmly on my own spiritual path. I have heard many different teachings since then and now feel that buddhism is the way for me to progress.

Kind regards-
Charlie.

[Joe]

Hello, all.

My name is Joe, I'm 28, male and from the midlands (UK). This is all new to me, but I'm already benefiting from mindfulness.

Since ordering 'Mindfulness in Plain English' from amazon (19 July 2009) my reading list has been:
 

Read:
Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.
Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha's Path, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.
Meditation for Beginners, Jack Kornfield.

Dipped in and out of:
Meditation for Dummies, Dean Ornish MD, Stephan Bodian.
Buddhism for Dummies, Jonathan Landaw, Stephan Bodian.

Next to read:
A Path with Heart, Jack Kornfield.

I look forward to using the forum.

[Matthew]

Hi Joe,

Welcome to the forums. If you have read around a little you may have noticed that "Mindfulness in Plain English" is a popular book here.

We're quite an international and eclectic bunch from many traditions - I'm from the UK, trained in Tibetan and Zen Buddhism but have become more bare-bones Theravada as time and my practice move on. (If you don't know what any of that means ask a question in the Meditation section!)

One note I would make is this: read to understand and put into practice what you have read. It is quite easy to become an "intellectual Meditator or Buddhist" - who is well read and versed in Dhamma yet not well practiced in meditation. These people abound in Buddhist and meditation circles.

This will lead to change - everything does - yet with meditation there are certain changes and qualities one is promoting and developing in oneself. The western mind has a desire to understand and grasp everything as rationally and causally as it can - this is inculcated in us by society, upbringing, culture, language and many other aspects of life in quite subtle ways.

For this reason I would seriously consider re-reading "Mindfulness in Plain English" and then putting down all the books and spending three months or so establishing the strongest practice routine you can. Ideally meditation is taken at least twice a day. You can certainly start with short sessions - 20 minutes or so is good - yet within three months an hour at the start of the day and at an appropriate point in the evening will be a good milestone. Maybe you're already there?

Meditation practice is "practice" - it is the changes in us that we take away from the meditation cushion where the real action begins. These will not emerge merely from rational understanding but in sitting meditation, in practicing the teachings.

The Buddha taught that people only needed faith to follow his path long enough to try it for themselves and see that it worked. He asked no more than that. "Find out for yourself", he said, "do it". the modern equivalent of faith in this context  is rational understanding. The Buddha when he refers to faith is using the word in terms of "confidence" rather than religious belief.

If you have enough to be meditating, the meditation will teach you more than all the books in the world - for the answers you seek are within yourself and not in any of the books - those, as are these words, are merely signposts pointing to the way. If you are brave enough to follow the signposts the way will open before you.

Again welcome to the forums. The search function is pretty handy if you face a particular problem as it may have been answered already but no one will bark at you for asking something that has already been asked so do not have fear of jumping in. Looking forward to your contributions as your practice grows.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[Joe]

Hello, Matthew. Thanks for the welcome.

For this reason I would seriously consider re-reading "Mindfulness in Plain English" and then putting down all the books and spending three months or so establishing the strongest practice routine you can. Ideally meditation is taken at least twice a day. You can certainly start with short sessions - 20 minutes or so is good - yet within three months an hour at the start of the day and at an appropriate point in the evening will be a good milestone. Maybe you're already there?

Yes, re-reading "Mindfulness in Plain English" sounds like a good idea. I've re-read allot of it already.

At the moment I meditate for 20-30 minutes (in the evening). I might extend that because sometimes it takes 15 minutes for my mind to settle down.

Meditation practice is "practice" - it is the changes in us that we take away from the meditation cushion where the real action begins. These will not emerge merely from rational understanding but in sitting meditation, in practicing the teachings.

Thanks for reinforcing that. The sentences below (page 157 of Mindfulness in Plain English) gave me the motivation to meditate every day:

"We must never forget, however, that seated meditation itself is not the game. It's the practice. The game in which those basic skills are to be applied is the rest of one's experiental existence."

[Dharmmaman]

Good Day Everyone,

My name is Jeff and I'm a 41 year old recently retired messed up veteran. I was lying in a hospital overseas, in a deep worthless abyss, when I was given a rope from a buddhist chaplain. At that point I was hooked. I am studying and trying to practice the Theravaden way. To me it's the cake without all the frosting. I'm also unsuccessfully trying to begin a Vipassana practice. I've done a lot of reading and I can count on one hand the number of times I've attempted to meditate using mindful breathing. Maybe I'm looking for instant gratification, which I know won't happen, I don't know. What I do know, I need to start shedding some of this misery so I can live again. That's all I have to say about that...

Metta

Jeff

[Matthew]

Dear Jeff,

Welcome to the forums.

Therevada is the cake without the frosting. That is nicely put. You mention having done a lot of reading but not much sitting.

I suggest you just put down the books and sit. Don't worry if you are doing it right or wrong. Just sit and notice your breath and stop reading for a little while because you will not read yourself to change through meditation.

You will only lead to change through meditation practice. The practice will change you profoundly.

For now I would propose this: Try and sit for twenty minutes in the morning and in the evening. Do it at the same time every day so that it becomes a routine for you (after your morning shower is a good one, in the evening before dinner or some time between dinner and bed but not too close to either).

Keep this up for a week and then if questions have arisen ask them in the Dhamma& Meditation section.

Finally if you have "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Henepola Gunaratana return to reading that one book after your week of just sitting and read some of the book each day whilst keeping up the sitting practice. This book is remarkably powerful in it's simplicity of language and removal of cultural clutter from meditation. If you don't have this book I would recommend reading it.

There is one requirement to qualify as a meditator: meditation.

As you say you are a vet and it sounds like you have been through some tough times it may be that meditation risks, or does, bring back painful memories you have not fully processed. This is normal and not to be scared of. Remembering these things are in the past and remaining calm and concentrated on your breath will help (without forcefully blocking out the present moment of the mind) - i.e. Do not force quiet on your mind. If your mind is busy then sit and breath and watch your breath as best you can. You will get drawn away from the breath often but more and more awareness of this and of the things pulling you away will develop and your mind will calm, just by sitting practice.

The shedding will start when the sitting starts. And it may hurt at times but will also bring joy and more.

Welcome again. If you have questions about what I have posted, please copy it and start a new thread in the Dhamma & Meditation board. (Try and keep long discussions off this thread).

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[Komal Shah]

[/glow][/b]

Hello All..

I am Komal from Mumbai, India.... I have sat three 10-day Vipassana courses in the tradition of Sayagi U Ba Khin as taught by SN Goenka since 2006.. i sat two vipassana courses at Igatpuri, India and one at Global Vipassana, Mumbai, India.. It has been a wonderful experience all the three times that i sat for 10-day course..... but unfortunately i have not been able to practise vipassana daily though i sincerely want to take a step forward in this noble path of vipassana .... I have joined this forum to get some inspiration/motivation to continue my daily practice of Vipassana...

Much Metta !!

[Matthew]

Welcome Komal,

You will find many inspired people here and hopefully some answers to your questions.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[truthforhappiness]

Hello Brothers and Sisters, I'm william, like to be called "nobody", have practiced Vipassana for a few months and had experienced some phenomena of spiritual awakening, that drawn me to start a website called Truth For Happiness

May all of us be well and happy.

[Matthew]

William,

Please will you link to your website in your profile and not repeatedly spam the forum with links. You are more than welcome to join our community but I see you have posted the same thing at multiple forums recently and we are not a spam farm - we are a community website.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[truthforhappiness]

Hello Brothers and Sisters of this community, I say sorry, I had realized my mistake of posting multiple links. Apologize. Thanks.

[Mica]

Greetings

My name is Mica, and I am 29 years old. I was pretty much raised with Tibetan Buddhism. My stepmother helped run a Dharma center in LA when I was a kid, and was a student of Dezhung Rinpoche. I got really fascinated with it as a teenager, and devoured the biographies of Naropa and Milarepa like comic books, and studied with keen interest the metaphysics and mysticism of Tantric Buddhism.

However, I found to my dismay that I just could not relate to the actual work and symbolism when I was presented with it. When given the opportunity to practice the sadhana of a Yidam under the guidance of a teacher, I just found it inaccessible, even though I understood it. The symbolism and method just always seemed to0 foreign for me. Over the years, I turned more and more to the mystical teachings of the West - the Western Hermetic tradition, and alchemy in particular.

However, now I find myself in a very strange and difficult situation: I was engaged in a very little known practice (unknown even among all other Hermetic practitioners), guided by one of the few teachers who can teach this method, which is capable of bringing one into an enlightened state extremely rapidly. However, I was told right from the start that if not done correctly, it can be more damaging than helpful....and most individuals, even with careful guidance, don't carry it through correctly. I was sure I was not going to be one of those people.

Well, I was wrong, and I was arrogant. And now I am very worried of the implications of the mistake I have made. In hope and desperation, I am turning back to the Dharma, in hopes of finding "refuge". I feel that not only have I lost a great battle, but that I am also in mourning for the dreams I nursed since childhood that led me to engage in the practice in the first place. A huge part of me has died, but I hope to learn and grow from this. And I feel that the Dharma and meditation will provide me with the tools necessary.

[Matthew]

Dear Mica,

Welcome to the forums. I too was trained in Tibetan Buddhism though not born into it. My teacher is Khandro Rinpoche and I have studied texts from the karma Kagyu and Nyingma traditions.

I lived in a Shambhala Buddhist centre for a year and a half and that was enough to put me off Tantra forever. So many of the rituals etc go against the fundamental teachings of the Buddha.

Khandroma relates Vipassana as being similar to the direct realisation of Dzogchen and said to me once that all practice begins and ends with Shamatha Vipassana.

My practice has become more and more bare bones sitting Vipassana as time goes on and I do not see myself ever chasing the dragon of Tantra.

You clearly have a very strong desire to move forward with practice and it is not surprising to me that you have been drawn towards quick-paths. But quick-paths often have quick-sand in them - as you seem to have discovered.

This is not surprising to me. I have met many second generation western Buddhists and often times they rush into Ngondro practice or try to follow Tantra - my guess is this is to be expected when you have grown up with the Dhamma as there will be a natural desire to satisfy one's parents by following them.

Luckily you still have an awareness of the Dhamma as a living thing - "living in truthfulness", I sometimes call it - and it is this that will set you free: living truthfully, not the truth itself, for no such fixed thing as "the truth" exists.

You sound a little scarred by some of your experiences and that is not surprising either - just remember, don't give yourself a hard time about it. Every moment in life is an opportunity to open.

Again, welcome to the forums. I trust you will find some help and inspiration on your journey.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[nooby doo]

hi. my name is jen. i live in louisiana at the moment.

i have been studying buddhism and reading books about zen for a while. I have finally started to apply myself to meditation. i really see how difficult it is and am glad for as much advice and information as i can get.

welcome to know me

[Matthew]

Jen,

Welcome to the forums. Feel free to dive in with questions. You will always find someone willing to help. Just remember this practice is about getting to know the real you - and that means escaping the cultural garbage we collect and simplifying. It is also for each of us to individually undertake the hard work of meditation practice, develop calm, insight, compassion and wisdom - and thus become beacons of truth not only to ourselves but to those we encounter.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[xsmallard]

Greetings,

My name is Don, 46 and in Toronto, practicing Vipassana for the past year following an MBSR course. My current practice is a one hour unguided sitting mediation, Burmese style, at 5am daily.

During my daily commute to work I have been reading a wide variety of books and listening to audio books on my ipod, all with a focus on meditation and Buddhism.

I have struggled to overcome many things from my past and meditation has changed everything in my life and given me the freedom to actually live my life, for the first time. I had no idea that everything I needed was already inside of me.

I am looking for more in my community both online and locally that will allow me to continue my journey of growth and healing.

With an open mind and an open heart I hope to learn much and look forward to the journey.

Best,
Don

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be" Lao Tzu

[Matthew]

Don,

Please accept a warm welcome to our community. From your first post it seems clear that you understand the power of simple sitting meditation and will not only learn from but also contribute to debate and understanding here.

Looking forward to getting to know you,

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[pathfinder]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Sridhar Gaji and I hail from Hyderbad, India. I am currently living in Australia for my livelihood. I have undergone 10-days residential course of vipassana meditation under teaching of S.N.Goenka at Hyderabad, India.

 I am here to seek help and share my thoughts to practise Vipassana. Look forward to getting to know each other.

Sri

[Matthew]

Sri,

Welcome to the forums.

In the Dhamma,

Matthew

[Hank]

Hello everyone. My name is Hank. I'm 19 and from Houston, Texas, USA.

I've only just stumbled upon the method of Vapassana meditation, but I'm excited to begin. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone here that has contributed towards the astounding library of literature that will help me learn.

Currently, I guess I'm consumed by worldly desires. I heavily drink, smoke, do drugs and pursue women. I grew up around it and such addictions are extremely common within my father's side of the family. Though I've tried to help myself before, I very much hope that Vipassana can eventually give me the strength of will I need to shed myself of these habits. Or at the very least, to learn moderation.  

I can't say that any of my friends would be interested in learning this practice with me -- American kids my age rarely concern themselves with such things (I would imagine). But I look forward to sharing whatever lessons I learn with them!

[Matthew]

Hi Hank,

Welcome to the community. I'd suggest you just start meditating. Just sit and notice the breath. And be aware of what is happening in you without thinking about it.

The library has some great resources. I wouldn't read too much to begin. One simple instruction followed carefully can lead to deep insight.

Oddly a good friend of mine is 19 and lives in America. He was the third member here but though we still talk often he never followed through with meditation.

Half the effort in meditation is getting to do it regularly. If you do you will gain a lifetime of beneficial self-knowledge and undo many old habits.

It's worth the ride,

Matthew

[Crystal Palace]

Hello all,

From early childhood, I was drawn towards spirituality, and particularly the teachings of the Buddha. But my activities were confined to the intellectual level. It was all theoretical stuff without any practice. And sometimes i would wonder, why my friends seemed more happy, when i had the gift of spirituality. That's why i was thrilled, when i first read about the SN Goenka 10 day Vipassana course, that practice is the utmost important thing, and without actually practicing meditation, reading books and attending lectures is useless. Since then i have gone deeper in the Dhamma, and with each step my confidence in and knowledge of the dhamma has only increased. Im happy that we have a nice e-sangha of vipassana where meditators can guide and inspire fellow meditators. I wish to keep walking in the footsteps of the buddha and learn from fellow meditators.

As for my name, well, just call me 'Crystal Palace'   

With metta

[sushil_yadav]

Dear friends,

I am from Delhi, India and am involved with social/ environmental activism. My interests are : saving environment, study of mind, silence, solitude and meditation.

sushil_yadav

[Matthew]

Welcome Crystal Palace and sushil_yadav

May the Dhamma flourish in your hearts and minds and bear great fruit of compassion and wisdom.

Matthew

[bashmaki]

Hello fellow practitioners. I started meditating out of desperation in 1998. I suffered from cluster headaches
so bad Demerol wouldn't cover them up. I live in the rural mid-west and basically just bought a book and began experimenting. The headaches went away shortly afterward never to return. That was just a bonus! My life has changed dramatically since then.
I've tried many different types of meditation but settled on vipassana for whatever reason. It really doesn't matter now.
 I don't even really know why I'm here other than to share with others on the path. I don't even know anyone personally that meditates at all. so this may be a good venue for me. I picked up a copy of Tricycle magazine the other day. It is a worth while read it seems.
I practice mindfulness whenever I remember and I continue to do one thing at a time anymore; paying more attention to what is unfolding in the moment. I don't read and eat, work and listen to the radio (I work alone) etc.
I just keep working at becoming!

gus