The Silent Watchers

[Jhanon]

You know, I often forget this is a public-ish forum. For example, there is something like 14,900 members and just now "Most Online Today: 31. Most Online Ever: 126 (October 15, 2013, 07:25:16 PM)"

Yet, whenever I'm on here, I feel like it's just a conversation between us 10 or so. I do remember before having established in samadhi, that I didn't often post on forums "like" this one. But I would often search through their forums for answers. Telling myself I would start posting once I had something to talk about

So if that be the case, I have an invitation. For any of you silent watchers out there, if you are trying to find your way in meditation, samadhi, jhana, meditative absorption, charismatic phenomena, immaterial phenomena, or something similar, then post your question or obstacle here, and give us a chance to address it. Keep in mind that the oldest recorded dude to be an all around professional at all this spiritual stuff was the Buddha, and at one point he said "noble friends in the spiritual life ARE the path." And I agree.

Take care

[Alexander]

Unfortunately it is just the handful of us here. I would anticipate there are a couple lurkers. But most of the ones you see online are spam bots.

[Jhanon]

Strange. I never noticed any when I was on other forums. And I thought only Jhananda can approve new members, yet new members appear all the time.

[Jhanananda]

The forum is setup so that new members can join, and arguably most of them are most probably SPAM bots.  To post one has to send one of the moderators here a request, then the moderator upgrades the membership of the person requesting to post.

[follinge@gmail.com]

I appreciate the gesture to ask questions, etc.

However, I don't really have many questions.

Watching one of Jeffrey's videos woke me up to the idea that I needed to start meditating more, putting in more time.

I had recently met another meditator who asked me that if meditation was a high priority like I said, why didn't I meditate more.

I started to, and I searched out jhana on youtube. This lead me here, eventually.

Once again, when I get more questions, I'll gladly post them.

Right now, I'm just meditating more regularly and for more and more time in preparation for the retreat.

The posts and videos help a lot especially the one on Chakras and Jhana levels. That one really woke up up to some of my better meditation experiences and it gave me something to strive for.

[Jhanananda]

Good to know follinge, that the GWV archives have helped you increase your meditation practice.  I am a bit curious how you ended up embracing the GWV model of jhana, when there are other videos on the same subject by people with greater reputations?

[guilotine]

I have a couple of questions as a newbie. What do you mean by "Charismatic Phenomena" and "Immaterial Phenomena"?
I have also come across the word "charism" here in the forum but haven't found out exactly what that means.
Thanks

[Jhanananda]

You may find the answers to your questions in the thread Developing a language of gnosis.

[follinge@gmail.com]

When I first got interested in religion again in my early 30's, I read everything I could on meditation and Buddhism (I didn't really know the difference). I gradually started reading only Buddhist books (a habit I will break due to recent book recommendations).

In my reading of Buddhism, I came up with my own understanding of Buddhism.

I felt that fixated on the Theravada Canon because it was the oldest, and I wanted to get as close as possible to the original words of Buddha.

When I read your site, I realized that your understanding of the canon was more similar to mine than any other group.

I was not interested in another religion and many Buddhist groups made it that. They focused on venerating Buddha instead of mediation. There were also a lot of trappings of religion that I had no interest in.

Through meditation, I have a strong faith. It's in Buddha's teaching and my ability to learn and to apply it. I consider this religious and I'm not opposed to religion. But I did have a sense that in some way that people were "doing it wrong."

Also, I found the negative review of Goenka to be highly appealing. It's important to tell people what works and what does NOT work. Humility is important to me, but so is being honest. Buddha talked about his attainments. I didn't see anyone else who has.

People seem phobic about talking about their experiences. I understand why, but I don't agree with it.

I also liked it when you said that many sects of Buddhism use fake humility to cover up the fact that they have no attainments. I have studied abuse and experienced a little so I can see the abusive nature in some of the teachers.

I also liked how you said you lost your temper because I like to hear about people expressing true feelings instead of acting like unfeeling robots.

[Jhanananda]

follinge, it sounds like you can exercise critical thinking.  I find too many people are too willing to take an intellectual lobotomy for someone's belief system.  So, I much prefer seeing people work through the kinds of problems that we all here have negotiated to find each other here.

[follinge@gmail.com]

Thanks. You're very kind. I guess you see why I like it here now. I don't want a lobotomy. I do want a place to hear about other people's meditation experiences and to have deep discussions on the route to enlightenment.

[Craig]

Hello everyone:-) I am a silent watcher - or was! - and I am posting to say Thank You;-) I enjoy coming and reading and seeing the community keep active.

Thank You:-)

[Jhanananda]

Welcome, and tanks for letting us know you are here.

Thanks, follinge, for letting us know that you appreciate this forum.