I'm editing this thread as it was edited by a user who requested that the thread be removed and took matters into their own hands without regard to other users' comments. 

- Chris M.

Just to say Best Wishes!  

Can you tell us how do you start your sit? Like what do you say before each sit. What is your intention? Or do you just start immediately with the practice? 

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When sensations are coming thick and fast (typical in A&P nana) there isn't really time to do detailed noting, or trying to do that disrupts the flow of experience. It's more like noting (or simply noticing) 'blip, gone, blip, gone ...' When in the slower nanas it's easier to note or investigate the 3 characteristics in more detail and deconstruct sense objects. It feels quite intentional and laborious at first, but it becomes easier with practice. Eventually it's just kind of hardwired into your brain to notice that any attempt to construe permanence or a self/identity in your experience immediately leads to dukkha, whereas in the absence of such clinging present moment experience is automatically self-liberating.

My experience is that it is very rare for sensations not to be coming thick and fast 

Thanks LJ for sharing! That's a good intention! 

It's great you are noting doubt and desire for enlightenment. All these are matter of fact experiences arising and passing. 

Look up those 4 (or was it 5 short vids by Kenneth Folk) where he breaks down Noting into; sense doors (body), mental images/impressions, feeling tones, mind states. 

This is very important to get the mind see how dependent origination is happening. This is what you are awakening to with the help of Noting aparatus. 

Be very interested in what comes after any passed away object. What follows after it, and after that one etc ... one after the other. Mind will know the 3C's. You just be interested and intimate with matter of fact arise-passings. 

You will have the chance to see all this in finer detail when in Review Stage later on So relaxed but steady; one after the other for the duration of minimum 45 minutes. Once every day.

Keep the body sensations as a main coming back to. Notice those itches, pains, vibrations, numbness, ... see if there are any image impressions of all these or any of these present in the minds image space etc ... 

Lots of interesting stuff to be seen  

Best wishes LJ! And may you awaken! 

LJ have you considered a teacher? I feel that could keep you motivated. To have a trainer so to speak You are a strong gym lad and I'm sure you know that it's easier to train when you are held accountable for  
Also an experienced teacher will know what practice is best at what time etc ... 

Chris Marti knows a few teachers and others might too. 

​​​​​​​Think about it. It's a good investment in my experience! 

You need to decide what feels right for you. I think shargrol suggests to break up the 60 minute sit in sections but I can't remember how. Maybe he or Pepe can tell us more. 

However I'm a simple beast. I don't prefer to mix techniques much , and in past, not at all. 
I personally would stick with Ki-breathing for a whole year daily. This led me into absorption states. then later went for almost 3 years with daily Shamatha as in Calm-abiding. Would do Mantra off cushion but not really on cushion. Any way, this led to me experiencing my thinking mind falling off into the background and witness behind the eyes being formed. 

Also during these Shamatha years I've hit the DN and beyond but failed to pass EQ. I was missing one I gradient, which is Noting Vipassana (I did much later in 2019). 

As you see, I have spend time, long time in the meditation gym, and really giving any method a good chance before moving on. 

We need to awaken to all aspects so it matters little which one you choose first. I think building up a Calm
and Relaxed base is important for Insight practice. But not just 10 minutes. I would really dig into Shamatha calm abiding for at least 6 months no questions asked. 

That's my story. What will be yours ?  

Best wishes! 

Ok. 

What I used to do when moral was low, I would sit ifront of the window and stare at one thing. Maybe one leaf on a maple tree just infront of our house. It would move in the wind. And lots of other stuff happening too, like sounds, my posture and body sensations,  sounds from outside etc ... but eyes are on that chosen leaf. And noting goes on for 45 minutes at least. 

Any matter of fact noting is better than just dreading the sit Shout out aloud also great! Cry out aloud if necessary just keep up the pace and don't give up. Then after the session give yourself a patting on the shoulder and relax and do nothing. Dunno have a milkshake or something for a job well done. 

These stages take weeks usually to unfold. So it's best to keep them
on fire. Daily matter of fact 45 minutes sits. Week in week out. Report, log, see the changes taking place. You have to do all this heavy lifting. No one can do it for you. 

Best wishes! 

Nice LJ!  

Yeah, the more shit you can sit through (and note, and apply 3Cs, and see how clinging/resistance causes dukkha) the better you are doing

George what do you mean by "apply 3C's" ? How can you "apply 3C's" ? To Note/Notice matter-of-fact experience is all that's required for this practice. If reflection occurs during the sit, note it as thinking. If it occurs after the sit note it. Applying would be but rumination, storytelling about something utterly gone. Applying would be like forgetting all else that's happening so to think about how something, long gone, was any of the 3C's  

But if applying then better AFTER the sit. During the sit just matter of fact noting and curiosity and acceptance about all the experiences unfolding, with their feeling tone. Forget about applying 3 C's. 

BTW I never "applied 3C's". If there was an "insight" concerning 3C's ok, but never have I gone about if this or that passed away experience had 3C's. 

Best is to KISS Keep It Simple Stupid Just a simple matter of fact, curious, accepting, intimate noting of any arisen experience. Be it an itch, be it boredom, bliss, sound, image, thought, ... 

BTW, George not meant to hit you too hard with this Kyosaku I just think it might be good to strip down the method and remove any unnecessary confusion for LJ. Mind (?) will see these 3C's anyway, thanks to the practice. 

Anyway, may I be corrected if totally off on this but let's try and respect LJ's log and support his efforts. He is just re-igniting his practice again which needs to build momentum. He did complain about "doubt" about methods being an issue. Let's not make it worse for him. 

Again, if I'm mistaken on this please someone tell me to fuck off I will humbly retreat back into my hole  

Best wishes to all and KISS.

Yes, I agree with you!

I believe that Papa was locked out from the site, so he can't reply to your post. 

"bloody hell this thing is a never ending rollercoaster" aka samsara -- Good noticing!