tom moylan:
It's only at Doi Suthep that I finally got to figure out the idea behind the technique. Basically, it's an energy practice, and the various points they make you pay attention, and the order, is to have the energy circulate and released.
Hey Simon, I don't want to hijack the thread but would love to hear more about this technique if you can point to a good description of it I'm al ears.
tom
The basic is the same as the Mahasi technique, you note rising/falling and the 6 senses doors, with the distinction that at every other breath, you move your attention to a point in your body.
A. So, you breath-in, breath-out, note Rising/Falling,
B. You relax (usually mean paying attention to your whole body) for one or two breath (Using the mental note "relaxing" is sometimes recommended) (the instruction is to not care about the breath during that step)
C. You move your attention to point #1 (you can note "touching" while doing it but it's not necessary) and you don't care about the breath during that step either. So you can rest your attention there for one or two breath.
D. Repeats steps ABC except that you move to another point of attention.
In total, there is 28 points of attention, but since I only stayed for 10 days, I only learned the first 14.
Here is my loosy attempt at showing where the points are:
http://imgur.com/rTd12X1
I personally had difficulties with the techniques but it allowed me to figure out patways to release tension from my body, by figuring out how my muscles are connected. I will move tension down from my back, then along my hips, moving on the side of my legs, to the side of my feet and then to the top of my feet. The muscle there can allow some release of tension. If not, then up to my knees, and up to my quadriceps.
The walking meditation is exactly the same as Mahasi. Also, we are required to use a timer to determine our sitting/walking time (incremented by 5 minutes everyday, usually).