Author Topic: Hello all: Introduce yourself in this thread or just read it to meet the members (Read 37476 times)

Quardamon · « **Reply #350 on:** Thursday 02 September 2010, 09:41 AM »

Greetings to you, fellow meditators,

The name I will use here is Quardamon. I live in Holland, was born and raised in Amsterdam. I was a child in the 1950´s. So I spent quite a lot of time being grown up an doing things: Natural Dance; work in the "human potential movement" with Jean Houston (like her weekworkshop The Heroes Journey); diverse weekend workshops and trainings in therapy and personal growth, like Gestalt, bioenergetics, relaxation therapy; sportsmassage and healing.
Here on the forum, when I see posts there are moments, that I whish could sense someone with my hands. That would give me more information on where the energy of a person is, where it is blocked, and even, if someone trusts me and I can tune in deeper, I could sometimes tense what ideas and convictions are part of the build-up of the person at this time.
I must say, I do this rarely at all. I mean, less than once in three months. (And I mean, with someone who is physically with me, came to me for help, and allowed me to tune in.)

On meditation: I did meditate irregulaly since I was 20 years old. I had a book then written by an English buddhist, and did yoga.
Vipassana I learned from the late Mettaviharee, a Thai monk who lived in Amsterdam. I did a retreat with him in 1985, which was very impressive.
The funny thing is, after the retreat I decided: "O.K. So this is a technique, it works, and one can become enlightened with it. So what?"
At the time I was very concerned about the environment, and the fact that natural resources were running out. (I still am, though I am less impressed by the strong emotions that this brings to me.) And I felt, that enlightenment would do very little to better that situation. (I still think so, but I object less to becoming enlightened.)
It is four or five years ago, that I picked up vipassana again. I did a few weekend workshops and an ten-day and one eight-day retreat with Frits Koster, who started as a pupil of Mettaviharee and who was a monk in Birma for a few years. From august 2009 till july this year I sat two timeS an hour per day. It is a bit less now - both in duration and in times per day.
Well that should be enough as an introduction, I suppose.

Be well,

Quardamon

Morning Dew · « **Reply #351 on:** Thursday 02 September 2010, 10:45 AM »

Welcome aboard

i also thought for long that i can "tune" into others or even self (reiki) but realised only that my ego was playing a game with me.
It is good you turned back to calming mindfulness instead

good man!

rideforever · « **Reply #352 on:** Sunday 05 September 2010, 12:24 PM »

Hello ... people ? bodhisatvas ?

Up until a few years ago things like, buddha, enlightenment, yoga, mysticism etc... seemed ... exotic. Interesting experiences, special powers, hmmm.

Now, I feel very different about it. It would appear that if I look into myself I will understand myself that my life is a lie - it's just a ... mistake. A case of mistaken identity. My mind is so conditioned, that its entire effort is to fool itself.

I would have never imagined that I could be certain of not being the person I thought I was. But the certainty appeared to be there.

99.9% of people will die without having woken up. How is this possible - I don't know. And although I understand it, I am not awake yet - possibly because I am understanding it with my mind.

So I am trying to revive my heart.

It feels quite frightening to be in here.

Matthew · « **Reply #353 on:** Sunday 05 September 2010, 06:34 PM »

rideforever,

The ego frikkin hates meditation and you have made an ego decision to kill the ego. Of course there is fear. Like all things it will pass.

Relax

Matthew

neurohacker · « **Reply #354 on:** Saturday 11 September 2010, 06:05 AM »

Hiya, I'm another Matt. Longtime lurker, first time poster.

I live in Australia. I practice zazen every day, and I got into it through my obsession with neuroscience. I find it great for helping me live more mindfully. Also, along with medication, I find it totally invaluable for helping me manage my ADHD.

I'm kind of a solitary practitioner, so I joined up so I could get involved in some discussions and hopefully learn a more about meditation and Buddhism in general.

Matthew · « **Reply #355 on:** Sunday 12 September 2010, 09:25 AM »

Welcome Neurohacker,

Many people have experienced ADHD being helped by meditation, often to the point where the drugs are not required any longer.

I trust you will find the support and help you are looking for and I look forward to your contributions.

Warm regards,

Matthew

hodgepodge · « **Reply #356 on:** Monday 13 September 2010, 06:32 PM »

Hi all, my name is hodgepodge (I suppose--I feel a bit weird using my real name) and have suddenly decided to join this forum!

I've meditated off and on for about 6 years now (more "off" than "on", unfortunately). I've attended numerous retreats, but like many things in life, I seem to be able to go all out, or none at all. So attending retreats has seemed somewhat easy and rewarding to me, but consistent, daily meditation, not so much.

I became interested in meditation and Buddhism after experiencing a major crash in my early 20s, going from a period of great aliveness, openness, and love, to numbness, anxiety, and self-centeredness.

So hi to everyone here. I have to admit I didn't read much of this huge thread...I feel like that's a bit of the ol' self-centeredness--have to get my story out there, get people responding to me! etc. But I suppose I'm not perfect (nor all that unique in that regard). So again, hello, I hope you're well and that this place ends up being a friendly, useful place to visit.

Morning Dew · « **Reply #357 on:** Monday 13 September 2010, 08:05 PM »

Welcome aboard friend

No worries, no one here is perfect we too have out ups and downs

I cant say much about retreats but daily morning meditation is something which seems to be bringing lots of calm and understanding into my life. It keeps actualy reminding me of what is and what is not.

The way i see it, a retreat can be a treat but daily meditation keeps the ego leyers falling off and instead instaling compasionate and awake mindfulnes.

Once again welcome

not me · « **Reply #358 on:** Tuesday 21 September 2010, 05:26 PM »

Hello,

I am so pleased to have discovered this forum today. It is my hope that our discussions will benefit your practice and mine.

My name is Steve. I began vipassana meditation 1/14/06, just weeks ahead of my 46th birthday, following the devastating end of a personal relationship. The details of the break-up are unnecessary here, except to say that the love of my life had tried unsuccessfully to encourage me to investigate Buddhist philosophy. I was too angry. My self-confidence and -esteem were nearly nonexistent. Attempting to read a book of her recommendation left me with the impression that it was nothing more than New Age mumbo-jumbo to which I could not (and would not) relate. Ironically, the heartbreak that followed our break-up a year later drove me right back to the same book, which led to another, to another...

Finally, I discovered Bhante Gunaratana's Mindfulness in Plain English. That book, more than any other to date, has guided my practice. In addition to home meditation, my practice is strengthened with the help of a lay Insight Meditation sitting group, as well as, the generous monks of a local Thai Temple.

I am now studying Bhante G's Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English. I suppose it is accurate to characterize my current practice as an interest in discovering the jhanas.

Given where I'd been, I don't think it exaggerated to claim my former mate likely saved me countless years of continued unhappiness. My love for her is stronger today, than during even our best years together.

Morning Dew · « **Reply #359 on:** Tuesday 21 September 2010, 06:12 PM »

Good man Steve

and welcome aboard of vipassanaforum!

Looking forward to knowing you better. Feel free to look around there was lots of talks about jhanas here.

I too have those books but felt to leave the "Beyond" one for later. I felt like i am not there just yet

but sure will pick it up once it kicks in.

Remain relaxed

not me · « **Reply #360 on:** Tuesday 21 September 2010, 06:31 PM »

Thank you, Morning Dew.

There certainly is no need to rush into "Beyond." I suspect you'll sense when you're ready. I'm about halfway through the book. The subject matter is more challenging for me than the original. And yet, it provides new experiences to watch for, which seems to lend a freshness to my meditation –– on and off the cushion.

Matthew · « **Reply #361 on:** Tuesday 21 September 2010, 08:46 PM »

Hello Steve,

Welcome to the forums. May your time here deepen your understanding, generosity, compassion, and love for yourself - and the world in which we all live.

Warmly,

Matthew

helen82 · « **Reply #362 on:** Tuesday 05 October 2010, 03:53 AM »

Hi everyone! I'm ~~Helen~~ a spambot, from US. I'm an ~~accountant~~ ass for ~~a local hospital~~ spamming your forums. As I know that the forum is ~~a best playground for us to exchange and learn experience~~ good place to seed links to some dodgy crap for sale. That is the reason why I'm here. I wish to receive money from the links I create ~~helps from all members of the forum~~. Thanks in advance!

No Helen, thank you. I'll delete your account now. Matthew

(NB: This is a heavily moderator edited post)

Morning Dew · « **Reply #363 on:** Tuesday 05 October 2010, 05:00 AM »

Welcome

malharpandhi · « **Reply #364 on:** Tuesday 05 October 2010, 08:10 AM »

Hello all,

My Name is Malhar. I am from India. I am practicing Dhamma since 1991. I practiced Vipassana of the U Ba Khin Tradition for many years and then left it. I was searching a right practice for some years, then I started Anapana Sati meditation and I have been practicing it since last 4 years.

I find this forum a good site for discussing Dhamma.

Metta,

Malhar

NYCRavi · « **Reply #365 on:** Wednesday 06 October 2010, 05:03 PM »

Hi,

My name is Ravi and I live in the US. I started doing the 10-Vipassana retreats of Goenka since 1998 and have done courses both in India and in the US. I have also done about 2 years of TM at Fairfield, Iowa, but prefer Vipassana as I find it less complicated.

I agree that Goenka's method focuses more on 'work, work, work' and at times can overwhelm one during the course. I find the interactions here in the forum very interesting and helpful to a skeptic like me. No doubt I have benefited both mentally and physically (by losing weight) by doing the courses. I have always wondered how the longer 20 and 30-day courses benefited one.

Hope to learn and share with everyone here.

Best Wishes.

louisep887 · « **Reply #366 on:** Saturday 09 October 2010, 01:41 AM »

Hello !
I am also a new ~~member.~~ spammer. Would a newcomer be warmly welcome here? ....

MODERATOR EDIT: No. Banned.

Quardamon · « **Reply #367 on:** Saturday 09 October 2010, 06:27 PM »

Hello louisep887,
Leave out your advertisment, please.
Your tradition gives me very little hope you would be welcome here. You simply used three buttons on a row on the keyboard. That is hardly introducing yourself - Or worse; it is.

Matthew · « **Reply #368 on:** Tuesday 12 October 2010, 07:27 AM »

Malhar, Ravi,

Welcome to the forums. May your practice flourish and lead you to true happiness for the sake of all.

Warmly,

Matthew

suditya · « **Reply #369 on:** Sunday 17 October 2010, 06:10 PM »

Hello I am Suditya from Gangtok,Sikkim,India and have recently started practicing meditation as taught by S.N.Goenka and it surely has been an experience.Hope the forum will help me in the practise.p

Matthew · « **Reply #370 on:** Monday 18 October 2010, 07:41 AM »

Welcome suditya,

May your practice flourish, warmly,

Matthew

kellyj994 · « **Reply #371 on:** Wednesday 20 October 2010, 12:55 AM »

Hello all!
My name Kelly. Happy to get acquainted with you. Thanks.

MODERATOR EDIT: Thanks but no thanks.

Morning Dew · « **Reply #372 on:** Wednesday 20 October 2010, 05:46 AM »

Another spameeeeerrrrrrrGRRRR!!!

Mungo · « **Reply #373 on:** Monday 25 October 2010, 03:42 AM »

Greetings Everybody,

I have been lurking a while now and have decided to finally join. I know its not needed here - but - I would just like to express my gratitude to everyone involved in this "virtual Sangha".

I recently started an introduction course of meditation in the Shamatha calm abiding technique and have been diligently (dili-"gently") practicing every morning for about 3 months now. The group is very small - 2 students and teacher. The reason I started was from reading about the science and study of the mind/conciousness which of course led to more buddhist type books in which there was a simple quote - When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

Even though this is all still new to me, and had never investigated buddhism before, I am continually surprised at how "familiar" the practice seems. In many ways I have tried to live my life via "the middle way" without realising. When life gets troublesome I always knew to myself that it will change. When things were going well I could just enjoy it as it was. I am a very quiet person in general and I think my main problem has been living with societies label of "introvert" and "spectator of my own and others emotions" which has made me withdraw more than I should but I have also found that being empathetic is no good without compassion - something that I am working on amongst other things.

Thats enough (too much) about me for now. Hopefully you will hear from me again soon.

Best wishes everyone...

Matthew · « **Reply #374 on:** Monday 25 October 2010, 08:59 AM »

Mungo,

Welcome and glad you have found some inspiration here.

Warmly,

Matthew

Author Topic: Hello all: Introduce yourself in this thread or just read it to meet the members (Read 37476 times)

Morning Dew

rideforever

neurohacker

hodgepodge

Morning Dew

Morning Dew

helen82

Morning Dew

malharpandhi

NYCRavi

louisep887

suditya

kellyj994

Morning Dew

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