Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry? - Discussion
Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
10年前 に Bagpuss The Gnome によって更新されました。 at 13/11/08 5:36
Created 10年 ago at 13/11/08 5:31
Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 704 参加年月日: 11/11/02 最新の投稿
Hi all,
Does anyone have any recommendations for books / resources on self inquiry?
I found these two books this morning. Both look really interesting but I'd really like to hear from anyone who has practiced this technique here. Im not even sure where it fits in budhism. I don't remember seeing it in the Satipatthana Sutta or even in the parts of the Majjhima Nikaya i have read so i presume it's a later practice in Mahayana?
Thanks..
Does anyone have any recommendations for books / resources on self inquiry?
I found these two books this morning. Both look really interesting but I'd really like to hear from anyone who has practiced this technique here. Im not even sure where it fits in budhism. I don't remember seeing it in the Satipatthana Sutta or even in the parts of the Majjhima Nikaya i have read so i presume it's a later practice in Mahayana?
Thanks..
10年前 に Christian Calamus によって更新されました。 at 13/11/08 14:33
Created 10年 ago at 13/11/08 14:31
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 88 参加年月日: 10/10/23 最新の投稿Bagpuss The Gnome:
I don't remember seeing it in the Satipatthana Sutta or even in the parts of the Majjhima Nikaya i have read so i presume it's a later practice in Mahayana?
Actually, I think self inquiry is not a buddhist practice per se, although it gets mixed in a lot, especially in pragmatic dharma circles. As far as I can tell, the source of this practice is the advaita vedanta, which, if I'm not mistaken, goes back to early brahmanism. The central idea there seems to be that there is this eternal unchanging ever-present all-encompassing primordial awareness/consciousness (the atman) , and you are it, and all phenomena arise in this awareness without ever changing it, touching it, threatening it, etc. The core elements of this system seem to have already existed in the buddha's lifetime and his teaching on anatta (or an-atman) can be read as a dircet reaction to this point of view.
Regarding books, I can recommend taking a look at "the direct path" by Greg Goode, which is basically a series of experience-based contemplations, where you work through all your experience bit by bit and look for the self. This practice can be interesting, but it's analysis-heavy and doesn't have much to do with actual meditation (as in noting or concentration or metta etc.). The outcome is also predetermined and therefore not very surprising. So if the underlying philosophical axiomatics (eternal big self) don't bother you, you could give it a try. (Greg Goode also has some videos on youtube where you can get a good impression of his approach.)
10年前 に An Eternal Now によって更新されました。 at 13/11/08 17:17
Created 10年 ago at 13/11/08 17:17
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 638 参加年月日: 09/09/15 最新の投稿Bagpuss The Gnome:
Hi all,
Does anyone have any recommendations for books / resources on self inquiry?
I found these two books this morning. Both look really interesting but I'd really like to hear from anyone who has practiced this technique here. Im not even sure where it fits in budhism. I don't remember seeing it in the Satipatthana Sutta or even in the parts of the Majjhima Nikaya i have read so i presume it's a later practice in Mahayana?
Thanks..
Does anyone have any recommendations for books / resources on self inquiry?
I found these two books this morning. Both look really interesting but I'd really like to hear from anyone who has practiced this technique here. Im not even sure where it fits in budhism. I don't remember seeing it in the Satipatthana Sutta or even in the parts of the Majjhima Nikaya i have read so i presume it's a later practice in Mahayana?
Thanks..
My e-book dedicates a section to this: http://awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-e-booke-journal.html
10年前 に Jason Snyder によって更新されました。 at 13/11/08 22:30
Created 10年 ago at 13/11/08 22:30
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 186 参加年月日: 13/10/25 最新の投稿
There is Gary Weber's book, Happiness Beyond Thought which is basically all about self inquiry.
I think of self inquiry as a way to get better insight into no-self.
I think of self inquiry as a way to get better insight into no-self.
10年前 に Bagpuss The Gnome によって更新されました。 at 13/11/09 10:30
Created 10年 ago at 13/11/09 10:30
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 704 参加年月日: 11/11/02 最新の投稿
Thanks Christian. That was the kick-start I needed on this..
AEN I will try to read your ebook once more (and get as far as that part) I am currently reading the AYP book linked above and it makes for intresting reading so far. It seems that by his standard I am already a good way down this practice as he goes on and on about "inner silence" being the both the prerequisite for cultivating the witness as well as actually being the witness. My own experience has included a lot of mental silence for a long time now. Im not yet at the practical exercises in this book yet so I'll update this thread when i've read it.
Jason I tried to read Gary's book but I found it just awful. Really hard to read, tons of typos as well. I should probably try to be more persistent but I just couldn't do it. It was to irritating..
AEN I will try to read your ebook once more (and get as far as that part) I am currently reading the AYP book linked above and it makes for intresting reading so far. It seems that by his standard I am already a good way down this practice as he goes on and on about "inner silence" being the both the prerequisite for cultivating the witness as well as actually being the witness. My own experience has included a lot of mental silence for a long time now. Im not yet at the practical exercises in this book yet so I'll update this thread when i've read it.
Jason I tried to read Gary's book but I found it just awful. Really hard to read, tons of typos as well. I should probably try to be more persistent but I just couldn't do it. It was to irritating..
10年前 に Richard Zen によって更新されました。 at 13/11/09 21:22
Created 10年 ago at 13/11/09 21:22
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 1665 参加年月日: 10/05/18 最新の投稿
Instead of making it complicated I just read the following instructions and practiced:
Awareness watching awareness
I got one heck of an open eyed jhana with this one that it confused me as being nirvana some years ago.
Awareness watching awareness
I got one heck of an open eyed jhana with this one that it confused me as being nirvana some years ago.
10年前 に Eric B によって更新されました。 at 13/11/29 19:23
Created 10年 ago at 13/11/29 19:23
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 187 参加年月日: 09/08/24 最新の投稿
Hi BTG,
Based on a more recent post of yours, what I writing below may be too little too late, but I won't let that stop me...
I read the AYP book a while back; it didn't make much of an impression with me. I haven't read "Master of Self Realization"-- but I just ordered it.
I got more out of the Chan take on this with respect to practice technique in "Shattering the Great Doubt: The Chan Practice of Huatou" by Sheng Yen. The author is a 3rd generation Dharma heir of the Hsu Yun referenced above by AEN.
The section in AEN's book is well worth going over.
The bits that deal with the actual practice of inquiry in Gary Weber's "Happiness Beyond Thought" are in section G pages 41-46 if you want to make a surgical strike.
"The Path of Sri Ramana Part I: The Jnana Aspect of the Teaching" by Sri Sadhu Om was the first thing I ever found that made any sense of this as a practice. You can find this free online in PDF (sorry to recommend one more thing in one of your least favorite reading formats)
I hope this helps.
Eric
Based on a more recent post of yours, what I writing below may be too little too late, but I won't let that stop me...
I read the AYP book a while back; it didn't make much of an impression with me. I haven't read "Master of Self Realization"-- but I just ordered it.
I got more out of the Chan take on this with respect to practice technique in "Shattering the Great Doubt: The Chan Practice of Huatou" by Sheng Yen. The author is a 3rd generation Dharma heir of the Hsu Yun referenced above by AEN.
The section in AEN's book is well worth going over.
The bits that deal with the actual practice of inquiry in Gary Weber's "Happiness Beyond Thought" are in section G pages 41-46 if you want to make a surgical strike.
"The Path of Sri Ramana Part I: The Jnana Aspect of the Teaching" by Sri Sadhu Om was the first thing I ever found that made any sense of this as a practice. You can find this free online in PDF (sorry to recommend one more thing in one of your least favorite reading formats)
I hope this helps.
Eric
10年前 に This Good Self によって更新されました。 at 13/11/30 2:38
Created 10年 ago at 13/11/30 2:38
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 946 参加年月日: 10/03/09 最新の投稿10年前 に Bagpuss The Gnome によって更新されました。 at 13/12/01 5:05
Created 10年 ago at 13/12/01 5:05
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 704 参加年月日: 11/11/02 最新の投稿
Eric!
I've ordered the Chan book, thanks for that. I have Gary Webers book but I found it almost unreadable so discarded it some time back so thanks also for the specific reference, I'll get right on that.
Nisargadatta
Awesome. The "I am that" book looks really interesting, and certainly has some very enthusiastic reviews on the amazon uk site. Probably wont be able to get it till next year but it's on the list, thanks! Will check out the online resource shortly.
My current practice continues to focus on vedana/sensations in various ways. I hope that adding a self inquiry component to this practice will prove interesting...
I've ordered the Chan book, thanks for that. I have Gary Webers book but I found it almost unreadable so discarded it some time back so thanks also for the specific reference, I'll get right on that.
CCC:
Nisargadatta
Awesome. The "I am that" book looks really interesting, and certainly has some very enthusiastic reviews on the amazon uk site. Probably wont be able to get it till next year but it's on the list, thanks! Will check out the online resource shortly.
My current practice continues to focus on vedana/sensations in various ways. I hope that adding a self inquiry component to this practice will prove interesting...
10年前 に Eric B によって更新されました。 at 13/12/02 12:18
Created 10年 ago at 13/12/02 12:18
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 187 参加年月日: 09/08/24 最新の投稿Bagpuss The Gnome:
Awesome. The "I am that" book looks really interesting, and certainly has some very enthusiastic reviews on the amazon uk site. Probably wont be able to get it till next year but it's on the list, thanks! Will check out the online resource shortly.
You'll like "I Am That". When I first got it, I tried to read it like something that just to be plowed through. The chapters are individual dialogues that are short enough to read in a single sitting, and then play the "maybe just one more" game. It makes good reading right before going to sleep at night.
10年前 に Matti によって更新されました。 at 13/12/02 21:57
Created 10年 ago at 13/12/02 21:57
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 6 参加年月日: 13/02/04 最新の投稿
Perhaps the best instructions to self-inquiry can be found in chapters 7 and 8 in The Path of Sri Ramana - Part One. The book is free. Sadhu Om, who is the author of that book, was a disciple of Ramana Maharshi.
10年前 に Robert Healion によって更新されました。 at 13/12/28 13:53
Created 10年 ago at 13/12/28 13:51
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 7 参加年月日: 13/12/21 最新の投稿
"Instead of making it complicated I just read the following instructions and practiced:
Awareness watching awareness
I got one heck of an open eyed jhana with this one that it confused me as being nirvana some years ago"
Which is meditation. I.e. observing the self, as opposed to concentration, or mental imagination. Also described as self-inquiry in some camps.
Awareness watching awareness
I got one heck of an open eyed jhana with this one that it confused me as being nirvana some years ago"
Which is meditation. I.e. observing the self, as opposed to concentration, or mental imagination. Also described as self-inquiry in some camps.
10年前 に Per Nyfelt によって更新されました。 at 13/12/28 17:28
Created 10年 ago at 13/12/28 17:28
RE: Books / Teachings on Self Inquiry?
投稿: 5 参加年月日: 11/08/04 最新の投稿
"Spacecruiser Inquiry" by Almaas is a great book on both self inquiry and mutual inquiry. "Self-Inquiry" by Adyashanti is not bad either (available on Sounds True). Toni Packers "The Silent Question" is also warmly recommended.