I read a book that promised magic powers. Then, trying it out, it was … impressive.

Then I abandoned it for a few years.

Then I picked it up again seriously. Made sense of it for myself. Studied awareness and its ways, and so on.

…

You?

  • oceanMAEnglish
    2·
    4 days ago

    What book promised magical powers? How have you practiced recently?

    I came into it after taking a class on Buddhism then went to a local Zen temple.

    • rainrain@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      1·
      4 days ago

      I don’t recall the title. Mind… somethingorother. It’s been a long time.

      But here’s a big famous one that talks about it. The Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali ( https://a.co/d/76RM5jE ). It’s towards the back. A chapter entitled supernormal powers.

      Concentration (aka Samatha, Anapanasati, Samprajnata Dhyana) taken deep will deliver powers. But it also has downsides.

      Nonconcentration (Shikantaza, Vipassana, Asamprajnata Dhyana) is better. But you kinda need to get good at concentration first and get a handle on what’s involved.

      (Used together is very powerful.)

      I do Shikantaza these days.

      (The Fluffy Cloud school has a nice succinct guide with pictures : http://fleen.org/fluffy_cloud )