FYI: I'm leading a Zen Peacemakers event, which is free and coming up soon. Title: Meeting Life's Challenges with Equanimity & Compassion Date: January 15th, 2025 hive.zenpeacemakers.org/events/159992
This is what happened to me…. Late 1990’s and had never even heard of a sangha. But, I began meditating and I had an awakening. Nirvana. My thoughts floated by me as though they were clouds in the sky at night. My life was so serene….Then my life changed and I was desperately needed by someone. I stopped meditating, finished college and devoted my life to him and his family... 25 years later, I now realize how important it was so, I’m meditating again and have joined a sangha. I don’t expect to have that experience again. I only hope to bring more clarity and balance to my life and to those around me. 🙏
Sensei Stephen Mugen Synder 🙏 *_Awakening_* in the context of Zen is - *_sudden_* - from my own experiences; After practicing it thru' the years & had experienced a few stunning wake-ups along the way, and is still practicing it to go deeper realization - the journey is endless deepening! I would like to express & share it here - short, in my case in my own words, as below. _There are no masters nor followers;_ _No one to teach & nothing to learn;_ _The Noble Teachings are Pathless;_ _To whom whose mind is abideless;_ _Realize the Dharma in a single flash;_ _Is the Open Secret of Zen practices!_ Sadhu Sadhu 😊🙏🙇♂️🌷
Your channel just landed in my feed and I’m grateful for it. I appreciate your message and delivery. I’m 53, got sober 10 years ago using 12 step process. At 6 months sober had a huge something happen. There have been several peak experiences along the way. Some included hysterical laughter like upon arriving home I found I’d never left and a few which included deep, sobbing tears. A couple includes both. The last few years I’ve been in a dead zone. No joy, lots of tremendous irritability, deep dark depressions and just wanting it all to be over. That’s not necessarily a new experience as following the first of over a dozen major concussions at age 9, suicidal thoughts, feelings and ideations have been present since then, at 9 years old. I’ve tried all the things, therapy, medications, EMDR, psychedelics and on and on. I’ve concluded it must be the frontal lobe brain damage that resulted from one of those head injuries. Anyway, I’ve been chasing this “awakening” for 10 years. All the peak experiences etc came and went. None of them stabilized. I meditate daily, usually morning and night. I’ve listened to thousands of hours of UA-cams and 50 different “teachers” and I’m over it. Meditations have been dead, life is dead, joyless and boring. I don’t get it. Catholic school terrified us kids with programming our minds with terrifying fears of devils and eternal torture etc. They loaded on guilt and shame everyday. All that stuff still plays on in the felt sense and thoughts here. It won’t leave me alone. So that’s where I’m at. Appreciate your talks.
You touched me and thank you for your sharing. I am 63 years old and have been meditating for years and if you look at my life from the outside - you can envy me. But inside me there are long periods when it's just bad, very bad. Sometimes there are moments and even days when I'm fine. I long ago gave up the idea that enlightenment or awakening would 'save' me from myself. I try to enjoy the good moments and try to be in the moment and in the present even in the hard times. My biggest success - I am no longer angry with myself during periods of anxiety and/or depression. Just trying to be in them and accept them too.
A dozen major concussions at age 9? What on earth kind of childhood trauma are you dealing with? And how do you see that "you are what you're looking for"? Do you still believe that with all the pain you have seen, are seeing?
🙏The daigp-tettei is the equivalent to the non duel realization, when the (thought) filters that create a belief you're someone on a world in space and time are almost entirely peeled away. There may still be shadow work to do but at that point you're abiding in the zero. Leading up to the non duel realization there can be significant shifts in perception and identity as those filters peel off. By that stage it's clear there's no 'you' doing it: form appears spontaneously from nowhere and goes nowhere. 🙏
I’ve been a big fan of your work for a long time and have your books. Im a father of 3 who lives in Nebraska and has no access to a teacher or sangha. Is there any way to connect w you and your community by chance? What are the chances of me being able to train under you?
Please see my website. I work with students over Zoom (one-on-ones, mentoring groups, daylongs, monthly Sangha gathering, etc). Also, there is free Zen Peacemakers event January 15th you can register for.
Question: during the centuries, and especially in the last century, have people blown out of all proportion their expectations of what an Enlightenment experience is? We have all seen the movies and the guy sitting on a lotus, and floating in a purple fog amongst dancing angels and what have you... trumpets and drums for the soundtrack. There is a sort of mythology and imagery created, that generates a certain kind of impossible expectation. An expectation of the extraordinary and of the miraculous in various shades of pastel purple. Ramana Maharshi had an experience. It changed him. People found out about it, and because they wanted the same experience but couldn't get it, they shoved him onto a marble pedestal (couch) so that they can bow before him and ask for a blessing. A pedestal because he needed to be set aside from the masses, and slightly above them, so that people had something to worship, look up to... and idolise? It is the same when you decide to go to a teacher. He will immediately tell you that this is a very long road, and that you need to show dedication and patience because it will take a lifetime, but in the end you will get the graduation diploma. And guess what... an expectation has been created a road has been mapped in just a few words. The seeker was told what is expected of him, and how his road should be... They planned it for you, and your subconscious went "AHA, that is how this road needs to be made to feel... hard, long, and the end of it is several lifetimes away. The Master said so". Am I mistaken in thinking this?
By the way, Carl Jung traveled to India. Ramana Maharshi was old but still alive at that time. Dr. Jung was aware of who he was, and yet he refused to travel to Tiruvannamalai to meet him. Personally, I would have liked for those two Great Souls to have met, and for me to read the story, but I understand why professor Jung refused to meet him. By that time, a big cult of worship has grown around the Maharishi. Bhakti. From what I understand, Ramana disliked it, but allowed it because some people followed that path, and all paths are equally valid and equally incomplete. Jung was the best psychoanalyst in the world at that time. For him to meet Bhagavan would have been to psychoanalyze him. That was in his nature, it would have been automatic. I think that is why he didn't go to see him. They say you should never meet your heroes... or a patient you shouldn't analise.
Can authentic awakening process take place in a way where it's hard to distinguish markers? Can it occur by slight degrees, such that a 'first awakening' is impossible to pinpoint? Can it be so incremental and smooth that the usual features you talk about, do not come about as identifiable 'events'? Assuming that questioning could confirm where the process stands at a given point, is this other, slow unfolding a form that awakening can take?
I have heard teachers talk about a very subtle, gradual ripening in place of the more pronounced experience that is characteristic of most people. I have not met anyone who appeared to be in that category.
FYI: I'm leading a Zen Peacemakers event, which is free and coming up soon.
Title: Meeting Life's Challenges with Equanimity & Compassion
Date: January 15th, 2025
hive.zenpeacemakers.org/events/159992
This is what happened to me…. Late 1990’s and had never even heard of a sangha. But, I began meditating and I had an awakening. Nirvana. My thoughts floated by me as though they were clouds in the sky at night. My life was so serene….Then my life changed and I was desperately needed by someone. I stopped meditating, finished college and devoted my life to him and his family... 25 years later, I now realize how important it was so, I’m meditating again and have joined a sangha. I don’t expect to have that experience again. I only hope to bring more clarity and balance to my life and to those around me. 🙏
Sensei Stephen Mugen Synder 🙏
*_Awakening_* in the context of Zen is - *_sudden_* - from my own experiences;
After practicing it thru' the years & had experienced a few stunning wake-ups along the way, and is still practicing it to go deeper realization - the journey is endless deepening!
I would like to express & share it here - short, in my case in my own words, as below.
_There are no masters nor followers;_
_No one to teach & nothing to learn;_
_The Noble Teachings are Pathless;_
_To whom whose mind is abideless;_
_Realize the Dharma in a single flash;_
_Is the Open Secret of Zen practices!_
Sadhu Sadhu 😊🙏🙇♂️🌷
Where does your food come from?
Someone is standing outside my house!
Your channel just landed in my feed and I’m grateful for it. I appreciate your message and delivery.
I’m 53, got sober 10 years ago using 12 step process.
At 6 months sober had a huge something happen.
There have been several peak experiences along the way. Some included hysterical laughter like upon arriving home I found I’d never left and a few which included deep, sobbing tears.
A couple includes both.
The last few years I’ve been in a dead zone. No joy, lots of tremendous irritability, deep dark depressions and just wanting it all to be over. That’s not necessarily a new experience as following the first of over a dozen major concussions at age 9, suicidal thoughts, feelings and ideations have been present since then, at 9 years old. I’ve tried all the things, therapy, medications, EMDR, psychedelics and on and on. I’ve concluded it must be the frontal lobe brain damage that resulted from one of those head injuries.
Anyway, I’ve been chasing this “awakening” for 10 years. All the peak experiences etc came and went. None of them stabilized.
I meditate daily, usually morning and night. I’ve listened to thousands of hours of UA-cams and 50 different “teachers” and I’m over it.
Meditations have been dead, life is dead, joyless and boring.
I don’t get it.
Catholic school terrified us kids with programming our minds with terrifying fears of devils and eternal torture etc.
They loaded on guilt and shame everyday.
All that stuff still plays on in the felt sense and thoughts here.
It won’t leave me alone.
So that’s where I’m at.
Appreciate your talks.
You touched me and thank you for your sharing. I am 63 years old and have been meditating for years and if you look at my life from the outside - you can envy me. But inside me there are long periods when it's just bad, very bad. Sometimes there are moments and even days when I'm fine. I long ago gave up the idea that enlightenment or awakening would 'save' me from myself. I try to enjoy the good moments and try to be in the moment and in the present even in the hard times. My biggest success - I am no longer angry with myself during periods of anxiety and/or depression. Just trying to be in them and accept them too.
A dozen major concussions at age 9? What on earth kind of childhood trauma are you dealing with? And how do you see that "you are what you're looking for"? Do you still believe that with all the pain you have seen, are seeing?
If you are inclined, you can sign up for a free 15-minute 1-1 with me on my website awakeningdharma.org
thanks. You are always so real, clear and precise
You're welcome!
🙏The daigp-tettei is the equivalent to the non duel realization, when the (thought) filters that create a belief you're someone on a world in space and time are almost entirely peeled away. There may still be shadow work to do but at that point you're abiding in the zero. Leading up to the non duel realization there can be significant shifts in perception and identity as those filters peel off. By that stage it's clear there's no 'you' doing it: form appears spontaneously from nowhere and goes nowhere. 🙏
I’ve been a big fan of your work for a long time and have your books. Im a father of 3 who lives in Nebraska and has no access to a teacher or sangha. Is there any way to connect w you and your community by chance? What are the chances of me being able to train under you?
Please see my website. I work with students over Zoom (one-on-ones, mentoring groups, daylongs, monthly Sangha gathering, etc). Also, there is free Zen Peacemakers event January 15th you can register for.
That's quite the ammo clip vest.
Question: during the centuries, and especially in the last century, have people blown out of all proportion their expectations of what an Enlightenment experience is? We have all seen the movies and the guy sitting on a lotus, and floating in a purple fog amongst dancing angels and what have you... trumpets and drums for the soundtrack. There is a sort of mythology and imagery created, that generates a certain kind of impossible expectation. An expectation of the extraordinary and of the miraculous in various shades of pastel purple. Ramana Maharshi had an experience. It changed him. People found out about it, and because they wanted the same experience but couldn't get it, they shoved him onto a marble pedestal (couch) so that they can bow before him and ask for a blessing. A pedestal because he needed to be set aside from the masses, and slightly above them, so that people had something to worship, look up to... and idolise?
It is the same when you decide to go to a teacher. He will immediately tell you that this is a very long road, and that you need to show dedication and patience because it will take a lifetime, but in the end you will get the graduation diploma. And guess what... an expectation has been created a road has been mapped in just a few words. The seeker was told what is expected of him, and how his road should be... They planned it for you, and your subconscious went "AHA, that is how this road needs to be made to feel... hard, long, and the end of it is several lifetimes away. The Master said so". Am I mistaken in thinking this?
By the way, Carl Jung traveled to India. Ramana Maharshi was old but still alive at that time. Dr. Jung was aware of who he was, and yet he refused to travel to Tiruvannamalai to meet him. Personally, I would have liked for those two Great Souls to have met, and for me to read the story, but I understand why professor Jung refused to meet him. By that time, a big cult of worship has grown around the Maharishi. Bhakti. From what I understand, Ramana disliked it, but allowed it because some people followed that path, and all paths are equally valid and equally incomplete. Jung was the best psychoanalyst in the world at that time. For him to meet Bhagavan would have been to psychoanalyze him. That was in his nature, it would have been automatic. I think that is why he didn't go to see him. They say you should never meet your heroes... or a patient you shouldn't analise.
..so sunya is the end or the final stop with which we actually get off the karma bus? ✨
Can authentic awakening process take place in a way where it's hard to distinguish markers? Can it occur by slight degrees, such that a 'first awakening' is impossible to pinpoint? Can it be so incremental and smooth that the usual features you talk about, do not come about as identifiable 'events'? Assuming that questioning could confirm where the process stands at a given point, is this other, slow unfolding a form that awakening can take?
I have heard teachers talk about a very subtle, gradual ripening in place of the more pronounced experience that is characteristic of most people. I have not met anyone who appeared to be in that category.
@@stephensnyderdharma Interesting. That makes me wonder about my experience. I wonder if you would be able to assess in a 25 minute 1 on 1?
👨🎨👍🎉💫
What happened to nonconceptual thinking
boring 🙏