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**iuopyra** · 08-16-2011, 03:17 AM

HI, himanshu, and welcome :-)

Some of the ideas/teachings completely make sense to me - like impermanence, dependent origination, interconnectedness, no-self, the origination of suffering in our minds, and hence its solution being in our minds too.

That's great! These are the essence of the Buddha's teachings!

However, there are others that I don't really understand yet - like what happens after death, and the doctrine about rebirth, and the importance of ending the cycle of birth and rebirth. That's great! These are not the essence of the Buddha's teachings; these are superstitions that preceded him and are unnecessary and irrelevant to the teachings that you find so clear.

At a gross level, I feel that I am no longer prone to suffering, which means that whatever happens, I remain generally happy in life, and grateful for it, and that I can no longer get depressed whatever happens or bitter about the actions of someone. Yet, at a closer level, I find negative tendencies such as pride, envy, agitation, self-consciousness and greed still operating in their subtle forms. That is quite normal. Change takes time. Give yourself a break. Strive for progress rather than perfection. Instant perfection does not happen to anyone, ever.

Even though I can totally see that there is nothing that I could call the self, yet I find myself associating my actions with pride or shame. I feel some of this is due to deeply ingrained habitual tendencies of wanting to please others and/or project a certain image of oneself, that have their roots in the past. Habits are hard to break. Recognize when these tendencies arise, Put them down when you do see them arise, rejoice that you have found ways to live more skillfully, and carry on.

But some of it is also due to presently existing impurities of the mind. I also have a bit of attention deficit disorder, which could either be the cause of, or the result of, an unstable mind, or perhaps both, to varying extents. Yes, yes, and yes. No worries. It is better to know these things than not to know. Awareness is where refinement begins.

My self diagnosis, at the moment, consists of a gradual process of purification of the mind (the intent, motives, etc, ) and a training in concentration/one-pointedness/ attentional stability and vividness. I have being working on this two-pronged approach myself, and its going good, but I feel I have reached a plateau and that I could do better in the company of like minded people, and with a teacher for guidance. Perhaps not a plateau. Perhaps it is just that major (you say gross) problems have been largely abated, and so it only looks to you like there is comparatively less progress going on, when in fact there is much still going on and to work with. That's what it seems like to me from what you say. Others may notice your calm outside while you see a teeming and unsettled inside.

Would you have any recommendations/pointers about how to go about doing this? I have read of people finding teachers/schools that they train under the guidance of, but I have never tried anything like this myself. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Much love and thanks for your time,
Himanshu If what makes sense to you is the Buddha's liberative teachings, I would look for teachers who teach these things and who do not bother with the superstitions and cultural accretions that do not appeal to you (and which the Buddha did not find necessary, either). These are not the majority of teachers, but they are to be found. Aloka-D might be able to tell you about Ajahn Sumedho, whom I am under the impression may fit in this category. Many of his writings are to be found online as well. You might investigate the online writings of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, Phra Prayudh (P.A.) Payutto, and Santikaro Bhikkhu, and Stephen Batchelor.

Not all of them serve as teachers now -- BD is deceased, for example -- but many teachers can actually be contacted through email and websites.

08-16-2011, 03:17 AM	#5
iuopyra Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 418 Senior Member	HI, himanshu, and welcome :-) Some of the ideas/teachings completely make sense to me - like impermanence, dependent origination, interconnectedness, no-self, the origination of suffering in our minds, and hence its solution being in our minds too. That's great! These are the essence of the Buddha's teachings! However, there are others that I don't really understand yet - like what happens after death, and the doctrine about rebirth, and the importance of ending the cycle of birth and rebirth. That's great! These are not the essence of the Buddha's teachings; these are superstitions that preceded him and are unnecessary and irrelevant to the teachings that you find so clear. At a gross level, I feel that I am no longer prone to suffering, which means that whatever happens, I remain generally happy in life, and grateful for it, and that I can no longer get depressed whatever happens or bitter about the actions of someone. Yet, at a closer level, I find negative tendencies such as pride, envy, agitation, self-consciousness and greed still operating in their subtle forms. That is quite normal. Change takes time. Give yourself a break. Strive for progress rather than perfection. Instant perfection does not happen to anyone, ever. Even though I can totally see that there is nothing that I could call the self, yet I find myself associating my actions with pride or shame. I feel some of this is due to deeply ingrained habitual tendencies of wanting to please others and/or project a certain image of oneself, that have their roots in the past. Habits are hard to break. Recognize when these tendencies arise, Put them down when you do see them arise, rejoice that you have found ways to live more skillfully, and carry on. But some of it is also due to presently existing impurities of the mind. I also have a bit of attention deficit disorder, which could either be the cause of, or the result of, an unstable mind, or perhaps both, to varying extents. Yes, yes, and yes. No worries. It is better to know these things than not to know. Awareness is where refinement begins. My self diagnosis, at the moment, consists of a gradual process of purification of the mind (the intent, motives, etc, ) and a training in concentration/one-pointedness/ attentional stability and vividness. I have being working on this two-pronged approach myself, and its going good, but I feel I have reached a plateau and that I could do better in the company of like minded people, and with a teacher for guidance. Perhaps not a plateau. Perhaps it is just that major (you say gross) problems have been largely abated, and so it only looks to you like there is comparatively less progress going on, when in fact there is much still going on and to work with. That's what it seems like to me from what you say. Others may notice your calm outside while you see a teeming and unsettled inside. Would you have any recommendations/pointers about how to go about doing this? I have read of people finding teachers/schools that they train under the guidance of, but I have never tried anything like this myself. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Much love and thanks for your time, Himanshu If what makes sense to you is the Buddha's liberative teachings, I would look for teachers who teach these things and who do not bother with the superstitions and cultural accretions that do not appeal to you (and which the Buddha did not find necessary, either). These are not the majority of teachers, but they are to be found. Aloka-D might be able to tell you about Ajahn Sumedho, whom I am under the impression may fit in this category. Many of his writings are to be found online as well. You might investigate the online writings of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, Phra Prayudh (P.A.) Payutto, and Santikaro Bhikkhu, and Stephen Batchelor. Not all of them serve as teachers now -- BD is deceased, for example -- but many teachers can actually be contacted through email and websites.
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