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HELP (for a
beginner
)
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
Hi ! Greetings. My name is Atanu Gayen. I'm from India and I'm 19 years of age. I'm very much a
beginner
when it comes to proper, regular meditation practice... rules or laws which Nature
follows
?...
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
approach in the short term, at least when I'm a
beginner
? Is it effective in the long...
Best advice for a
beginner
?
Category
:
Home » Concentration
What would you advise a
beginner
to do (besides find a teacher) if interested in meditation, especially for concentration meditation? How would you explain the process/practice to one without...
RE:
Beginner
Zen
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Hi! A total zen
beginner
here. I've been doing daily zazen practice for just a few months now. I've been having the same problem Daniel wrote about. I tried the Mahasi Noting and it seems to be...
RE: Best advice for a
beginner
?
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Florian, I very much feel like a
beginner
and I have a bud with an interest as well. I think I had a bit of information overload and did not know where to go with it. Thanks for keeping it simple...
Beginner
to vipassana, is a retreat recommended?
Category
:
Home » Retreat Centers
I'm a
beginner
to vipassana meditation (about a month or so) and I'm wondering if it would be a good time for me to go to a monastery or to keep practicing on my own for a bit. If a monastery is a...
RE:
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
was describing not what meditation is, but how it appears to me as a
beginner
. And as such there's no "yes and no" about it. I may be a
beginner
in meditation, but I am... what you said, yes it...
RE:
Beginner
to vipassana, is a retreat recommended?
Category
:
Home » Retreat Centers
Dear Travis, Retreats are the most precious time in our lives. Definitely participate in as many as you can as a
beginner
. Have you looked into Goenkaji's retreats at Dhamma.org? They are free...
Beginner
Seeking Advice
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Hi all, I am a
beginner
with no attainments and no formal practice experience. My aim is to learn Vipassana and take it all the way from Stream Entry through to 4th Path. I think I understand the...
RE:
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
to validate what you said, yes it makes less difference to a
beginner
where... "
beginner
" for very long. Johnny Froth: I have a bad back and when meditating I...
RE: Best advice for a
beginner
?
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Hi A T M, Who is that
beginner
? Anyway, a few tips, no jargon: Start small, like, 5 minutes per sit, once a day. Use a timer. Increase to 10 minutes after a few days or weeks, and continue to...
RE:
Beginner
to vipassana, is a retreat recommended?
Category
:
Home » Retreat Centers
Wat Rampoeng seems like a good place to go to in Chiang Mai (for a
beginner
)... The "PLAN" for when I go to Thailand is to visit Wat Rampoeng and shoot for their 26 day course and then one of their...
Beginner
question: Incorporating Insight practice
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom
for a
beginner
like me? I've been of the opinion that I should stay with concentration... would be a good
beginner
routine? Thanks in advance....
RE:
Beginner
to vipassana, is a retreat recommended?
Category
:
Home » Retreat Centers
Be Free Now: Dear Travis, Retreats are the most precious time in our lives. Definitely participate in as many as you can as a
beginner
. Have you looked into Goenkaji's retreats at Dhamma.org? They...
RE:
Beginner
question: Incorporating Insight practice
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom
As a
beginner
to MCTB-style practice but not to meditation in general, I can say that the effectiveness of my practice has catapulted since beginning noting (I've also catapulted out of...
RE: Cannot prevent controlling the breath - absolute
beginner
.
Category
:
Home » Concentration
I'm new to this site (Bravo for this resource!), pretty much a
beginner
and have also had my life transformed by meditation practice. I've often thought that this problem of (not) controlling the...
a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Forum: Dharma Overground Discussion Forum Hi, first of all I decided to de-lurk. I've been lurking around since late March this year. A couple of days after my first conscious A&P event. I crossed...
How fast can noting be done by a
beginner
?
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Vipassana: Noting/Mahasi Style
question is about how effective the practice is. For a
beginner
, I think my mind...
A more
beginner
-oriented map from the Upanisa Sutta
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» The Maps in General
a
beginner
cares about is "first you start to see how stuff really is, then you see... to be a
beginner
-oriented map. It makes sense that when a
beginner
-oriented map mentions...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
The first couple of days were rough to say the least, heavy emotional raptures, anger, irritation, feelings about hitting something (or someone really hard). I duly noted. I started getting...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Nevertheless this is were I thought I was, so I resolved that I had to reach Stream Entry as soon as possible. I had only 4 more days left to do this!! Throughout the next morning. I resolved this...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
When I returned to the sittings I could't meditate, it was not that I couldn't sit or concentrate, but whatever I tried to focus on for too long just got too strong for me to handle. I thought my...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Everything is the same, but yet with a different aspects more pronounced, like seeing stuff more clearly. When listening to music it sounds like before I was in mono land and now I have stereo....
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
I quickly browsed through what you've written and it sounds like you are on the right track. Whether or not this is where you are, I don't know; but it sounds like the succession of your post was:...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Hi Maya81, I don't have much to add to what Trent said beyond, Good Job! Keep it up! Did you discuss the later developments with the leader of the retreat? It would be interesting to know what he...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
i completely agree with trent's assessment; you wrote a classic description of a skilled meditator powering through the dark night, shifting into equanimity, creatively doing whatever it takes to...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
The description of your experience on both sides of your possible fruition remind me very much of what I think may have been either my 2nd (my guess) or 1st path fruition just last week while on a...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
For the rest of the retreat after the event I seemed to be able to detect very clearly the mind shifting through the nanas while not meditating, and to be able to control hemispheric balance....
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Hi Maya81, Thank you so much for that post! Definitely a keeper! "Following instructions" indeed. Well done! Oh, and I really hope your family situation is calming down now. It's great to have you...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
For all those claiming stream entry, or thinking they may have... I'd be really careful when making strong assessments about these things soon after... It is possible to cross the A&P, get into...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Thanks for the advice, Vince! Yes, I know very well in my case that what has actually occurred is in question. I also realize that my apparent near lack of unknowing events after each of the 2 big...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Yes I completely agree. And that is precisely the point I am trying to make, to try and solidify an experience into what it is not, is a complete fantasy and a huge trap. Especially to someone like...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Again, Good Job! and Keep it up! You have had very profound experiences that will lead you on to The Goal. Maybe you had a big A&P or maybe you got Stream Entry. Either way, keep following...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
you guys, i will eat my hat if that wasn't stream entry maya81 posted about. i understand the need for prudence on this matter, and similar, but it is good for these things to be discussed and...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
I think your hat is safe enough. But it is early days for her. I don't mean that her practice is so young but that the opening is. If it is 1st path, or 2nd it will stand the test of a few weeks....
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Dear Maya81, I can't believe I missed this thread when it was going. What fun, what healthy, wonderful fun and support. I also am very interested to hear how your insights and experiences have...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
yes the support has been amazing, like being welcomed to a family of sorts! i had some pm, and email exchange in private, and it helped tremendously in sorting out my recent experience and how to...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Hey Tarin, My point here is not to say that Maya did or didn't get stream-entry (hi Maya!), just that a healthy dose of skepticism (especially following a big experience) is useful. And as Ed...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
Wow. I'm getting close to digesting a recent retreat and was going to do a separate post, but I can pretty much say Ditto to everything Maya said. It was a two week retreat and that was a few weeks...
RE: a novice meditator
follows
instructions
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Stream Entry
This is a marvelous discussion. Hats off (but not eaten) to Maya for having the courage to break the silence and post it.
Beginner
Zen
Category
:
Home » Concentration
I have been practicing daily meditation -- following the breath for about 1/2 hour -- for about a year now. While I appreciate the calmness and spaciousness I often feel after meditation, I have...
RE:
Beginner
Zen
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Daniel Lebowski: After a frustrating year, I am wondering if there are other Buddhist meditation practices that are better for
beginner
s who have trouble following the breath. If so, can you please...
RE:
Beginner
Zen
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Jackson's advice is great. In mahasi-style noting meditation you can use the thoughts themselves as object, and learn very interesting things. For instance, here is a question you might try to...
RE:
Beginner
Zen
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Thanks for the very thoughtful advice, Jackson, I'll check out Mahasi Sayadaw right away. Thanks! Lebo
RE:
Beginner
Zen
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Thanks, Bruno! I will try the exercise you recommended. One question: Can you explain the concept of mind blinking a little more? I think I know what you mean, but am no absolutely positive....
RE:
Beginner
Zen
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Well I can't say I understand it very well either, I don't do this exercise often. It is as if the perception, more exactly the vibration that is the perception, became fuzzy and indistinct, "in...
RE:
Beginner
Zen
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Wow, amazing discussion here. Bruno, thank you so much for taking the time to write out all this material! Trying to find how intention works is the first thing that got me close to the A&P. I kept...
RE:
Beginner
Zen
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Wow adam, very detailed questions! I think that when our attention eventually becomes very stable and refined (at least I am planning to develop it until it is: everyday life becomes so much...
RE:
Beginner
Zen
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Haha, I'm thinking that in order to have a strong enough subjective experience of motor cortex activity to actually notice it, some rewiring may be necessary. That means more insight meditation!...
RE: Best advice for a
beginner
?
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Meditation time for me and for most people in the mornings, when the mind is fresh. Some people do it best when they first wake up. I usually have a snack and coffee first. Or sometimes, I can...
RE: Best advice for a
beginner
?
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Same to you Dark Night. Thank you.
RE: Best advice for a
beginner
?
Category
:
Home » Concentration
I myself started to meditate without a teacher. I just sat down and tried it. That was very simple, didn´t have any (or at least not alot) instructions how to do it. I kind of concentrated - not...
RE: Best advice for a
beginner
?
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Find like-minded folks to talk about and share your practice with. It doesn't have to be this lonely thing you do every morning and occasionally turn to the internet for advice. Having a teacher...
RE: Best advice for a
beginner
?
Category
:
Home » Concentration
I still don't know a lot of the jargon. It can be easy to get overly hung up on the reading/studying and not actually practice. I agree with a lot said here, Florian's outline in particular is...
Starting Meditation -
Beginner
Q's
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Background: I'm totally new to meditation, trying to start for the purpose of making 'actualism' practice easier, via increased mental clarity and having some interesting experiences like 'bliss'....
RE: HELP (for a
beginner
)
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
Hi and welcome, i will only comment on a couple of things specifically but generally i think your bio would describe my (and probably many other people here) pretty precisely. ie: logical bent,...
RE: HELP (for a
beginner
)
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
Thanks! That was really helpful. I hope i can sustain this drive in the long term, though. cheers
RE: HELP (for a
beginner
)
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
Atanu Gayen: Thanks! That was really helpful. I hope i can sustain this drive in the long term, though. cheers ..I think it will be harder to try and stop it. :-) don't forget to enjoy the ride,...
beginner
body mind noting
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Vipassana: Noting/Mahasi Style
am new to this site but greatly encouraged by these forums and re-starting a meditation practice after 4 years off line. I have a question about noting body mind--as i resume, my focus seems pretty...
RE:
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
I'm sure you'll get more answers but in the meantime here are mine, offered loosely as always: Does zazen work? Well, as a rule of thumb, the more unstructured the approach, the more explicitly...
RE:
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
Re Chairs I don't have experience of Zen or noting but I can tell you that Jake is spot on. You can do meditation in any of the four positions (standing, walking, sitting or lying down) -...
RE:
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
I've done a lot of zen practice and it has been great. anapanasati (breath watching) is incredible practice, so is koan training, zazen, shiken-taza, etc. especially chanting. When chanting, keep...
RE:
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
Johnny Froth: According to Brad Warner, meditating in a chair is simply not zazen. Is he right? Should I care? Is zen simply impossible for me? thanks. If you need to sit in a chair, then by all...
RE:
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
m m a: When chanting, keep your focus on the sound of your own voice, the vibrating of your vocal chords. Do not permit your mind to wander. Cool, thanks. And what about soji (temple cleaning)? (I...
RE:
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
Johnny Froth: ...the chanting and stuff they do is at worst just superfluous cultural fluff that won't do any harm. Just for the record, since a few people seem to be taking minor offense, in the...
RE:
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
There is a passage in MCTB coming up soon in your syllabus that deals with the balance between wisdom and faith. I see in you a kindred spirit, much like me: heavy on the wisdom. There are two...
RE:
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
Tarver : ...the balance between wisdom and faith Unfortunately almost 40 years of Christianity, the latter half of that of the dogmatic "born again" kind has not left me looking very kindly on...
RE:
Beginner
stuff
Category
:
Home » Miscellaneous
Johnny Froth: Tarver : ...the balance between wisdom and faith Unfortunately almost 40 years of Christianity, the latter half of that of the dogmatic "born again" kind has not left me looking...
Noting -
Beginner
Question
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Vipassana: Noting/Mahasi Style
Hi guys, I am starting Vipassana using the noting technique of Mahasi Sayadaw as taught in Daniel Ingram's MCTB. My first goal is Stream Entry. My question is: should I note at all times (if...
RE: Noting -
Beginner
Question
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Vipassana: Noting/Mahasi Style
That would depend on the circumstances of your life, I would say. If you were having a complex conversation with your boss, I wouldn't note "hearing, talking, thinking" but instead would pay...
RE: Noting -
Beginner
Question
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Vipassana: Noting/Mahasi Style
Thanks for your reply, Daniel. Yes, it is helpful. I'll note whenever possible and see how it works out. I haven't found it distracting yet. If anything, it makes work and social situations easier...
RE: Noting -
Beginner
Question
Category
:
Home » Insight and Wisdom» Vipassana: Noting/Mahasi Style
Not sure if this would be approved advice. But I've noticed... There are times where you can still be in the "observer" mode without being engaged in active noting, where you're still doing a lot...
Questions from a
Beginner
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Hi Guys, My name is Jeff and this is my first post on these boards. I am relatively new to Vipassana Meditation and was hoping to get some feedback and advice regarding the practice. I am a bit...
RE: Questions from a
Beginner
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Hi Jeff, Here are the answers to your questions... I am a bit confused regarding potential differences between Vipassana and Samatha meditation. More specifically, does the Mahasi Sayadaw method...
RE: Questions from a
Beginner
Category
:
Home » Concentration
Thank you very much for your insight, it certainly cleared things up. I have one follow up question: in your opinion ,what are some useful forms of samatha meditation and if possible, can you...
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