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I'll reply once to my own comment to the three requests for tutelage with the same thing I sent in the one person that emailed me. The technique isn't particul

I'll reply once to my own comment to the three requests for tutelage with the same thing I sent in the one person that emailed me. The technique isn't particularly hard to develop. I used hand gestures. Hold your hands in the gesture and focus on the desired mood. Best done initially when you are only slightly 'off' from the desired mood. Rinse and repeat until you can do it more readily and in situations that are further away from the desired one. The hard part is in remembering to do it, and in maintaining the patience to keep at it. If I hadn't already had years of meditation experience by the time I came up with this idea, I don't think I would have been able to follow through. I used the teachings of George Gurdjieff to help me reach a place where I could rely on my ability to remember such things at the time in which I need to remember them. PDF link follows, however not the one I used. I personally read the first few chapters of his first book, Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson, which is an impossibly dense read that communicates a stupidly simple message. http://www.gurdjiefffourthway.org/pdf/SELF-REMEMBERING.pdf http://www.gurdjiefffourthway.org/pdf/SELF-REMEMBERING.pdf

mockingbirdy 7y ago
For the sibling comments who are eager to change their minds (literally): Please note that there are also risks. OP and proverbialbunny talk about negative aspects that you should be aware of (especially because it sounds like some of you reach out to this with great desire). Messing with the void without proper understanding is dangerous. [1]: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/vbaedd/meditation-is-a-powerful-mental-tool-and-for-some-it-goes-terribly-wrong https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/vbaedd/meditation-is-a-po...
- kranner 7y ago
  Isn't the Buddhist path supposed to lead to the end of aversion _and_ craving (or desire or attachment)? Wouldn't that make these so-called negative effects an expected outcome of the process? Maybe the problem is that the current common understanding of Buddhist enlightenment is incorrect: it has been sold as a panacea for everyone, including "householders", that we can just drop into our lives and continue on our former paths with the added bonus of the end of suffering.
  - mockingbirdy 7y ago
    Yes, the same process on the path to enlightenment that makes you become aware of your no-self is the same that most people in this article suffer with. That's the reason I gave this warning: Most people don't want enlightenment, they just want a "life hack" ("change your mood to calmness and joy with these 5 simple steps"). I don't see a problem with this, but I see the possibility of enduring pain in these people. The path to enlightenment is a commitment only a few are willing to make - it is the most painful of all ways, but it's also the only one (for some - only those have a chance of bearing the pain). well, you know, that's just like, my opinion, man. The search ends when the seeker stops to seek. And realizes that he did nothing else, than to spin in circles.
    - kranner 7y ago
      It may turn out we're rather attached to those circles.
    - vinceguidry 7y ago
      > The search ends when the seeker stops to seek. And realizes that he did nothing else, than to spin in circles. In my case, the search did not stop, the circles just found new dimension. The rest of your truth is perfectly truthful. :-)
  - spicymaki 7y ago
    >Wouldn't that make these so-called negative effects an expected outcome of the process? Probably. However I would guess if the negative effects are chronic then there is something wrong with the practice. >Isn't the Buddhist path supposed to lead to the end of aversion _and_ craving (or desire or attachment)? Yes, the Buddhist path[1] is supposed to lead to the end of suffering and rebirth. Clinging and craving produces karma which leads to rebirth. Stopping karma will lead to the cessation of suffering or nirvana. >it has been sold as a panacea for everyone, including "householders", that we can just drop into our lives and continue on our former paths with the added bonus of the end of suffering. No, it is not possible[2] for a householder to attain enlightenment. As a householder you have responsibilities (house, family, work) which inherently leads to clinging. However as a householder you can improve your chances at a good rebirth through merit (good karma). The best a householder can attain is stream entry. Monastics offload the dirty work of human survival (food, protection, etc) to householders in return for merit (virtuous cycle). You have to don the robes to cross the stream. [1] The Noble Eightfold Path [2] In traditional Buddhism

mockingbirdy 7y ago

For the sibling comments who are eager to change their minds (literally): Please note that there are also risks. OP and proverbialbunny talk about negative aspects that you should be aware of (especially because it sounds like some of you reach out to this with great desire). Messing with the void without proper understanding is dangerous. [1]: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/vbaedd/meditation-is-a-powerful-mental-tool-and-for-some-it-goes-terribly-wrong https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/vbaedd/meditation-is-a-po...

kranner 7y ago
Isn't the Buddhist path supposed to lead to the end of aversion _and_ craving (or desire or attachment)? Wouldn't that make these so-called negative effects an expected outcome of the process? Maybe the problem is that the current common understanding of Buddhist enlightenment is incorrect: it has been sold as a panacea for everyone, including "householders", that we can just drop into our lives and continue on our former paths with the added bonus of the end of suffering.
- mockingbirdy 7y ago
  Yes, the same process on the path to enlightenment that makes you become aware of your no-self is the same that most people in this article suffer with. That's the reason I gave this warning: Most people don't want enlightenment, they just want a "life hack" ("change your mood to calmness and joy with these 5 simple steps"). I don't see a problem with this, but I see the possibility of enduring pain in these people. The path to enlightenment is a commitment only a few are willing to make - it is the most painful of all ways, but it's also the only one (for some - only those have a chance of bearing the pain). well, you know, that's just like, my opinion, man. The search ends when the seeker stops to seek. And realizes that he did nothing else, than to spin in circles.
  - kranner 7y ago
    It may turn out we're rather attached to those circles.
  - vinceguidry 7y ago
    > The search ends when the seeker stops to seek. And realizes that he did nothing else, than to spin in circles. In my case, the search did not stop, the circles just found new dimension. The rest of your truth is perfectly truthful. :-)
- spicymaki 7y ago
  >Wouldn't that make these so-called negative effects an expected outcome of the process? Probably. However I would guess if the negative effects are chronic then there is something wrong with the practice. >Isn't the Buddhist path supposed to lead to the end of aversion _and_ craving (or desire or attachment)? Yes, the Buddhist path[1] is supposed to lead to the end of suffering and rebirth. Clinging and craving produces karma which leads to rebirth. Stopping karma will lead to the cessation of suffering or nirvana. >it has been sold as a panacea for everyone, including "householders", that we can just drop into our lives and continue on our former paths with the added bonus of the end of suffering. No, it is not possible[2] for a householder to attain enlightenment. As a householder you have responsibilities (house, family, work) which inherently leads to clinging. However as a householder you can improve your chances at a good rebirth through merit (good karma). The best a householder can attain is stream entry. Monastics offload the dirty work of human survival (food, protection, etc) to householders in return for merit (virtuous cycle). You have to don the robes to cross the stream. [1] The Noble Eightfold Path [2] In traditional Buddhism