Q: What are the benefits?
A: It helps to keep your mind focused. It's easy to think "oh of course I'm observing everything..." then to start thinking about that conversation you had a few days ago. Noting lets you know that you are actually observing sensations as they arise.
It also is good for subtle things, like boredom, neutrality, spaciousness, etc. Forcing yourself to label what is happening makes you take a good look at what is happening.
Q: What are the disadvantages?
A: It's annoying to start off with. It seems to prevent getting into really really deep jhana. It also may slow you down.. during some A&Ps I could listen to my computer humming and hear tiny vibrations in that hum, but way too fast to note. Also sometimes I did not know what to note, so I'd sit there confused for some seconds at a time. Also sometimes I would catch myself having a backlog, like a bunch of sensations would happen shortly after one another, and I would note the first, then a bunch would pass, then I'd go back, try to remember what happened, and note that, etc. That took me away from the present moment, which wasn't good.
Q: What do you think noting does for you?
A: I'm not sure... though I tell people to note I think I stopped actually noting a while ago. It did help me when I was starting off. It helped me get through some more annoying sits as I had something to do besides feel these painful sensations. Doing it verbally shortly after stream-entry, by suggestion of Kenneth Folk, helped get me back to continuing to progress instead of willing myself to get another Path fruition.
Q: If you are just aware of phenomena versus aware of phenomena and mentally or verbally noting it, what is the difference for you?
A: I haven't tried noting in a while, but I don't want to.. it seems too cumbersome at this point. Looking back, hmm.. I dnno, just what I said before.
Q: If you note, how do you note? Does it differ from the style of noting talked of in MCTB? Is it better or less effective?
A: Basically MCTB style. I didn't do it nearly as organized as Kenneth Folk says - I didn't even know what the foundations of mindfulness were until I went to that NYC group that one time.
Q: Why is noting the bees knees? Is it the bees knees? Why is noting better than not noting or viceversa?
A: I didn't know bees had knees. But basically... whatever it is MCTB gets people to do, and whatever people at DhO and KFD say to instruct others, it seems to be damn effective at getting stream entry. I don't know much of that can be attributed to noting, and how much to the simple way that MCTB lays it all out and the open and knowledgeable nature of the people in these communities.
Q: Please note, any responses here will be possibly used in the article.
A: That's too many syllables to use as a note: any-responses-will-be-used any-responses-will-be-used
Q: Much metta,
A: Always avoid alliteration
Q: Nick
A: Beoman