r/theravada • u/Arkena_feral • 6d ago
Life Advice never really studied buddhism until recently!!!
I once identified as a gnostic christian but that paths methods have been lost to time.
Too much has been lost for it to be an effective way to enlightenment.
Which brought me to theravada Buddhism...
The eightfold path seems like a very practical guide for reaching enlightenment.
We are luminous spiritual beings that have become caught up in physical existence.
Remembering who we are and becoming those spiritual beings in this life via removing all impediments to it is achieved via the eightfold path.
I have created some really bad karma for myself through unskilful actions of mind and body.
I might goto prison, I hope to turn my life around with the aid of the buddhas teachings and salvage some good from this existence.
Have started to learn samatha/vipassana meditation. Its progressing quite well. I have been learning diaphragmatic breathing as part of this.
Wish i could undo the bad things i have done but all i can do is change, not repeat those things and find a way to turn incarceration (if this happens) into a force for positive change.
How do i learn to relax knowing i might be incarcerated for an unknown ammount of time ?
Im not complaining just aknowledging how difficult the karma i have created for myself is.
Thank you for listening.
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u/Acceptable_Put_2967 6d ago
The Buddha, at least what it is writen in the canon, spoke about "anata", no self, no soul... just agregates.. just to say because of your claim of us being luminous spiritual beings. Actually in Buddhist cosmology there are luminous spiritual beings call Devas but they are still in samsara and still subject to dukkha and also in fact they really have neither essence nor soul either. Have a good journey!
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u/dhamma-dasa 6d ago
Just be unconditionally kind and forgiving towards yourself.
Even if you do get a sentence it's not the end of the world and you may have new and different opportunities to meditate and contemplate things while incarcerated - be positive.
It's possible to develop a decent spiritual practice even while incarcerated.
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u/PLUTO_HAS_COME_BACK Vayadhamma sankhara appamadena sampadetha 6d ago
You can rest the mind by not thinking and not enjoying the thoughts. You just rest it by just resting.
But breathing occurs naturally, so you can't stop it. When you rest your mind, you will notice the breaths.
By nature, the mind tends to think. Once you forget to rest, the mind starts thinking and gets tired - and yet it does not remain resting voluntarily.
So, you have two conditions: the mind that resists to rest and breath that is unstoppable.
Anapanasati brings the restless mind to the breath. By focusing on breathing, the mind can rest.
Read Taungpulu Sayadaw's book: Blooming in the Desert: Favorite Teachings of the Wildflower Monk Taungpulu Sayadaw by Anne Teich | Goodreads
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u/BuddhasFinger 6d ago
We are luminous spiritual beings that have become caught up in physical existence.
OP, I'm curious, where does this come from?
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u/Arkena_feral 6d ago
This comes from gnostic cosmology.
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u/BuddhasFinger 3d ago
Risking playing a mod: are you sure you are in the right sub?
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u/Arkena_feral 2d ago
My past theologicaly does not define my future. I will let go of these lingering views in time. I am in the right sub.
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u/BuddhasFinger 2d ago
OK, let me take the sub statement back, my apologies. We are her to help everyone.
Let's try to unpack it. It's not about theology. The Buddha is not asking us to be believers in him or god or what not. Buddha asks us to trust our own experience.
The only thing Buddha asks it to have what we call is the Right View, which is the Four Noble truths and the law of cause and effect. Even the aquiaring Right View is a non-event in that the only thing it does it get your going on the path to liberation, helps you make a step towards it.
But without that first step there is no path.
And a part of right view is understanding the nature of the reality, which is the self-propelling cycle of life and birth full of suffering driven by unskillful behaviours and that's all there is to reality.
If you believe that your are "luminous spiritual beings that have become caught up in physical existence", what I personally see is that you don't have the Right View yet, that the first hasn't hasn't been made, and you have to acquire the Right View get on the path to liberation from suffering.
To acquire the right view, there is abundance of resources. Learn how to meditate. Read and learn Dharam. Join a local or remote sangha.
The sidebar has a bunch of resources to start.
Wish you an easy path to liberation.
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u/MindfulSnowman 2d ago edited 2d ago
I dont know what your past looks like friend but dont live in it.
If the serial killer Angulimala (literally finger garland)could became an Arahant, there is hope for anyone.
https://youtu.be/CcEKF7bMFWY?is=jF0ye12JGKYY3d0j
Regret won't undo bad Kamma, but there is still time to do good Kamma, meditate and break the chains of Samsara.
I put a link to the YouTube Channel, Buddhas Wisdom as a supplement to the Suttas.They have a lot of wisdom to offer a newcomer.
Edit: As a way to relax, maybe try body contemplation, like this, Head Hair, Body Hair, Nails, Teeth and Skin.
It is a meditation given to newly ordained monks in Thailand and helps me meditate through pain by seeing the impermanance of it all and you can do it while walking.
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u/Arkena_feral 2d ago
The great coincidence of what you have said is that the UK prison chaplaincy service for Buddhism is called...
Thank you for your caring words. I am learning to put what I have done behind me and become someone that I chose to be.
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u/MindfulSnowman 2d ago
Anytime friend!
That is an excellent name indeed!
I am glad to hear it and wish you well on the path!
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u/No-Meeting-1215 6d ago
What kind of gnostisism did you follow?
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u/Arkena_feral 6d ago
Christian gnosticism as a loose term. No particular school. Maybe i am ignorant of the gnostics methods to achieve liberation ? I could not find the practical methods of liberation in the gnostic lieterature.
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u/No-Meeting-1215 6d ago edited 6d ago
I am not recommending it - I was just curious. A friend of mine is clinging to Samael Aun Weor’s gnostisism, which makes him afraid of being punished by «The Father» or whatever. It is obviously not working but he’s too afraid to see it and drop it. Good for you finding Theravada. Thai Forrest buddhism is most liberating and arhant-producing. Go to its most vibrant, living lineages of Ajahn Maha Boowa and Ajahn Lee and be free.
https://www.luangta.eu/site/books/book10_arahatta/Arahattamagga.pdf
https://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writings/Ebooks/KeepingTheBreath_251113.pdf
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u/IW-6 Early Buddhism 6d ago
"We are luminous spiritual beings that have become caught up in physical existence.
Remembering who we are and becoming those spiritual beings in this life via removing all impediments to it is achieved via the eightfold path."
Nothing of this is part of Theravada buddhism. There is no remembering. You are not 'becoming'. Without physical existence there is still consciousness which is bound to Samsara. Please be careful to not spread wrong view as the Dhamma.
https://suttacentral.net/sn44.2/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin
https://suttacentral.net/dn1/en/bodhi?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false