Paul Duplessis:
Does it make sense to do Vipassana
is there a fundamental incompatibility between what Vipassana does and what Actualism requires?
Paul
Insight practice uses bare attention and clear comprehension via direct and penetrative realization of the 3 characteristics of existence, i.e. Impermanence, Suffering and No Self. The lens of the 3 characteristics provides conformity to a religious ideal (Buddhism) with a goal of perfect detachment (disembed from experience).
Bare attention leads to reshaping of the mind. The mind observed through a higher resolution (concentration) allows for the strafication of the experience into stable levels of jhana. This is still a self experience though
By observing change and pausing before action (noting) suffering is decreased (dispassion) this is achieved via the decreasing negative qualities and enhancing positive qualities.
My experience with this practice lead me to increased awareness of suffering and with the enhanced positive qualities it just lead to a greater change when the negative ones did arise although these did not "stick" they still occurred so suffering was not eliminated. Due to detachment, negative ones had a decreased impact due to their decrease in persistence (length of time).
This experience provides detachment and happiness by temporarily stepping aside or working towards stepping out of this world of suffering which is often represented as "In this world but not of it". To clearly see all things of the inner and outer world is still a self experience.
Clear comprehension is an off the pillow practice observing action during of all our activities, bodily, verbal and mental - both internal and external. Again this is observing conformity through a religious ideal (Buddhism) by applying Right knowledge i.e. observing action via the 3 Characteristics.
Through observation of daily activities you question the reason of the action and choose the Rght course of action in accordance with Buddhist ideals being aware that there is no permanent self in all activities.
By desembedding from the activity (seen through the lens of the 3 characteristics) this leads to the non dual experience or the no self experience also identified as True Self or a centre-less interior life an experience with a quality that is often referred to as love, suchness, timeless. The self reforms itself as a True Self seen as the swirl of passion around the empty centre (doughnut).
I spent approx 3 years of 2 hrs a day min (plus as much time off the cushion as I could attend) to with reshaping the mind with insight, koan, gtummo and Taoist practices. I clung to the Non Dual state and went forth into the market place to road test these achievements. Thankfully Tarin and Trent persisted in speaking out that there was more work to be done. I rationalised that what they spoke of was the Non dual state and AF and the Non Dual state was conceptually the same.
Through the meditative practices (insight and koan) I realised that you can apply yourself and achieve the outcomes as describe in the visshumagga and the practices no matter how basic they appeared delivered the goods if followed. This knowledge I applied to HAIETMOBA without deviating from the goal and saved a lot of time which would have been spent in intellectual masturbation wondering if there is a better way as surely it can’t be this easy there must be a secret sauce to add.
Techniques used include a light focus on your biological centre and apply bare attention and reflection or contemplation and analysis (provides reflective contemplation) are similar to insight practice without the 3 Characteristic lens. Further clear comprehension of actions (without the 3 Characteristics lens) is also used for it is the will that fuels the self.
You need to investigate the self in action. How an unconscious reflex action becomes consciousness. How interior reality is the actual world as a self experience.
I believe you could land AF quicker via the straight HAIETMOBA then spending the time to navigate via the 4 path Buddhist method then using the HAIETMOBA. This has taken me approx 3.5 yrs of dedicated study without missing a day. This of cause allows you to explore the mind, the jhanas and an investigation into psychic experiences so there is a pay off but you need to discards these states to move on if total expiration of the self is the end goal.
Perhaps another path is using the Awareness watching Awareness method or Surrendering to achieve the non dual state then using HAIETMOBA technique to see the empty centre is just another self experience is another way forward.
cheers
Jeff