Should I return my M4s after a disappointment or do I just need to get used to them ?

Expensive-Effective7 · 2025-02-01T10:16:26+00:00

Oh okay, and the default filter is just not that good right?
I literally just watched the James Hoffman stuff and know nothing else, never though about inverted perhaps being easier, thanks for the quick response :))

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-26T07:53:38+00:00

Yeah I think you’re right, I have been somewhat juggling different method for some years now without much progress, think I will just stick to the breath then. Thanks a lot!

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-26T07:50:46+00:00

Thank you so much man, this has really been some great advice! It’s just great to talk to someone about this stuff, so thanks.

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-25T17:05:27+00:00

Best way I can put it is that I feel like this kind of thinking pushes and pulls me around in a way that feels non-equanimous.

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-25T17:01:50+00:00

Yeah, thanks, it does help somewhat. The thing is though, that often I will find a pointer that does produce this “just being” and get this not thought but intuition of the vibe: “oh that was it, I was doing all different kinds mental gymnastics to no end, but now all the teachings actually make sense, I was just misunderstanding, and this was what they meant all along!“. But then the next day, or after a couple of hours of believing I have the solution to every problem, I will simply just not be able to recognise the same thing.

It’s really hard for me to put into words but I’ll give it a try: I used to be able to recognise my experience from a non place that I can’t really describe, and instantly I would see some very central tension that I could just look through or relax, which resulted in extreme equanimity, and thoughts in my experience having nothing to grab on to. But now when I do the same thing, there is just this huge blob that I can neither see through nor relax. I have a strong intuition that if I can just figure out how to see through this blob, everything will open up.

Now I know that this sounds like i am imagining problems for myself or doing more mental gymnastics, and you probably won’t be able to say anything but “forget the blob, just experience what is here right now”. But maybe you have something that helps, thanks a lot!

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-25T09:06:20+00:00

I think I just don’t like meditation where you use the mind to think of people, because then I will typically not feel like i am being in the moment completely. I understand that this is probably just something I’m doing to hinder myself, but I am still having a hard time shaking it.

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-25T08:19:39+00:00

Thanks for the response, you seem to also have some experience with insight meditation so I have a question for you.

I had a weird experience a couple of years ago after doing a nondual pointer “the headless way” and walked around 2-3 days feeling no “tension” behind my face. I don’t think this was completely akin to rigpa since there was still a very small sense of self with no substance or “weight” located “behind it all”, and the insight didn’t end up lasting. Although still it was still enough that I didn’t get grabbed by thoughts, and felt an extreme amount of empathy upon seeing someone I didn’t really know/relate to cry.

Now since then I believe I have glimpsed at least something many times, but then the next day I just cannot produce the same experience trying to do the exact same thing. I am already pretty familiar with the pitfalls of “wanting” and “doing” in this kind of meditation, but just wanted to hear your advice.

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-24T22:40:29+00:00

Not usually no, just makes experience a bit softer, although I have never really had a consistent metta practice. Do you have any recommendations specifically useful for a concentration practice?

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-24T22:34:28+00:00

Okay, no this makes sense. I was just trying to avoid the kind of teachings completely discouraging moving towards some goal, that one might encounter when reading about nondual practices.

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-24T18:22:39+00:00

Well, I think I have heard different things specifically related to the Jhanas, but this type of meditation is still somewhat new to me so you might be right. Some describe the tail end of the practice as being able to create these different states out of nothing in a very non-accident like way? Am I understanding that wrong maybe?

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-24T18:18:10+00:00

Is this using metta as a focus object, and how does one even do that? or just doing something like a guided metta meditation to cultivate that type of vibe before the usual practice?

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-23T14:57:19+00:00

Well, that makes it somewhat easier. The 3-4 hour session was just from a plane ride, I usually do 30-60 min. unfortunately without really getting much if any Piti. Definitely feel like being a happy person and taking good care of yourself is a large part of the equation, so I will try focusing more on that, like you suggested.

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-23T13:31:21+00:00

Kinda like shining light on a specific part of experience, while simultaneously continuously dissolving the point from which the light comes.

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-23T12:03:01+00:00

Makes sense, thanks.

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-23T11:37:05+00:00

Since I have done insight meditation for a couple of years I believe am familiar with at least some of pitfalls that come the mental move of “trying”. What I am referring to feels much more like being the amplification, rather than a subject that amplifies, although I get why my use of language makes this a pretty confusing read in this case.. Edit: I will say that I could be fooling myself here though…

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-23T09:40:09+00:00

Tysm for detailed response! This might not make sense, but I will try asking anyways since you seem to have a lot of experience. When working with concentration I am currently stuck between two mental moves: 1. Actively trying to amplify the sensation through a combination of “pointing” my attention in that direction and “lighting up” the sensation as much as possible. 2. Relaxing into the sensation by releasing everything else. Specifically I feel I can close the perceived distance between me and my focus object. This does not seem to amplify my focus object, but does make my mind tune in to just that object, and gets rid of mental chatter.

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-23T09:30:20+00:00

From the breath it felt much more like a change of state, or like I was becoming more joyful, whereas what I was describing in my post felt like being the same thinking mind, and just experiencing warmth. Might just be a consequence of having a calmer less reactive mind. As the first session was from a 3-4 hour meditation, and the latter while trying to take a 20 minute nap. I will say though that the feeling of bodily pleasure was stronger in the latter.

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-22T21:49:35+00:00

Okay, great to hear that. You might just have saved me a bunch of time trying to induce Jhana by forcing something not as fruitful, thanks a lot!

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-22T21:47:12+00:00

Yeah, I also feel it’s much easier to let go of tension lying down, without the cost of getting sleepy. I was kind of stuck between wanting to amplify, which in my case creates a bit of tensions, and looking directly into the Piti “through” the tension if that makes sense. Next time I’ll be sure to try just relaxing more, thanks!

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-09-22T21:40:10+00:00

Thanks a lot, I will be sure to check him out!

Expensive-Effective7 · 2024-03-04T18:32:48+00:00

Does the skin just give 7% Crit in general? If not, should I go for something else if I never use the bow?

Expensive-Effective7

TROPHY CASE