[Becky CMember]

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[Becky CMember]

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[Becky CMember]

Salina, thanks for letting me know i didnt send it! Rewrote shorter version, i can see i sent nothing the first time.

Thanks again for responding, means alot:)
Wishing you happy training and a good day!

[Becky CMember]

So along with Culadasas statement I had been wanting to ask about accessing teachers in training because I had been building my foundation for about 12 weeks when I realized, I was scared to go very far with my mediation without an experienced person to run things by, if need be.

After reading most of The Mind Illuminated I now understand, 30 years ago I had a typical, usual pita experience that scared the crap out of me and I have not mediated deeply since then. I have been deepening my commitment to living the Dharma over the years and it was getting hard to avoid mediation! So I searched and found The Mind Illumanated.

So to finish this story…getting in a group with a teacher allowed a safe spot to relax and let the mediation happen, so far so good, nothing unusual, everything the book describes and the antidotes work. knowing there is backup that knows what they are doing makes all the difference, I can see how at least some of my sub minds are not going to let us proceed without being able to access competent help if needed, they are very wise sometimes:)

So now that I have tried it with and without support I can see it can be done alone, and with forums, but probably way more skillful to have support. …which brings me to the teacher in training page with profiles…I read them first thing when joining, profiles were very good, but for me to contact anyone I would need more practical information, if I was totally desperate I would do it with the info provided but it would be a last resort:) and just speaking for myself….erring on the side of too much info works, I want to find common ground so throwing in a bunch of stuff, more likely to find that, Hope this helps, I see a bunch of people needing and wanting help on forums and has always been hard for me to watch people wanting help and not knowing how to access it, and now I have taken vows to help all sentient beings sooo when they can come here and easily access it, I will feel better! It is getting hectic in the trenches

Julian, thanks so much for responding means a lot and love how you did your profile picture:) Yes, those QandAs…I like that it links many of us that are currently into studying The Mind Illuminated with Culadasa and each other, it helps my motivation and seeing the bigger picture. I had been thinking how to show respect for this man that is leading so many of us on a path toward enlightenment (if we choose) so when he answered, help Dharma Treasure, the teachers and teachers in training it was great, I thought, I might be able to do that! I will give it a go:) it is cool knowing you were there too! I may take you up on the video chatting, I am learning to embrace it:). It is a brave new world. Thank you for explaining that all this is being addressed, helps to understand that, I can see the dilemma of what to focus on in forum.

Salina, I sent you am email, please let me know if it didn’t get there and I forgot to formally end it, McDonald’s was wild! I would love to be involved in any capacity, I was really into peer support in the old days I love it, thank you for doing this for all of us. Happy learning and teaching to you both

[Becky CMember]

Thank you for your responses, absolutely what I was wishing for, a beginning conversation that helps us all:) It is so reassuring and reinforces my trust in this system that you all are in the planning stages of ways to connect, some subminds love hearing about tools and resources! Ironically I am in McDonalds and so many people are on vidieo chats, I cant concentrate so will respond to you all later, thanks, thanks, thanks!

[Becky CMember]

‘So another quick question inevitably is, apart from checking in more often, any tips for spotting / avoiding dullness???!!!”

I got alot out of following article i was linked to on a question on dullness

https://dharmatreasure.org/on-mindful-awareness-vs-dullness/

[Becky CMember]

Bernadette,

“Is it true to say that introspective awareness includes the sensations of anything i perceive from outside and inside me at the same time?”
I believe introspective awareness is stuff inside us and extrospective outside, external (sights sounds smells)

Is my purpose to be splitting my attention between my breath primarily and all other sensations secondarily and at the same time maintaining awareness that that is exactly what I am doing”
I believe in the beginning this is so.

I have been sitting regularly for two years but using TMI only for the past 3 or so months. Something good is definitely happening going by my daily experiences off the cushion but i have no idea when im in the right space or not once I turn my attention/ awareness inwards.” i am having the same off cushion experience if quality if life improving and i dont know the termanology!

Wishing you good fortune!

[Becky CMember]

Prashant,
So glad you asked, this is right where i am in training also. I am not a teacher in training or anything. And i really have no idea the answer to your questions, but it got me to go back and read and practice so i thank u!

“Also,how does checking in strengthen awareness? So when i just did the checking in, my attention started staying on the breath because it knew awareness was coming to check on it and it was easier to just stay on the breathe than get caught by awareness and have to go back anyway. Facsinating!

Looking forward to what others understanding is especually about submind questions.

Hope your day is good. Happy learning!

[Becky CMember]

Mary Hill, it is really reassuring to hear that the 6 point prep and 4 step transition are essential to your practice, i am almost to where they feel natural😍 page numbers are awesome, thank you, just reviewed that i was on right track 👍

JC, i like having questions to ponder thanks for pisting. Upon thinking about the results of mindfulness in the past and now i believe it is the intention that is changing what is coming out of it. In the past i did it for peace primarily and that was the result. I just finished a 12 week course with sravasti abby tibetian buddhism where a altruistic motivation is taught for liberation. I do believe changing my motivation is changing the results, pretty cool!

[Becky CMember]

Me too!! THANK-YOU Culadasa, Blake and all 😍

It means so much to have a solid system in place ❤

[Becky CMember]

Nick,
“Previously, I would view meditation as something which is unpleasant but worth it given the benefits, not unlike performing exercise that you don’t like. ” I was laughing 😄 you describe it so well, this is exactly how I felt. I had been making t more and more miserable over time till I would stop, now reading the book I see how many things I was doing wrong.

I am doing many of the ideas Fredrick and JC listed, in the beginning here, I am not worried about much other than making it pleasant and wanting to do it again later. My sessions are short right now but a few times a day. I am not worried abut progressing anywhere, I am being pretty silly about it really celebrating in my mind when I remember to come back to breathe. Being really thank ful I have this opportunity to learn this stuff, and using it throughout my day, making happiness a priority, learning to make it a state of mind.

In just finishing up the reading of the book, one thing I am concentrating on is the big picture. There is a lot to learn and practice but the intention of the whole endeavor is to make us powerfully functioning humans, so I want to learn to embrace it all not shut down, grin and bear it, survive like I have spent many years. I want to learn about this joy thing, we all deserve it we are working really hard!

Wishing you the best

[Becky CMember]

JC, great question, got me thinking. It is actually somewhat hard for me to answer, other than mediation and mindfulness make everything real and satisfying. I realized awhile back I would rather have a mundane day of mindfulness than a day packed with all my favorite things to do, but done without mindfulness.

In the beginning mindfulness gave me the ability to witness my emotions and not react automatically like you said. It gave me peace, I learned how to relax. It helped me interpersonally to assess and be more skillful. It really made the world alive and interesting, because I was taking a break from running my story in my head. I like myself and people, I was friendly and the world was friendlier too!

It has been really fascinating this last six weeks learning Culadasas methods, I almost done reading the book. I first learned that what I experienced thirty years ago in mediation that made me stop, was normal. I have been scared to do much at all since then itch mediation. I had the electric feeling, tons of energy, felt connected to everything, scared the heck out of me! I had no one to run it by. Now I see it was no big deal 😳

So this time what mindfulness and mediation are providing is the chance to see clearly. I am kind blown away by the clarity that came very quickly. I think I have been preparing for quite awhile and Culadasas method provide enough structure and saftey for me relax and let things be:) For example I can see i want to do everything I can to make things right with my sister. Listening to my story has made me ignorant of her needs. I am waiting though, learning mindful review, more time in this, people to run it by before I approach her. That is just one example. It makes life interesting and fulfilling!

[Becky CMember]

Mimi, Falling asleep will be the perfect time for mantra:) it is soothing, keeps mind busy like you said. I had been looking for a way to incorparate mantra practice. Thanks for.taking the time to respond, wishing you lots of satisfaction in your yoga and teacher training.

[Becky CMember]

JC, i appreciate all thnking on my ill pharsed question! So nice to have people and not just books and talks to process this undertaking with.

I was responding to fredricks very relevant question that really made me think about what i was asking.
He has offered us some really solid advice, i am working on a format so i can do my minful review each day, i can see for me this sort of exercise will decrease chances of a dark night type thing, as will having people on the path to talk to, so thanks for any input. I am getting ready to head to tuscon area and camp at national forest cohise stronghold campground so i will hopefully be able to meet some real live tmi practioners:)

[Becky CMember]

JC,thats great to hear, no negetive effects, congrats on three months in. Yes i think you are right routine is key.

Fredrick, thank you for link, it answered my concern, i was worried i may be training myself in dullness but this explains the difference.

I was asking primarily about practice while falling asleep. Realized people that are mediating alot my have come up with practices around sleep.

Thanks so much!

“It can also be very helpful to meditate while going to sleep at night, and to observe the transition from wakeful alertness, through subtle dullness, strong dullness and then sleep, a transition that can occur either quickly or slowly. Learning about mindful awareness vs dullness is only one of many benefits to be derived from meditating while going to sleep (and immediately upon waking, and there are some special features to these two meditations that are a topic for another time). But anyone can benefit from simply observing the mind while observing the breath while going to sleep”

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