| | Dear Daniel and all, I am extremely elated and really gratefull when finding this forum! I have some questions and also need some guidances. Being my first post, I am going to be lenghty, with the intention to help others who are in the same situation like mine. I am organizing into subheadings, so you can just skip right to the questions part to help me.
Background I learned and have absolute faith in Buddhism profoundly since a little child. I went overseas for college in Engineering and later in IT field. Since I was in the late 20's , I started to read, recite and memorize the sutta & sutras and absorbed in to the texts and did not think anything else is worth reading! However It was only In theory, I had no personal guidance for practices. Reading the sacred sriptures with a sense of reverence and worship, but never thought that even the Samatha Jhana can happen to me in this world, this life time. All I can do now is to accummulate good deeds/paramis for the next lives. I practice on my own, it took me 5 years to be able to sit straight for one hour. Still nothing happen to reinforce my faith. I learned Mahasi Sayadaw's Insight practice method but did not practice well. I did walking vipassana for the last 4 years. Again nothing happen to mark my progress! I am now in the late 50's, semi retired, in relatively good health, married, have kids, now living in the US. I sit twice a day, 50 mins at night and 30 mins early morning.
Progress About four years ago I came upon some books written by Ayya Khema. I was thrilled and read/listen to all her books again and again ... Before this, I did not think it is possible in this lifetime, in this world to find anyone achieving sotapana or above. In February 2011, I stumbled upon Leigh Brasington's method for samatha jhana on the internet. Encouraged by the possibility, I put more efforts and in a week, I got in the first Jhanas in this strange way: I sat for about 45 mins. Focused on the breath sensation at the nostril (per L. Brasington method), nothing happened, got tired, went to bed in mindfullness. Lay down and still watching my breath for about 3 mins, suddenly felt my hands floating with tingling sensations, and there was an abrupt and clear "switch" into first Jhanas with full bliss and sensations wave by wave, all over my body, lasted for about an hour( Sometimes I wonder this is first or second Jhanas? because at that time I did nothing, not trying to sustain the focus on the breath or anything else, but the bliss continued on). This is how I got into first Jhanas. I continue this practice everyday, in this manner, but only get in once in a while (5 to 10 days). This encouraged me to read and practice more. I found this forum and start reading MCTB. Now, I see the possibility and KNOW that it can be done in this very life.
My Goal: Goal s may be changed, however at this time, my wish is to perfect the first and second samatha Jhanas, then start the insight meditation, Go through all stages to achieve at least stream entry in this very life time.
Questions: Recently, while reading MCTB, I could not get back to the first Jhanas anymore. I was panic, worried and scared. But read on, and continued to sit morning and nightly. The more I read, the more I realized that I must have a clear plan. I am overwhelm with the info, I frantically downloaded, and afraid if I don’t plan well, it can cost me lots of my precious time, which I feel running short. Sorry for asking too many questions here. (Pardon my excitement for finding you guys!)
1. I am doing Samatha Jhana using my breath as the concentration object. For the last 4 months, sitting everyday, I can only get in 1 st Jhanas about 5 times. How do I perfect the first Jhanas, so that I can get in everytime? Need to improve concentration?, using different objects (instead of breathing?), increase sitting time, need to switch focus correctly, etc.?
2. Can I start practicing insight while still working on the first samatha jhanas. Or should I wait until at least after attaining the second Samatha jhanas as many recommended. Or can I just start Insight Practice without going through formal Samatha Jhanas practice?
3. Many time , while sitting, I can feel nearing the threshhold, but cannot get over to the first Jhanas. Perhaps because I was trying to force myself into Jhanas. Now sometimes the tingling sensations (on my right ear, my forehead, left hand thumb etc.) just came up all by themselve while I was reading, eating or watching TV etc. Is there something wrong?
4. Recently, I keep hearing the ringing sound ...ooooooo… in my head all day long. A couple of times in the dream, I went down a roller coaster through a scary dark tunnel with this ringing sound. I don’t know if it is related to my practice at all (from the frustration of not getting into Samatha Jhanas), or just because of lack of sleep and physical fatigue. All suggestions on my progress, planning and scheduling even my goal etc. are welcome and deeply appreciated, as this will be a turning point in my life. |