Hi DW,
I received a reply from you to this thread by email but I can't see it in the thread. You might have deleted it or maybe a quirk with the forum.
Shinzen has a model of Appreciate Transcend Improve. My concern is that different meothds for transcending have different consequences for improving. Some experiences in the transcending might limit people in the improving. My asssumption is partly based on strange attitudes of some enlightened people - sex scandals, grandiosity, close mindedness, poor communication skills etc
That particular example I gave in regard to concentration was about concentration on sensations e.g. focus on the tomato while cutting it. Not the meditative concentration. I can see that was misleading, sorry.
Shinzen speaks about using concentration to appreciate everyday activities more, this sounds like flow but I'm not sure.
It is understandable I could seem focused on the negative. But it is with a positive intention

The little bit of reading/listening I've done indicates Shinzen's experience of awakening addreses many of my concerns. I was trying to sound out if some of those aspects are unique to Shinzen or not. If they are common interpretations then it is reassuring, if on a tangent then it probably deserves more investigating.
The idea of the no-self helping "clean up" the self allowing a "full-on self" is appealing. That is my current understanding of what Shinzen means. It reminds me a bit of a confucian saying something along the lines of: At 70 I followed my heart’s desire
I'm sure there are a huge amount of positive things to say about Shinzen. I don't want a thread discrediting him but in the spirirt of DhO I was thinking it would be good to understand where Shinzen adds his own unique sauce (if he does).
There is very little support for how to choose a teacher/method. There is just way too much information to wade through. I suspect that means a lot of people end up choosing the wrong teacher/method but that is probably still better than no teacher/method.
Maybe at the early stage it is not so important but I imagine once we are invested in a method it may take a vey long time before we prove it is not effective - even the buddha took 6 years!
It would be great to see a sort of meta-guide to the various teachers/practices. But probably unrealstic given the human condition!