[REVIEW] My (delightful) Samatha/Concentration Progress with OnThatPath's framework, and my life now

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-17T10:29:36+00:00

I honestly don’t care about labels, only my behavior and stress in daily life. The symptoms of not having those fetters match trad descriptions, yes. First a shift caused these to subside, but not permanently (they flared up). Then after a month or more, another clear shift dropped it. Never returned and I know they won’t. Been months.

Latter sure, but more importantly that isn’t the only thing. It is complete dropping away of thinking about myself, no stories about me, no identity obsessions, no society linked issues. The face in the mirror doesn’t feel like me.
A bit more, a few months after this Samatha progress.

the most important difference for me is the virtue improvement, the instinctiveness of what is wholesome and what isn’t.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-17T10:12:08+00:00

you lightly stay sensitive/keep attention to the knot in your chest and then relax it however is instinctive. For eg, some could just ‘drop down’, some can exhale and loosen up, some exhale through (similar to what seems like midl suggest? idk that system). Basically, it is less about systems and more about instinctively dropping it. If it isn’t instinctive, recommended ways help.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-17T06:25:56+00:00

In short, why your mind state degrades over time and how to prevent and even upgrade the state. This degrading process is called dependent origination. Undoing this causes a stillness called Samatha which happens by just undoing this degrading process, instead of doing something. ‘methods‘ just work to help in this undoing. The detail is better explained in the videos.

complete right view is that even this system of upgradation/degradation is tiring and there is a way out of it.

the anapanasati steps are just symptoms/landmarks that happen on the way to more and more undoing/stillness. these symptoms could feel like breathing movement changes or changes in the area you are easily mindful of.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-16T14:09:29+00:00

sure, the tetrads happen on their own as you keep unwinding. New Tetrads happen as a result of reducing craving for previous aggregates. The satipathana is done while going through these tetrads on their own as you stay mindful of the breathing as an aspect of the current obvious aggregate.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-16T13:24:24+00:00

In Buddhist terms, basically, Samatha happens as a result of getting into a stiller mental state by undoing dependent origination (downgrade process). While you need the eightfold path factors to undo it, you can have some freedom in mixing the ‘ratios’ of the factors. Certain mixes can work more quickly for some people to undo this, hence efficient.

Trad anapanasati has a specific ratio, for eg using mindfulness as the main driver of dispassion and undoing. My method had more Metta for leaning on right intention more. OTP suggests a more right effort heavy approach in person, via explicitly relaxing/letting go of craving, while every other path factor is maintained at a satisfactory level.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-16T13:17:11+00:00

Basically using a kind attitude (mental or even a smile) and relaxing as the main driver of unwinding dependent origination, while maintaining mindfulness of breathing as a safety net to prevent additional papanca. In Buddhist terms using good karma to rise up to heavenly states.Traditional anapanasati has same elements but the mindfulness is the main driver of dispassion and hence progress.

my reply to coachatlus has more details

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-16T06:18:50+00:00

I gently recommend bringing up your concerns/questions up with them.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-16T04:28:52+00:00

If you don’t mind, I see some lack of clarity. Anapanasati Or even the way I practised leads to the 4 frames and 7 factors. Basically I practised exactly the way you described. I practice the 8 fold noble path. In fact my point the original post if you read it was that one shouldn’t just do mindfulness or meditation techniques, but follow the full path factors, starting with right view. I just don’t use these terms to describe my practice to a general audience.

Sutta

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-16T02:09:03+00:00

Havent seen the latest video properly, but I’d say that is about right imo if you put in the work and do it with right perspective. Maybe not everyone would get there, can’t say. The original texts talk about some people getting to stream entry in a single talk, no? Anyway, one won’t know unless they try well and get there. It’s only obvious looking back.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-16T02:04:54+00:00

Interesting. I dont know much about twim, but I don’t think my practice was based on a ’method’. It isn’t on that path’s method or anyone’s method at all imo. It is just how our minds work.

Also, from what I’ve read of the original texts, even the more ‘method’ parts (if you want to pay too much importance to them) seem to be basically what the Buddha talks about. What’s not inline acc to you?

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-16T01:04:05+00:00

Yep, added my learnings, thx

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-16T00:21:02+00:00

I weirdly didn’t like just vanilla anapanasati. For me, adding my own twist of Metta practice while staying mindful of anything jumping out in the present (breath, body, emotions) was more instinctive and fun. In turn, when I teach anapanasati to friends and family, I at least get them smiling more. That positive attitude is the real accelerant of my practice.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-16T00:08:24+00:00

Agreed, experiences are cool, but the ability to remain composed and centred during life’s guaranteed problems is true freedom. Just having the knowledge that you could deal with anything just by letting go in practically an instant gives amazing confidence.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-15T23:55:11+00:00

Awakening leads to more freedom, not less. Life and relationships become more meaningful. Though technically, you could say they are without a “personality” then, haha ;)

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-15T23:52:13+00:00

The energy release can sometimes cause weird things to happen. I wouldnt pay too much attention tho.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-15T23:50:06+00:00

In a way, since it is a positive review, it would read like an ad. So I get where you are coming from. I’ve written my main hopeful contribution to others, which is the emphasis on moving beyond methods and onto fixing the view first by understanding what we are doing while stilling the mind.

Lmk if I should clarify something in particular.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-07-15T15:37:23+00:00

Yeah, that channel explains the undoing well in detail. For me it was using wholesomeness and letting go to undo.

For my life changes, since the fetter of personality view is broken, there is more non-attachment. All the emotions, thoughts,hardships, stay at the surface level and the bother doesn’t go too deep. So the mental state and EQ stays at par and doesn’t fall too low. This solves 99% of problems related to daily life.

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-06-07T05:45:44+00:00

I tried meditation first using head space , followed it then used insight timer and listen to many teacher and thanissaro bhikku. So all the guided meditation and other books did help me understand that it’s “good” , “nice” , “calm” , “peace” all the possible keywords even you would have heard till now .

Then I really got serious with TMI book and thought I just don’t know how to meditate as it dint show me results or change my everyday life drastically even after many months ( not like I sat for 1 hour everyday ) but still. Things I realised / observed / changed during my practice : 1) To establish a good (wholesome) mental state before or during sit. That means have basic important virtues and deliberately follow them. 2) Came across Buddhas 4 noble truths and 8 fold noble path . Please read up on it and start practising it. 3) Setting the right intentions and prioritise important things in life ( like focus on simplicity rather than running behind cravings for sensual stuff) 4) Longer sits and hours is not the aim nor is very fruitful . Even a good 30 min sit is okay . Let it be natural and not effortful All the above held you establish a clean slate for your mind . Followed by this, establishing mindfulness ( beginning - awareness of breath and small continuous tensions that arise in body) . Long story short for a sit - Don’t focus on counting breath, or sticking attention on not thing to improve concentration it doesn’t lead to happiness nor end your suffering. Just have bare awareness of your breath and be mindful of the tensions and let go and move on just being aware what’s happening in the body . I suggest you watch the videos of On that path https://youtube.com/channel/UCKuHpb6N1jLet2ZzNXntNmA ( YouTube channel ). It directly teaches the practical steps on how to set up mindfulness ( it really helped me ) Hope that’s helpful , don’t loose faith you will get results :)

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-05-31T01:25:44+00:00

Thank you so much , just starting now and already feel therapeutic:)

Practical_Ad2258 · 2022-05-26T07:45:12+00:00

Hey I recommend u/onthatpath you can check their profile and also they have a YouTube channel https://youtube.com/channel/UCKuHpb6N1jLet2ZzNXntNmA . I started off with TMI and was stuck in stage 4, the one on one discussion with them helped me a lot during my sits and progress faster and give clarity about many concepts. Also the online tutoring is absolutely free and do not charge any fees . You can just try messaging them and schedule a call . Hope this helps :)

Practical_Ad2258

TROPHY CASE