MJD’s Comments (group member since Aug 18, 2018)

MJD’s comments from the Secular Sangha: A Secular Buddhist Group group.

Use this thread to discuss Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the discussion on the concept of enlightenment in the epilogue. I like his initial skepticism, saying: "Why am I wrong to think enlightenment is this weird piece of [bs] baked into this otherwise really helpful program?" He goes on to say that some researchers into meditation think that "mindfulness... [can] potentially lead all the way to the definitive uprooting of negative emotions (in other words, enlightenment)."

For myself, at this time I do not entirely believe that full-on enlightenment is a thing. But I think that it is worthwhile to strive after it.

Just got done with On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason by Arthur Schopenhauer. In the introduction to the re-release of the book, in which a much older Schopenhauer re-wrote parts of this book that a much younger Schopenhauer wrote, he stated that the re-issue is like an old and bitter man reading the book of a young idealist guy out-loud and pausing at times to go on some bitter diatribe. Having read it I would like to say that I completely agree, and that it made things interesting.

I also like how he was rather over the top about his love of Kant and hatred of Hegel, showing passion unlike any philosopher that I've read besides Nietzsche.

Overall, 85% of the book reads like it was written by Kant while calm and 15% of it reads like it was written by Nietzsche while angry.

Here is a video that follows the Buddhist content in the book closely: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tilBs...

John wrote: "I’m a little confused with the suggestion

“if something pulls you away [during meditation] - or if you happen to notice something subtly interfering with your experience - get curious about that ..."

Just guessing here, but it may be a way to constructively use thinking as a temporary tool to get across the obstacle.

It reminds me of the parable of the raft, pasted below from: https://preciousmetal.wordpress.com/2...

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The Raft, a Buddhist Parable
JULY 7, 2010
tags: parable
by Nate DeMontigny

"A man is trapped on one side of a fast-flowing river. Where he stands, there is great danger and uncertainty – but on the far side of the river, there is safety.
Yet there is no bridge or ferry for crossing. So the man gathers logs, leaves and vines and is able to fashion together a raft, sturdy enough to carry him. By lying on the raft and using his arms to paddle, he crosses the river to safety.
The Buddha then asks the listeners a question: What would you think if the man, having crossed over the river, then said to himself, ‘Oh, this raft has served me so well, I should strap it on to my back and carry it over land now’?
The monks replied that it would not be very sensible to cling to the raft in such a way.
The Buddha continues: What if he lay the raft down gratefully, thinking that this raft has served him well, but is no longer of use and can thus be laid down upon the shore?
The monks replied that this would be the proper attitude.
The Buddha concluded by saying, ‘So it is with my teachings, which are like a raft, and are for crossing over with — not for seizing hold of.’"

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Going off the parable, I think that the thinking involved in the suggestion could serve as a useful tool to be used for a specific purpose and then abandoned once the purpose is fulfilled.

Piyangie wrote: "Thank you MJD for your information and advice. I listened to the link you have posted on the other thread. I will try again to do the breathing meditation in this new way."

Hope it helps.

Also, I want to let you know that I still struggle with meditation; and to be honest, it can be unpleasant at times (though I have encountered pleasant states of immediate contentment during sessions as well). For me meditation is not ultimately about the "altered states" during meditation, but rather it is for the "altered traits" that a sustained meditation practice can produce.

If you are having trouble staying on a meditation regiment it may be good to look up and remind yourself of long term benefits that it may have (sort of like how thinking about the long term benefits of exercise can keep you working out even when you don't feel like it in the moment). You can read about this concept in the group book Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body, and you can listen to the writers of the book discussing this concept in the following link (note: even though you can learn a lot of what's in the book from the podcast episode, I would still encourage you to get the book as well): https://samharris.org/podcasts/111-sc...

Just got done with Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant. If you are a fan of David Hume I recommend reading this book. Though be warned, Kant is a lot harder to read than Hume.

Piyangie wrote: "MJD, if you don't mind me asking, can you explain to me the sort of mindfulness you are practicing?"

While sitting, I try to focus on the process of breathing. Also, when random thoughts occur I try to just observe them - not focus on them - and (hopefully) allow them to disappear as they appeared; and then I return focus on the breath.

My practice is influenced by what I've read from several of the books I've read, but mostly from Dan Harris and Sam Harris.

For a guided meditation for the kind of meditation that I practice I would advocate for the 8 minute 53 second one (I give the time because there are two guided meditations with different times on the link) on this link: https://samharris.org/podcasts/mindfu...

[Note: Even if you are not into guided meditations, I would recommend listening to the audio on the link because I think that it would give you a better idea of the kind of mindfulness that I am practicing.]

Piyangie wrote: "I used to do breathing meditation few years back. I had a hard time in keeping my mind with my breathing. My mind wanders and all nonsensical thoughts come to my mind. I was frustrated and gave up...."

I used to have the same problem and gave up on it a few years ago, but then I got back into it due to what I read from Dan Harris in the group books 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works and Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book.

That is, Dan points out that just noticing the way that the mind is cluttered can be beneficial. As such, while I still try to focus on the breath and not cling to random thoughts, noticing the random thoughts has been incorporated as an assistance - not a hindrance - to my renewed practice.

Also, I've found through more reading on the subject that this experience by you (and me) is a common one, and it goes by many names such as "monkey mind." I would encourage you to google the term "monkey mind" and find some advice online that works for you.

Last Session of Mindfulness/Vipassana Meditation: 5 minutes
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Total Time in Mindfulness/Vipassana Meditation: 7 hours 00 minutes

John wrote: "MJD wrote: "One of my favorite quotes is the following from the "Sutra of the Forty-Two Sections":

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"Buddha said: There are twenty di..."

Good question.

When I posted the quote I thought that the bulk of it had good advice for positive mind-states to strive after, but in retrospect I don't think I fully evaluated the part that you have pointed out.

When I tried to find another translation for some assistance I found this version that seems to be very different: "It is difficult to be thorough in learning and exhaustive in investigation" ( http://buddhasutra.com/files/forty-tw... ). This alternative translation seems to just be encouraging good scholarship.

John wrote: "MJD wrote: "Here is another app for meditation that seems interesting: https://www.10percenthappier.com/mind...

[note: I have not used it personally so my message should ..."

It is amazing how cluttered the mind can be.

I found this website of the author's interesting: https://www.stephenbatchelor.org/inde...

John wrote: "I listened to this podcast today: https://www.artofmanliness.com/articl...

Didn't even realize that it was one of your suggestions.

I'll be looking for Harris' boo..."

I generally see myself aligning with the perspective that Dan Harris and Sam Harris take on meditation and Buddhist concepts (though both do seem to differ a bit, as Dan seems to have more of a non-religious perspective and Sam seems to have more of an anti-religious perspective).

John wrote: "My library has it. I'll be checking it out as soon as I finish Cosmos."

I hope you find things in it that are helpful for you.

I found these study tools on this web-page interesting:

https://www.stephenbatchelor.org/inde...

I found this Joe Rogan podcast episode with Dan Harris interesting.

http://podcasts.joerogan.net/podcasts...

I found this Joe Rogan podcast episode with Dan Harris interesting.

http://podcasts.joerogan.net/podcasts...

I am also interested in the concept that one should focus on changing one's outlook on life.

As it says in the group book Great Thinkers: Simple Tools from 60 Great Thinkers to Improve Your Life Today :

"The Buddha thus made the remarkable claim that we must change our outlook, not our circumstances. We are unhappy not because we don't have a raise or a lover or enough followers, but because we are greedy, vain and insecure. By reorienting our mind, we can grow to be content."

For me, this idea is best encapsulated in the "Parable of the Mustard Seed", which can be found in the group book The Gospel of Buddha and in the following link: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/btg/b...

Recently read THE IMMORTAL UPANISHADS by BHABANI SHANKAR ACHARYA.

I've been waiting for a free kindle version of at least a few Upanishads for a while now, and quickly got this book when it became available. Though it did not include all the Upanishads, it did seem to include passages that were referenced in several group books,such as Metaphor and Literalism in Buddhism: The Doctrinal History of Nirvana and Oriental Mythology: The Masks of God.

My main interest this is because Arthur Schopenhauer, one of my favorite philosophers, supposedly drew a lot of inspiration from it. Having read this book I can see why he liked it.