Search found 55 matches

by Music
Sun Dec 30, 2012 7:08 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Moving in a rut
Replies: 13
Views: 3183

Moving in a rut

I try to meditate. Thoughts 'ambush' me, catch myself, sigh, return to breath. Repeat, repeat, repeat. It feels like I am going in circles. Does this even have any benefit? I am not sure what I must do for a breakthrough.
by Music
Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:54 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Hare Krishna view of Buddhist practice in Bhutan
Replies: 17
Views: 8888

Re: A Hare Krishna view of Buddhist practice in Bhutan

Iskconites are plain weird, not to mention vulgar and antagonistic toward anyone who doesn't acknowledge their perverted version of reality. There may be a few good iskconites like indrymya swami, but that's for PR more than anything else.
by Music
Tue Dec 25, 2012 4:31 pm
Forum: Zen
Topic: "No Seeking" teaching of Linchi (Rinzai)
Replies: 26
Views: 7268

Re: "No Seeking" teaching of Linchi (Rinzai)

This is a dangerous teaching. There is so much to do - the mind is a mess, and it needs cleaning up. Doing nothing changes nothing.
by Music
Mon Nov 19, 2012 7:46 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Leg pain
Replies: 12
Views: 3393

Re: Leg pain

The point is to tame the mind, not reconfigure your legs. :rolling: Exactly so. If it is not your custom or inclination, there is no benefit to sado masochistic contortions. You may get increased endomorphin to counter pain production and bliss out. Not really meditative at all . . . Hi lobster, re...
by Music
Sun Nov 04, 2012 6:05 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Eating cats in China (not a joke).
Replies: 28
Views: 7925

Re: Eating cats in China (not a joke).

I am a vegetarian, but is it wrong for a buddhist to eat all this? Even a buddhit has to eat to survive.
by Music
Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:47 pm
Forum: Mahamudra
Topic: Being in the Present
Replies: 43
Views: 16991

Re: Being in the Present

I am still confused about watcher and watching. When I am watching, isn't the watcher already there? It is only the watcher who controls the mind, or else the mind starts daydreaming, getting distracted. Nope, basic underlying awareness has no need of the watcher, the watcher is constructed later. ...
by Music
Fri Oct 05, 2012 6:02 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Being spiritual but not religious is a cop-out
Replies: 13
Views: 3520

Re: Being spiritual but not religious is a cop-out

Religions in general encourage superstition, mindless worship of deities or gurus, blind following of traditions, and rituals. Plus they're usually politically motivated. No wonder people want to be spiritual without the baggage of religion. Why can't I just practice meditation without calling mysel...
by Music
Thu Oct 04, 2012 6:28 pm
Forum: Mahamudra
Topic: Being in the Present
Replies: 43
Views: 16991

Re: Being in the Present

I am still confused about watcher and watching. When I am watching, isn't the watcher already there? It is only the watcher who controls the mind, or else the mind starts daydreaming, getting distracted.
by Music
Thu Sep 27, 2012 3:39 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Breath
Replies: 4
Views: 1681

Re: Breath

May I ask what are you practising when you observed that? Meditation? Zen practice? Breath-counting contemplation? Recitation of Buddha's name? I am practicing mindfulness of breath to attain the first jhana. But I don't just stay with the breath, thoughts are also floating in the background. Unles...
by Music
Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:34 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Breath
Replies: 4
Views: 1681

Breath

When I observe, i tend to breathe in slowly and deeply in order to keep my focus on the breath. Is that okay? And while observing the breath, thoughts are present in the background. Am I assume that they will vanish with practice?
by Music
Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:42 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Body scan
Replies: 7
Views: 2497

Re: Body scan

It doesn't have to be head to toe, it can be any order as long as every part of the body is included. It is important to include every part, even if at first there appears to be no sensation. If you only focus on the parts of the body where you feel sensation, you will not develop awareness of the ...
by Music
Sun Sep 23, 2012 5:02 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Body scan
Replies: 7
Views: 2497

Re: Body scan

Actually I was taught to do it toe-to-head! But it doesn't matter so long as the scan covers all the bits. You'll want to be thorough and maybe even try to include the brain and internal organs. My aim is to experience what vipasana students call dissolution of body, namely experiencing the body no...
by Music
Sun Sep 23, 2012 4:37 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Body scan
Replies: 7
Views: 2497

Body scan

In vipasana, the body scan has to proceed in a certain order, head to toe. Is that necessary, or can we just focus wherever the sensation occurs? Could we just sit down and wait for sensations to occur, after which we observe them?
by Music
Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:24 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Tremors
Replies: 7
Views: 2546

Re: Tremors

Buddhism is not very common where I live, so finding a teacher may not be possible. My sister is a doctor, but even she doesn't find anything wrong. She says it's mostly stress, but I am worried if it would be the onset of Parkinson's or something else.
by Music
Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:14 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Tremors
Replies: 7
Views: 2546

Tremors

I am getting mild tremors, not in specific areas .. They occur in many areas like knees, thighs, even lips or eyebrows.

What could it be?
by Music
Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:43 pm
Forum: Gelug
Topic: How long for actual Meditation...?
Replies: 25
Views: 7527

Re: How long for actual Meditation...?

Hmm, see I cannot help but think that there is no substitue for silent meditation (for want of a better description). Mantra, Yantra, Bells and Mudras seem to give me more to think abut rather than the opportunity to experience my mind. It feels a little like putting more furniture in the prison ce...
by Music
Tue Sep 04, 2012 7:47 am
Forum: Dharma Stories
Topic: If the Buddha is real, what have you lost?
Replies: 9
Views: 4606

Re: If the Buddha is real, what have you lost?

Pascal's wager can only apply to abrahamic faiths because they believe in one life, no second chances. So if you die and find out Allah alone is real, you will be in trouble. Buddhism wouldn't have this problem, because if you die and find out Buddha is real, you are still going to get a second chan...
by Music
Mon Sep 03, 2012 7:33 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Why is dependent origination so important?
Replies: 6
Views: 2452

Why is dependent origination so important?

Why is it important to know? What does it mean to know, anyway? We all know that everything is connected with everything else ...
by Music
Thu Aug 30, 2012 6:50 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Will Buddhism become redundant?
Replies: 35
Views: 9624

Re: Will Buddhism become redundant?

Thanks for the replies.

Before science gave us the washing machine, we had to depend on our arms and legs ... involved a lot of effort and sweat to get things done.

Now we have to depend on our will ... expend a lot of effort to be mindful. But once technology ... well, you get the idea.
by Music
Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:56 pm
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Pure Land thoughts
Replies: 6
Views: 2509

Re: Pure Land thoughts

What does it mean to focus on amitabha, just reciting his name?

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