/zen/ general

[Anonymous No.15637634]

1-10 how enlightened are you today?
Me I am feeling a strong 8

[Anonymous No.15637681]

>>15637634
A solid 6 atleast. With the emotional turmoil I feel comes without fault the promise of resolving to my benefit this turmoil.

[Anonymous No.15637695]

>>15637634
0, like always, fuck this spirtualistic shit

[Anonymous No.15637716]

>>15637695
0 is ultra low anon. What's rustling your jimmies?

[Anonymous No.15637727]

>>15637695
bugman alert.

I'm at a 2, maybe. should I finally start meditating OP?

[Anonymous No.15637756]

>>15637634

10

im walking on sun shine

whooooaaaooohhhooo

[Anonymous No.15637757]

>>15637727
Wouldnt hurt dont expect much tho

[Anonymous No.15637767]

>>15637634
6 or 7

[Anonymous No.15637776]

>>15637727
The best time to begin meditating was yesterday. The second best time is today.

[Anonymous No.15637838]

>>15637727
Yes. You can heighten your senses through it for example. Bliss becomes more blissful, anger more fiery, and yet you learn to control them, i.e. both support and cut off your emotions.

[Anonymous No.15637852]

>>15637776
>>15637838
thanks. any techniques you recommend? the list of things one should do can't be that complicated.

..sit comfortably
..monitor your breath OR count in your head OR say a word / phrase
..let thoughts come and go
..do this for 15 min a day

sounds good?

[Anonymous No.15637884]

>>15637852
"Meditation" is a Western simplification of a LOT of different things. A Theravada meditation practice is for a group of monks to watch a coroner carefully and academically dissect a human corpse, for example (in Thailand you can sign up to have your body donated to religion after death).

A simple beginner practice that I find nifty is to get into full-lotus, and just sit there, not thinking. Breath easily, let your thoughts come, then let them go. It's fun to point out to people that no, they can't actually sit there doing nothing for even just ten minutes, even just five minutes, that takes a degree of willpower that most people just don't have without practice. This is also a good way to get into just meditating at all, as you can do this for short periods of time and work up. You don't want to start too hardcore and burn yourself out, after all.

Anapanasati is the Breath meditation practice taught by the Buddha in the Pali Canon. There's two types, one for concentration (pick a spot and focus on that spot; how does your breathing impact it?), and one for mindfulness (focus on an area, and slowly expand your area of focus until you're watching your whole body and how the breath interacts with it). Both of these get into more technical usages as you start observing things like mental formations, but for a beginner that's not something to worry about.

[Anonymous No.15637889]

>>15637852
Pretty much. As a starting point I'd say. For monitoring your breath the most potent method is to breath into your abdomen slowly, hold for a few seconds, and then release slowly. Some anon described it to me once as such
>basically your lower body is like an energy recycling center. Like a stove, your hip/taint is the "power" and your diaphragm is your control valve. So what you want to do is breath into your lower body, and like a pressure cooker grow the pressure until you release. Focus on breathing deeply and slowly.
You can do other stuff like affirmations but results depend on the person.

[Anonymous No.15637923]

>>15637884
>beginner
>full lotus
OUCH!

[Anonymous No.15638011]

>>15637634
10/10 every single impulse of my will echoes the entire creation.

[Anonymous No.15638019]

>>15638011
Based. Can you will creation towards making me have money?

[Anonymous No.15638055]

>>15637634
I dunno. What number is realizing the whole world is a lie?

[Anonymous No.15638078]

>>15638055
A 9 if you're really convinced and consequential about it.

If the world is a lie then it is incumbent on any man to lie better than the next.

[Anonymous No.15638118]

>>15638078
Then you're just damming the world more.

[Anonymous No.15638154]

What is meditation, really? I think the common misunderstanding of its operation is clearing your mind and not think at all, but it isn't it exactly the opposite?

[Anonymous No.15638169]

>>15638118
Doubtful. Lies can teach the truth as much as truth can teach to lie.

>>15638154
The latin word means 'contemplation'. Really what it is, beyond lowering anxiety and such, is to learn to gain and apply flowstate more often.

[Anonymous No.15638172]

>>15637634
>>15637634
im feeling sad of humans. i cant explain it, im bad writing in english. but i see pepe the frog meditating in that image and i imagine all the people across the world who think meditate is "cool" and they are trying to know themselves better with basics brainwashing tactics, and phsicial tacttics and manufacturated philosophies. and i feel sad. for them, or for me, i dont know well. its just sad.
people here are giving numbers to how enlightned they are today. its sad, humans are sad, i mean, we are sad.

[Anonymous No.15638189]

>>15638169
My problem is my brain is constantly racing. Can't sleep or focus for shit. My buddies get really irritated with me when we play poker because this. I'm not stupid, just inattentive.

[Anonymous No.15638203]

>>15637634
i was a 6 before reading philosophy and a 0 after

[Anonymous No.15638227]

>>15638169
There's a difference between innocent lies you'd tell your kids and having the whole world built off of a tower of them.

Information has become meaningless.

[Anonymous No.15638235]

>>15638189
And meditation helps with that. A lot. Small steps in the beginning. If you do it regularly (even just 5 minutes, or fuck just 1 minute a day) you'll eventually get your mental seven-mile boots.

Breath work I suggest. Thing is that after some time you'll be faced with underlying psychological issues that need to be dealt with. "regular" meditation alleviates the symptoms, but things like shadow integration cure you of those symptoms. I hope that helps.

[Anonymous No.15638249]

idk probably a 1 considering that I actively want to kms myself. I realize that's a guaranteed SHIT rebirth but I also feel like I'm stuck in an unwinnable scenario and just really want a hard reset in a different (and possibly even worse) age.

[Anonymous No.15638259]

>>15638172
yea man sad..sad
so I guess its around 4?

[Anonymous No.15638273]

>>15638227
I think it's a question of power. Make information dear to you meaningful to others.

[Anonymous No.15638290]

>>15638259
Haha you're a cunt anon

[Anonymous No.15638292]

>>15638259
dont know. dont know even what you mean. sadness is 4 in an enlightment path?. ok. i dont care. its still sad and cheap storing human thoughts and feelings behind an enlightmen tube.

[Anonymous No.15638301]

>>15638292
He's fucking with you.

[Anonymous No.15638333]

>>15638235
Thanks, anon. Any book recs or sources on the fundamentals and methods of meditation?

[Anonymous No.15638346]

if i gave it a number that would be judging anon

[Anonymous No.15638351]

>>15638346
this line of reasoning is judging in itself

[Anonymous No.15638362]

>>15638333
you are sad.

[Anonymous No.15638366]

>>15638333
Not sure, seeing as I came to 4chan as a /fringe/ refugee. There are a lot of books on meditation, none of which I have read. I can however absolutely recommend Robert Bruce's New Energy Work.

[Anonymous No.15638423]

>>15638362
Well I don't really understand what meditation is or how to "do" it, so I have to start somewhere. I wasn't born complete.

[Anonymous No.15638431]

>>15638423
And that's okay. Repetition and regularity is key

[Anonymous No.15638442]

>>15637634
4 rn, maybe ill feel better when I can finally leave this shitty zoom call

fascinating how draining our current way of life is, considering the resurgence of wellness, meditation, and mindfulness gimmicks. People must feel like shit

[Anonymous No.15638495]

>>15637634
Isn't enlightenment an absolute like it's either you're enlightened or not, 1 or 0, not possible to be half enlightened?

[Anonymous No.15638679]

>>15637634
not 0 and not 10

>>15638423
you were and are :)

>>15638495
yes and no. you'll still be human living your life as always.

[Anonymous No.15638733]

>>15637695
rejecting spirituality is midwit thinking.

you aren't a teenager anymore, start looking into it and start growing.

[Anonymous No.15638754]

>>15638362
Is just my impression or is kicking in The catch phrase "you are sad, all humans are sad" (internal laughing). Sorry I came here to distract myself of my life, and these fucking simple moments was really awesome. So sad I think this autistic way! So sad! Gahahah

[Anonymous No.15638778]

>>15637634
uhhh how about no sweaty?!

[Anonymous No.15639472]

>>15637634
An 8?? That's some powerful shit, homie.

I don't even think i've ever cracked a 5

[Anonymous No.15639602]

>>15639472
I think it is due to the mental breakdown I have been experiencing for the last two months

[Anonymous No.15640084]

>>15638733
this

[Anonymous No.15640334]

>>15638249
I'd plan some sort of adventure for a few days if I was you. Pick a spot on a map and survive there for a few days. Just you, some hunting tools and maybe basic camping gear.

If you really can't do this then start hiking a few hours a week at minimum.

[Anonymous No.15640431]

>>15639602
Well then I am very glad for you, friend! If you'd like to share and insights then I'm all ears.

You've been meditating a lot I presume?

[Anonymous No.15641478]

>>15637634
More bodhipepes please

[Anonymous No.15641502]

>>15637634
3-4
I’m vibrating and hovering

[Anonymous No.15642587]

>>15638733
>he didn't lose his mind in researching mysticism, esotericism and occultism
>he still has faith in "growing" metaphysically

[Anonymous No.15643308]

>>15640431
no in fact I have stopped meditating altogether, for the time being at least
my insights largely amount to a disdain for conversation and structuralized thought and a loss of pride, the one thing I changed my mind about the most is self awareness and authenticity, especially the intentional display of such

[Anonymous No.15643323]

I've been kicking people in the chest, but none of them have reached enlightenment yet. I dunno what gives.

[Anonymous No.15643502]

>>15641478

[Anonymous No.15643515]

2-3

[Anonymous No.15643973]

>>15637634
probably a 5. Got up early this morning but i'm feeling real gassy so that probably takes it down a point. Gonna go for a walk on this comfy rainy day in Bongland and listen to the new Bob Dylan album, see if I can get up to a six.

[Anonymous No.15644169]

>>15637695
you have to go back

[Anonymous No.15644176]

>>15637634
There are no "degrees" of Enlightenment. You are either Enlightened or you aren't.

[Anonymous No.15644182]

>>15637634
gonna start meditating next week
wishing you all the best anons!
>>15638333
Shunryu Suzuki - Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

[Anonymous No.15644208]

>>15637634
1
Relationship with girl is not working out, anxious about the future, completely overwhelmed by desire, fear, lust and need of pleasure.
I'm as far from the Buddha as you can possibly be. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

[Anonymous No.15644383]

>>15644176
what an unenlightened thing to say

[Anonymous No.15644412]

Why follow zen at all?
Knowing or not knowing, the only way of knowing is encountering a Buddha in this life.
Encountering a Buddha in this very life is extremely difficult.
Simply praise the name of the Amida Buddha in genuine faith. Even just once can lead to rebirth in His Pure Land, wherein we shall achieve perfect understanding of the one Dharma path.
Namu Amida Butsu!

[Anonymous No.15644413]

>>15643323
Kick em in the teeth maybe. I heard ambrosia is hidden in there.

[Anonymous No.15644424]

>>15644208
You could be further from the buddha.

[Anonymous No.15644442]

>>15644412
you dont follow zen, it just exist for lack of a better word

[Anonymous No.15644446]

>>15644383
How do you know what is or isn't an enlightened thing to say? Are you enlightened?

[Anonymous No.15644450]

>>15644446
Are you saying anon is lying?

[Anonymous No.15644451]

>>15644442
Zen does not 'exist'

[Anonymous No.15644476]

>>15644424
In what ways? My emotions are completely in control of me. I can't even sit still for 5 minutes. Enlightenment is a long way to go.

[Anonymous No.15644484]

>>15644450
I am asking him how he knows what is or isn't an enlightened thing to say. Is he speaking from his own knowledge or did he get the information second-hand and doesn't know for certain but is repeating it regardless.

[Anonymous No.15644485]

>>15644476
Sure but you see enlightenment to be a way, no ? And a way for you, why not ?
>emotions are completely in control of me
Can you make yourself laugh, cry, rage? Do you have atleast a little control over your thoughts?

[Anonymous No.15644514]

>>15637923
This is what happens when people who've never practiced yoga, just read about it on the internet, start giving advice.

[Anonymous No.15644533]

>>15644485
Well, sometimes I'm in peace and I feel in control. But then something negative happens and it's all thrown out the window. It's easy to say you're in control when nothing challenging happens to you.

[Anonymous No.15644562]

>>15644533
That goes for a great many people. Next time you feel at peace and in control, remember that feeling, make a mental note of it, a marker you can go back to atleast in thought. So that, whenever you feel negative overpowering emotions coming on you can remind yourself of how you would rather feel and think. Do things that strengthen your connection to that at-peace state, but don't deny yourself your emotions because they're unpleasant. They have a source, a reason to be that isn't "just wired like that bro". Try doing breathwork as was suggested by others itt, it really helps calm one down in the moment.

I believe in you, I really do <3

[Anonymous No.15644734]

>>15644446
>>15644451
correct