un8- wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 8:32 am
That's not true. I don't claim to
know things about a particular person with the amount of certainty you claim to know, and I certainly don't make the claim that someone is a master.
People make claims all the time about their experiences which they think is an attainment, doesn't mean it's true. As I said in my first response, Brasington may have attained Wrong Jhanas, but not Samma Samadhi, as someone who actually attains Samma Samadhi doesn't have the obsessions about politics and the world, as he does, as Samma Samadhi requires a lifestyle change and seclusion from the world and Right View that is Supermundane.
Furthermore, theres many different interpretations, so how can you know if the person you consider a master has the right interpretation? Take for example the word Parimukkham in Anapanasati, there's like 20 different interpretations and meanings for that word. Some people, like Brasington, think it means focusing on the nose. Not to mention Nimitta, and other ambiguous words. So you're too overconfident in your faith about people who may have the wrong interpretation.
You're basing it all on reputation and claims made by the person.
Your faith doesn't mean you actually know.
I think that too many people at the base camp try to form opinions about those who have ascended the mountain. Whether they reached the summit is something they would know, and could discuss with others who have ascended some way.
It is easy to be critical and to make assumptions or interpretations based on the suttas.
As the saying goes, 'the Dhamma is not found in books'.
As said above there can be criteria for forming a valid opinion on a teacher. The rest is up to us, and there is significant overlap in all methods at the earlier stages in any case.
With regards to Leigh and his apparent interest in politics, I would not put that down as an exclusionary factor for his attainments. That is also an assumption. He is a lay person not a monastic and further having been taught by a Theravada nun there is some controversy there itself which can be 'political'.
Furthermore, it may be that one could maintain a worldly identity and personality that is somewhat apart from the mind that attains to jhana. Again, you are not in a position to make such an assumption or not.
For Ayya Khema, she dedicated a significant amount of her life to meditation as a nun and spent years and thousands of hours practicing, far more than most lay people would ever do other than the rare dedicated practicioners, Leigh being one of them.
So again, just put the meditation hours in and worry about your practice according to the method you feel is correct and suitable for you. What others have attained and interpretations of their practice or the suttas can't be resolved fully on an intellectual level anyway.
Imagine if the amount of time that is put into thinking and arguing about different textual interpretations and jhana was instead put into practicing, once one had gained an understanding of the fundamentals.
I can see why the Thai Ajahns give so little instruction and instead would ask you to simply return when the mind can be kept continuously with the breath for an extended period.