Making the Contemplative Life Work

[Jhanananda]

I think as civilization gets more complex, it is making most everyone crazy in their own way. There are a few basic ideas which seem to have attached to the human mind at a deep level and these are what are driving this insanity: capitalism, agriculture, the idea of ownership, this ridiculous growth mentality, etc.

In a nutshell, Christianity calls these the "7 deadly sins."  In Buddhism they are called the "fetters."

These ideas are perverting what life should be, a simple co-existence with the natural world and all its other inhabitants. Instead it's a reckless pursuit to dominate, commodify, destroy, pathologize, ostracize, and on and on. Humans seem intent on changing the world to their liking so fundamentally, and mostly just out of anxiety, and for those that don't want to live in that ever-towering construction of hell, it is hard to find a place to exist outside of it. The fact that the infrastructure of the U.S. (and a lot of the world, but here it is hard to escape) has grown up and been built around the very idea of the personal automobile is a sign of how unconscious and stupid humans are: take the human ego, add millions of years of fossil fuels, and you get this paved-over hellhole. Every weed growing through a crack in the sidewalk is something to rejoice.

I am in complete agreement.  The way I put it is civilization breeds weak morons.  Whereas the only way to survive as a hunter-gather is to be a genius-athlete.  If human wish to survive as a species, then they need to learn to preserve their hunter-gather societies.

I find it heartening that there are many out there seeking a simpler way of life, even if for most it is not through an overly spiritual impulse. That may lay at the heart of what they are trying to do, because well, that may be the heart of what people really need; nevertheless, the mere fact that people are being drawn back to wanting a simple lifestyle at all is great. My own forays and studies into finding a simpler lifestyle (permaculture, homesteading, all things DIY, etc) got sidetracked by emotional problems and heavy confusion and delusion about what actually constitutes the spiritual life, but as I come out of that to some degree, I'm finding many of my old plans resurfacing effortlessly and moving back into place in my life. This has been relieving, fulfilling, and encouraging. I'm not really confident about the kind of lifestyle I can envision actually coming to fruition, because this system is so built now to crush anything of the sort, but hopefully I will end up with something half-way decent before I keel over or get smacked by a bus.

Funny, this morning I was just reflecting upon my journey of the last 15 years.  I came out of a 2 year solo retreat in the wilderness to find that struggle was awaiting me, and I have been struggling ever since to get back into the wilderness. 

Having been technically skilled my whole life, then I tend to come up with technical solutions to meet my challenges.  So, I developed a system for making fuel, so that I can drive an old diesel vehicle in and out of the forest. 

In retrospect I think I should have driven my old van into town, and left the keys in the ignition and put a sign on it that read "free."  Then, packed up my camping gear into a backpack and headed back into the wilderness to never be seen again.

Unfortunately, I've moved through some of the communities of people trying to move away from the mayhem, both via working on farms and staying in squats, and I was immediately suspect in all because I didn't have any interest in donning an identity to match. It is an indication that simply doing away with a few layers of societal ambition doesn't mean much if you don't move even further to undue the layers of inner conditioning, which humans seem loath to do. Being dictated and corraled by a couple of former corporate insurance drones who have seamlessly transported their indoctrinated way of thinking to a farm ("homesteading") structure is one of the quickest ways to burn through illusions of humans going "back to the land." I don't think there is a lot of changing the giant, lumbering beast that is human stupidity. It seems the only thing to do is get out of its way, notice the back door, and walk out.

I too took a few Permaculture workshops, and stayed in a few Permaculture communities; and other off-grid style communities.  The problem that I encountered was similar to what you observed.  People tend to bring their excess emotional baggage with them, when they bail out of society. 

I found it is really only the rigorous, self-aware, disciplined contemplatives who find salvation inside, not outside.  The rest of our time, not in meditation, needs to go to a radical restructuring of our lifestyle to distance ourselves from the maddening crowd.

[Michel]

Every weed growing through a crack in the sidewalk is something to rejoice.

Right on. Well said, Zach. What you say about this "paved-over hellhole," this monument to human stupidity, resonates very strongly in me. 

[Jhanon]

Jhananda, if you had just gave away your van and disappeared forever into the wilderness, I very likely would have had to face the same long road that is so confusing without a guide such as how you function for me and others.

Humans are frustrating. I'm pretty sure I am frustrating to you through my ignorance, just as some of my friends are frustrating to me through their ignorance. But because you stuck around, in just one year, through what you taught me alone, you produced at least one stream-enterer every two months on average for the last year.

And obviously I'm not the only one you've taught who is now teaching others. So there must be more.

As an Arahat, I don't think acknowledgement or commendations really matter to you, just as they seem to be losing any significance to me. But I think it's worth expressing.

[Jhanananda]

Thank-you Jhanon.  Helping the few members of this forum, such as you, and Zack, and Michel, and Michael, and Sam; has certainly made all of the nonsense of dealing with civilization worth it.  On the other hand, I can only recommend to all of you, to bail out of this insane world as quickly as you can.  "Be an island unto yourself."

[Tad]

I found this old thread to be very interesting and relevant.

Does anyone know if Jhanon ended up going to one of the monasteries and how it went?

Best wishes.

[Jhanananda]

Yes, Jhanon checks in from time to time. His posts suggest he has been wandering for years.  You can search for any member here and find their posts.

[Tad]

I reviewed many of Jhanon's posts. Unfortunately, I have not found any yet discussing whether he stayed at a monastery. But I will try to go further back in history. Maybe there is something. It is a very interesting topic. His journey seems astonishing and worrisome at the same time. I hope he comes back to this forum soon cause I would like to ask many questions. On one hand, his meditative and supernatural attainments are very inspiring. On the other hand, based on intellectual analysis of his posts, it looks like he never found lasting peace. I think his experience is excellent material for a good case study. It raises many questions such as:

1) Why has he not been able to attain liberation despite regularly experiencing the most advanced jhanas and exceptional knowledge?
He mentioned in one of the posts that he required interaction with other humans for progress and that staying alone in a cave was not for him. Maybe that is a hint?

2) How is it possible that he struggled with addiction to intoxicants despite being able to get jhanas? Since regular jhana practice significantly weakens even the deepest attachments, it is very interesting why he was not able to gain more freedom. 

3) My understanding is that frequent use of intoxicants depletes jhana "battery". So how is it possible that he was able to attain jhanas and samadhi despite use of certain substances?

4) Why despite great knowledge of the 8th fold path and jhanic bliss he pursued romantic relationships?

I am just very curious about his experience. I found great instructions on meditation in some of his posts that helped me confirm my experience. He seems to have attained so much in meditation. But it keeps me wondering what was the missing ingredient in his practice that prevented him from finding true freedom. Lastly, my assessment and questions are only based on the posts that I reviewed. I realize that they may not be perfectly accurate.

[Jhanananda]

Thank you, Tad, for posting your insightful analysis of Jhanon's posts. I think the bottom line here is lack of consistency in contemplative practice can be a major obstacle in spiritual progress.

[Tad]

Jhanananda,

you summed up it very wisely. Like you say, progress requires discipline.