Hello and an introduction

Greetings Everyone,

Just wanted to say hi and introduce myself. I've been lurking for a few weeks now and recently had my first interview with Kenneth. I've very much enjoyed reading the threads here and have gained a lot of useful tips in terms of practice and perspective. I've also had the fortune of meeting up with RonCrouch, cmarti, and betawave - how great it is to meet real pragmatic practitioners in real life!

Anyway, My name is Chris and I came across the pragmatic dharma approach this summer while staying at a Theravada monastery. I had started meditating in earnest last fall, mostly just doing one-pointed concentration on the breath, and had some initial results (at least jhanic factors like bliss and joy were arising), but I unfortunately stopped for several months due to time issues and the physical demands of my old job (O, the glory of waiting tables while applying to graduate school).

I restarted practice this past June while staying as a resident at the monastery and was meditating there about 4 or 5 weeks before encountering MCTB and Daniel Ingram on BG. Before hearing of this approach, I was only meditating 1-2 hours a day and not even aware that this thing was possible, as I had trouble swallowing the orthodox nature of Theravada Buddhism and its models of enlightenment as well as the belief-dependent, metaphysical depictions of karma and reincarnation (at least as represented by traditional Buddhism).

But I dropped all that unnecessary conceptual baggage as I got incredibly motivated after hearing it was possible. Soon after that, I crossed the A&P as confirmed by Daniel (giant ruby-toned clouds of bliss overtook my consciousness during one sit and for about 5 days straight had many intense, A&P-like meditation experiences). A few weeks later, I had to leave the monastery but continued meditating, incorporating noting into my practice.

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I've since gotten up to equanimity (general sense of peace, strong strobing of the mindspace, pleasant messaging tendrils arising toward the end of most sits, etc.) and had a suspected fruition but I'm really not sure (Kenneth said 50/50 and I'm more or less the same). Regardless of "where I'm at", my aim is to finish this thing and contribute in whatever best way I can, so my current vow is to renounce any potential previous path or attainment and land whatever path lay before me (whether that's SE or 2nd path).

I've started a meditation journal where you can read my suspected fruition description and current sit reports here:

kennethfolkdharma.wetpaint.com/thread/4230863/-

Anyway, I'm looking forward to participating in the discussions around here, although I'm starting my graduate school program soon so may not be posting all the time.

See you all around the boards!

Wonderful!

Welcome aboard!

This is the first time ever for me to have met someone in person before meeting them on the message boards. welcome, Chris!

Have you been able to schedule any time with Kenneth as we discussed when we all met? I'd urge you to do so based on what you described of your practice when we met. It would help you sort things out and know where you really are on the path.

Thanks mumuwu and Chris.

I've met with Kenneth once so far and though we weren't able to determine exactly where I am just yet, I think if we get the chance to meet some more it'll at least help orient me as I move forward.

So we'll see!