| | Hello all,
I've been a bit of a lurker the past few months and have now decided to create an account and get involved! I have found this board very down to earth and honest, which is just what is needed in this weird/wonderful/horrible practice of meditation.
Anyway s...the reason I'm posting is to ask what is the most efficient way to achieve stream entry at a 10 day goenka (right spelling?) retreat? Which I will be on next week... Should I do goenka body scanning? Or Shinzen young style of noting? Or something/anything else?
Here's a little about my practice:
* 3 years practice of around an hour a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less and not always everyday. With weeks at a time with no practice at all.
* Been on 3 retreats so far. Two 10 day goenka and one 10 day personal retreat at gaia house in devon First couple of years of meditation was mainly in the style of goenka body scan vipassana. Last year of so has been mainly shinzen young's style of noting the senses (mostly see in, hear in, feel in). With particular attention paid to stuff that vanishes.
* Sometimes I do self enquiry, asking “who am I” and try to break down the sense of self into the parts that make it appear solid.
*I start my meditation with 5-15 mins of concentration. Counting breath or gazing at a spot in front of me.
*I try to remain mindful at least some of the day. Paying attention to the senses, but mostly physical feel (feeling of feet touching the ground)
I must admit that 80% of my practice has been emotionally focused and releasing those 'bad' emotions and dealing with my stuff. Not so much at this present time, as a lot of stuff from the past has gone and therefore the emotions/thought patterns are not as overwhelming as they once were.
If I had to guess where I am one the MCTB model, I'd say somewhere in dark night. I think that I've reached equanimity before on retreat. First 7 days nothing but pain and misery...then boom:-) I could sit for hours and felt really relaxed.
Any advice much appreciated
kind regards
Richie |