How to survive?

[Please visit our sponsor:]

[Thor's Hammer]

Many who profess 'enlightenment' go off into the mountains for months at a time at some point in their lives to meditate/rethink etc. One wonders what they ate, where they slept, etc. Perhaps this is a better topic for a survival forum?

[kensparrow]

Planning a trip?

[Goye]

Just :ki: ,....i think:freaky: !!!!

[aikilouis]

I've recently seen a documentary about pilgrimages around the world. It showed a man who started some kind of yamabushi hike. Part of the "mission" consisted in begging for subsistance. He explained that he was obsessed by it at first, but as time went by, he saw that the more sincere his quest grew, the more people came naturally to him and gave him some money.

[sanosuke]

see 'survivor', i think that's how they live. but personally i think people don't have to go such way to get enlightened, observing your surroundings also can get you enlightened.

[Nacho]

How were they enlightened at night? :)

[taras]

"Cave in the snow" (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1582340455/qid=1060681525/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-5193613-1823054?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) is highly recommended as a guide to modern cave living ;)

[Abasan]

Is it enlightenment to seek the wilderness and reject cities?

To seek isolation and reject company?

I think enlightenment comes from within. That 'within' is the creation of balance or equilibrium in oneself.

That comes from observing, understanding and living life. Those that go and meditate in the wilderness... well lucky them that they don't have responsibilities to feed themselves and families and society.

As for what they eat... have you heard of Instant noodles?

[Anders Bjonback]

In the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism there were many great masters who went into the mountians and lived in caves, in solitary retreat, for many years. But they also got very involved with people, with society after that period of their lives.

Being a yogi and living in solitary retreat in a cave is a part of a spiritual tradition, but that doesn't mean that tradition says that you should reject society and seek wilderness. Shakyamuni Buddha didn't stay in solitary retreat for the rest of his life after he attained enlightenment.

People of the mahayana or vajrayana traditions going off in solitary retreat are doing so because they believe that that is the best way for them to attain enlightenment for the benifit of all beings. And solitary retreat is by no means an easy life.