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Haha! So that's why I'm reluctant to teach!

Well, who made the correct choice, Lilith or Eve? (I tend more towards Lilith in this respect. Your mileage may vary.)

If it works for you, great.

You will need to consider each situation individually.

I suspect this "spiritual but not religious" might correlate to introverts who are drained by being around large gatherings of people. Introverts are energized by solitude. Extraverts are energized by social gatherings. Like introvert practice compared to extravert practice? ;) If they don't...

I do see the cycle as optimal during a single sit. If you don't carry the rupa jhana cycle through to the end, then you will be stuck in makyō.

Makyō is an analogous Zen term for this. I've spent a good amount of time in makyō.

I don't recall ever experiencing the rupa jhanas in reverse order. Jhanas are a fairly rare occurrence with me--I really don't seek them out. As for "descending" to the rupa jhanas from a formless jhana: I see them as a means by which to "grab my attention" during a mental absorption, a...

Good point. It will trigger the four rupa jhana cycle at the very least, being knowledge into the conscious mind from the unconscious mind. These jhanas also do involve a conceptual reflective practice just like the formless jhanas. Hmm. I will have to consider this further. Thank you.

May it be a prosperous year for all!

Is your sensory system a belief system?

congratulations on your book!

Indeed, it was the Anupada sutta that helped me to overcome being a spiritual junkie. (Compare the different Nibbana suttas.)

Indeed, that is the technique I followed for the example of individuating the formless jnana of neither-perception-nor-nonperception/nibbana, where the fire of addiction is extinguished. Yes, one example I gave of the "Black Sadhana" practice from Herald of the Dawn is actually a more detailed...

For a bit more clarity: the six sense bases are the limit of our range. It is "The All" we can experience. It doesn't mean that there is nothing outside of this range, it just means we can't describe it because we can't experience it. We can use tools to expand the information we can gather...

I know the suttas put the bliss and rapture at the end of the second rupa jhana, and I put it at the beginning of the third rupa jhana. I do this because categorizing it as filling with rapture and then divesting of rapture makes more sense to this bliss-junkie's mind, following the meditative...

Those were the Western LHP folks I was referring to in the OP. It has the H☿D boilerplate at the end of the document.

The nature of humans, god, and worship.

LHP Buddhism: Think for yourself. Listen to others and make an effort to understand, and have compassion for others, but maintain your own mind. Don't give in to groupthink. Practice mindfulness in all you do, especially your routine chores. Mopping the floor meditation is a favorite. When...

I was a koan and jhana bliss junkie for a good number of years. I took the "generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts his intent" part of Right Effort in the way only a junkie can. It was Thich Nhat Hanh's line in Living Buddha, Living Christ about how the Holy...