The White Belt

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Posts posted by The White Belt

  1. Posted

    My subtle addiction is my smart phone.

    When I am watching a film I am thinking about what is going on with my phone.

    I am thinking about Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp.

    I like the feeling when I get a 'Like' on something, I get a little hit of serotonin.

    I am on my phone too much, I can replace the time with more mindfulness. 

    How can I break out of the chains of my subtle addiction?

  7. Posted · Edited by The White Belt

    Imagine you are going on a long journey.

    Only in this journey you are refusing to use any maps, any gps, any signposts. You are going to have an absolute mess of a journey, and will go back on yourself endlessly.

    Now imagine the same journey. This time you won't take your eyes off your gps and maps. What was the point? Even if you get to your destination, you have missed all the beauty of the journey, you failed to be mindful and you missed the brushing of the wind on your face, the glow of the sun. You might as well not have even began your journey.

    The journey is self actualisation.

    Balance my friend. 

  11. Posted

    Hi all.

    I'm an actor and have been working on a theatre production for three months.

    We are almost there and ready to take it in front of an audience after this week which is final dress and technical rehearsals.

    My issue is that I feel very tired (probably due to stress), I am having nightmares, I am overthinking all that can mess up during the show, and I am getting resistance to the last minute work. 

    Any advice?

    Thanks 

  13. Posted

    Hi.

    I'll start with some background on my practice. 

    I started about two/three years ago but it was on and off, so then I decided to commit to a daily practice, and I haven't missed a day in about ten months. I sit for one session of 45 minutes in the morning before breakfast in the weekdays, or before I leave he house on weekends. 

    But this last month my sittings have been so messy. I'm caught up in stories almost constantly, feels as though I'm barely mindful, I scratch as soon as I need to without being able to stop myself and I crick my neck. Just last month I could sit mostly still and I could count my breath and bring myself back from the mind chatter really well and it was more efficient.

    I think one thing is that I'm really excited and happy about the progress of my life purpose and this excitement is spilling into my practice. I'm mostly planning my lp during meditation.

    It's starting to feel like a bit of a waste of time. Is this normal after 10 months, is this apart of the growth? Is it good? 

    Thanks. 

  14. Posted

    Google: Do not cast your pearls before swine definition. Do not waste good things on people who will not appreciate them. This proverb is adapted from a saying of Jesus from the Gospels, “Cast not pearls before swine.” Jesus appears to be warning his disciples to preach only before receptive audiences. 

     

    OMG I learned a great new philosophy. Thanks Jesus! 

  17. Posted

    @Leo Gura It seems to simplistic to say this. 

    On one hand I do know what you mean. Millions after millions of people take the moralistic teachings of their religions and leave out all of the wisdom, insight, consciousness and enlightenment-based teachings, but with Buddhism the loving-kindness and compassion teachings are so very central. 

    I don't know, but the Buddha himself seemed like such an intelligent person, with a real desire for people to awaken and not just philosophize about it, so I doubt he'll put many things in there for you to hide away from awakening, throwing no bones for people and saying 'if you don't want liberation, just be a kind person'. Why would he put the fat trimmings right in the meat of the teachings? Just doesn't add up.

  18. Posted

    Why do you believe that Buddhism has such an emphasis on kindness and compassion to others? 

    Most of the noble eight-fold path is based around this.

    I'm reading a book by Thich Naht Hanh and he talks a lot about compassionately listening to others and speaking nicely to them.

    Is there anything else in Buddhism that talks specifically about why it's important on the way to enlightenment, and why do you personally think so?

  19. Posted

    Sorry but if you've started meditating a week ago. You're not having paranormal experiences. You're trying to feel like something is happening because you've read about it somewhere, and you want your experience to feel strange or trippy so you feel like others have reported feeling. Either your trying to make something happen, or your just a little paranoid. No need to do anything, just carry on with the meditation and stop trying to make it into something more special. 

  20. Posted

    I want to be an actor.

    It seems like actors have to play with their own emotions a lot and feed themselves thoughts. Is this an anti-spiritual thing to do? Will it cause suffering and 

    will it undo meditation progress?

    Can acting be a spiritual profession? If so, how?

    Also in terms of time, an actor needs to put so much work into what they do, and they need to work very long days. Any tips on how to find time for meditation during hectic schedules? 

     Any help is appreciated. 

  23. Posted

    ..during seated meditation. 

    I prop a folded towel beneath the back half of my zafu to help keep my back straight.

    My back is nice and straight for about the first 5-10 minutes of my meditation and then after that it feels like my back is completed hunched over.

    I reajust and then after another 5-10 minutes it's hunched again.

    I have to constantly keep re-ajusting.

    I sometimes let my back my hunched for a longer period but then it starts to ache.

    I stretch my back and legs before I meditate also.

    What should I do?