zandtao developed his path autonomy through a Buddhist practice primarily based on the teachings of Ajaan Buddhadasa - MwB. Now his meditation follows the 2 themes of practice:-
During his studies learning and developing the practice he got used to using Pali words - as Buddhists often do. Sometimes these Pali words describe understandings that are Buddhist and not focussed on elsewhere, and sometimes the Pali word helps not falling into conditioning traps from prior conditioned misuse.
zandtao uses ditthi as the second type (to avoid conditioned misuse):-
As a seeker we might develop a temporary understanding as we learn. This might be a strong insight that we accept - although later move on from, or it might be a temporary thought or a temporary idea that we come to by ourselves or reading, utubes etc. As part of a clear seeker's approach it is important to learn lessons from these insights or ideas, and then let them go moving on with our learning. It is recognised that it is not good practice to cling to insights, ideas or thoughts but to let them go and move on. As Eckhart says, we are not our thoughts. In Western education and academia we are taught to internalise ideas and through our exam systems repeat these ideas to pass. Seekers would see this as clinging to an idea or we might cling to a bunch of ideas as an idealism. Now the word “idealism” sounds very positive for western education, and zandtao does not want any thoughts or ideas associated with idealism so he uses ditthi for any temporary insight, belief, thought, idea or idealism that might arise. None of these ditthi is rejected out-of-hand, through mindfulness such ditthi are grappled with to develop understanding and then let go. Because this is not what academics learn, zandtao chose the word ditthi so that we do not cling to inappropriate academic processes.
zandtao uses dukkha as the first type (there is no suchfocus elsewhere):-
Dukkha is a key characteristic in understanding how we develop attachments. In various ways attachments arise through ego, suffering and clinging. Buddhists recognise these characteristics arising and try to let them go - note them, process them and let them go. This processing is also important for zandtao’s understanding of releasing restrictions, he wants to see where the attachments arise and then let them go. When zandtao sees dukkha he sees suffering, depression, anxiety, agitation, restlessness and other similar attachments potentially arising and through his meditation he lets these restrictions go. There is no similar word in English for all the things zandtao sees associated with dukkha - it is often translated as suffering, so zandtao prefers to use the Pali word for better understanding - to encompass the whole collection of dukkhas.
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