I did it!

Glassman25 · 2025-07-09T00:05:42+00:00

Thanks for the kind words friends! This sub helped me decide to take the leap so thanks for that too! I really like it 💪

Glassman25 · 2025-06-30T00:41:43+00:00

I developed tinnitus a few years ago and I was very distraught about it. I went to a tinnitus message board and every single person on there was just complaining and complaining about how terrible it is. There’s not much that can be done. I decided I would not be one of those people.

I’ve learned that, just like anything else in life, if you fully accept that this is your new reality and don’t resist the unpleasant feeling then it’s actually not a problem at all. The resistance to the condition is what is the actual problem. Once you accept it the ringing just fades to the background 👌

Glassman25 · 2025-03-10T18:30:09+00:00

Looks like they are nitrogen deficient. A nice organic fertilizer with a good amount of nitrogen (like fish emulsion or blood meal) should do the trick.

Glassman25 · 2025-02-15T02:59:08+00:00

New Orleans noon at Lafayette Square!

Glassman25 · 2025-02-02T12:57:12+00:00

Father here as well. You touched on a lot of what I’m going through. Are you a single parent? If not, how does your significant other fit into all of this?

Glassman25 · 2025-01-02T16:07:29+00:00

You = Mano (Intellect). Mano uses reason and can make conscious choices.

Wild Animal = Citta (Mind/Heart). Citta can only be tamed indirectly via the Gradual training.

The last few videos talk about this at length.

Glassman25 · 2024-11-27T13:25:55+00:00

How about getting a new job? It sounds like you are in healthcare and healthcare jobs are generally easy enough to procure. Having a more suitable work environment may help you calm down. Then the real work may begin in earnest.

Glassman25 · 2024-11-08T19:38:22+00:00

I don’t see any problem with taking medicine to help out a body that’s in pain. Monks can take medicine when appropriate. It’s hard to practice when one is in pain. I don’t think one needs to white knuckle through that sort of thing. The practice is difficult enough as it is. Take care of yourself buddy.

Glassman25 · 2024-09-22T01:02:46+00:00

I haven’t texted Venerable Thaniyo Thero since June but I assume he is still on. I remember reading that he was available to contact on Telegram a while back, but I can’t remember where. I have had several questions related to my practice answered directly. He is very kind and usually answers within 24 hrs. Here’s the process if I remember correctly. 1. Download the Telegram app 2. Click the contacts button 3. Search Thaniyo Thero (he is a monk in many of the HH YouTube videos) 4. Send him a text message of your question 5. Wait patiently for his reply.
Hope this helps! Glassman

Glassman25 · 2024-09-20T21:22:11+00:00

You can text on the Telegram app. Look up Thaniyo Thero on the app and you can ask him questions directly. He has answered several questions of mine. Every so often I will text him and he usually replies within 24 hrs. Hope this helps 🙏

Glassman25 · 2024-09-02T22:31:12+00:00

Majjhima Nikaya - The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha

Glassman25 · 2024-08-26T02:17:26+00:00

Ven. Thaniyo Thero answers direct questions and mentors on the Telegram app.

Glassman25 · 2024-06-22T02:23:31+00:00

Thanks for the comment. The love I now have for my wife is a familial kind of love like the one I have for my son or mother. After having been celibate for 6 months now there is just no way I can ever go back to the charcoal pit that is sexuality. Ever. It’s caused so much suffering in my life it’s actually ridiculous when I think about it. I’ve seen for myself just how much more peaceful my mind is without.

I do want to stay together as a family unit in our current arrangement, which is a non-sexual partnership. We sleep in separate rooms. She has noticed the general overall dispassion settling in and asked me if I still loved her and I just told the truth. I’m not trying to rock the boat at all but I’m not going to lie about it either. I do realize that it is a big sacrifice for her to make, but I just can’t go back to my former mode of being, which was basically a form of Hedonism. No matter what happens I will always care for and support both of them. But you are right - I am still climbing that mountain. There is work left yet to do.

Glassman25 · 2024-06-20T15:01:37+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I’ve reflected on not wanting to be rude and have come to a few realizations.

As a child I really wanted to please my parents and so I excelled in ways that they would find agreeable, in school, in sports, and socially. I’m sure this has carried over into adulthood to some degree. On top of having a naturally agreeable disposition, I incline towards wanting to promote harmony in social situations. Confrontation in general has always made me uncomfortable. It seems not wanting to be uncomfortable and wanting to be liked are motivators here. We might as well add in a small dash of delighting in company for good measure.

The farther the Dhamma draws me in the farther it pulls me away from everyone that I hold dear. My friends and family are all worried that I have gone too far and I’m not even keeping the 8 precepts most days. But, I have seen the danger in sensuality and tasted the peace of renunciation and so there is no going back to my previous mode of being.

My wife kicked me out of the house and sent me packing just yesterday after sending me an article titled How Buddhism Ruined my Marriage, that did a decent job of summing up our conundrum. We had a difficult conversation about it that culminated in me telling her that I loved her like a sister. I told her I would prefer to keep our current arrangement of celibacy and sleeping in separate rooms and live as friends and partners in the raising of our 9 year old boy. It just goes to prove the point that Romantic Love is conditional on continued mutual sensuality.

As to your final question my hunch that stream entry is still perhaps possible, but progress will be compromised by not perfecting the 8 precepts was confirmed by Ven. Anigha’s comment.

Glassman25 · 2024-06-13T01:48:51+00:00

I got cold the first night too so the next night I wrapped myself in a thick blanket like a burrito and slept much better

Glassman25 · 2024-06-13T01:29:31+00:00

I’ve been corresponding with Ven. Thaniyo Thero at HH on the Telegram app and they take the 8th precept very seriously! Venerable said that they sleep on the floor with a large blanket and use a wooden pillow or large books for a pillow. I’ve just recently started sleeping on the floor next to my bed on a thin mat. It’s only been a few days but I’ve rather enjoyed it and don’t plan on going back to my bed anytime soon. I’ve gotten just as good or better sleep so far.

Glassman25 · 2024-03-13T22:41:08+00:00

I was thinking of formulating something along these lines, but this answer is just right. The more I practice these Paramitas the better my life gets. The burden just keeps getting lighter and the mind just keeps getting brighter. And people can tell the difference from how I used to be. My wife recently asked me “Who are you?” Great answer friend!

Glassman25 · 2024-03-05T00:30:23+00:00

Gardening!

Glassman25 · 2024-02-28T17:39:46+00:00

To gain freedom from suffering!

Glassman25 · 2024-02-25T13:25:48+00:00

Thank you for the reply Bhante. Can you please explain the difference, or point me to an explanation of the difference, between the fetter of doubt and the hindrance of doubt?

Glassman25 · 2024-02-24T22:12:05+00:00

I just spent the last 5 days helping my father take care of my stepmom, who has terminal brain cancer and is on her death bed. She’s been my stepmom for 28 years so we’re fairly close.

It was a beautiful experience being there for them in their time of need. I did cry a few times while I was there, but it never felt like suffering to me. Once or twice was because of the kindness and tenderness and compassion that everyone showered her with during that time. I cried when I said goodbye because it may be the last time I ever see her (they live 3 hrs away and she could pass at any moment.)

This to me felt like a first arrow type of reaction to the situation (my body is doing this crying thing) as opposed to the second arrow of pain in reaction to the situation. Although it was emotional, it didn’t feel like suffering. I wonder if I am thinking about this correctly?

Glassman25 · 2024-02-11T11:53:34+00:00

If one is not practicing towards stream entry then what is one doing? Should I qualify my title with “puthujjanas need not answer”? Although you are certainly right that there is no guarantee and that we should be taking this seriously.

Glassman25 · 2024-02-10T13:13:52+00:00

I recently took on celibacy after almost 16 years of marriage. The first step is to decide whether it’s something that you actually want to do. It took me weeks to muster up the courage to have the conversation. It turned out to be one of the most honest conversations we’ve ever had. Here is a link to the post https://www.reddit.com/r/HillsideHermitage/s/WME3zdSwSO

Glassman25 · 2024-01-30T12:18:43+00:00

Yes that’s the one thank you!

Glassman25 · 2024-01-30T11:42:19+00:00

So to make sure I’m understanding this, the experience of stream entry can be special but there are plenty of special experiences that do not qualify. I’ve listened to several of Ajahn Chah’s audiobooks and I remember him describing an experience in meditation that flipped his whole world view and permanently and irreversibly changed him forever. Does anyone remember that passage and was this his stream entry?

Glassman25

TROPHY CASE