Pragmatic Buddhism

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

The first 'teacher' in meditation is almost always pain.

So they say, not that I found this to be true, everyone is different.

[sky]

Originally Posted by happy soul

Impermanence. That's what originally struck a chord with me about Buddhism.

One morning I was having breakfast at a restaurant, and I ordered the egg tacos. They come with jalapeños. The waitress forgot them. It seems like a very small thing, but I really wanted the jalapeños. Then I thought about the idea of impermanence. I had the thought that, AFTER I finish eating, it will be the PAST, and in a sense it won't matter if I had the pleasure of eating the jalapeños, because it will be over. I had total peace with it. It was a great healing, and I didn't even ask the waitress to bring them when she came back to the table. It was the first time I had fully experienced the power of impermanence.

It's so interesting to read how we experience things differently, When I have had similar experiences I think more on attatchments, why am I attatched to an item that I was expecting but didn't get .... How we complicate our lives....

[Gem]

Originally Posted by sky123

So they say, not that I found this to be true, everyone is different.

Next time pain arises see the kind of psychological reactivity associated with it.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

Next time pain arises see the kind of psychological reactivity associated with it.

I don't get pain while meditating, discomfort sometimes but that's different.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by sky123

I don't get pain while meditating, discomfort sometimes but that's different.

Probably have to sit still for longer before smaller discomforts turn quite painful.

[sky]

Originally Posted by catsquotl

What attracts me most in Buddhism is the detailed investigation of what reality is as it is percieved by the senses.
Personally I feel the religion(s) that claim to have Buddhism at their base not that interesting. Although I feel drawn to the allure of devotional practises.
As my main focus in buddhism I tend to gravitate towards Mahasi Sayadaw style noting as a practice. And often refer to the abidhamma to make sense of how consciousness behaves. For reference I use this book. Which is free to download.

Many westerners have taken up Buddhism in a variety of ways, and even though I feel more empowered by the various pragmatic approaches because they seem (to me)more verifiable in terms of experience. I would like to invite you to share what attracted you to Buddhism before going on a tangent about how Buddhism in all it's intricacies enriched my life and spiritual practice. I hope there will be time and opportunity for that here..

With Love
Eelco

Found some goods books from your link, thanks. Now I have to work out how to put them on my Kindle

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

Probably have to sit still for longer before smaller discomforts turn quite painful.

For me it's quality rather than quantity. I do a lot of standing/walking meditation, I do sometimes sit but never set times, it happens when it happens and finishes whenever I go with the flow, never forcing or planning only if I attend group meditations.

[happy soul]

Originally Posted by sky123

why am I attatched to an item that I was expecting....

Attachment comes from an [apparent, but not actual] unmet need for one's divine reality. You could also say, for love.

When we don't know our divine nature, we become dependent on externals, as a substitute for it.

[sky]

Originally Posted by happy soul

Attachment comes from an [apparent, but not actual] unmet need for one's divine reality. You could also say, for love.

When we don't know our divine nature, we become dependent on externals, as a substitute for it.

My attachments come from craving/clinging not love.

[blossomingtree]

Originally Posted by sky123

So they say, not that I found this to be true, everyone is different.

Who actually says this, I wonder, sky123?

BT