RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong Noah D 11/6/21 1:55 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong Daniel M. Ingram 11/9/21 5:15 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong thierry raunet 11/7/21 11:34 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong Noah D 11/8/21 6:28 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong Noah D 11/9/21 2:56 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong Noah D 11/9/21 8:45 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong Daniel M. Ingram 11/9/21 5:26 PM
RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong T DC 11/9/21 8:39 PM
RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong thierry raunet 11/9/21 8:30 PM
RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong Daniel M. Ingram 11/10/21 9:09 AM
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Noah D, modified 2 Years ago at 11/6/21 1:55 PM
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Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwizQmFe87o

​​​​​​​I was surprised not to see this posted here yet.  Claims of arahantship, repeated nirodha-samāpatti for up to 6 days straight & many others.

Let's listen & discuss.

Episode description: 
In this episode I am joined by Delson Armstrong, spiritual teacher and star student of Bhante Vimalaramsi, who’s senior student David Johnson has said ‘Delson Armstrong has mastered every practice we have given him. He is the most amazing student we have ever seen.’ In this interview, Delson recalls his early life training in the Himalayas where he mastered the system of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, attaining to all of its highest states of Samadhi; attained all 6 levels of Kriya Yoga under three separate lineages; studied Sanskrit; and was exposed to practices of Shaiva Tantra through students of Osho. Delson shares his subsequent explorations of Buddhism, including Mahamudra, Dzogchen, and the TWIM practice of Bhante Vimalaramsi. Delson recounts and contrasts his experiences accomplishing the 8 jhanas, attaining the 4 levels of Buddhist awakening, and realising Rigpa. Delson also reveals yogic feats such as recalling past lives and entering into a type of suspended animation called nirodha-samāpatti for up to six days, and reveals his passion for neuroscience and recent participation in a study at the University of Amsterdam that has examined his brain and body in this state of yogic suspension.

Edits: for clarity
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Griffin, modified 2 Years ago at 11/6/21 6:06 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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This is going to be an interesting discussion... Some bold claims: complete loss of sex drive, 6 days in nirodha samapatti (his friends tried to "wake him up" but couldn't and carried him to bed, thinking he was dead), the story about him being a Himalayan monk in his past life (who met his current parents at their wedding and decided to die and reincarnate as their child)... Wow, I don't know what to think about all this.
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Papa Che Dusko, modified 2 Years ago at 11/7/21 4:18 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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"complete loss of sex drive"

​​​​​​​Viagra? emoticon emoticon 
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Ben V, modified 2 Years ago at 11/6/21 9:14 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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That was very interesting to listen. I would have liked more comparative discussion of the different attainments/realizations of the different systems he practiced in.

Example: Rigpa vs. Nibbana. Yoga Sutra attainments vs. Theravada attainments.  Do these systems lead to the same realizations but use different languages? Or are they different realizations?

In any case, I appreciated the interview.

​​​​​​​Can't say anything about the claims though as this is way beyond my level of practice.
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Papa Che Dusko, modified 2 Years ago at 11/7/21 2:07 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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Interesting stuff. I did skip here and there as it's very long for a father of two young rascals but certainly makes me wonder again about how some folks seem to slide towards awakening on milk and honey, while others seem to dig through mud and fire. If indeed his past karma was a yogi then it seems rather possible to have such an easy road and process just sliding into realization with ease.
I find karma rather intriguing. 

The general feel I have is rather positive and I wouldn't mind having a chat with him someday if stuff goes that way, towards past life interest and karma related or even Jhana stuff. 

I recall Kenneth Folk telling me about how its of benefit to learn to access 4th Jhana fast but I never really took that seriously. Seem that EQ jhana is of benefit in other instances also. Hm ... 

​​​​​​​Thanks for the link N!
George S, modified 2 Years ago at 11/8/21 4:19 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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He also got to choose his own parents and devoted himself to spirituality and meditation from the age of 13, yet still it took him ~15 years to attain stream entry!
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Papa Che Dusko, modified 2 Years ago at 11/8/21 4:50 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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15 years means nothing in Samsara emoticon 
George S, modified 2 Years ago at 11/8/21 8:43 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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Well samsara is nirvana, after all.
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Papa Che Dusko, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 2:21 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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Hold my beer!!! I think I've got diarrhoea!

emoticon emoticon emoticon 
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This very moment, modified 2 Years ago at 11/7/21 3:17 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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Maybe Steve will Interview Daniel and Delson at the same time?  That would be interesting.  

He is making much bigger claims then Frank Yang and Angelo from the past couple years, so this ought to bring on some interesting conversation.  

Did TWIM really do it for this guy, so that he is going to hang his hat with DhammaSukkha from now on?   I mean after being through all those other systems you would have thought he would be a stream entry at least...   He says he hit 2nd and 3rd path in the same day.  Really, no integration? 
I didn't listen to the whole thing, but skipped through the transcript.   
Does he come right out and say, "yeah, I'm an Arhat? " 
Would like to hear his thoughts on what if any continued development is happening to him now.  
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Daniel M Ingram, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 5:15 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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I have talked with Delson, and he was very much as one sees on the podcast, pleasant, confident, and very interested in the Dharma.

There are already plans for further conversations, so hopefully much can be clarified then. Are there specific questions you would like me to ask him?

We also discussed some neuroscience scan comparisons related to his abilities, but more info on that later when I know more.
T DC, modified 2 Years ago at 11/7/21 11:22 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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The whole "complete lack of sex drive" thing is pretty iffy, but it sounds like he has some genuine attainment. 

What surprises me is that he's making these claims (including arhatship?) apparently as part of a traditional lineage.  Is this a thing now, are his teachers particularly progressive, or is he just going rogue?

Edit: Did some reading on Bhante Vimalaramsi, which gives context to the wild claims.
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thierry raunet, modified 2 Years ago at 11/7/21 11:34 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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to TDC, you say :"The whole "complete lack of sex drive" thing is pretty iffy...", really?
What about this ecxerpt of Sunlun Sayadaw biography:
"In september 1920, at about 10 pm, he struggled with extraordinarily severe pains arising within him, feeling as if all the sinew broke off, and overcoming them, he won the third Supra-mundane Knowledge, Anagami.  
The third winning of the Supramundane Dhamma was marked by an emission semen, which symbolized the extirpation of sexual interest. A most severe attack of painful sensation had to be met with. Overcoming it was a sure signal of success.
The Sayadaw said that only when a meditator has overcome it he would say, "well done!"
The next day, he found that he was free from fear so much so that he could remain unperturbed even when a thunderbolt fell in front of him.
He felt very much concerned with the plight of humanity. "Ah, these people are so occupied with sensual objects," he felt. He dreaded living amidst the people. He had astrong desire to become a recluse i.e, to lead the homeless life of a Bhikkhu. (he was still a layman…)"
source: http://www.dhammaransi.info/ebooks4/SunlunVippassana8.pdf
T DC, modified 2 Years ago at 11/8/21 9:57 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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1920s Buddhist literature not withstanding, I see no credible evidence sex drive can be eliminated. 

Although progression on the path can help clarify our experience around sex / lust to make it generally more positive, sex drive is a biologic fact, similar to the need to eat.  And even if it was possible, I wouldn't see its elimination as a positive - similar to our emotions, sex drive is a potent aspect of experience that, managed properly, can be very life enriching. 

Also for context, the elimination of sex drive by senior students of B.V. is apparently canon.
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Noah D, modified 2 Years ago at 11/8/21 6:28 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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To be fair to Delson, while he says he's lost interest in sex, he also emphasizes sex positivity.  
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thierry raunet, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 3:15 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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TDC : 1920s Buddhist literature not withstanding...

"1920s Buddhist literature" that was still pretty influential not so long ago:
https://jackkornfield.com/living-dharma/  (see sunlun)
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thierry raunet, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 3:24 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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TDC : 1920s Buddhist literature not withstanding...

1980 Buddhist literature:
from Ajahn Maha Bua using Asubha Technique
The decisive phase of body contemplation has been reached. This is the point where the root-cause of sexual craving is uprooted once and for all. As you focus exclusively on the repulsiveness evoked by the asubha contemplation, your revulsion of the image before you will slowly, gradually contract inward until it is fully absorbed by the mind. On its own, without any prompting, it will recede into the mind, returning to its source of origin. This is the decisive moment in the practice of body contemplation, the moment when a final verdict is reached about the relationship between the kilesa of sexual craving and its primary object, the physical body. When the mind’s knowing presence fully absorbs the repulsiveness, internalizing the feeling of revulsion, a profound realization suddenly occurs: The mind itself produces feelings of revulsion, the mind itself produces feelings of attraction; the mind alone creates ugliness and the mind alone creates beauty.

Only the mind, and nothing else, paints pictures of beauty and ugliness. So the asubha images that the meditator has been focusing on as separate and external objects, are absorbed into the mind where they merge with the revulsion created by the mind. Both are, in fact, one and the same thing. When this realization occurs, the mind lets go of external images, lets go of external forms, and in doing so lets go of sexual attraction.
      Sexual attraction is rooted in perceptions of the human body. When the real basis of these perceptions is exposed, it completely undermines their validity; and the external, as we know it, collapses and our attachment to it ceases of its own accord. The defiling influence of sexual attraction—which has ridden roughshod over the mind since time immemorial, luring the mind to grasp at birth and so experience death continuously for eons—this insidious craving is now powerless. The mind has now passed beyond its influence: It is now free.
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Griffin, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 10:15 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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"Sexual attraction is rooted in perceptions of the human body. When the real basis of these perceptions is exposed, it completely undermines their validity; and the external, as we know it, collapses and our attachment to it ceases of its own accord."

But isn't hunger rooted in perception of food?
Stickman3, modified 2 Years ago at 12/4/21 11:58 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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Griffin:
"Sexual attraction is rooted in perceptions of the human body. When the real basis of these perceptions is exposed, it completely undermines their validity; and the external, as we know it, collapses and our attachment to it ceases of its own accord."
But isn't hunger rooted in perception of food?
<br /><br />Totally. I don't think I'll ever get why buddhists think they have conquered craving and desire when they still eat and breath.<br /><br /><br /> 
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Ben V, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 12:01 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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It used to be that homosexuality was pathologized. Then society learned better and stopped seeing it this way.

We also have all sorts of activism fighting for acceptance and understanding of other various  sexualities (bi-sexuality, pansexuality, etc.)

It is interesting culturally speaking how it is we have grown to stop pathologizing various sexual expressions (which is a good thing of course),  but when the claim that one has no interest in sex (asexuality) is made, it stirs reactions that seem to imply that there's something wrong or doubtful about such claim. That this person must need some therapy or meds, or must be repressing, or have some issues emotionally, or is just lying.

Asexuality is a fact, just as heterosexuality and other sexualities are facts. There are people out there who do not feel interested in sex, and they are not even necessarily involved with spiritual practice.  And in many cases it has nothing to do with fear of sex or trauma around it. So why would it be so hard to believe someone who does a practice stops being interested in it?

From watching the interview it seems Delson is simply expressing his inner state honestly. His asexual state does not seem to cause him suffering. So what's the issue? 

I am not arguing about Arahants having or not having sex desires here (it's way beyond my level anyway). I do remember though, an interview with a student of Shinzen Young (Har Prakash Kalsa) who, quoting Shinzen, said that some people after enlightenment will lose sexual interest but it will be replaced with something greater, while others who gain enlightnement will not lose sexual interest but it will be experienced differently (don't remember the words exactly but it was implied ''differently in a better way'').  Can we be open to these varieties of experiences?
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Noah D, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 2:56 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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+1, well said

I think people can be "allergic" to definitions of awakening that use asexuality as diagnostic criteria.  They argue that this is denying our basic humanity in some way.  But the shadow of this "allergy" is an implied prejudice against asexuality.  So there's an important social justice angle on some of the long debates that have occured on pragmatic dharma forums over the years.  
T DC, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 3:25 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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I am absolutely not trying to pathologize asexuality, and if that is all Delson is expressing, more power to him.  Delson seems like a nice guy with genuine attainment, and as Noah noted, was notably sex positive in the interview. 

The greater issue, and apparent bone thiery raunat is picking is that sexuality has both been demonized to some degree in Buddhism, and held to be something to be overcome through meditation (see "1920s Buddhist literature" above).  The sooner we overcome such problematic traditional attitudes the better.  Delson expressing his asexuality is one thing, his claiming to have overcome sexual desire via meditation is another, and the fact that this is apparently a feature of his teacher B.V.s lineage is a third, with the second two being increasingly questionable. ​​​​​​​

I personally see no evidence for or benefit to overcoming our sexuality (or asexuality) via meditation practice and am likewise just expressing that.  
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Noah D, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 4:08 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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What would be problematic about the claim that meditation resulted in asexuality for him? 
T DC, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 8:02 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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To clarify, I said that "the second two are increasingly questionable" refering to the claim to have overcome sexual desire via meditation, and this being a general feature of his lineage.

Personal sexuality or asexuality comes down to the individual, and in no way am I expressing a judgement on that.

Meditation resulting in asexuality is fine, but frankly it seems like a hypothetical in this situation, and becomes more problematic when part of a larger context of tradition that views sexuality as a problem to be overcome. 
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Noah D, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 8:45 PM
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Ok, that makes sense .
Brian, modified 2 Years ago at 11/10/21 3:10 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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his claiming to have overcome sexual desire via meditation is another
I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone here. What was the Buddha's diagnosis for why suffering happens? What was his prescription for how to stop suffering? What is sexual desire if not craving? If you completely eliminate craving, are you going to have sexual desire?

I don't find what BV or Delson said (about craving and sexual desire) weird at all, but I find it weird that anyone thinks it's weird. Were you thinking that arahants still had lust?

I have to feel as if TWIM is a big bucket of cold water being dumped on this community that serves to remind people what the point of all this is. I'm glad that TWIM is coming up in the world. As far as I can tell, it works.
George S, modified 2 Years ago at 11/10/21 7:44 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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The feelings themselves are perfectly natural, our bodies were designed to reproduce. The craving is in the mental obsession or repression of the feelings. That having been said, the pleasures of jhana do tend to overshadow the pleasures of sex (ignoring the relationship aspect of it).
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Griffin, modified 2 Years ago at 11/10/21 4:56 PM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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Do Arahants still feel hunger?
Adi Vader, modified 2 Years ago at 12/25/21 5:18 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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No they dont. Left to their devices they will stop eating and die of starvation.

Scratch that, they will stop drinking water and die of thirst.

Scratch that they will stop breathing and die of asphyxiation.

Arhats have to be kidnapped and put into a monastery and kept perpetually on ventilator support with feeding tubes and colostomy bags.

This is Buddhism 101!

Read your sutras!!!
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Daniel M Ingram, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 5:26 PM
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I similarly agree that we should not pathologize sexuality or asexuality or lives that include both in various temporal combinations and degrees, and I agree that his take on it was very sex-positive as such discussions generally go. 

I do wonder about the following, though, that being the blanket statement that jhana is simply better than sex. Sex is a lot of things beyond just pleasure, and focusing on the positive side: a connection, a communion, an opportunity to both feel good and make someone else feel good, potentially healing, potentially revealing, potentially magical, energetically very intricate, and many things besides. Jhana is similarly complicated, but often missing the communial aspect and the ability to give pleasure to others, though not always. I wonder about the general Buddhist tendency to think "The anagami has eliminated attachment to sensuous desire, so they would never, nay could never, have sex, even if there was the potential for benefit. The arahant has eliminated attachment to formed and formless jhanas, so they of course attain those often, if they can." It lacks symmetry to my eye. My two cents this evening.

I still propose the Hottie in the Hottub experiment, as detailed elsewhere, and strictly in the interest of science. I am guessing that finding the control group would be easy, the study group not so much? If one of you has the resources to support such as study, do let me know, and I will add it to the EPRC study list and find the researchers, and I mean this seriously. 
T DC, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 8:39 PM
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Great post Daniel, and commendably nuanced.  Best of luck on the experimenting.  ;)
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thierry raunet, modified 2 Years ago at 11/9/21 8:30 PM
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to TDC...
sexuality has both been demonized to some degree in Buddhism, and held to be something to be overcome through meditation

Well, Sunlun was a very illiterate person. Far, very far from him was any intention to have any prejudice about sexuality.
The guy just sat and meditate the way a friend of him had described.
Soon he saw some light and the like and got very intrigued. The more he saw lights and the like the more he sat. But after sometime, few days few weeks, strange pain started to arise in his body. No more light, now pain… he became curious about the pain! More sit more pain, and finally huge huge pain. By overcoming this pain he became a stream enterer. Natural process, no prejudice.
And the same process occured to him again, and he became a sakadagami, naturel process, no prejudice. And same with the anagami stage. Natural process, no prejudice.

This is the lot of those warriors who sit for hours together, and overcome all pain in one sitting.
The outcome cannot be the same if you sit one hour, then walk one hour and so on the whole day.
For sunlun sayadaw, there was not “what was that” after he became a stream enterer, the experience crystal clear, no doubt about it!
Different methods, different outcomes… no prejudice!!!
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Daniel M Ingram, modified 2 Years ago at 11/10/21 9:09 AM
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RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

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Not to add needless doubt or cynicism to any assessment of any practitioner, but, keeping an open differential diagnosis and recognizing the great potential for misdiagnosis, the stage of the Three Characteristics is the one most notable for hard, intense physical pain, and the stage of the A&P that follows it is most notable for convincing people it is stream entry and for radical life transformations...

However, on the other hand, lights are associated with the A&P, so that sequence doesn't work that well either.

Spontaneous orgasm is most common in the A&P stage... 

Dukkha Ñanas can cause sex drive drop and renunciate tendencies...

It doesn't add up that well, actually, but hints at numerous possibilities.

Just pondering the phenomenology and how those compare to my senses of probabilities and standard, albeit imperfect, insight stage map theory, and not arriving at solid conclusions.
George S, modified 2 Years ago at 11/10/21 9:54 AM
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And equanimity can be associated with a non-neurotic attitude towards sex ... emoticon
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Griffin, modified 2 Years ago at 12/24/21 1:03 PM
Created 2 Years ago at 12/24/21 12:46 PM

RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

Posts: 271 Join Date: 4/7/18 Recent Posts
New interview with Delson about siddhis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMB3tss3JGA

"​​​​​​​In this interview, Delson Armstrong, star student of Bhante Vimalaramsi, recalls tales of unusual spiritual mentors, including an Indian cobbler who taught Delson to read peoples’ karma, unlocking the ability to see not only others’ past lives, but also their future fate. Delson engages in a detailed discussion of how to acquire, refine, and master siddhi, aka special powers, discusses his own encounters with entities while on dark retreat, reveals his experience with the yogas of dream and sleep, and offers advice on dealing with periods of karmic reckoning. Delson also describes the 31 planes of existence, from the Brahma Lokas to the Hell Realms, and shares his opinion on figures such as Mara, Patanjali, and Jesus Christ."

Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:56 - The Indian cobbler who taught Delson to read peoples’ karma
09:24 - Delson’s powerful precognitive experiences
10:41 - How to unlock precognition
15:33 - Acquiring, refining, and mastering Siddhi (aka special powers)
20:54 - Delson’s mentor Greg Halpern who had 13 near-death experiences
30:53 - Delson on psychedelics and anti-aging herbs taken during dark retreat
32:41 - Visions of entities on dark retreat
35:39 - Delson’s yogic experience of sleep
39:05 - How Delson can operate without sleep
42:40 - Delson on dream yoga
47:23 - Periods of intense karmic purification
53:58 - How to relate skilfully to karmic reckonings
56:40 - 31 Planes of Existence
01:00:47 - Who is Mara?
01:02:56 - Brahma Lokas and Hell Realms
01:06:27 - The Formless Realms
01:11:57 - Do this before interacting with entities
01:22:30 - Can entities influence our lives? + Nagas and reptilian entities
01:26:22 - Was Patanjali a Naga?
01:26:55 - What did the ancient Naga teach humans?
01:27:45 - Delson on astral travel
01:32:48 - Contacting deceased masters and alien teachers
01:36:29 - How Delson perceives Jesus
01:39:31 - Dependent origination and future episodes
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Griffin, modified 2 Years ago at 12/27/21 8:09 AM
Created 2 Years ago at 12/27/21 5:36 AM

RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

Posts: 271 Join Date: 4/7/18 Recent Posts
In the interview, Delson spoke highly about a person that was his mentor during a six-year period. I looked him up yesterday, and I was almost disturbed. I’ll just say this guy makes Jeffery Martin look like a Dalai Lama. It made me doubtful not just regarding these people, but concerned me in relation to our little dharmic subculture as a whole – who can we really trust, and are we becoming too gullible? These are very serious questions, and not just a matter of gossiping.

As a curious side note, a quotation from a podcast where the mentor in question mentiones Delson:
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“I had a protege who came from an ashram in the Himalayas, was a practicing Yogi as a late teenager, who was troubled, went to, was taken in by some yogis and mastered as much teaching as they could, but still struggled and came to the resident, lived with me for almost six years. And in the first three months he learned this stuff. And at the end of year one, his Yogi group was making a tour through California and they asked to meet him and in meeting them, they said, you know, you seem very at peace. What are you doing? So he tells him, and then he explains to them things. And they said, well, we only learned that through 40 years of practice and you learn that in less than a year. It seems like you learned it all in the first month or two. That's very bizarre. We wish we had done that cause this is a very long and boring and painful process.”
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Papa Che Dusko, modified 2 Years ago at 12/28/21 2:36 AM
Created 2 Years ago at 12/28/21 2:36 AM

RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

Posts: 2680 Join Date: 3/1/20 Recent Posts
"who can we really trust"

Thats a good question. Buddha had no clue either. He ventured from one teacher to the next. Tried this and that. Applied him self until he get to see that "this too hasn't liberated from this Dukkha". 
So he moved on and on until one day he got sick and tired of it all, and sat down under a tree and watched matter of fact experience unfolding, seeing how this leads to that, how these refer back to no one, how these are utterly in flux and taking any of this too seriously will just result in Dukkha. 

I started my journey with Reiki and crystal healing back in 2008. Moved away from it as I could still sense Dukkha. In 2009 found Ki Breathing and had great times with Jhana absorptions and even fixing my issue with serious paranoia. 
I desired to transfer into my off cushion life the 5th Jhana feeling of utter safety in that vast space but this caused lots of stress and disappointment and also loosing the 5th Jhana on cushion. 

In 2010 moved onto Shamatha and did that for almost 3 years. Great feelings, mighty meditator, so cleaver bout the path, can sit forever, meditation the best thing in the whol world. Everyone should do this shit! 
Until in 2011 I've hit the DN and lovely stuff turned into a rotting corps. Stayed with that until 2019 until I've got sick and tired of it all and just sat under a tree and looked at the matter of fact experience unfolding, 1-5 sensations per second. 

Who do we trust? I would say trust Dukkha, Anicca and Anatta and follow the gut feel. Then trial and error makes wisdom. 

​​​​​​​Best wishes to us all. May we all be free from suffering, may we all awaken, may we all be happy! 
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Griffin, modified 2 Years ago at 12/28/21 4:08 AM
Created 2 Years ago at 12/28/21 4:08 AM

RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

Posts: 271 Join Date: 4/7/18 Recent Posts
Thank you emoticon Well said.
George S, modified 2 Years ago at 12/28/21 7:28 AM
Created 2 Years ago at 12/28/21 7:27 AM

RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

Posts: 2722 Join Date: 2/26/19 Recent Posts
Record of Tung-shan
"Since you are conducting this memorial feast for the former master, do you agree with him or not?" asked the monk.
The Master said, "I agree with half and don't agree with half."
"Why don't you agree completely?" asked the monk.
The Master said, "If I agreed completely, then I would be ungrateful to my former master."
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Danielle Loesch, modified 2 Years ago at 2/20/22 2:59 AM
Created 2 Years ago at 2/20/22 2:59 AM

RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

Posts: 54 Join Date: 12/12/09 Recent Posts
Guru Viking with Daniel I & Delson A!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znX6w6shQ7c
Calvin Sykes, modified 1 Year ago at 1/10/23 1:48 PM
Created 1 Year ago at 12/14/22 4:59 AM

RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

Posts: 3 Join Date: 12/14/22 Recent Posts
These emotions are normal since our bodies were made to have offspring. The preoccupation or suppression of emotions in one's mind is when the yearning begins. However, jhana's delights tend to outshine those of sex (ignoring the relationship aspect of it).
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Not two, not one, modified 1 Year ago at 1/10/23 7:46 AM
Created 1 Year ago at 12/15/22 3:17 PM

RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

Posts: 1038 Join Date: 7/13/17 Recent Posts
Calvin Sykes
  These emotions are normal since our bodies were made to have offspring. The preoccupation or suppression of emotions in one's mind is when the yearning begins. However, jhana's delights tend to outshine those of sex (ignoring the relationship aspect of it).
​​​​​​​They are not mutually exclusive.  :-)
Rousseau Matt, modified 1 Year ago at 1/8/23 4:54 PM
Created 1 Year ago at 12/21/22 5:26 AM

RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

Posts: 136 Join Date: 5/1/22 Recent Posts
I wonder if the sex drive thing is chemical. Perhaps  his ability  to attain jhana or doing so all the time gives him an abundance  of serotonin.  I am on Paxil for depression. I honestly go months without masterbation.  Not sure if it's a good or bad thing. The drive and passion are gone. Still feel female are beautiful  but it's distant.    It's like trying to listen to music under water.  
George S, modified 1 Year ago at 12/22/22 10:12 AM
Created 1 Year ago at 12/22/22 10:12 AM

RE: Ep120: Meditation Virtuoso - Delson Armstrong

Posts: 2722 Join Date: 2/26/19 Recent Posts
I felt the same way on anti-depressants, but they brought a certain amount of stability when things were really bad. Orgasm and jhana seem to involve a lot of the same kinds of physical sensations and neuro-transmitters, at least in the early stages of piti-sukha. Even Ajahn Brahm says that when he felt the pull of sexual fantasy during jhana practice he would give his mind permission to go wherever it wanted. If I have sexual thoughts during meditation then that's usually a sign that there's a big piti-sukha bomb in my body ready to go off!

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