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Noting
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10/30/09 5:46 AM
My preference with my sitting time - when I get up - hasn't changed entirely, it is still strongly samatha with a vipassana spin on it. Characteristically rather than increments breaking up into units and moments, instead moments tend to get welded into oneness, there is a timeless moment coexistent with objective perception of time expressed in moments, and this is very conducive, I find, to getting into samadhi. But I have been listen to and reading all about the 'noting' strategies and today I was on a brisk hour-long walk and spontaneously found myself doing the noting style quite naturally - so this is okay. I had no progress on the cushion in capturing this style, but then on the walk it just happened. Interesting.
p e a c e
h a n s e n

RE: Noting
Answer
11/1/09 2:12 AM as a reply to Eric Alan Hansen.
I personally have really come to appreciate walking practice, which is really under-discussed. I am glad you mentioned it. I got some of my biggest breakthroughs when walking, and noting practice when walking is very powerful. Keep going if you wish and see where it leads.

RE: Noting
Answer
11/2/09 4:58 AM as a reply to Daniel M. Ingram.
Daniel: That was a breakthrough, it was a moment when the 3 mile walk hit a certain place - and I just slipped into the noting. Now, since then, I have had several sitting sessions where noting has played a role. I seems to reduce the wandering of the mind, much tighter control, but due mostly it seems to taking the energy out of distractions by giving attention to them - then when a certain place is reached a more "flashing" or strobing effect aids the process. It seem to be th opposite end of the spectrum from what I have been doing - maybe opposites do balance!
p e a c e
h a n s e n

RE: Noting
Answer
11/16/09 3:27 AM as a reply to Eric Alan Hansen.
Dear Hansen,

Your assessments of noting's benefits are spot on. I really got a lot out of it, and still use it on occasion in tricky spots.

Keep going with it, and I think you will find great benefit.