[wmirkru]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for confirming that your experiences were from LSD which is a hallucinogenic drug.

I took LSD myself when I was a student, had various experiences, and don't recommend that others take it.

For some people, trying to achieve different experiences through drugs can result in psychosis and mental health problems. Personally I knew of some worrying effects of LSD on others, such as a girl screaming "Death, death" and a guy wrecking a house and killing the pet cat .

'Controlled conditions' don't actually mean a lot in such circumstances.

My personal opinion is that if you have an interest in Buddhist study and meditation that you should investigate and practice without the aid of any kind of mind-altering substances.

With kind wishes,

A-D

[PekHyvac]

Originally Posted by Aloka-D

but it seems to me like a hugely melodramatic, long wordy description of simple experiences that he needs to let go of .... Just curious, in your own words, how would you have described this ‘simple experience that he need to let go of…? ’

[WhonyGataxott]

Just curious, in your own words, how would you have described this ‘simple experience that he need to let go of…? ’

Hi ATC,

I said 'experiences' and to be honest I think he should have let go of everything he was talking about !

[JewJoleSole]

Hi A-D,

The article is actually trying to show us how we can use the koan ‘Who Am I’ to overcome the dualistic nature of the mind, overcoming the concept of the ‘self’ in us and eventually realizing Emptiness itself.

[gydrorway]

Hi A-D,

The article is actually trying to show us how we can use the koan ‘Who Am I’ to overcome the dualistic nature of the mind, overcoming the concept of the ‘self’ in us and eventually realizing Emptiness itself.

Thanks ATC, but personally I didn't find the article useful.

[Lyikmcmb]

i would say that there are many signposts along the way that i would recognise as
i was quite an observant 'passenger' + could remember much of the way

Hi Paul,
That will help. I figure it's a bit like having a free trip to the top of a mountain. You've seen the awesome view, you know it when others may doubt it. But now you're at base camp and will have to trudge up yourself.

Initially, anything you do isn't going to be anywhere near as interesting or rewarding, so a bit of a drag. It will help if you can put any expectations and comparisons to one side and work on each step at a time.

Good Luck
Kris

[Mynameishappy]

Hi, A-D ,
Firstly i would like to say thank you 4 the forum + ur welcomeing + pleasant

manner. It has been fascinating 4 me to have heard ur, + others comments on some of my

experiences + how they may or may not relate to Buddhism. It is an education for me .
It's been many years since i took lsd or any such thing , i am well aware

that these things were just aids to expansions, + as such , under the controlled

conditions i briefly explained earlier, they can be most beneficial.
They are dangerous for the masses, i have met v few people who can hold their

consciousness together so to speak, in a truly multidimensional 'environment' ,

especially if they r ill some way in themselves, controlled conditions do not exist

for these poor people . The poor girl sceaming death , most people should never take

this drug. As i said , i rarely even talk of such things let alone encourage anyone to

take a trip, in fact i counsel against it nowerdays.
But there are a few who have been able to use the drug as a medicine, maybe

somewhat like the shamans of old, + had many + varied, legitimate experiences of

expansions of conciousness. But it is too dangerous + i do not do it myself + i have

only spoken of it here in response to ur intuitional enquiery. I hope it is not too

much of a disappointment to u that i had used these drugs.
I would not have come into the dual wakeing/dreaming consciousness without

months of intense meditations, only sleeping 3-4 hrs a night (without drugs) if i did not believe that

the only true way to expansion is thru hard work + detrmination. I got a free 3 day

trip out of it anyway .
kindest regards, paul
ps, are u aware of any description in Buddhism that might be in any way

similar to the dual wakeing/dreaming consciousness i had described earlier, thank u .

[UitEz0Qo]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for your kind words.

My opinion is that you should just let go of your previous experiences now, because they're in the past.

If you have a genuine interest in Buddhism then investigate the teachings of the Buddha and start to do Buddhist meditation. You might also be able to find some Buddhist meditation classes near to where you live, or be able to visit a centre at weekends.

with kind wishes,

A-D


PS

We have a request in the Code of Conduct which you may not have noticed. It says .... "Please also avoid using abbreviated phone-text writing".
.

[drlifeech]

Hi Kris,
thanks for the brief but insightful posts. The 3 month meditation without

drugs, which yielded a 3 day full on 'trip' 4 me, is, if conditions r good 4 me some

day , the point at which i hope to really start my 'seaching' again. The dual

wakeing/dreaming cons's is a multidimensional state of consciousness , which as yet i

have found no common ground in Buddhism , but it is a state of awareness that is

inclusive of ego awareness but is also as one with the inner dreaming self which has

its fingers in many pies. For me this dreaming self is aware of all of the other

selves in all of their times in all of their places, at once, + all that this implies.

As i understad it , it was existent b4 any physical materialisation, so i hope i can

reach it again someday + again perhaps use it as a means to try + enter into void Its a funny old life.
regards ,paul

[Rqqneujr]

Hi A-D, ok no more abbreviations. Yes these expeiences were in the 'past' but i believe they are of an infinate + eternal nature + therefore very much alive within me, its just that i do not have access to them in the here + now , it is just an ego thing , but wether thru Buddhist meditation + observancies or otherways, i am determined to return. Maybe i will, maybe i wont but i must try. I will try + find a Buddhist centre near me + see what it might yield, thank you.
regards, paul

[SetSnonejog]

Hi Kris,
thanks for the brief but insightful posts. The 3 month meditation without
drugs, which yielded a 3 day full on 'trip' 4 me, is, if conditions r good 4 me some
day , the point at which i hope to really start my 'seaching' again.

Hi Paul,
Why wait? You can start right away with simple steps. The journey of a thousand miles etc...

The dual wakeing/dreaming cons's is a multidimensional state of consciousness , which as yet i
have found no common ground in Buddhism It's hard to find exact parallels in written (and via a translator) texts for internal experiences as they tend to be unique. I also suspect that different people will describe similar experiences in very different ways, as words mean different things to different folks. In any case, I'd be wary of accepting any on-line diagnosis. Many people will have an opinion on what you write but have they also experienced the same thing?

it is a state of awareness that is inclusive of ego awareness but is also as one with the inner dreaming self which has its fingers in many pies. For me this dreaming self is aware of all of the other selves in all of their times in all of their places, at once, + all that this implies. There are different possibilities but without wanting to appear a bit 'simplistic' or 'off-the-cuff' we can apply some basic criteria to the experience. It was impermanent (a noble truth) and contained "ego awareness". Buddha taught the various levels of absorption as a means to liberation. Perhaps this state could be used to this end? That's kind of where it's at with Buddhism. The followers of Buddha were taught not to cling to any states they attained and with good reason.
This ethos starts with our sensory experiences during normal waking time and goes from there.

As i understad it , it was existent b4 any physical materialisation, so i hope i can reach it again someday + again perhaps use it as a means to try + enter into void Chances are, that it will never exactly replicate again, as it was a specific moment of breakthrough but meditation practice on the breath, can be used to "enter the void". You can do this right now.

Namaste
Kris

[itaspCatCriny]

After finishing the book that Kaarine recommended I've realised that Buddhism points to a view of reality I've experienced in altered states of conciousness (probably without the lights and colours though!) but the only way to get there is through dedication, meditation and hard work.

It makes me realise that the altered states gained through drugs are just as fleeting and transitory as any other Samsaric phenomenon. If you could buy enlightenment at £5 a pop the world would be full of Buddhas.

If you really want to see things as they really are permanently Paul, you'll have to get your arse on the cushion and work at it.

Try it, once you've begun to experienced certain truths you realise that the end goal will be worth it.

[adariseediups]

Hi Kris,
again, thanks 4 the time yuo have taken to reply to my posts.

You said 'Why wait? You can start right away with simple steps. The journey

of a thousand miles etc...'
paul ; Yes you are entirely right Kris, there is little else i can do in

reality.

U went on to say to my enquiery about dual consciousness ''It's hard to find

exact parallels in written (and via a translator) texts for internal experiences as

they tend to be unique.''
i will just say Kris, that although these experiences are

indeed of an internal nature, they become, in a fashion, externalised, in that the ego

self, itself, whilst in wakeing conciousness, is aware of + directly experiencing what

the dreaming self is experiencing but that it can (the ego) 'quit' the

multidimensional awareness + return to normal egotistical perceptions, sort of resting

from the multidimensionality for a while. It can sort of flip from normal physical

perceptions to the dreaming self's perceptions or hold them both in equal 'view'.So it

percieves externally or internally or both at once, which is the 'natural' state of

this dual awareness. Is this too wordy or confusing, do you see what i mean? I

too have found few parallels to this experience.

U continued,

''I also suspect that different people will describe similar

experiences in very different ways, as words mean different things to different folks.

In any case, I'd be wary of accepting any on-line diagnosis. Many people will have an

opinion on what you write but have they also experienced the same thing?''

Thank you again for your sound advice , i think i am at the point that

perhaps there are certain Hindu texts i have come across that have been informative ,

there seem to be quite a few similarities with Buddhism , but right now i will

dedicate my time to a study of Buddhism. Indeed many people have had many + varied

things to say about my sweet little experience, most westerners think i need

psychiatric treatment + fast. Some really are genuinely concerned , some are downright

rude but none of it really bothers me nowerdays . I 'know' what i know + have

experienced, + consider myself to be a fairly well balanced more or less sane

individual. i have not yet met anyone i would consider to have had void

experience, i have heard of some descriptions but like the Ken Wilber? description

posted somewhere , they either appear to be exceedingly flowery or prosaic for my

tastes. But i do not know mr Wilber so i can make little other comment except that it

has probably come from a genuine expansion of some kind, he seems like an old hippy to

me, mostly v nice well intentioned people. Im a bit of an old hippy myself, bit of an

arthritic grouchy one actually, but there u go.
I will always try + consider another's opinions , i dont always succeed

being a bit ratty + sharp of tongue sometimes but i try. That equanimity thing.



U said, about my dual awareness

'There are different possibilities but without wanting to appear a bit

'simplistic' or 'off-the-cuff' we can apply some basic criteria to the experience. It

was impermanent (a noble truth)',,,,,,
+ i have paused just here to aknowledge that i

would agree this is indeed a noble truth,even to me all things + expeiences are

impermanent , my own experiences included, all are impermanent, even my lovely void.

They are dashed upon the rocks in the face of the 'real' which to me in the final

analysis, was nonbeing,no experience no self, so there is not much i can say about

that is there.
This is my conundrum. Was Buddha able to be aware of non-self whilst he was

walking, talking, eating etc ? If he was + this is Sunyata, or whatever it is, then

he most certaily deserves my reverences, exteremely cool dude. (i hope this does not

seem too irreverent)
It is v possible even probable that my nonself, nonbeing

'state' is not at all the same or even similar to Sunyata + Siddartha's nonself.I

understand the basic difference that Siddartha's was permanent + mine impermanent +

was surprised at the striking similarities i could see in the Jhanas but still the

question must be asked especially in relation to Buddhist views.

U went on to say

''and contained "ego awareness".
Buddha taught the various levels of absorption as a means to liberation. Perhaps this

state could be used to this end? That's kind of where it's at with Buddhism. The

followers of Buddha were taught not to cling to any states they attained and with good

reason.
This ethos starts with our sensory experiences during normal waking time and goes

from there.''
Yes, thanks Kris, this is the Buddhist way that i may learn more of.

Actually as i read the last part of your post + you say about my void

experience,
''Chances are, that it will never exactly replicate again, as it was a

specific moment of breakthrough but meditation practice on the breath, can be used to

"enter the void". You can do this right now.''

What , is this true, tho i am not calling you a liar, but can one

really enter into void + non self simply thru breathing ? Looks like i missed

something ! + something basic + even intrinsic to the experience itself ....
Breathing, i will have to find someone to teach me, + to meditate,

Buddhist style.

Well i should stop yabbering for the while. I hope i am not too wordy

for your tastes but i feel i must probe + explore this Buddhism as much as i can , a

bit of catching up to do.
respectfully, paul

[Escamsrasiush]

can one really enter into void + non self simply thru breathing ?

Hi Paul,
It's what Buddha taught. It all starts with this somewhat sparse sutta:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....118.than.html

...and develops from there...
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....111.than.html

There's much more to it but those are some of the key scriptural bits. There are some good modern instructions to be had. If you are interested, I'll point you in their direction.

Namaste
Kris

[oxinsnepe]

Dear Paul 3

Hopefully, it is not too late to answer your questions in comment no. 14. Firstly, I agreed with A-D in comment no. 28. Whatever stage you got was the past, and it was not stable. It was impermanent. Even though you could reach it again, it will disappear again. You spend so much and effort time to reach it but it is not stable and will go away so quick. It would not be something worth for your to spend much lifetime and effort for. If you want something which is greater and permanent, I would suggest you to follow A-D’s comment no. 28.

My experience is not then Sunyata or Nirvana as u said, as it was only in the meditative state itself + not out of it . So i understand what u mean by being 'in' it or 'out' of it , + which state of full realisation both internally or externally ( of the meditative state )+ whilst eating , talking drinking, walking, is Sunyata or Nirvana , which Siddartha attained + taught. Is this the right interpretation?

That’s correct. For the real Sunyata (or Nirvara), no ‘in’ and ‘out’; no internal or external as both are same; no dual consciousness; and all will be one. (Due to limitation of my English skill, I may not be able to explain this in English clearly. In fact, it is very difficult to explain the Sunyata by language anyway. It is like we try to explain the taste of 'apple' by words.)

Whether eating, talking, drinking, walking, sitting, even sleeping etc. will have full awareness at all time and all are the same. (Empty from desires but have great happiness) This will be very difficult to understand or even to believe by the beginners. But by practicing for a certain period, we will quite understand it and would view that it should be feasible.)

Your suggestion 4 me to quit dissociation from all thoughts + feelings because they remove 'Sati' + dont create 'Sati' is something i dont fully comprehend right now, perhaps if u could find the time to enlighten me further i would appreciate it.

Sati means ‘awareness’. Sati is the prefix of ‘Satipatthana’. The real practice must comprise awareness. Without awareness ('Sati'), everyone is in the world of thinking or dreaming. The real practice would not occur if we are still in the world of thinking or dreaming. We have to learn and practice how to create real awareness ('Sati'). Thinking is just a dreaming during the time which we do not sleep.

As you merge yourself with your mind and body in your practice, you would never see their real working. Although you did something which made you were out of body, you were still in your mind; you still relied on your mind; and could not see the true natures of your mind as you combined yourself with your mind. In other words, you may disassociate other things from your mind and yourself. But you cannot disassociate yourself from your mind. By following/practicing the Buddha’s teaching, we will be able to do it and we will know how to do it.

I could either 'see' another persons dreams or otherworldly excursions whilst 'seeing' vistas of other civilisations around me or 'see' a friend coming roud to visit b4 they arrived , i could go into a meditative state + still retain (an extended) awareness of the external world etc,etc. i dont think i slept in the usual sense in that my awareness seemed continous thru both wakeing + dreaming , they were simultaneous. Is there a state of cons's described in the Buddhist texts that might in some way be similar to this experience? i would be v interested to know of it.

This is not unusual for those persons who did meditation. By meditation, there could be various supernatural matters. The people doing meditation can do these even before the Buddha’s era. For example, once we have concentration (‘Samadhi’) a person’s soul may go out of his/her body and see his/her body sitting or sleeping, or even go out to heaven or hell and see other worlds. A person who has concentration (‘Samadhi’) may have omen, portent or mental image/reflex which we call all of them as ‘Nimitta’. Your dual awaking and dreaming consciousness is just one of so various results from ‘Samadhi’. However, such result is not a wisdom to understand the four noble truths in order to remove ourself from the wheel of rebirth. It is just something supernatural which will deceive or keep us in this wheel of rebirth.

Lastly, using drug is a breach to the precept and is not healthy to yourself. If it is not ordered by a doctor to cure your sickness, I would suggest you trying to quit it. And spend time to try studying the Buddha’s teaching and practicing ‘Satipatthana’. You will see the difference by your own.

With my respects

Ngodngam

[BalaGire]

Hi Kris, thanks for the http's , i found the site but the search came up 'lost in

samsara' file not found but i will search the site + probably come up with a lot of

goodies even if i dont find that particular file. But i sort of get the drift + i

can intuit what it is you are pointing to. And again i would agree, impermanence is

impermanence which ever way one looks at it + i do understand how this applies to my

own experiences.
Whatever you can point me to Kris, i will have a look at. Thanks.

Namaste is as i understand it ,is a lovely salutation in its truest

sense, so thanks + Namaste to you too.
paul



Hello Ngodngam , thank you kindly for the effort + consideration you have obviously

put into your reply. It warms the cockles of my heart (i hope you will understand

this) that you in particular + others have extended themselves so thoughtfully + i

deeply appreciate it. Namaste to you + all .

Yes i agree with you my experiences are impermanent + i dispute that in no way at

all. Actually its only about every 5yrs or so that i really give void any great

thought + coming to this v nice site was my second foray into the world at large this

time around + i consider myself fortunate to have come here. Without a doubt you

understood what it was i was talking about , + without a doubt you have easily

classified it for what it is (Jhana's) + put it in its proper context, as impermanent

etc. And i unreservedly accept your assesment.

This Sunyata that Buddha was in constant awareness of , is something i had

suspected before, but it is still a stunning realisation to really know this to be

true. To be nonself + simultaneously all there is, was, could be . etc etc, + still be

aware 'within' a body as an ego + walking, talking etc, is ,,,,,, actually i dont have

words . Im not surprised Sunyata could never be put into words, nothing could

really do it justice. when you said ''(Empty from desires but have great happiness) i

am sure you are exactly right. I would imagine it to be the greatest form of

happiness.

My impermanent glimpse of such an exalted state remains as you say , just that, a

brief + intruiging glimpse of the real thing , a dalliance with the Jhanas so to speak

+ in truth it is of no great consequence to my life as it does not pay the rent it

does not do the cooking + it wont make my bed. It is not Sunyata but i am glad that i

asked the question, + even that i have had the experience, at least in a sense, i know

what to aim for. i consider myself to be a very lucky person although growing up

with it in a western world was a bit of a pain in the ass.


This Sati or awareness as dissociated even from mind (are all of the Jhanas

associated with mind?) is fascinating + i hope i will be able to learn your methods to

try + attain such a state, thank you for pointing this out to me, that my experiences

were of mind qualities, + i think i must learn the subtleties of mind in relation to

this nonself or nonbeing i was aware of as a culmination of the Jhanas i had

experienced. Is nonbeing still a mind state? That is far too subtle for me at this

point. Some form of Nimitta you have mentioned?

I must point out that i have not used drugs for many years now.

Yes it was in all cases that an inner concentration led to all the other out of

body + other experiences, i practiced my dissociation so that this inner concentration

would remain 'fixed' so to speak + when sufficient concentration was gained then

another 'level' of awareness or 'field' of activity would open up + the self could

enter into it + then have some sort of experience, or the self could refocus

concentration + go into the next field of expansion or whatever you call it + repeat

this until i eventually reachched formlesness etc. U call this Samadhi ?

Concentration. And you call all of the various experiences in these seemingly

infinate levels of awareness as not true Sati but Nimitta ? , something supernatural.

Is this the right interpretation?

Forgive me, as yet i do not know any other Buddhists although i will look for

someplace near to me + as i live on the outskirts of london, this should not be too

difficult. So i hope not to pester you for too much longer. I find it difficult

sometimes to restrain my enquiering mind. I know, meditate. Satipatthana. Breath.


One last point, is about my dual awareness, perhaps this is not the best

description of a simultaneous state . There is not really an in + out to this state as

both awareness of the physical state + the dreaming state is concurrent or side by

side as one. Both states were in awareness at once but one could be 'favoured' over

the other for a while + for a reason but the natural state is of both wakeing +

dreaming states simultaneously in awareness at once. This state had nothing to do

with drugs but a semi isolation, like a retreat i suppose, only 3-4hrs sleep a night +

intensive meditations. No tv, radio, newspapers, v few callers (i had asked for this)

+ a spartan vegetarian diet. Just this for three months + believe me it was not easy

but that is irrelevant because i came into this awareness. This simultaneous awareness

lasted for 3 days continuously , totally unlike any other state i had come into , drug

induced or not. I did not sleep, in the sense that even when my body rested + my

awareness became more focused inwardly, there was always that portion of the inner

awareness that was simultaneously aware of the body + by a simple subtle focusing

upon it could easily know of its condition, even of its surroundings up to at least

500 meters from the body itself + could 'feel' the whole environment though it seemed

to lack colour. When the body was refreshed, (i would leave it in a seated

posture), it was as though i had not slept, at least in awareness though it did favour

the inner rather than the outer (in these usually brief periods of rest) but at no

time was the body + its environment completely out of awareness.
This simutaneous awareness is exceedingly complex. Not only could one be both

aware of the wakeing/dreaming self (as it is in truth one self) but the properties of

the material world took on more infinate dimensionality. Many other times, places,

civilsations or even things i cannot describe would equally be held at once in

awareness + this was just the physical portion of the awareness, the dreaming aspect

of it was inexplicably huge, seeming infinities in all directions.

I have tried to describe a little more of this expansion because i did not want

you to think that i had not dilligently applied myself to the persuit of knowledge

just by means of shortcuts or drugs or whatever. This was hard work, sometimes i would

bounce myself off the walls so that i did not go to sleep + some of the initial

alterations of consciousness were v scary indeed + many things would make me want to

give up but i persisted even when i thought i might go completely insane + im glad i

did.
This experience may still come under the auspicies of the various results of

samadhi you described + also that it was ultimately impermanent but it had undeniable

durability + in fact i believe it would not have stopped, but even progressed if i had

not on the third day lain down to rest, a fatal mistake as i then slept for 20 or so

hours + normal awareness returned. I fully believe that if i did not lie down + stayed

seated as i had done before, then the experience would have continued indefinately.

Which is why i persist in mentioning it, it is unlike all of the impermanent

experiences in that there was no need or necessity for it to have stopped.

Im sure you will tell me that Satipatthana would have kept me from going to

sleep on myself.
Please do not trouble yourself too much Ngodngam, with the need or necessity to

reply to my post, i understand that you are probably a busy man + i appreciate that

english is not your native tongue. I do not wish to pressure you by my lengthy post

but to express in a way, my appreciation of your wise + kindly counsel. And of course

i hope to begin my own exploration of Buddhism + im sure there will be many along the

way who will give me guidance, as some others on this site have kindly done so

already.

with great respect + kindest regards, paul

[yharmon6614]

Hi Paul,
That's odd with the links - I just tried them and they worked perfectly for me? In any case, if you need to search the site, then the two suttas were:
MN 118 Anapanasati Sutta: Mindfulness of Breathing
and
MN 111 Anupada Sutta: One After Another

Regarding modern instructions, I can recommend this free online book. I've personally found it to be of great benefit:
http://www.dhammasukha.org/Study/Boo...ooklet-1pg.pdf

from this site:
http://www.dhammasukha.org/Study/books.htm

If you have any questions, just ask.

Namaste
kris

[jesyflowers]

Hi Kris,
i just tried the links again + they came up as you described,so its quite odd that i should have got 'lost in samasara' as this is not what u described, I took this lost in samsara quite literally to be what u meant me to read (did you?), + intuited its translation (of the v little i know of these things) to be that you + others perhaps might think that i am in some way obsessed with these experiences id had. I would be inclined to agree if i was in your shoes, as you dont know me + i come in cavalier like with my intense questioning + statements with little or no real understanding of Buddhism. So i would not be surprised if anyone would think that i am lost in some sort of samsara, one of those funny little things.

Anyway all the links are working fine now, thanks .

It still amazes me that sunyata can be achieved through breathing. It is something of note for me because it is something i absolutely failed to recognise in any of my experiences. I was aware that my breathing would become 'quietened' as my mind became more calm through my dissociation of any external influences,whilst i kept my attention on inner calm, inner qiet, inner tranquility, not any thing, or goal or up or down or light or dark, absolutely nothing else but inner quiet,calm + tranquility. I found that my breathing would breathe itself + that i would become totally unaware of the breathing process itself after some time.
Perhaps my dissociation can be likened to a non grasping? i read somewhere on a quick jaunt though the first site u gave me when i went looking for lost in samsara. As there seemed to me to be a similarity between this not grasping + my dissociation from. Maybe not but i get the impression that like the description of the Jhanas that struck a chord in me, there will be a few other desciptions of Buddhist understanding that i will relate to but in my own wierd + wonderful way. i think that we may sort of speak the same language but in a different tongue, mine of course being the more naive, but there you go.

Anyway i should get on with reading these Suttas you have pointed out to me + get back to you all sometime soon.
regards + best wishes, paul

[ricochettty]

its quite odd that i should have got 'lost in samasara' as this is not what u described

Hi Paul,
It could be a quirky default message they have if their server or site is playing up?

I took this lost in samsara quite literally to be what u meant me to read (did you?) Not guilty Sir. I'm not normally that cryptic. In any case, I'd say we're all there eh? Just an odd coincidence. Communicating on-line is an odd thing at times.

It still amazes me that sunyata can be achieved through breathing. I wouldn't use the word "achieved", rather it 'manifests' when the conditions are right. If you strive for it or try to steer it, it won't happen.

i think that we may sort of speak the same language but in a different tongue Yes, I think so. Let me know how you get on.

[espabamar]

Dear Paul

1. “Sunyata” or “Nirvara”

Many people understand that there is nothing at “Sunyata” or “Nirvara”. As understanding that there is nothing there, some people feel that we should not reach there as we still have something here. If we stay here, we have something. If we reach to “Nirvara”, we have nothing. In fact, it is misunderstanding. In “Sunyata”, there is an empty from desires, which consequently is the great happiness.

During we practice Dhamma, we will feel more and more happy. The higher level of Dhamma we reach, the more suffering (Dhukka) we see, but the greater of happiness we have. “We see suffering and we learn about suffering, but we are happy.” This would be very strange to other people who have not studied and practiced the Buddha’s Dhamma.

2. Lucky

As a Buddhist, there is no lucky or unlucky. Everything occurs due to its cause. If there is no cause, there is no result. Whatever you have now is of because what you did it in the past (whether in this life or previous life). That causes you to be here. If you do it more, it will cause you to be better in Dhamma in the future.

3. Jhana

I am glad to see that you used the word ‘Jhana’. You may see more details of ‘Jhanas’ here.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/a.../wheel351.html

As you gave more information in your comment no 36 that your simultaneous awareness lasted for 3 days continuously, it should not be a ‘Nimitta’. Generally, ‘Nimitta’ could not last this long including during your sleeping. In my view, it could be a ‘knower’. Allow me to explain more.

In some texts, they classified “Jhana” to be either eight or nine levels. For the context which classifies as eight levels, if you can reach the second Jhana (of the total eight levels), after exit from the second Jhana you could have ‘knower’ mind for few days (until seven days due to certain masters).

The ‘knower’ is your mind which is the awareness and could watch your ‘doer’ (another mind) and your body. This is why you have dual awaking and dreaming consciousness. Your knower is awaking mind, and your doer is dreaming mind. In fact, our mind occurs and ends swiftly. Knower is a mind which occurs simultaneously after the doer, but they are very fast so we may feel like they are dual and happen at the same time.

If you could do ‘Jhana’, you can keep what you have been doing. You just need to know a bit more on how to create ‘Sati’ during mediation and normal daily life. I would recommend you to read this book. (Otherwise, I will have to type very long more.)

http://02.learndhamma.com/pramote/bo...Guide_book.pdf

If you are unclear on what part, then we can discuss. If I know, I will answer. (If I do not, I will tell you that I don’t.)

Best regards

Ngodngam