Another Sitting Journal

Thanks for your reports Clayton they are highly inspiring

Thanks for the encouragement guys...this community really is something special... its helped me deepen my practice more than I could have imagined or ever really convey...

So I decided to just sit this morning. Absolutely no manipulation and just dwell in the witness. I know that is the ideal all along but I had been embedding and grasping for the next jhana etc. I figured things would just kinda be very vauge. But something strange happened. Exactly as described--while trying to stay in 2nd gear I slowly watched the arch rise and fall. Wow. It was great I felt much less embedded. I haven't posted in my journal for a while--things in daily life seem different. I feel a greater sense of presence--but that could just be favorable situations in my 'relative' life... Much love--Practice well

I feel much presence daily as well. Lately if I feel a bit embedded I'll just focus on something in my surroundings and start noting some details about it, and then expand out my concentration a bit (more so let it expand) and start noting more things I can see, and so forth until I've noting everything in my visual field. Then I'll start noting body sensations until there's nothing else to note and I'm just watching what I've found change and I'll note that for a while. Then I'll start labeling them as positive/negative/neutral. Then I'll move up to emotions then thoughts. Then I'll switch to the "See how it" practice for a while. By then I've got a good sense of the witness and the three characteristics are pretty evident and I sometimes notice a shift where the mind stops leaning and I'm just aware. It's quite nice how procedural it can be and how well all the practices on this site fit together. I really enjoy just playing with different techniques.

Non-Manipulation and witness. Thats the way forward I think. It is working well. Sometimes the initial descent seems a bit hazy/non precise especially when I am working down from the Pure Land. Time will improve those things I imagine. I am in the Singapore airport about to fly back to the US, new chapters arise as always. I'll catch up with y'all on the flip side...

I notice I have had very little to say on here lately. Things practice wise seem to just be gliding along. Perhaps part of some review cycle. I just feel myself naturally dis-embedding during daily life. Its so natural. So intuitive. Last night I noticed that my 8th Jhana has gotten significantly clearer. So the territory above it should continue to deepen in time. I am in Boston now with my sister who is at orientation for school this fall. The 80 degree weather is so pleasant after living on the equator for the last year. May all awaken in this lifetime...

"Non-Manipulation and witness. Thats the way forward I think. It is working well. Sometimes the initial descent seems a bit hazy/non precise especially when I am working down from the Pure Land."

Are you saying that it is possible to access the pure land abodes even for a pre-anagami ??
Have you reached the 3d path?

Um... By following instructions I have reached the two states described by Jackson in his article on attaining PL-1 and PL-2. They always impress although sometimes they are much stronger than others. Am I 3rd path I dunno, I know I don't worry about whether I am 3rd path anymore... But I'm not claiming anything. What I was referencing was that the descent will often quickly blow through a Jhana which initially I found strange but I am getting used to it...

Well practice is getting interesting. I defiantly feel like the highs of whatever review phase I was in are gone. Concentration still good although I often catch myself manipulating the experience trying to get a 'harder' absorption. I don't have that euphoria just walking around that I did have. So what does this thing look like in mundane situations. Awakening while I am in a good mood is one thing, while im in a less than good mood--well this is where the rubber meets the road. I recently was up in a town I used to live in. I was around a lot of old friends and old habits. I kept my 5th precept and am really happy about that. But I kinda had to go on high alert for those 3 days and as such my practice took on a lot harder edge. Still unwinding from that I guess...

Edited to include a sentence or two:

By 5th precept are you talking about having a nice glass of red wine, or a cold, refreshing glass of heineken?

Hehe! I was so anal about the 5th precept for years. Then I discovered that stream entry didn't mean I was automatically observing the sila. I mean, I wont kill anything because I like being harmless, I wont steal anything cos I don't want to, I wont lie because I feel drawn to the truth (but doesn't mean i can't and I have at least lied to experiment with that dogmatic traditional belief about ariyas). Of course, if one doesn't like drinking, then obviously they don't drink. But occasionally, a drink between friends may be more beneficial for your friends as they feel a closer bond with you and can see you are not shunning their lifestyles. A drink in the spirit of participation is not at all wrong. Of course, all in moderation. Sleeeewrp! **drinks from large glass of cab sav**

My point is, Clayton, you don't have to be a hard core sila observing neurotic like I once was. Not that I am saying you are, cos you probably aren't. But for others who read this, sila is there as a guideline to help you be a better human being but also in the context of meditation, to be able to concentrate. I am speaking primarily about the 5th precept here. I believe it is there because of the danger of breaking the others under the influence and abusing it to the point of addiction. It doesn't mean you wont progress if you have a pisco sour (Chilean national drink) now and then .

Clayton, you are at least a 2nd pather! Let loose a little! . That is if it makes you happy. If it doesn't well forget what I've written. For myself, I am progressing as fast as I could ever imagine and I have beer in the fridge. **cracks open a stellar artois** Gulp! Gulp! Gulp! Aaaaaaaaagh!

And I also want to send some awesome fruition, pure abode, metta, mudita vibes to my Dhamma brother Clayton!!!!

From my own experience, the transition from 2nd to 3rd was made faster by dwelling in the Witness with non-manipulation of the jhanic arc. And noting the hell out of those darker moments as well as those brighter moments where "I" embedded without knowing it.

Here is another dose of this awesome nibbana dhatu smelling, metta covered, mudita soaked, pure abode bliss mixed with fruition bliss vibes for ya!!!!!

Hey Nick! haha nah man I guess I haven't really opened up on this thread about some aspects of my past. I am a recovering alkie and am in a 12 step program. Things had gotten really out of control for me awhile back... Recently I was up at my old friends residence in central texas I was around grass for the first time since I got sober last may... Which was challenging. You are absolutely right though there is no need to be neurotic about the precepts--but given my past I have to be a bit neurotic about that pesky 5th one... Which as you said was likely created for people like me... For most people it doesn't really matter... Much love right back at ya...

Having watched someone I love struggle with substance abuse let me just say, you do whatever you have to do to stay sober. If being a single-minded fiend about the precepts helps then you just go ahead and be a single minded fiend about the precepts. My hard won observation is that whatever it takes is well worth it. I wish only the best for you, Clayton.

Hi Clayton,

Having not known about your past, I would not have posted such a rant. I take back everything I said

Well, goddamn, what an inspiration then! You went and got back on the wagon AND got stream entry!

Forgive my outburst then. And keep on doing what you need to. All my support!!!!

Mudita,
Nick

I also had abused grass for a very long time in a very abusive way in my past, and meditation helped me quit that habit in a way I was never really able to. I did have relapses now and then, but nowadays, I don't do it because it just doesn't make me feel good at all (though when I do try it once in a while, which I haven't in ages, it still had that addictive quality to it, even though the effect itself is unpleasant, strange).
Alcohol isn't really addictive to me.. I can drink once in a long while and I never crave it, I guess its really a personal thing.

Anyway, here's to being sober and awake! Woohooo

Indeed, sober and awake. Thanks for everyone's support--I guess I just didn't initially want my thread to be about that as much as about my practice... so I never really brought it up... I'll admit its pretty strange to sit in AA meetings with a couple paths under my belt and listen to people much older than myself talk about 'spirituality' in a very kindergarten way. To see firsthand that spirituality is just one *big* piece of a very strange complicated puzzle...

I had a great chat with Nick yesterday and he recommended watching the video of his tour of the Jhanic Arch... For anyone who has not watched it I highly recommend it. (video section of this site) I love the high jhanas. My new practice is the same practice I posted about earlier... dwelling in the witness and not manipulating... Its challenging, It is very easy to get subtly embedded in those pleasant high states... Metta to everyone...

I, too, highly recommend that video.

Having some difficulties technology wise. My computer (a hand me down) is probably on its last leg. So I am using my sisters for the time being. Practice wise--I have noticed a real strong craving for the highest states I can access. As soon as I start down the arch I get frustrated. I guess I am getting embedded. I am also noticing my dark night mood swings. Its frustrating because they seem so obviously not self and yet I still succumb to them and get cranky/irritable etc... even when I know I am just going through my cycle. It would be cool if I had a more upbeat post but Nick has inspired me lately to just tell it like it is...

Edit: I also had a weird dream last night. I became lucid... very rapturous but I could only be mindful of sensations and think the thought "is this (insight disease) done yet?"

Hello all. I had a marathon chat with my Dharma brother Nick today. He mentioned the Therigatha a series of one lines compiled by those on the road to or attaining the final goal... I like this one from the nun collection...

"What bliss '” free at last from my shameless husband! "

My current favourite:

The earth's sprinkled
with rain, wind
is blowing, lightning
wanders the sky,
but my thoughts are stilled,
well-centered
my mind.

For anyone interested this is the link... you can choose from the monk's or the nun's writings

www.accesstoinsight.org/search_results.h...gatha&sa=Search#1059

I am gonna start a new practice journal whenever I feel like I have soemthing new to say.... hope everyone enjoyed the first installment ; )