Will's blog

[Jhanananda]

Unfortunate, but true. Realizing this cleared up that mystery for me -- how someone could practice for years and yet never realize any other state of consciousness. It is very strange how people weaken the teachings.

Also unfortunate but true. It's almost shocking; you'd think people would be fascinated by the idea that they have within them the power to achieve other, possibly profound -- or profoundly blissful -- states of consciousness, and yet everywhere you go, the very idea is treated like an evil in itself.

This is not limited to Buddhism --

Yes, every religion that I have spent time investigating has the same issue with the ecstatic and fruitful side of the contemplative life.

notice that, in the drug scheduling laws of the U.S., and indeed sometimes in the actual statements given by authority figures, a drug being pleasurable is itself reason enough for a ban. No one seems to question the rationale, but instead all appear to unconsciously conflate "pleasurable" with "harmful".

Of course, later on, any negative side effects will be quoted as the claimed reason, but -- for example, with the case of kratom, or U-47700 -- the ban was rushed through far ahead of any known harm; it was merely because "we know this substance causes euphoria". Of course, these substances may, in fact, be just as dangerous as people seem to fear; it's not that I advocate the use of them -- it's just telling, I think, that the only thing people need to condemn them is the fact of the good effects.

Yes, this is a parallel that I too have noted.

Just yesterday, I was reading through your comments on various teachers, in preparation for my upcoming post on various "secondary source" teachings, and I found the e-mail from Marcia Rose. Beforehand, I was considering listening to some of her talks and looking up anything she has written -- but now, I have no desire to learn whatever she has to say.

Her message was jaw-droppingly petty. She wrote, and I only paraphrase a little: "I have generously and lovingly accepted your writings because I assumed they were merely out of your need for rambling self-expression" --...seriously? Not only what must be seen as condescension or insult (or both), but that directly paired with some self-congratulation on how nice and wise she is!

(It reminds me of the holier-than-thou teenage arguments I'd see on old spirituality-related message boards, where they're clearly angry and insulting each other -- but at the same time vying to appear the more "wise" and "spiritual". I remember reading one that went something like: "Out of my deep compassion, I have tried to make allowances for your obviously stunted spiritual growth, but with metta I must inform you that your childish notions are pure delusion..." )

Disagreement is certainly okay. If someone disagrees with us, here at GWV, I may still look at their ideas; we can still learn from each other. However, if someone is actively rude, demonstrably ignorant, or otherwise clearly unaffected by (an efficacious) spiritual practice, I cannot believe that they have anything worthwhile to communicate on the topic.

Yes, we can only live and learn, and learn to meditate deeply in solitude.

[WilliamW]

I'm back. It's been quite a while. I hope to restart my project to catalogue reliable writings on the jhanas and meditative absorption in general.

When I was posting here before and sitting in meditation daily, I was detached from the world. I had some very bad things happen in my life, giving me feelings of hopelessness, and cultivating Right View/Understanding and meditation was my solace.

I then miraculously escaped the doom that had hung over me and obtained some measure of worldly success. This was great, but it caused me to focus on maya, and I almost abandoned spiritual pursuits entirely. By sheer chance, a month or two ago I encountered some of Jhananda's writings I had saved years before, and I remembered some of the wisdom I had forgotten.

I sometimes wish I could abandon career and convince my wife to join me in meditative seclusion -- but that would lead to poverty, and while I'm okay with not having a *lot* of money again, we would need to eat at least!

So, anyway... I'm back and I hope to stay back. Additionally, Jhananda, if you see this, please let me know when/if you are in need of donations for server costs or other necessities; I would like to give back if I can -- your writings both saved me from despair years ago, and just recently again reminded me of what's truly important.

[Jhanananda]

Hello, Will, it is so good to hear from you gain, and to know that you have returned to your contemplative life, and have found fruit, and that the GWV, and this forum have helped you recover your fruitful contemplative life.  I look forward very much to reading what you have to say.

As for donations, the GWV only has expenses once a year in renewing its serve, and domains.  I have been on social security for about 7 years now.  My health has improved remarkably in the last 30 months through the use, and development of air-purifiers.  I believe that my develipments could help others with comormidities recover from the corono-virus; however, I still need to improve the system, which I believe will improve my health.

[Naman]

Hey will, 

I have been contemplating myself to let go of my job its hindering my health and i wish to focus more on meditation.
I have gathered some money thru my job of 8 years , its not much,  i know i may not be able to go on forever with this money,  but my girl friend, we will get married soon,  she says she can keep working if required and  my parents are also supportive now.

I can still my mind thru the day and its there effortlessly but my health keeps sparking anxiety and difficult to manage phsyical and mental symptoms sometimes, i didn know that much shit is stored in my subconscious.

And Jhanananda im happy to know that your health is getting better!! We need you here

I needed to ask you something, i still my mind my breath slows down so much but im not focusing on any nimittas, it gives me nausea and palpation i dont know why,  is it possible i cud reach 4th jhana without focusing on nimittas,  cause i do hear ringing and see light inside, but i dont meditate on them still i find when i cut thoughts deeply my breath almost stops.. Still im not able to goto 5th jhana, cause i dont have any formal sitting practice,  past 7,8 months were hell for me,  anxiety and nausea with vomiting..  Its all hypesensitity i guess..  Maybe some of it is caused by some minor health issue, i changed my diet alot to find something to soothe the symptoms.

[Jhanananda]

Hello, Naman, and thank-you for expressing your kind and supportive thoughts.  I do not see how deep meditation could be causing nausea; however, as many of you know I have been experiencing vertigo for decades now, and I had associated the vertigo with deep meditation.  Rather interesting recent findings is my vertigo comes, and/or gets worse from air pollution, so it is possible that both of us are experiencing hypersensativity to air pollution due to deep meditation practice. I have found considerable relief from the use of an air puriifier, so you might try one.

[Naman]

Oh its interesting that u mentioned vertigo,  i have been feeling it myself from past 2 years.  I think yes it is becasue of toxins from air n food.  Also im avoiding food that imcreases heat in body. Oil spices,  etc