| | Believe and Resolve!
Stream entry is possible. Some have got it done on first retreat. Buddha said it can be done in 7 days non-stop practice.
I Resolve That:
I will be fully aware of all sensations or all phenomena that arise at every moment during the retreat, as soon as I awake, breaks, resting, sitting, walking, brushing teeth, showering, always;
I will notice all sensations and phenomena central in the experience of “me”, and see through the illusion of "self” until I get stream entry.
Belief that it is possible is the most powerful tool. With this mindset, I will get stream entry. I give myself permission to get it done.
Build momentum before the retreat
Sit at least 2 or more hours a day for month prior to retreat. Final week before retreat, sit as much as possible. Mainly, build concentration skills in order to begin course with a calm mind, and with momentum to get stream entry.
Retreat first 3 days: Stick with anapana
More concentration progress here means faster vipassana progress later.
Overloading the mind will reduce space to wander. While perceiving breath, simultaneously be aware of the act of perceiving the breath.
Experience sensing, feeling, thinking all as bodily senses. This brings deeper insight into what the body is, and what perceiving is.
Welcome any Samatha jhanas should they arrive, but no need to strive for them. They are not the objective here.
Maintain and build momentum of concentration practice. Observe the breath non-stop: while awake, during breaks, resting, eating, bathing, walking and sitting.
Retreat days 3, 4: Start three characteristics
On day 3 or 4, start to observe sensations at the anapana spot; at the same time comprehending the 3C: Anicca, Anatta and Dukkha.
Uninterrupted concentration and investigation to keep the mind busy.
When “wandering”, or “getting lost in thought”: 1 Realize what has happened, 2 perceive the mind realizing, 3 return to the object. → Simply repeat this process however much it happens.
Distractions are no more than instructive loops back to the object. Do not identify phenomena, sensations, thoughts, mind states, sounds, images etc as part of an illusory “self”.
Peel back the layers of self-identification to get to stream entry.
Retreat Days 5+: Practice Vipassana
Sweep body, notice all sensations AND 3C, especially Anicca, at all times. Avoid mechanical sweeping.
Noting gets stream entry by dis-embedding and dis-identifying. Sweeping does the same: bare attention to sensations AND their 3C is dis-identifying and dis-embedding.
Any A&P phenomena should simply be examined and understood for its true nature and 3C.
Regard Black Night stuff as simply new, different kinds of objects, useful for learning to perceive and to perceive perceiving; It may suck, but it will pass - no need to delve into content. Appreciate these as important milestones, then burn as fuel. Sit hard and push through.
Upon equanimity, boredom or spacing out may be obstacles. Again, take these as learning objects. To push through, pay special attention to Anicca of all sensations, even pleasant or dull ones.
DO NOT identify with any sensation, mind state, thought, emotion, image, sound, taste, or touch. None of it is “self”or “me”, it is just sensation. To push through, remain aware of Anatta of all sensations.
Even in equanimity, stay with Anicca and Anatta at ALL times - break times, rest times, sitting times, discourse times, walking times, brushing teeth times, showering times, toilet break times, at ALL times!
Unpack all Observer - Observed duality. Any sense of the Observer is just more stuff, with its own 3C.
Seeing clearly and regarding directly all Anicca and Anatta, Dukkha will also be self-evident, thus bringing all 3C into focus.
When the Time Comes -> Stream Entry
In time several realization doors will be passed in rapid succession, all are transitions, and pop! Stream Entry.
No need to anticipate this, just stick to the job. SE will come in its own time. |