[Avoireeideree]

I'll try to boil down a lot of background into what I hope is a fairly short paragraph, and I hope the inherent clumsiness of the English language doesn't make the following impenetrable. I also am not sure where to post this; since I am a "beginner" on this forum this subforum seems apt.

I've been a practictioner/seeker/whateveryouwanttocallit for more than 20 years now, mixing in Buddhist practices with Taoist ones and my own idiosyncratic peculiarities (which have changed during this time-initially I was more into neopaganism and nature appreciation); this does not do it justice by a long shot, but I hope it is sufficient. Recently, due to a confluence of events both internal and external along with a persistent mindfulness that I've been deliberately cultivating with respect to several ongoing threads/issues in my psyche (nonattachment, compassion for various people in my life, and a bunch of other, more specifically personal stuff), I've had an epiphany of sorts, an almost ecstatic persistent joy has slowly flooded my consciousness over the past month.

I truly feel that this is yet another one of my not-so-little turning points, that I may very well not ever go back to the way that I was even a month ago, tho it certainly isn't that different; to put it simply I've finally managed to put attachments to several ongoing issues aside while simultaneously making certain commitments to action both inner and outer.

Fast forward to today; after a day at a local sporting event, I drove home along the coast (I live in Florida) with the bright sun setting in the west. As the sun set and dusk slowly took over, a certain numinous (for lack of a better term) quality took over my perceptions of the colors in the sky and sea and in the shadows as well. It actually has been with me for several days now, but it took the sunset to make said perception fully conscious. It's like the colors and the textures and even the darkness are more...vibrant and deeper. I recall colors looking like that when I was a child (my very first memory in fact is that of a sunset, when I was 10 months old, when I imagined seeing a tiger in the clouds). Even my apartment looks different.

I am thus curious about the connection between this and my other recent epiphany, and whether this is a common occurence or if I am going crazy or what they hey is going on. I tend to be a pretty solo practitioner but felt in this case that my curiosity is overcoming my attachment in this regard (or at least that is my excuse ). My hope then is that someone might be able to clue me in a bit.

[crycleascentyv]

Welcome John,

I'd prefer not to speculate about your 'epiphany' but it sounds as though your mind may have been experiencing a state of calm. It's easy to become fascinated and attached to experiences - which is why its always preferable to seek an offline Buddhist meditation group and teacher.

It might be helpful for you to watch the short videos in this Buddhist Meditation series on YouTube.

Here's the introduction:




with kind wishes,


Aloka

[esconsise]

I am thus curious about the connection between this and my other recent epiphany, and whether this is a common occurence or if I am going crazy or what they hey is going on.

welcome John

my take is if you practise the good things you are practising, results of more clarity, joy & freedom must naturally come

warm regards

[Caliwany]

To John,
What you are living now ,happened to me 2 1/2 years ago.I call it Bliss. I beleive when someome plays with a lot of spiritual thoughts may they be Daoism,Buddhism and others,one comes to a stage that is not of the earth world
but levitates to a higher plane called bliss.
.

With respect
a buddhist called
loong

[Doncarlito]

In my opionion it wouldn't be a bliss but more of a defense mechanism, you seem to have had allot on your mind which either obviously stressed you out of subliminally applied stress your everyday life, so to protet you your brain shut out the feelings that where doing you harm, like meditating but not optional meditation.

[Qxsumehj]

To searching 1990,
Bliss is attained when a person ,has detached or unattached to all attachments,rid himself oft he cravings ,and destroyed all the fetters
..This is what Bhuddhism is about.The Triple Gem
The four Noble truths, The Eighfull Paths,plus the 10 precepts if you are a monk ,or livinglike one
.
May I ask a question? How many hundreds or maybe thousands of hours of searching
have you done yet?In my case I cannot tell.Also a defense mechanism is for someone that has not yet discovered the realm of spirituality.


a simple buddhist named
loong

[FotoCihasWewb]

To Searching 1990,

By the way I thought the workings of the sub concious for 12 years to over 4000 persons.

a simple budddhist called
loong

[TeapseTic]

I made my money from phsycology in a different way, i was a magician in the past and was simply commenting on the tid bits i picked up and also there where times when i would practice for 15 hours solid stopping only to drink water.....the high stress of achieving perfection in an effect was i believe the cause of me loosing ten hours of short term memory,once i relaxed ate and cat napped it slowly came back.

I appologised i was confused by his post i didnt realise he had been following the path for so long no offence intended.

[jackie Obrian]

By the way I thought the workings of the sub concious for 12 years to over 4000 persons.

a simple budddhist called
loong

Hi Loong,

I think you must mean 'taught' rather than 'thought'.

This is off-topic - but could you say very briefly in what kind of employment or teaching role you taught "the workings of the subconscious for 12 years to over 4000 persons."

(you mentioned when you joined us that you took Refuge as a Buddhist 4 to 5 years ago)


Thanks,

Aloka

[AmericaAirline 111]

To Aloka-D

I am 65 ,so a lot of life ,i lived.From 1978 to 1990, I taught Happiness through positive thinking by reprogramming the sub counscious,from negative programs to positive ones.Thus obtaining Happiness.

,I never charged anyone any money.This was all made out of love for others.
After 1990 took a break on teaching to others and took care of loong.I studied Daoism and then moved on to Buddhism . To me someone who charges money to share his knowledge is not a pure person.That is when I had supramondane powers.


a simple buddhist named
loong