Ian And:
Before I get started, just wanted to correct a wrong impression you may have gathered that was mentioned in your meditation thread. Leigh Brasington is a male, not a female.
Oops. My mistake. The name threw me off. Not a name you see often these days (at least I don't) but a nice one.
Ian And:
The aspiration that you give voice to here is indeed the end goal of learning and practicing the Dhamma as it was laid out in the Pali Nikayas. Being able to control one's behavior is an extension of mindfulness practice. And mindfulness of the four establishments of mindfulness (of the body, feelings, mind states, and phenomena) within the context of the noble eightfold path (the Dhamma) is the method for doing so, which is outlined in the Satipatthana suttas.
This sounds great. This just became a
major new motivation to follow the path for me. I'm endlessly grateful for the promise this holds.
Ian And:
Been there, done that, also. In the past, I have expressed essentially these same thoughts (virtually word for word as expressed here) as I was endeavoring to figure out how to arrive at that point where "I was suddenly becoming the man I always wanted to be, but never knew how to go about becoming."
Ian And:
From my experience, it would be a fallacy to think or believe that there are "magikal effects" to be had. That said, the practice of setting an intention within the mind prior to an event's anticipated occurrence (such as making an intention before nodding off to sleep that one will "awaken refreshed and clear headed") is well founded in human experience as being effective. It works very similarly to a post-hypnotic suggestion.
I am a natural skeptic as well. However, I've started to open my mind somewhat in regards to the siddhis. Some on the DhO seem fully convinced:
http://dharmaoverground.org/web/guest/discussion/-/message_boards/message/1011873
Of course, it doesn't matter much if the power or real, because what I desire can be had without "supernatural" means.
I will continue to make intentions in my life. However, when they don't work it is very disappointing and puts me back into resignation to a mediocre life. It just seems like most people of integrity have years of good habits supporting them, whereas I'm held back by my years of bad habits. You tell me that it's possible, however, and I believe you. Self-discipline, here I come.
Ian And:
I hear you. I used to have the same fascination with the mysterious "metaphysical" powers that I thought could be developed through meditation (or which were told to me that could be developed thereby). Yet, as I grew older and more experienced about these matters, I arrived at the very same aspiration that you have expressed here. What is more, it is possible to achieve.
I will use this information to remind myself of the possibility of success. Thanks, Ian.
Seems to me that there are three things necessary when working toward a life of integrity: knowing what to do, knowing if you're doing it (that is, being mindful enough from moment to moment to remind yourself of what you should be doing), and finally, the most difficult step (for me): actually doing the thing necessary no matter what.