Conversation

Jody

@Kalieezchild

Mar 29, 2018

Replying to

@misen__

@chagmed

and

@rubot

Sorry to be so abrupt. I’m trying to make that the old me, but it squeezes back through every now and then. 😔

Replying to

and

No need to say sorry Jody. I respect the position you and Chagmé are coming from; I just think we can be more adult about meditation practice. I’m sympathetic to the ‘so what’ school of thought - and yet taking that as a blanket approach might be a massive flaw in training.

Replying to

and

In fact, I’d say it’s a missed opportunity to not ignore it. It’s a different feature than the normal distracting thoughts and sensations, and thus affords a chance to lock in focus in a more rigorous setting, like jogging with leg weights.

Replying to

and

Sure, in that context of practice that could be a perfectly reasonable way to train. One could also do the exact opposite and open to the full vividness of subjective space-time in all its bizarre co-emergent transient glory. Both could be valid approaches, among others 🤷‍♂️

Replying to

I don't give a fuck what people tell me for practice if it works. I would sing mantras over a sheep's skull if it would do something fun. But it can be a bit rattling to see "practice this way only" stated when it can't possibly be an authoritative claim. Where are the results?

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I think if we limit the idea of meditation as being attentional training, we can say that it’s best to keep that as front and center in the practice, which means ignoring the fireworks at every opportunity. Meditation is more for many, so it’s not a blanket proscription.

Replying to

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Ignoring the fireworks, AFAIK, is standard to most. It's the approach to everything else that varies. Do you approach the Void, pull away from it, ignore it altogether, serenade it with songs...? Do you call the Void a thing or do you just think about Nibannah or flow? Etc.

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I mean, my ancestors seem to have been on the "work yourself into a trance and explore the astral plane with your ghost friends" track, so there's also that.

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is that why you're all alcoholics? is booze your Nordic ayahuasca?

Replying to

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Don't say that to anyone in Northern Norway if you have a dear relationship with your face. It's a good way to get in trouble. History: Norwegians seeded booze as a way to control Sami communities. With no cultural awareness of booze, so half the men became drunkards overnight.