This is of course working towards stream entry. My mind is oftentimes seemingly pretty empty nowadays, or else the thoughts and sensations still have the somewhat slippery quality of the Dark Night. Advice for this and noting practice?

the emptiness of an empty mind is still known by the sensations which imply it, and so there is plenty to work with there in insight practice. emptiness, slippery thoughts, and slippery sensations still exhibit the three characteristics; formations still exhibit the three characteristics.

if you're in equanimity stage, the most basic stage-appropriate advice applicable is to keep practising and paying keen attention, even if there seems to be no point to doing so. pay attention to the sensations that imply the entirety of experience and how they too manifest the three characteristics. there's no need to go looking for special sensations, just keep attending to what shows up. it's called 'equanimity regarding formations' for a reason.

thank you

I spent a couple hours walking around the city and noting today. What happens when the mind gets tired? I noted that when it occurred as well as the sensations attendant to that, but I found my mind tended to drift for a moment or two until I came back to noting. When that happens, which it eventually does, there's a weird discontinuity that I can't seem to follow. When I can follow this discontinuity and observe the shift, that will be my stream entry moment. Does that just come with more practice?

hmm, i don't know if that follows...



not sure what you're asking here.


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have you ever thought about sitting a retreat?

Sort of, though I don't have my own money right now to do that. Why, do you think it'd make a big difference?

www.dhamma.org - free retreats.



probably. have you not read mctb?

Cool, I check that out. Yup, I have read MCTB.