faraz ahmed:
1. What do I do when I am noting and things dont come up as fast?
You need to build up your 'refresh rate' of noticing stuff.
While sitting...
1) Notice the fact that your body is touching the ground 'touching'.
2) Notice the fact that your back is erect 'sitting'.
3) Go back to notcing the fact that your body is touching the ground 'touching'
Again try to alternate attention between the awareness of 'sitting' and 'touching' as fast as possible.
Keep going faster and faster. You will realize that you can't have fabrications of both 'sitting' and 'touching' at once.
Do this till you are able to 'refresh' your awareness multiple times a second.
More details here (look under overbalanced concentration)...
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/mahasi/wheel370.htmlOnce you can do that then start noting the rising and falling of breath. Rise, rise, rise, then fall, fall, fall.
Keep in mind that the gold standard of reality in Vipassana is only what is experienced in the moment.
2. is it okay if I dont do noting and just do letting be meditation at night?
since it activates my brain and causes sleeplessness.
Doesn't matter
3. any other advice to gain stream entry?
Decide to definitely achieve it. Maintain an outlook of openness and curiosity.
Take action. Do the stuff in #1 then post your experiences here.
So you can see what is working or what is not. And get more specific advice.
4.and if another object comes up then I note that and I keep noting
that and then I am waiting again,when it goes.
some sensations feel stuck, so do i keep noting those?
The sensation you are noting is not that important, it is important to keep refreshing your attention of the sensations. You should never be 'waiting', always be noting / retraining your attention on what is being experienced in this moment.
So you can note your breath rising and falling. As it rises, you should be able to refresh your attention on that sensation multiple times.
5. Am I supposed to note the whole day or should I just sit and note
for an hour or 2 everyday? which is better?
Do it whenever you can find time to sit. Don't worry about perfect posture, noise, clothing, concentration etc.
Just do your best. And be relentless in your investigation. Don't do things out of anger or fear.
I got A&P while meditating on a noisy subway ride. And 1st path while lying on my bed after unsuccessfully trying during meditation.