| | Hello Andru,
I agree with what both John (n8sense) and Yaba have said. Having good, strong concentration is a good way to go.
I should add, though, that I have done just fine without a working knowledge of the jhanas. This isn't the case for everyone. In fact, I am now beginning to work pretty hard on developing deep levels of concentration to improve my practice. Anyway...
You need to have enough concentration to notice the arising of gross mental and physical sensations. Once you can do this, try and get REALLY interested in what you're noticing. Note everything, so you're mind doesn't have a chance to wander. As you get more and more interested, you'll naturally want to know more and more about the objects of your investigation, and your concentration will get stronger.
Thus, if you can get good solid concentration first, do so. But, if you just have to practice vipassana right away, try what I mentioned above. |