Ep14: The Arahant - Daniel Ingram

New video episode!
video starts after the intro card
In this interview I am joined by meditation teacher and author Daniel Ingram.
Daniel sparked great controversy when in 2008 he published his first book ‘Mastering The Core Teachings Of The Buddha: An Unusual Hardcore Dharma Book’, signing it as the Arahant Daniel Ingram.
Naming himself an arahant, which is one of the highest attainments in Buddhism, flew in the face of cultural taboos against disclosing one’s enlightenment.
In this fascinating conversation we delve into Daniel’s childhood mystical experiences and how he overcame a lack of meditational talent to embark upon a life of intense retreat and practice.
We discuss his meditation challenges and accomplishments, and lay out the stages of awakening and how to traverse them.
At the end, Daniel turns the tables on me and questions my own experience and motivations!
I hope you enjoy this one!
- Daniel’s childhood mystical experiences
- Crossing the arising and passing away in a dream
- Daniel’s first retreat and overcoming a lack of meditation talent
- ‘Learning to feel my feet’
- Travelling to India
- Coming face to face with sickness and poverty in the slums of Calcutta
- Learning a powerful meditation technique in Malaysia that changed everything
- How an old Burmese monk introduced Daniel to a map of insight
- How to find the right meditation path for you
- Lead through strength but don’t get stuck
- How Daniel used personal pride as an aid on the path
- Dark Night of the Soul and the Dhukka Nanas
- A summary of the cycle of insight
- Daniel’s dark night
- Achieving stream entry
- The God-Gerbil
- Aftershocks of awakening
- Why Daniel believes in disclosing attainments
- Rapid fire practice guide
- I want to attain stream entry, what do I do?
- I have attained stream entry and I want to attain 2nd, what do I do?
- I have attained 2nd path and I want to attain 3rd, what do I do?
- I have attained 3rd path and I want to attain 4th, what do I do?
- I am an arrant - now what?
- Daniel turns the tables on Steve
- Where do Steve’s questions come from?
- What is his experience of map theory?
- How does Steve use maps when teaching meditation?

[@Alejandro388]

Thank you. A western man who managed to attain knowledge of the deepest-end of the mind yet has witnessed first-hand the plight of humanity by volunteering in the slums of India, is such a rare thing to see. Also, my nod to the interview'er for well researched and prepared questions, i've watched all YT available interviews with Daniel, and this is by far the smoothest and most informative of them

[@GuruViking]

Thanks Aleksandras! Yes, Daniel is very unique - I'm very pleased you enjoyed the interview :-)

[@PiceaSitchensis]

He said in the interview he volunteered for the sake of his resume, so he could get into medical school.

[@_eddiecole]

It's crazy right

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

@@PiceaSitchensis that doesn't make what he did a bad thing. All of us do all kinds of things for somewhat selfish reasons even if we're on the path. The experiences Daniel had and the compassion he had to even go through such a thing are all valid even if his intent was to get something out of it. Is something meaningless just because we hope to get something out of it? Of course not. Anyways I'm in full agreement with the original comment. I've watched all of Daniels interviews (there are many more on Spotify than KZbin, search monk on a motorbike Daniel Ingram, or chaotic thinking Daniel Ingram for some of my other favorites), and this one is still one of my favorites. Some of the interviews aren't worth rewatching though due to many of the interviews he does focusing a lot on the EPRC project, which is fair and important, but gets tiring to hear over and over again to some extent when you're familiar with it and what you're hoping for instead is for him to talk more about the practice. It's fine, I just re-listen to those less often.

[@lingy74]

My first silent retreat was in the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition and it blew my mind. I went in with zero expectations just wanting to ‘feel peace’. Boy was I wrong. That was 12 years ago. Today, I practice vajrayana. I didn’t set out to find it. It kinda happened through synchronicities and I’ll hopefully be receiving Dzogchen teachings at some point. If I have any advice, be patient, be humble, be consistent and start with shamatha - vipassana. Just saying this coz Daniel Ingram is right about the Mahasi Sayadaw’s method being good for analytical, overthinking and mildly neurotic people. 😉🌸 Om muni muni mahamunaye svaha 💫🙏🏼💫

[@thephoenixsystem6765]

I keep coming back to this resource. Thanks, Steve and Daniel!

[@Art-talk]

You are very good interviewer.

[@GuruViking]

Thanks Manyx!

[@Art-talk]

@@GuruViking You know to listen, you put your guest first, are aware of acoustics in studio, and make intelligent and straight to the point questions, so thank you, and take care mate.

[@jasonandfiona]

Thanks, i learned many new adjectives from this discussion.

[@a.s2118]

Amazing conversation and super flowy! Thank you!

[@MegaMONI45]

Wonderful, thank you

[@moniquerodrigues5138]

Thank you so much for this interview! I am reading his book and it is amazing. I encourage others to do so. Thanks again!

[@pignut9361]

Brilliant, an interviewer who allows the interviewee to talk without interruption! Nice work Guru Viking, very pertinent and intelligent questions.

[@GuruViking]

Thanks, A Fisher!

[@halweststar]

what an Interviewer!!!!!!! subscribed!

[@onelove7069]

This was a very helpful interview, thank you.

[@biscottone3357]

Incredible Conversation

[@spacevspitch4028]

It's wild to hear all this. Like...all I have in my experience are the bodily senses and the imagination which can, to various degrees of clarity, recreate the sensations of the senses. Then there is raw consciousness and attention, which can be guided to any point in awareness and used to manipulate the imagination to create or recreate inner reflections of sensation. And regardless of how deeply or intensely you can attune your focus to any sensation of recreation of sensation in imagination, there's always that background of awareness that allows one to do all of these things in the first place. That's all there is. Everything is either direct sensation or imagination, the raw awareness that perceives it all and attention which can move around to focus on things. So...ALL of that stuff about jhanas, paths, fruition, stream entry, and on and on, just sounds like gibberish. There must be ONE final goal, right? It just feels so wildly hodgepodge-y. Ugh 😩

[@justiceearth9702]

Dissolution and sloth actually helps me during meditation. It allows me to relax and surrender in the moment

[@ryanpalma5947]

Thank You & Blessings! 🧖‍♀️🙏

[@GuruViking]

Thanks Ryan!

[@MostlyZen79]

I’m not quite sure how I found your channel but I’m glad that I found it. Thank you for hosting all these interesting interviews. Metta to you Guru Viking 😁

[@GuruViking]

Thank you! 🙏

[@cbatara80]

Comforting to hear Daniel say he'd rather have a distributed web of wisdom rather than a hierarchy.

[@julieanntregeagle2594]

I learned I am a complete mediation virgin, after over 50 years of intuitive meditation. Wow. I wonder if it is possible to achieve these deeper levels that he discusses and practices, without instruction or without a teacher. I would most likely be light years ahead had I had a teacher like Daniel.

[@lucasdesiqueira6122]

I had no teacher but the internet, It works tho... Everyone is my teacher and I try to be a good learner thats all you need

[@johnandrewmunroe]

What fun! Daniel is the real deal.

[@GuruViking]

Yep, it was so much fun interviewing Daniel!

[@midooley543]

He is not an arahant. He just claims to be one because he knows there is plenty of fools out there who will believe him.

[@gdansk12349]

I like this guy. I was really skeptical. But he makes sense.

[@elusiveinsert]

Dan is awesome

[@alexanderpankevicz3738]

Nice!

[@leekrogulski2415]

Loving these interviews, working my way through them. fascinating to hear of the way different folk teach the Dharma and finding out how their life experiences unfolded and subsequent teaching methods, as mentioned before, Lama Yeshe would be a great scoup as would Robina Courtin if you could manage to catch her, she touched down in Leeds briefly like a Dharmic hurricane before shooting off again, very popular teacher, keep up the good work!

[@GuruViking]

Thanks Lee! Which interviews have you enjoyed the most so far? Am following up on your suggestion of Lama Yeshe, and would love to interview Robina - thank for the suggestions :-)

[@leekrogulski2415]

Guru Viking have enjoyed both of your interviews with Culadasa and Dan Ingram, both of whom I didn’t know anything about, have since googled them to find out more, particularly interested in the development of American Dharma, am familiar with the IMS founders Jack, Joseph and Sharon who I think have done a particularly great service in presenting the Dharma to westerners,

[@leekrogulski2415]

My favourite so far is the interview with Charlie Morley

[@GuruViking]

@@leekrogulski2415 Yes, Charlie's interview was very interesting!

[@GuruViking]

@@leekrogulski2415 I'm very pleased you were introduced to people you didn't know about before - I find both Culadasa and Daniel Ingram very interesting too :-)

[@kevinshari8262]

Is the Malaysia center he mentioned,still there as I may visit Malaysia next month

[@stackingsaunter]

Somebody get this guy to Sam Harris podcast

[@GuruViking]

Agreed!

[@jlareaux5504]

For sure!!!!

[@moniquerodrigues5138]

He's been in Dan Harris podcast, if that interests you. It was a great interview. :)

[@jlareaux5504]

@@moniquerodrigues5138 I just listened to that last week. So good indeed :-)

[@KrishnaKumar-rg8yn]

Thank you, Guru Viking. Am a Vipassana meditator in the Goenka tradition. Daniel Ingram is such a great inspiration!

[@sjpigott]

You're welcome, I'm happy you enjoyed the interview with Daniel! :-)

[@DreymaComposer]

Mahasi sayadaw > vague goenka stuff

[@_eddiecole]

Me too. He said that we should augment the vipassana retreats with some insight knowledge. On your next retreat...do u plan to do this?

[@rickyhindmarsh5985]

💜🙏💜

[@DeepakChandanSDM]

Wonderful. Already a big fan of your channel. You are interviewing all the guys I want to listen to. Would it be possible to do an interview with Yogani, founder of Advanced Yoga practices (AYP) ? I have always been very curious about how his system or general yogic system correlates with the insight path. I have done both AYP and buddhist meditation and there is always this doubt if these two paths lead to same goal or not. Sometimes I feel like yogic path is incomplete , and other times I feel AYP is really an effortless shortcut to the final goal of awakening. So it would be nice to hear all this from Yogani ,who in my opinion is as pragmatic a Yogi as you can find. Thanks for the good work. Have a nice day

[@GuruViking]

Thanks Deepak! Glad you're enjoying the channel and the interviews :-) I will look into Yogani as you have suggested, thank you for the recommendation.

[@Kaspen82]

Interesting question. I would love to find out too

[@HuiChyr]

Urgh ... Daniel is in love with his own voice.

[@penguin0101]

Where is the dark night in the suttas?

[@Chase_Istre]

Great guy, i love what he has to say but labeling himself as an Arhant, is quite a illogical label. He should read the diamond sutra in embed it in prajna.. I’ll record the easy translation Buddha then asked, “What do you think, Subhuti, does one who has entered the stream which flows to Enlightenment, say ‘I have entered the stream’?” “No, Buddha”, Subhuti replied. “A true disciple entering the stream would not think of themselves as a separate person that could be entering anything. Only that disciple who does not differentiate themselves from others, who has no regard for name, shape, sound, odor, taste, touch or for any quality can truly be called a disciple who has entered the stream.” Buddha continued, “Does a disciple who is subject to only one more rebirth say to himself, ‘I am entitled to the honors and rewards of a Once-to-be-reborn.’?” “No, Lord. ‘Once-to-be-reborn’ is only a name. There is no passing away, or coming into, existence. Only one who realizes this can really be called a disciple.” “Subhuti, does a venerable One who will never more be reborn as a mortal say to himself, ‘I am entitled to the honor and rewards of a Non-returner.’?” (Arhat) “No, Perfectly Enlightened One. A ‘Non-returner’ is merely a name. There is actually no one returning and no one not-returning.”

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

We have more than enough teachers in the dharma world who won't share what they are and use other things like hats and titles and claims of certain attainments that go with the stages of enlightenment that to think an enlightened person is somehow incapable of saying "I am enlightened" is getting tiring to hear over and over again. Don't base what you think of as fact on something written thousands of years ago by people other than the Buddha. I equally think your idea is ludicrous and so would many others who have gone far on the path. There is no self that is enlightened or being reborn. Great insight, not practical to live in that mode all the time!

[@Chase_Istre]

@@user-fg3fv9hl3b It is not such an easy matter sir. One can verily be firmly established in that unconditional nondual state of Nirvana for some time, and yet this person can still fall back into erroneous views like a man atop a mountain for some time, but has an underlying urge to step back down the hill again. One can experience the highest Truth in pure bliss, yet still have outflows but began to think otherwise until they take fruition. There are those who experience the highest Truth of the three realms for some time, and foolishly label themselves as enlightened. Like a man who drinks water for some time and says, 'I have defeated thirst', though they tasted water only for some temporary given time. Again, there are those who experience defeating all ideas of thirst and non-thirst, and verily established in the Absolute state of Nirvana, of non-discrimination, they again label themselves as enlightened. But though one threw away the water jug as a whole, again in that person there may still remain the urge to pick the jug back up and fall back into dual discrimination. And again, there are those who defeated all urges to pick back up the illusory jug, like a flower in the sky which never existed, yet in them still remains an idea of not picking back up the jug, and picking it back up. Stuck in the idea of a self doing or non-doing an the ultimate level, still they do not grasp the Absolute yet label themselves as enlightened. Layers of smoke still abide even after the flame. The flame may be blown out, but smoke still remains, and where there is smoke, there is the heat able to make the flame arise again. Until all outflows have cleared amongst the air, the flame is not totally defeated. Layers of the fruit must be peeled until the seed alone remains. This indeed is the path most hard to walk. I am not saying this man is not some 'Arhant', by all means, he could be! However the way he labels, 'Once i became a stream-enterer' etc, etc. makes me speculate. One who says such thing still sees a self that entered a stream, and again entered the gateless gate. Neither is there a self that enters a stream or a gate, for only when the idea of self is extinguished is there ultimate freedom. In such a state there is no "me" to be enlightened or defiled. Wherefore can the deathless be grabbed by the hand? This is not my intellectual speculation, for I think intellectual learning alone becomes like chewing gum and those who study Dharma as mere concepts chew on gum which tires the jaw and become flavorless indeed. But through my humble experience, dear sir, this is what I have seen. When the self stopped existing, there was no I to be this or not be that, where could enlightenment be? If I had self still, during those months of holiness, enlightenment, and its stages could be said to have been attained, but such concepts were illusory, for the self and its attainments themselves were illusory. That alone stood, suchness, the deathless, the uncreate and the wordless. In ecstasy, all ceased and the unconditioned alone existed. The True Buddha was in all, all pervading, in every second of space indeed, and this very land became like an illusion o' so beautiful. Yet again, outflows indeed still in my heart, I fell back into worldliness. This is not to project my own mistakes and incapability onto this fine man at all, who am I to do such foolish things? My point is to say, in such a state of equanimity and prajna, there is no stages, no enlightenment, for there is no self to be appointed to such achievements. Its all so silly, like divine play sirs. All is! Ah, bliss fills my heart again! Amituofo! Note: I see your aversion to following 'old books' as I will label this widespread attitude. But I would like to state that the Shurangama Sutra goes over many states of illusion of believing one is enlightened and their short-comings. This text points out every state of fault and delusion of the beings who claim enlightenment until no-mind exists and the Absolute meaning is grasped. I recommend you read this sutra, or the Diamond Sutra. Whether you see them all reliable or not, they are indeed a good read. More precise to this topic is the 'Sutra of Complete Enlightenment' where they Buddha says enlightenment does not exist, like a second moon in the water, yet only labels such a thing as so as to make the good people follow the holy path to wisdom. May you be blessed and do well in your path! Blessings Blessings. Love Love. I wish you the best good friend. Thanks for pointing out my limited views however, even if I still stand by my original comment, your comment showed me indeed my grasping to my limiting mind, with its pre-notions and labeling. I must cultivate the beginner's mind indeed. Amituofo! Whether we agree or disagree is of no biggie hahah! To cling to our ideas indeed causes beings to go around the world inflicting tension, I shall let go. Forget everything I just said! Hahahah! Blessings..

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

​​@@Chase_Istre that is far too long for me to bother reading, sorry. If you can summarize it I'd be happy to read it, but I wouldn't take the diamond sutra as the end all be all, and your source for saying Daniel is wrong. One can clearly perceive the sensations of pride that come up and dismantle them from "I am a stream enterer" and truly be one regardless of the statement. The idea that those words literally cannot be said could not be more silly.

[@KeniLeeBurgess]

Fundamentally we are all Buddha. Ranking the Nirmanakaya, seems to be our first mistake. Thank you.

[@nikomitropoulos5292]

27:12

[@FaYT02]

But does anyone know what language this character speaks?

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

English

[@golgipogo]

Yes DI knows a lot and is intelligent and animated. I do not find equanimity or wisdom in what he imparts in interviews or in his books. He is a worker bee. It would be more palatable to me had let others anoint him with titles rather than assuming the titles on his own.

[@robertma5424]

@@pbwbh So like the Buddhist scripture is nonsense? Because "clearly perceive the three characteristics" is not the definition of an arahant. Ingram is nonsense and his method brings nothing but suffering. You will be forever stuck in the dark night of the soul.

[@gabegabriel9288]

@@robertma5424 it's not his technique, he takes it from Mahasi Sayadaw.

[@chuckitaway466]

@@robertma5424 what is the way

[@hadisoewoyo8739]

@@gabegabriel9288 the way to practice and comprehend the result should be done carefully whatever method being progressed

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

​@@robertma5424 "his method brings nothing but suffering," not true in my 12 years of meditation experience, with the last few being following Daniels teachings only, bud. Maybe you just don't like him. The three characteristics ARE the door to enlightenment, fruition, cessation, etc. and perceived to their deepest level does indeed mean Arahant.

[@pantagruel4116]

"Meditator,Good Meditatior and so much retreat....Boah!

[@u_Vajiradhammo]

he isnt someone who can be named Holy name Arhat!!!

[@3260ELEMENT]

Lol who are you to judge that

[@Chase_Istre]

It isn’t us to judge, but the Buddha.. Why don’t we delve into the diamond sutra.. “Subhuti, what does thou make of this : could an arhat make such an ideation as “I have attained the fructification of Arhant Modus?” .. Subhuti : “No your world veneration. Why is it so? For in reality, There is no such dharma as arhathood. Your world veneration, should an arhat ever make such an ideation as “I have obtained the arhathood, he would still be attached to ego, alter appearance, multi being, and lifespan appearance. “

[@Chase_Istre]

You are correct sir. Arhats, Bodhisattvas, and so on, do not claim the label of an arahant and so on. If one claims to the label or such, he is is still holding onto perceptions, sound, odor, matter, self, and others…

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

@@Chase_Istre dude. You act like enlightened beings can't use words to describe themselves. Daniel declaring himself as an arahant boosted my own practice to new heights and made me confident I can do it myself.

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

​​@@Chase_Istre right because it's impossible for an arahant to use the word arahant to describe themselves? As if it's literally impossible? You are holding onto wrong ideas here that you don't know for yourself and claiming them as fact.

[@u_Vajiradhammo]

oh these americans!(((

[@diggitus]

What is your criticism specifically?

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

Oh that racism ;)

[@u_Vajiradhammo]

@@user-fg3fv9hl3b u haven't understanding. Where's that racizm? Show me

[@billymac29]

This ingram guy seems to be a fraud.. taking buddhist terms and redefining them for himself.

[@02sweden]

I don´t think so. He wanted to be clear, and he started with the maps. He took a scientific approach to it. After all, he is a MD.

[@billymac29]

@@02sweden he has stated that arhats still get angry and still have conceit... this is the opposite of what the buddha declared to be an arahat.

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

@@billymac29 were you alive at the time of the Buddha to make such a claim or are you basing your facts on written word thousands of years ago orally transmitted for hundreds of years and then written down by beings who were not the Buddha? I thought so. Redefining enlightenment is something many teachers do because the way it's defined hardly makes sense or is totally unrealistic to being a human mammal.

[@billymac29]

@@user-fg3fv9hl3b I didn't say he redefined enlightenment. I said he redefined what the term arhant means. Many traditions have their own definition of enlightenment. He chose to use a term already defined and then tried to redefine it. I don't need to be alive during the Buddha's time to see someone redefine the term arahant.

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

​​​@@billymac29arahant means the final stage of enlightenment, so far as beings such as us can go. So same thing - your argument makes no sense there. Arahant and enlightenment being redefined is nothing new. Sounds like you are attached to doubting Daniel in particular for it because you don't like him.

[@twinsrule8]

This Daniel is delusional and arrogant, conceited and conflating dhamma. He needs to get his head checked... perhaps he doesnt keep the 5 precepts which leads to all sorts of problems in your meditation..... why doesnt he read the early suttas instead of sticking to Vissudhamimagga. As for claiming attainment of Arahat, if his criteria for Arahatship is different to the cannon, then why call it 'Arahat' ? I;m guessing he wants to get notoriety and gainfame and money and influence with this controversy. Bad kamma for him...

[@VeritableVagabond]

Check out r/streamentry on Reddit

[@sneedle252]

Sneed

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

What about the problems in YOUR meditation that's causing you to get worked up and assumptive and try to tear him down? He's got thousands upon thousands of reports and experience on many retreats to know what he's talking about. You're here tearing someone down who you don't know. I've listened to all of his podcasts and the idea that at this point anybody can claim he's not what he says after viewing that much material and getting that sense of him, is utterly ridiculous. Take a step back. Calm down. Watch the video. Redefining arahatship is a normal thing given the criteria makes little sense and is not realistic. And guess what? He's lost thousands in this and the fame he's gotten has been hate mail to the point of having people threaten him and his wife and sit outside his home. He paid substantially more on the book for professional editing and everything than he made, as he knew would be the case. He's a generous man. You really think he did this for the money and fame? LOL. Perhaps don't get so worked up by people having different ideas than the ones you were indoctrinated to believe, as I can tell you as a fact you're wrong here.