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December 29, 2025 at 6:56 am #453496
RobertaParticipantHi James
You said that you found that a life of fame & fortune etc did not bring lasting or much happiness. My words “sickened with samsara you searched & found…….thru a combination of psycadelics & meditation ie getting to the destination using a jet plane. Now what? you wish to share & help others?
I choose to walk the journey & may or may not get there, as I see it the path & destination are one but not the same.I hope you find a skillful way to show/impart any kernels of truths in a compassionate & timely manner to those that can see & understand in a compassionate & timely manner.
December 29, 2025 at 2:00 am #453493
RobertaParticipantDear Squiggly pop
There are definitely some interesting dynamics going on for you City, parents, job, & relationship.
Has there ever been a place you have visited that you felt deeply connected to? If so there is a lovely website called workaway where you can either choose & or a location /job you fancy having a go at. Then you stay with real people & get bed & board in exchange for about 20+hrs a week work so it is a mini living experience rather than the unreality of a vacation experience.
Do you have siblings? If so now might be a good time to have “The Conversation” of who is going to do what & when around your ageing parents care needs. If no-one is going to step up, then most if not all of their assets will be needed to take care of them & the children may even also have to help out financially.
If you start to think of a romantic relationship as a bonus to your general sense of wellbeing /happiness rather than foundational to your happiness there will be more joy & less loneliness in your current life. Chemically nearly everyday we have a dip in our moods once you can see/pinpoint it then it is easier to accept & see it as part of life’s natural rhythm.
Assess what is truly important, the kind of job you want , is it for status, large financial gain, are you concerned at all about the ethics around of the line of work you want to do?
Kind regards
RobertaDecember 28, 2025 at 2:01 am #453440
RobertaParticipantDear James
this is part of your quote dated 27/12/25 ego can’t even see what is even written on the post because of pre judgement.
So you mistaking me for Thomas & Anita for Alessa over the last few days was that your ego at play? or is it just a human quirky thing, I often get my sons names mixed up even when they are standing in front of me(Ego, brain fart who knows?) & who is the who that knows?
What is conscious, mind, soul? what happens to them when the physical body dies or even before the body is born? Science & philosophers & sages have pondered this over the millennia.
I guess in the meantime being a bear of very little brain I will just try to concentrate on being kind with a dash of inquisitiveness & try not to do too much damage to my self or others.
Regards
RobertaDecember 26, 2025 at 1:20 pm #453379
RobertaParticipantHi James
Have you happiness in your life now? What changes did you make to your lifestyle after you came out of retreat? Can you still access that infinitenessness of love, intelligence & nothing?
Can I ask what do you mean by nothing? ie no hatred, envy, greed, no obstructions to the truth of reality?
Regards RobertaDecember 26, 2025 at 1:48 am #453352
RobertaParticipantDear James
You say no one supported you. so you gathered a years worth of food, toilet roll etc all in one go & just ate raw?
The person i knew -Lhundrop is/was a monk , he spent time renovating a small space & someone from the monastery came up with food & left it in a darkened antichamber a small number of us donated a little each month to help cover his food costs.
I did a 3 month solo retreat for 5 days a week, I could not afford or get time off, but I was doing 2 nightshifts, so I could do my practice between rounds & kept the retreatant mind whilst still performing my tasks & did mantra when walking from my hut to work & back. My son cooked & shopped for me I am still so grateful to him for the opportunity he gave me.
We were advised that although there can be some amazing experiences during meditation they are not the purpose of meditation as one can easily get sidetracked by them, & start to crave them & will not ultimately lead to enlightenment.
My experiences were not as lifechanging as yours. But I do get little glimpses of what you are alluding to ( words are a poor substitute for the real experience) & ponder on these things from time to time.
Is it true that the effect of psychedelics can stay in the brain & lead to flash backs years later?
Kind regards
RobertaDecember 25, 2025 at 2:22 pm #453336
RobertaParticipantDear James
A year in the dark & meditating 8-9hours a day that is a very rare achievement. Who supported you in this endeavor?
I know of one other person who has attempted this, but I do not know what their outcome was.
What teachings/training did you receive to support you thru this?
At the monastery there was a nun who would be the safekeeper for people attempting dark retreats if I remember correctly those were for a maximum of three months, she said many people quit just after a few days because of its intensity.
Have you done any other retreats? I know that for me & others coming out of even short retreats, the outside world can initially feel fast paced & very superficial.
Kind regards
RobertaDecember 15, 2025 at 11:56 pm #453011
RobertaParticipantDear Anita
That was interesting about the deep seatedness of if X is this then Y has to be that.
What do you believe good is? & how do you manifest it? This may help you clarify & reinforce the neural pathways you want to cultivate.
Does drawing/painting & or physically writing with a pen help?
For me visualization & mantra are a good medium to counteract negativity that arises in my mind & helps me move forward in a positive way.
Best wishes
RobertaDecember 14, 2025 at 11:49 am #452962
RobertaParticipantI sat
everything dropped away
death held no fear
then a thought appeared
a sensation occurred
busy was the I once againDecember 13, 2025 at 11:30 am #452929
RobertaParticipantHi Alessa
Thank you for the link. Managed to read 59 of the 252 pages.
Now I am off to a party where there will be a lot of inconsequential chatter but maybe amongst all of that there might be some insightful nuggets. I go with open ears & heart.
Best wishes
RobertaDecember 13, 2025 at 10:28 am #452928
RobertaParticipantHi Alessa
A child’s laughter when it comes from pure innocent joy is such a precious thing to hear. Like the sound of glee when they jump into a puddle.
As adults I think we can still touch that space, when we slow down & see any of the beauty or kindness that is available around us at any given moment, I like to marvel at the moon or a rose blooming in December, in those moments, it does not matter whether I am rich or poor sick or well, in a relationship or not.
I hope you & your son are having a joyful & loving weekend.December 13, 2025 at 9:59 am #452927
RobertaParticipantHey Guys
Ann’s last post was nearly a month ago. For whatever reason she is not engaging with us (Tiny Buddha Forum) so why, oh why do you two butt heads like rutting stags no matter what the thread?December 12, 2025 at 2:38 pm #452901
RobertaParticipantHi Alessa
My dad is in the long stay unit. There just is not the right kind of help at the right time for carers looking after their loved ones.
If I get a million pounds, I could start a shared care unit & look after dad along with say three or four people in the same situation of wanting to be with their family, but just need a little extra support as & when it is needed. By living together sharing cooking, shopping, etc & having companionship. Shared care option would be less of a financial burden both on the families & on the state.
Thanks for your concern, it’s late here.
Speak soon
regards
RobertaDecember 11, 2025 at 7:00 am #452833
RobertaParticipantHi Peter
Thank you for your gentle approach in your last 2 postings. You share insights which nourish my inner journey & hopefully that of others.
Bless you
RobertaDecember 11, 2025 at 6:48 am #452832
RobertaParticipantHi Anita & Thomas
I came across Gil and his 7am Meditations & dharamettes during lockdown when our meditation group could not meet in person.
For our group it met many criteria, No music, right length of time, clear speech, included a short dharma talk, a gentle sense of humour.
Some of our group was quite elderly & could not easily hear the higher pitches of a woman speech or struggled to catch words of people who have an accent. One of our meditators spent a whole session wondering why the person was talking about lawn tennis, it was in fact loving kindness which gave us all a good laugh afterwards.
For real hard core monotone I listen to Ajhan Sumendho, he puts me to sleep within minutes!In general I like to watch talks, partly because I lip read slightly & also my mind is less likely to wander & I can catch subtle nuances such as a twinkle in some ones eyes or if they are being jokingly being dramatic. Thubten Chodren, Ajhan Braham & Robina Courtain it is definitely eyes open when they are giving talks.
Whereas meditation my eyes are gently shut or unfocused to help with concentration, sat up relaxed yet alert I can for a short while listen to teachings in mediative equipoise.
I find it interesting if I am reading a meditation instruction in a book etc I drop into that space as I read, a bit like Anita being able to practice whilst on the treadmill.
RobertaDecember 9, 2025 at 12:42 pm #452792
RobertaParticipantDear Anita
Thank you for giving the video a chance. The beginning bit was a bit dry mainly about how words in this case patience can change in tone/meaning during translation, I watched it twice, the second time with a friend, we would pause it & discuss its relevance to our situations. Like how to be with the feelings of heartache when I go to visit my dad in hospital.
Thank you for taking the time to follow my journey on this site, it really is a wonderful & diverse community & I love to see how we are all growing & healing one way or another.
Best wishes
Roberta -
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