Guest guest Posted February 15, 2000 Report Share Posted February 15, 2000 Hi Laura - Id just let him be - none of us are here to pander to each other's ego, especially the poor moderator....and there isn't likely to be fisticuffs. These encounters are good for practice - one gets to see which buttons still get pushed and how one deals with it. Stuff happens. I like reading Maharshi and Nisargadatta because it elaborates and gives insight into what I practice in Buddhism. Different things impress me at different times - I was very impressed to hear that Ramana served people who came to his ashram. But, I could never manage this alone as I need a step by step path with teachers to check out my practice with. Even as a beginner with Buddhism it took me at least five years to believe that when my Zen teacher told me just to sit, he meant just that - just sit. ( " You mean not DO anything? " ) And years to understand the experience of " emptiness " after I'd managed to comprehend it intellectually. I really have to work hard to make certain I understand what Im being taught and not just think I understand. A lot of the writings of enlightened beings are feel good seductive - we resonate to them and mistake this for realizing them. I also practice Vipassana (Burmese) - and Ive noticed that while a calm mind can relax into basic awareness and if one is awake there is then the recognition that this is happening and only this - but then mind tends to cling to the experience of awareness, either the clarity or energy of it and then I can ask " Who is aware " - quite fun. Or, in Vipassana style go - " awareness, awareness' and it changes into something else. This eclectic muddle is NOT what one would do at any Buddhist retreat. You sound sincere and persistent with what you do so I have no doubt that your efforts will bring insight - one can certainly tell, aye? There seems to be a kind of inner guidance for all of us although I don't know what you'd call it (although Im certain everyone will tell me.) Joyce - >> Hmmm - well, I asked Tim what his practice was and he went off in a huff - > > Yep. This is the first time I've moderated a list. Should I play the involved mom > and try to say something to make everybody feel better? Or just carry on? > > Well, how about this: Everybody has an ego, so any place people interact, > ego stuff is bound to happen. Sometimes it makes people do silly things, > embarrassing things. > > It's an opportunity for us to practice seeing them as something other than > their ego activity. > > I spoke to Tim privately by email and invited him to come back. He said > maybe he will eventually. > >> but Im still very interested in what people do as inquiry, what happens, >> what works what doesnt and what that might mean....there does seem to be an >> interest in Ramana Maharshi etc. I posted a few things from Buddhism, as >> that has been my experience and I believe it a better and more practical >> offering than my own ramblings about " awareness " - sometimes a chat based on >> great masters is rather intimidating - what is there left to say? > > I'm with you. I'm also interested in people's practice. In fact, the > original idea > for this website was to write about, in exactly your words: > > " what people do as inquiry [and other things], what happens, what works, what > doesn't, and what that might mean. " > > In my case, starting last summer, I tried making self-enquiry my main practice, > following Ramana's books. I've been doing it several hours a day intensely > (broken up into several sessions)) and trying to continue the whole rest of > the day > as best I can while engaged in activities. > > It has taken a long time for me to gain any confidence that I am following the > instructions properly. The practice sort of unfolded over the months, going > through several stages. I think I'm on the right track with it because I'm getting > a more definite understanding of the " last thought, " the I thought. When I > hold an awareness of that understanding, the ego sense seems to fade away, > just like > Ramana says, although not permanently and not completely. > > Basically, as self-inquiry has unfolded for me, it's a kind of mindfulness > meditation. > > It's quite possible though that I'm doing it all wrong. I find his > instructions > rather vague. > > Love, > > Laura > > > > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > FREE ADVICE FROM REAL PEOPLE! Xpertsite has thousands of experts who > are willing to answer your questions for FREE. Go to Xpertsite today > and put your mind to rest. > <a href= " http://clickme./ad/XpersiteCPC " >Click Here</a> > > ------ > > ..........INFORMATION ABOUT THIS LIST.......... > > Email addresses: > Post message: Realization > Un: Realization- > Our web address: http://www.realization.org > > By sending a message to this list, you are giving > permission to have it reproduced as a letter on > http://www.realization.org > ................................................ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.