Yikes! People are noticing the change in me.

[MMK23]

I see.

flyingOx, from what I've learnt from the 21st century, you aren't enlightened. Here's why:

* you haven't written a bestselling book,
* you haven't sold a revolutionary new doctrine,
* you don't have a web page and a fawning cyber community,
* you haven't mastered the art of contrived ineffability,
* your avatar "flyingOx" is not very auspicious,
* you haven't been interviewed by ANY of the Buddhist magazines or tv shows.
* you haven't said, "a circle has no beginning" ONCE,
* you haven't incorporated all of the other religions into a single grand megabuddhism,
* you haven't made a single buck from the dhamma (or have you?),

I bet you don't even have a single statue of the Buddha!

Best wishes to you my friend, you seem like you would be a really charming person to meet

[flyingOx]

I see.

flyingOx, from what I've learnt from the 21st century, you aren't enlightened. Here's why:

* you haven't written a bestselling book,
* you haven't sold a revolutionary new doctrine,
* you don't have a web page and a fawning cyber community,
* you haven't mastered the art of contrived ineffability,
* your avatar "flyingOx" is not very auspicious,
* you haven't been interviewed by ANY of the Buddhist magazines or tv shows.
* you haven't said, "a circle has no beginning" ONCE,
* you haven't incorporated all of the other religions into a single grand megabuddhism,
* you haven't made a single buck from the dhamma (or have you?),

I bet you don't even have a single statue of the Buddha!

Best wishes to you my friend, you seem like you would be a really charming person to meet

Wow! You are a mind reader! Cool! You are right, I have no Buddha statue. There! I'm well on my way, now. LOL

[pink_trike]

He has, however, said some things that give some of us cause for concern about his well-being . Many of us here hope he shares his experience with a qualified Dharma teacher. If the sensations persist, I agree with a previous poster that seeking professional mental health care advise would be a wise caution.

[DNS]

flyingOx, from what I've learnt from the 21st century, you aren't enlightened. Here's why:

* you haven't written a bestselling book,
* you haven't sold a revolutionary new doctrine,
* you don't have a web page and a fawning cyber community,
* you haven't mastered the art of contrived ineffability,
* your avatar "flyingOx" is not very auspicious,
* you haven't been interviewed by ANY of the Buddhist magazines or tv shows.
* you haven't said, "a circle has no beginning" ONCE,
* you haven't incorporated all of the other religions into a single grand megabuddhism,
* you haven't made a single buck from the dhamma (or have you?),

Hi MMK23,

I know you are being sarcastic and humorous, but Ajahn Chah, Shabkar, and to a certain extent, S. N. Goenka could fit all of the above and they are pretty realized beings or at least way up there. And of course there are many more who also never wrote a Dhamma book, never made money off the Dhamma/Dharma, but were still highly realized people.

[flyingOx]

He has, however, said some things that give some of us cause for concern about his well-being . Many of us here hope he shares his experience with a qualified Dharma teacher. If the sensations persist, I agree with a previous poster that seeking professional mental health care advise would be a wise caution.

LOL Like what? What have I said that causes concern?

[flyingOx]

flyingOx, from what I've learnt from the 21st century, you aren't enlightened. Here's why:

* you haven't written a bestselling book,
* you haven't sold a revolutionary new doctrine,
* you don't have a web page and a fawning cyber community,
* you haven't mastered the art of contrived ineffability,
* your avatar "flyingOx" is not very auspicious,
* you haven't been interviewed by ANY of the Buddhist magazines or tv shows.
* you haven't said, "a circle has no beginning" ONCE,
* you haven't incorporated all of the other religions into a single grand megabuddhism,
* you haven't made a single buck from the dhamma (or have you?),

Hi MMK23,

I know you are being sarcastic and humorous, but Ajahn Chah, Shabkar, and to a certain extent, S. N. Goenka could fit all of the above and they are pretty realized beings or at least way up there. And of course there are many more who also never wrote a Dhamma book, never made money off the Dhamma/Dharma, but were still highly realized people.

Just not someone who read Wings to Awakening and became awakened, right? LOL

[DNS]

Just not someone who read Wings to Awakening and became awakened, right? LOL

Why not? I suppose it could happen. But 'could happen' does not necessarily mean it 'did happen.' That is why many here have suggested consulting a teacher.

It is good you are focusing on your studies. After they are finished, when you have time, you could check out some other teachers, attend a retreat, read some more, including Thanissaro Bhikkhu and some others.

[MMK23]

Hi MMK23,

Hi TheDhamma (until now that seemed an unlikely sentence!) I can't find a wave smiley with my useless eyes, so I'll have to settle for

I know you are being sarcastic and humorous, but Ajahn Chah, Shabkar, and to a certain extent, S. N. Goenka could fit all of the above and they are pretty realized beings or at least way up there. And of course there are many more who also never wrote a Dhamma book, never made money off the Dhamma/Dharma, but were still highly realized people.

Thanks for sort-of appreciating my humour I don't know who Shabkar is, but I'll take your word for it. Your point is well taken. It's a funny world that we live in, isn't it? It seems there's nothing that mass capitalisation/consumption can't touch and anything that is successful in any way seems inevitable to be recast as a trinket in the marketplace.

Just not someone who read Wings to Awakening and became awakened, right? LOL

You would know that if you went to more retreats, flyingOx! Anyway, I think folks here seem to find your story implausible, and your mental health questionable In situations like this people won't want to feel like they're encouraging you. It's unlikely that you'll get much more attention on this matter, I expect. Anyway, I've told you my criteria for enlightenment, so until I see at least a bestselling book, if not a flashy webpage, I'm totally unconvinced. But if you are looking to get a following, you'll need to learn use the word "suchness"* in sentences

WIth love,

MMK23

* ps I realise there are perfectly sensible ways to use the word "suchness", no offense is intended to anyone who uses it

[Cittasanto]

LOL I like but agree allot of people could fall into this list

I see.

flyingOx, from what I've learnt from the 21st century, you aren't enlightened. Here's why:

* you haven't written a bestselling book,
* you haven't sold a revolutionary new doctrine,
* you don't have a web page and a fawning cyber community,
* you haven't mastered the art of contrived ineffability,
* your avatar "flyingOx" is not very auspicious,
* you haven't been interviewed by ANY of the Buddhist magazines or tv shows.
* you haven't said, "a circle has no beginning" ONCE,
* you haven't incorporated all of the other religions into a single grand megabuddhism,
* you haven't made a single buck from the dhamma (or have you?),

I bet you don't even have a single statue of the Buddha!

Best wishes to you my friend, you seem like you would be a really charming person to meet

[Ngawang Drolma.]

World Buddhist Directory

[Tex]

He has, however, said some things that give some of us cause for concern about his well-being . Many of us here hope he shares his experience with a qualified Dharma teacher. If the sensations persist, I agree with a previous poster that seeking professional mental health care advise would be a wise caution.

LOL Like what? What have I said that causes concern?

Not to speak for pink_trike, but I had similar concerns so I'll share mine.

You asked what you've said that causes concern -- You have referred several times to your school workload, it sounds as if you're under tremendous stress. And you seem to sincerely believe that you've achieved an instant state of enlightenment and gained the ability to heal people with one touch, and you're now feeling concerned about how to live in the world after your "awakening" without people trying to follow you or worship you. These are all beliefs and feelings that a therapist might want to learn more about.

Disclaimer: I only have a bachelor's in psychology -- I am not a licensed therapist. But if a friend of mine came to me saying these same things I would be tempted to recommend that he talk to one. It certainly couldn't hurt, whether my friend was enlightened or not.

I don't mean to sound harsh, I wish you all the best.

[flyingOx]

He has, however, said some things that give some of us cause for concern about his well-being . Many of us here hope he shares his experience with a qualified Dharma teacher. If the sensations persist, I agree with a previous poster that seeking professional mental health care advise would be a wise caution.

LOL Like what? What have I said that causes concern?

Not to speak for pink_trike, but I had similar concerns so I'll share mine.

You asked what you've said that causes concern -- You have referred several times to your school workload, it sounds as if you're under tremendous stress. And you seem to sincerely believe that you've achieved an instant state of enlightenment and gained the ability to heal people with one touch, and you're now feeling concerned about how to live in the world after your "awakening" without people trying to follow you or worship you. These are all beliefs and feelings that a therapist might want to learn more about.

Disclaimer: I only have a bachelor's in psychology -- I am not a licensed therapist. But if a friend of mine came to me saying these same things I would be tempted to recommend that he talk to one. It certainly couldn't hurt, whether my friend was enlightened or not.

I don't mean to sound harsh, I wish you all the best.

Well, I really do appreciate the concern and good will, but I am fine, really. Seriously, all stress has ended. I can't imagine how going to a shrink would sound...Shrink: "so what seems to be the problem?" flyingOx: "nothing" shrink: "then why are you hear" flyingOx: "because I have no stress, am perfectly happy, my mother is no longer sick, and I can concentrate on my school work like never before." shrink: "Well, maybe you are crazy, then. Are you a stalker?" LOL

[Mexicali]

Mention to the shrink that you've come to believe that you've been universally awakened and have magic healing powers and I think you'll get a different answer.

I'm really not trying to be a jerk here but you clearly need to talk to somebody. I have seen this happen before in real life and it's never ended well.

[pink_trike]

I'm not convinced that you (flyingOx) aren't a troll who is baiting us with an imaginative story for sport.

But if not, then I agree with Mexicali - much of what you wrote is cause for concern (especially your certainty) and I really sat up and took note when I read that you claim that you now can heal people by touching them, and that you're concerned that people will worship you (if you aren't a troll, then this is a fairly obvious projection of a belief that you should be worshipped). That, coupled with your claim that you will wander in the wilderness with only the clothes on your back triggered real concern (dangerous superhuman/martyr fantasy). Having been both a psychotherapist and a seasoned wilderness wanderer - both claims are cause for me to hope that you'll ground this mind-experience with feedback from a qualified Dharma teacher, or seek professional mental health care advice.

[flyingOx]

This is a place where spiritual people gather. Saying things in spiritual ways are what I do when around other spiritual people. Why wouldn't I? If I were around a shrink, I would speak as the world speaks. Around spiritual people I speak like spiritual people. The healing thing, like I said was only with my mother at the same time that I was healing myself. If you think that that is a cause for concern, then I feel sorry for YOU. And with people who notice me as being enlightened, it is only my close friends at school. Now, I would not and do not come up to them and act like their spiritual leader. My concern in posting this was hopefully to be able to talk to others who have gone through what I am going through. I had the impression that if one followed exactly what the Buddha taught, then all Buddhists would experience what I am experiencing. Perhaps I was wrong, or perhaps...well, I won't go there.

Also, as far as going on a survival expedition, with meditation in mind, I am already an experienced survivalist in the woods. I have been doing that all my life. I also have been studying the spiritual texts of all other faiths as well. However, it was not until I got to Buddhism that I was awakened, and that is as far as I am going to say about this subject anymore. I'm sorry that you don't get it. Truly, I am.

Peace to all.