Introducing Myself

[Intuition]

Hello everyone, I just wanted to go ahead and introduce myself.

I have been investigating Jhananda's work, The Great Western Vehicle, and some of the ideas of this forum for some time now, and I have found much lucidity and much that agrees with my experience.

I am a stage 2 mystic. I currently live life with my mind silenced at all times.

I'd like to make a few points, just to introduce myself.

• Problem with Buddhists: What I see are a bunch of people ignoring their actual experience and taking things blindly and dogmatically on faith. Interpreting things the wrong way, doing things the wrong way, and by wrong, I mean a way that does not bear fruit, yet they continue doing so because of misguided reasoning and misguided faith. They use little critical thinking, ignore their own intuition, and essentially follow blindly, with no actual fruit to speak of.  This is not so with the mystic, who is not tainted by dogmatism. Mystics actually have stuff that works, that is mystical, and not just dogmatic.
• Discipline: I am in complete agreement with Jhananda on this one. Discipline is one of the greatest qualities you can cultivate. It is a gift of freedom to yourself, and it is crucial for progress, whether that progress be on the mystical path, or in anything else in life.
• Merit Judging: Notably, I would also like to say, that a central premise of GWV, which is 'you know a tree by its fruit' is akin to one of the core tenants in my own personally composed 'bible'. I have it written in my bible as 'Judge the merit of something by the results it produces. By the peace and happiness that you feel.'
  
• Christian Mystics: I would also like to say that I see great, great value in understanding the Christian mystics, for their writings have the benefit of not being thousands of years old, obfuscated, and difficult to translate. Also, when you read a book by Teresa of Avila, you know it's Teresa, whereas with Buddhism, you can get lost in a labyrinth of commentaries, mistranslation, and nonsense.
• Still Mind: As stated early, I currently live life with the mind and thinking utterly turned off at all times. I could describe all of the profound effects of this, as they are numerous, but I will instead simply summarize by stating that it is a state of grace, tranquility(I have used the terminology of this forum here, as it describes my own experience remarkably well), and satisfaction. This has led to a state of being which I can only describe as heaven compared to what my life was like before this, and I don't say that lightly.

As I am at stage 2 of the religious experience, I am here for guidance in one of the only places I think I will find it, in progression into further stages of the religious experience.

[Alexander]

Welcome, Intuition, to the board. You've certainly found the right place if you are after the "straight and narrow." I feel that an Inner Guide seems to come and take us by the hand and lead us to these proper places when the time is right. I would say simply finding your way here means you've navigated a great deal already. By the sound of it you are on the right path, and are making excellent progress!

[Jhanananda]

Welcome, Intuition, to this forum, and its sangha (community of support).  I agree with much of what you wrote, and I can only say, keep going.  Now that you are at stage 2, which means you have stilled your mind, then the next stage is to extend your meditation periods to at least hour-long sessions 3-6 times per day. 

Do keep in mind that as you meditate more deeply you will begin to experience sensory phenomena that does not originate in the material world, but from the spiritual dimension.  When you start having these phenomena, you will be glad that you are a member of this forum, where there are several people here who can help you negotiate the terrain of the spirit.