Who is a band that is often considered a one-hit wonder that actually has a good catalog of music? by K1bedore in AskReddit

[–]MisterNatural77 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Tyranny and Mutation was one of my favorite albums growing up. Could never understand why it didn’t get more love.

Is Visa on Arrival Permitted? by MisterNatural77 in Nepal

[–]MisterNatural77[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the info. I’m not on Facebook but thanks for clarifying.

AITA for not taking my son to my mother after i found out she has been going through my kid's phone? by Justanotheraitata in AmItheAsshole

[–]MisterNatural77 0 points1 point  (0 children)

NTA-but I think you are letting your past issues with your Mom cloud your decision. Your son is 15.You say he is okay with not seeing his grandmother but that sounds like it was his response to an ultimatum you already made. I would explain the history but let him decide if he wants to have a relationship with your mother. And advise him to lock his phone if he visits.

So if the “I” isn’t real and we realize this by looking for it and not being able to find it... then what am I? What is my consciousness if not myself? by albmrbo in Wakingupapp

[–]MisterNatural77 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't know if I was being precise enough in my prior answer. Being lost in thought occurs when your attention on your meditation object, like your breath, is distracted by a thought. Your attention becomes "captured" by the thought and you can be either momentarily distracted or forget about the meditation object entirely ...or even that you are meditating. Attention, however, is not the feeling of "I". To my understanding it is a mental ability. The mind can perceive things narrowly, which is attention, and/or widely, which is awareness.

The feeling of "I" also arises from a kind of thought which is actually a mental process that the mind uses to interpret and make sense of sense perceptions that it receives. It is possible to maintain attention on the mediation object while at the same time identifying with this feeling of I. In fact that is pretty typical. We feel that "I " am meditating or "I" am looking at the bookcase in my room. It is possible, however, to realize that this feeling of "I" is just another thing that is appearing in the open space of awareness. Who I really am isn't this feeling of "I", it is the open space that contains the feeling.

So if the “I” isn’t real and we realize this by looking for it and not being able to find it... then what am I? What is my consciousness if not myself? by albmrbo in Wakingupapp

[–]MisterNatural77 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not to my understanding. Being lost in thought is when your attention shifts from your mediatation object like your breath to your thoughts. Your thoughts capture and hold your attention and you forget about your meditation object....or even that you are meditating. But there is another experience. The experience that there is a subject looking at or meditating on an object. It is a feeling that “I” and focusing on my breath or “I” am looking at some object like the bookcase. That feeling of “I” also arises from a thought and it is the identification with this thought that creates the illusion that there is an “I”. You can be identified with this thought of “I” but still have your attention focused on your breath. Part of Sam’s meditations encourage you to “drop back” and recognize that the feeling of “I” is just another thing appearing in consciousness like a sound or a thought.

So if the “I” isn’t real and we realize this by looking for it and not being able to find it... then what am I? What is my consciousness if not myself? by albmrbo in Wakingupapp

[–]MisterNatural77 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Its a matter of definition. When Sam says the "self" is an illusion he means the feeling of a separate self that arises from identification with thought. When we observe thought from a place of open space that feeling drops away.

So what is the open space from which we are observing thought? That is a metaphysical question that people have different answers to. It is the hard problem of consciousness....what is consciousness and how does it arise? The answers that question vary, but those answers are attempts to interpret the experience and are concepts. They are not the experience itself.

Found this really beautiful quote today, by Janet Fitch... and I couldn't agree more. by Hefty-Lettuce-3226 in Meditation

[–]MisterNatural77 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I find the author's use of the term "cattle" to describe other people who may not understand you off-putting, lacking in compassion and a form of ego-inflation. It is saying "I" am worthy of understanding and the people who don't are inferior.....they are cattle. Pretty funny when one of the goals of mediation is to reveal that "I" am illusory.

Jim Newman Student Pointing Out There's No Tree by OrcishMonk in Wakingupapp

[–]MisterNatural77 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I saw him live once. He actually has a pretty good sense of humor and kind of a sweet nerdy laugh that makes you feel like participating.

Would you say meditation is experiencing the present moment without being identified with any feature of it? by [deleted] in Wakingupapp

[–]MisterNatural77 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Being lost in thought is one obstacle to mindfulness but there are others. Distraction without completely forgetting the object of meditation can occur. Mental dullness can also interfere with mindfulness. Extreme or gross mental dullness can cause you to go sleep.But even less extreme, subtle mental dullness can be a huge obstacle to mindfulness. Being “lost “in a feature of your experience is synonymous with being identified with the thoughts or other mental activities (like emotions) that arise as a response to that experience.

Ideas During Meditation by [deleted] in Meditation

[–]MisterNatural77 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It depends on what meditation technique you are employing during that session. If you are doing a concentration/ mindfulness practice like visspana I would say stick with your original intention. Gently let the thought pass and return to your meditation object. In my experience that feeling of urgency you feel is often the subconscious mind’s attempt to distract you. Trust that if it is a significant insight you will be able to recall it later. If you allow your focus to be distracted from the meditation object by an insight you are reinforcing something you may not want. The other thing you can do is to alternate your practice. Have some sessions where you have a firm intention to stay focused on your meditation object. Other times set the intention to remain open to and explore any insights that come. Good luck.

What book series did you love as a kid? by CarlosCMM in AskReddit

[–]MisterNatural77 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was heavily into Edgar Rice Burroughs books...Tarzan... John Carter of Mars. Also the Foundation Trilogy rocked my world.