My name is Zach and I have been practicing meditation for about 8ish years now. I am 33 years old and have done temporary ordination under my teacher I study under the most Ven. Bhante Vimalaramsi. I currently live in Farmington, MO in the Ozarks. Beautiful mountain country of Missouri. My monastic name is Ven Gunadasa when I ordained. Gunadasa means literaly a slave to doing good. I'm not sure what else I should type but remembered I had this profile a whiles back. I am a serious practitioner to just watch and see what happens in meditation with the curiosity of a child's mind. Longest sittings I can do is about 3 hours or until my legs fall asleep, haha. I study Dependent Origination which is spoken about many times in the majjhima nikaya. That is the main book I read as well. As far as progress goes... I practice TWIM(Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation) a nice perfect blending of vipissana and samantha yoked together as spoken about in the Buddhist Suttas. I use the brahma viharas as my meditation object. As far as Jhannas are concerned I am not afraid to speak about them nore am I afraid to help give teachings if practicing with TWIM. I have exerienced all Jhannas except Relam of neither perception nor non perception. I am a firm believer we are reborn and not reincarnated... I do not believe in a permanent me, myself, or I that survives after death, but do believe our khamma and habitual tendencies are transmuted into a new being based on our khamma of our past life(s) and our current mind state at time of death along with merit we earn by doing good. Most of my progress in Buddhism has been made from having insights in sitting meditation or carrying the sitting meditation into waking life because I believe what the Buddha said... Meditation is life and life is meditation. I hope all may find relief and be happy!!!
Much Maha Metta
Everyone!!!Zach
