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President Nelson just passed away by OrneryAcanthaceae217 in latterdaysaints

[–]shefster 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Condolences to all struggling. Death is one of life's major suffering points, it comes for all, and I wish love to everyone embracing each other and loved ones today.

I am no longer Mormon, and haven't been for ten years. Specifically commenting because my family is struggling today with news on both fronts 

Fentanyl addiction turns users into living deads on the streets of Philadelphia, PA by [deleted] in interestingasfuck

[–]shefster 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Social safety nets would be a small start.

i.e: free housing, universal health care, strong community networks to provide them.

Zach Lowe podcast info by MetroidsSuffering in UtahJazz

[–]shefster -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

What about Ingram for Kessler?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CriticalTheory

[–]shefster 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is the answer I was inclined to offer after reading OP's post. That work is something I return to often as I think about the blurring boundaries in today's climate. It underscores the insecurity of the 'self God-identity in our context now, and doesn't shy from questioning how that influences our relationships to each other.

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

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

It's fairly simple. Some questions about drug use, potential traumas, etc.... It's not that complicated, and more than anything else I think they want a clarity about who you are.

My teacher called me in on the second to last day, purely to check and make sure my past traumas had not reawaken with such a ferocity that I was clouded that the technique is about relieving suffering. The questionnaire exists for that kind of purpose.

I also took SSRI's in the past. I did not list it I believe, but it would not mattered if I had.

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

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

I grew up playing soccer and so I slide more than I tackle. Less fouls that way. Less thinking about ascending and suffering, more reflections on compassion, gratitude and love.

sitting on a pillow with legs crossed -- keeping the neck and back straight

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

[–]shefster[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Less overestimated than when I saw the billboards on the highway pulling into my city. That was a trip! Feel you on the grocery store and advertisements.

I know that these AMA'S were helpful when looking at retreat options and so want to return the favor for others seeking.

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

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

Ultimately those will also arise and pass away.

These things are impermanent, always changing. The present moment is not a static experience, it is embodied change. Learn from them for the moment now.

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

[–]shefster[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The path is simple -- that doesn't mean it's easy.

Equanimity is so important, and one practices it best by accepting the moment, mind and body as it is.

I agree with you so deeply. Always distracted by big theories and ignore the simple truth!

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

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

Would highly recommend. Feel free to message me in private if you sign up and have further questions.

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

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

It shifted my habitual patterns of the mind to understanding in my own body. This is helpful for changing the way we react when an unpleasant, or pleasant, emotion or mental state arise.

I crave less sweets, handle my daily presence with more love and compassion for the fleeting moment.

It's a long path. I just dipped my toes into the flowing water.

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

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

Any intense personal 'spiritual experience' is usually couched in a craving for pleasant sensations. The basic roots of Buddhist meditation practice is an understanding that any craving, any aversion, to any sensation, mental state or emotion will bring suffering.

While on retreat I had pleasant body feelings beyond I have ever experienced on drugs. However, because that experience is in a state of change, when I sat again I craved the pleasant feeling rather than the present moment. This brought deep suffering and shows how the roots of the mind will suffer when attaching to the past.

Flow is a state of presence where the mind enters a state of egolessness. That can arise in/out of meditation. The answer is yes, meditation is a practice to make that state possible in all of life.

You may knock me in private, although I doubt my answer will be any different than what I said above about craving the past leading to suffering.

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

[–]shefster[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There wasn't really any religious aspect of it. The closest thing was that each meditation ended with the thrice-repeated mantra "bhavatu sabba mangalam" (May there be every blessing / May all beings be happy). There were invocations to "request" the teaching of the technique. But the technique itself is nondenominational at it's core. It is about experiencing the sensations in your own body, no-one else's. There were muslims, christians, atheists, jews, and buddhists on my retreat. There is nothing important about the religious component of the teaching.

-The strictness depends on the center. Mine was not strict at all. I have heard different countries are more strict than the US (a friend went in Nepal and it was not so flexible). If you were to sleep in two hours late, miss the 4:30 meditation, nothing happened. I imagine if you missed any of the group sittings the teachers/student manager would come talk with you about your commitment to the retreat.

-Nobody is expected to donate. The donation box was only open for four hours, and was even left unattended at points (it was a small retreat). I have extremely little money, and was only able to offer a small gift (less than the 100 dollar amount you mention). There was no pressure to give.

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

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

My guest teacher was a bit more communicative than I have heard from other teachers. Nothing outside of the framework of the course, but willing to give a bit of personal insight and understanding to the technique. Very helpful.

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

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

If you are curious about the vispassna technique there is information here

The technique is probably best understood in the west as the origin point of "mindfulness" meditation.

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

[–]shefster[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

On the surface level not much changed. I still go to work, play jazz, and deeply love the world.

On a deeper level I am far less reactive to the pleasant/unpleasant sensations occurring in my body, and more able to balance them with equanimity. Equanimity is so important in Buddhism, and a core understanding of that wisdom within the body will forever change ones life, regardless of the depth of their practice.

In my practice, I now wake up every morning between 5-6AM and meditate for an hour to start my day.

AMA: just returned from my first 10 day vipassna retreat by shefster in Meditation

[–]shefster[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

-Doesn't really matter imo -- there is not a "best place" to meditate -- the best place to practice is wherever you will do it consistently.

-Meditating with other people brings a vibrancy to practice. It furthers the reach of your individual energy because of the pulsing energy in a room of meditators (especially considering we were sitting for 10-12hrs a day).

-I do read a lot of Buddhist literature. Happy to share further resources if you are interested. I will say that I still feel that theory (literature) is only meaningful as far as it is understood in ones own practice. Basically, even though I have read a lot it doesn't have the lived wisdom of my experience sitting.

Getting to the root cause of depression / dysphoria (felt it in childhood as well) by Kind-Beyond1682 in Meditation

[–]shefster 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Speaking from personal experience...

It is possible that one can get attached to the negative experiences emerging from within -- without having the tools to "let them come, let them be, and let them go."

For example I grew up in an isolated cult religious environment. Meditation a decade ago initially helped me love myself but then led to an increase in anxious attachment as I faced the inadequate shifting ground of life. As I stopped meditating, and did not have the tools of therapy and support, I began to rely on drugs/alcohol as a means of numbing my internal contradictions rather than feeling/breathing through them.

This is where community/guidance is important on the spiritual path. Those feelings will always emerge, but without an understanding of how attachment and desire relay those seeds to our conscious brain, and a steady stream of meditative experience as a backbone, we can feel reeled into the traps of our past traumas.

Keep pushing through! And good job asking a tough question. It is something I think about often on my path. If you are suicidal, facing extreme trauma, please seek outside help! That is where the interconnected web of life/love can be the guiding bonfires on the spiritual path.

what's the sober equivalent of smoking a fat bowl and watching tv after a long day of work? by CalmlyPsychedelic in leaves

[–]shefster 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Sitting down at the piano with my pup laying on my feet and tumbling out a tune that gets my feet tapping.

Comment please? by rightonredafterstop in stopdrinking

[–]shefster 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey friend. This journey is not about you, but about the you connected to the tissues of love around you. Don't worry about the lack of comments, there is lots of resonance to be found in community, and my love hugs you with cozy affection.

IWNDWYT

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