Questions tagged [meditation]
For general questions about what is meditation, what is it for and what types of meditation are.
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How do I do "contemplation of death" meditation? And is it dangerous?
How do I do "contemplation of death" meditation? And is it dangerous?
Because I read it might cause someone to commit suicide, so how do I make sure I won't reach that situation? And how exactly ...
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Sutta jhana vs. Visuddhimagga jhana
In the paper "Multiple Buddhist Modernisms: Jhāna in Convert Theravāda", Natalie Quli compares what the following teachers have taught about jhana: Ayya Khema, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, Pa-...
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The fourth path to attaining arahantship
From the Yuganaddha Sutta, there are four paths described:
Development of insight preceded by development of tranquility
Development of tranquility preceded by development of insight
Tranquility ...
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Is the Mind (Citta) the Self? If not, what is it?
It's been discussed in all perspectives that the Buddha was teaching about not-Self (Anatta) in this forum. However, it taught that one should empty the Mind (Citta) to realize Anatta, or Sunyata, in ...
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How to disambiguate between various meditation practices?
From what I understand, different schools of Buddhism teach different subsets of meditation techniques, or different variations of the same techniques. However, many meditation resources don't specify ...
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Sexual Desire, Masturbating and Asuba Bawana
I have been wanting to ask this question for some time.
So basically caught up in the social norms, i used to watch porn videos and masturbate and got a bit attached to it. Kept on doing it for a few ...
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Why is mentally reproducing music so hard to control? How can it be counteracted?
I started decreasing the amount of music I listened to before and especially after I started meditating so that I had to cope less with replaying music passages and enjoy a clearer and more silent ...
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Best type of meditation for attention
I struggle tremendously with ADHD despite years of exploring traditional and nontraditional treatments. There are certainly many different kinds of meditation one can practice, so I was wondering what ...
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Is radiating loving kindness increase attachment?
In the early stage, it's said that radiating loving kindness to opposite sex can potentially arouse lust. While I'm not sure if the person who we radiate loving kindness to can have their lust aroused,...
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Did Lord Buddha teach any other meditation technique than the Anapana?
Meditation and cultivating awareness is the heart of Buddhism. You need meditation for attaining jhanas and also for doing Vipassana, metta bhavana...
So as far as I've discovered, the only ...
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How to exit meditation?
I am new to meditation (anapana) as a daily practise: I've been to one retreat, some 4 years ago, noticed how meditation helped me, and then never mediated again. I always knew I should get back to ...
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Mindfulness of Breathing, Mindfulness with Breathing
I saw a comment in another post suggesting that these are two different things. Can anyone explain or refute?
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What should one meditate upon as a beginner?
I am planning to start meditation.
As a beginner , what things I should meditate upon from the Buddha's perspective?
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How to "attend to the perception of light"?
In AN 7.58, the Buddha instructed Maha Moggallana on what do to about his nodding:
"But if by doing this you don't shake off your drowsiness, then attend to the perception of light, resolve on the ...
user382
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Starting Buddhism
I have two questions.
First, I grew up roman catholic, but now in my mid twenties, I am beginning to notice that a lot of my beliefs and actions don't align with Christianity so I started reading ...
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Difference between Attachment and Goals
I am confused about the differences between attachment (desire) and having a dream/setting goals. Are they the same or different? I am currently working in a job that I do not love but also do not ...
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Meditating as sleep aid
Every book that I have read about Buddhism and medititation says that, as meditation cultivates concentration and awareness, one should never fall asleep while doing it.
So, what about when I cannot ...
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Is it "bad" to want a "materialistic" happiness?
After reading several articles and a book about Buddhism, I now feel a bit uncertain about what Buddhism actually is about. Am I not allowed to dance? To sing? To fall in love? Is the purpose of ...
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What are the broad categories of the different types of meditation?
I have heard that there is insight meditation (mostly as part of practicing Buddhism) and Samantha (which involves Buddhism, but really just as a tool in the beginning of a meditation).
This question ...
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Best meditation techniques (mindfulness,vipassana,yoga,zazen,TM,etc) to beat behavioral addictions (food,sex,porn,gambling,internet,videogames,etc)?
For a layman who wants to overcome behavioral addictions (i.e. any "addiction that involves a compulsion to engage in a rewarding non-drug-related behavior – sometimes called a natural reward", such ...
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Separating meditation into vipāssana or samatha
Did the Buddha teach a single meditation that includes jhāna and insight, or do the scriptures have him separate meditation into different techniques? In what Buddhist traditions is it necessary to ...
user8619
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How does *Buddhist* meditation differ from others and lead to awakening?
The practice of meditation is central to certain Buddhist traditions, e.g. Vajrayana, Dzogchen, Zen, important for recognizing Buddha nature.
Furthermore, Vajrayana and Theravada traditions assert ...
user8619
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Can we use computer coding activity as a kasina object?
Anything we do mindfully can cause a meditative experience. I am a software developer and sometimes when I am engrossed I don't feel the 'I', some kind of 'annatta' experience. Reaching somekind of ...
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Goal of liberation in yoga/meditation - Isn't it Boring?
I see that the goal of yoga/meditation is liberation from the karma and from the birth/death cycle. People say that it is the ultimate happiness forever. But wouldn't that be boring and monotonous if ...
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Ways of Raising Energy
I've eliminated many addictive fetters which deterred me from practising meditation. However, now I've noticed that getting into a meditative posture leads--perhaps because of the addictions such as ...
user7302
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A seeming contradicion in meditation
In Buddhism I have often heard the idea that there is nothing wrong with what you are feeling, thinking and sensing, it is only our relation to those things that define/judge them to be bad.
Well this ...
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How should I express Mudita or Joy for all beings?
In Mudita meditation or Joy Meditation I am supposed to experience Joy for all beings. But I don't know which aspect of living beings is worth celebrating.
My question is : How should I express ...
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How to breathe into your stomach and not get light headed during meditation?
During conventional Buddhist sitting meditation I have a problem whereby because I am thinking about my breathing my breath is quite short (I can't seem to change that) and just a few minutes in, just ...
user4967
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Recommendation for Suttas
I have been practising Vipassana for quite a while (2 and half years). Now, I want to also dwell into the teachings of Buddha as presented in Suttas and apply those teaching in my everday life. I have ...
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How do I practise Vipassana and Samatha through Anapanasati?
After reading the answers to this question I understand that keeping the object of meditation same, Samatha leads to calm and tranquility of mind and Vipassana leads to insight into nature of reality....
user14093
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Did the Buddha teach meditation to lay people?
During his lifetime, did the Buddha teach meditation to lay people, or did he teach meditation only to monks?
Are there any references to this in the Pali Canon or commentaries?
It's clear that all ...
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I get rapid eye movement as soon as meditation starts
I saw a question about rapid eye movement when meditating, which from what I know is similar to REM sleep and the experience I had is a little bit different. As the title says I get the eye movement ...
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How to approach motivation for work during Vipassana?
My career involves lot of self-learning, and self-motivation. I like my work, which is a reason why my work doesn't feel like work. However, I am finding it hard to incorporate Vipassana into my work. ...
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Are Samatha and Vipassana mentioned in the Pali Canon as different styles/techniques of meditation?
I've seen in a lot of discussions that there are two kinds of meditation methods with different but complementary goals: meditation for establishing tranquility (samatha) and meditation for ...
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I don't like people but I like buddhism
I'm a bit confused. I had a rather crappy childhood. Very disfunctional family and lots of bullying and abuse both at home and at school. It kind of made me very distrusting of people. I learnt at a ...
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How does one Realize emptiness?
Are there specific practices, meditation instructions, intended to identify and realize/experience emptiness? Is this different than realizing non-self, or the emptiness of the self? or the emptiness ...
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Are there Theravada meditation retreats that allow one to work for room and board?
Practicing meditation in South Mississippi, USA, without easy access to a sangha or teacher, and reading Buddhist literature (primarily Theravadan), I feel a need to attend a week to ten day ...
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Moderation in meditation for lay people
Vipassana-style meditation has been adapted to treat patients to prevent recurrence of depression and anxiety through MBCT, and to treat chronic pain and stress through MBSR. More info on this can ...
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Unpleasant side effects of meditation
I am 45 years old. I’ve come to realize that I have been more or less unhappy in my life. So I met a clinical psychologist and I do show some childhood codependency issues and we could no CBT and ...
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How do you know if you have bad/good karma?
Is it possible to know if you have bad or good karma?
A lot of things have happened to me in life that is very negative. I believe partially it is my own fault because the way I am and how others ...
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Inferiority because of failure in meditation
I've tried hard to practice meditation - Anapansatti & Vipassana but I just can't concentrate on my breath. Now, I'm feeling inferior as if I can never concentrate my breath or get rid of my inner ...
user12919
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How to improve mindfulness of thinking?
Recently I've been facing problems with trying to remain mindful of any thoughts that pass through my mind. This problem is particularly prevalent in my formal meditation, where I only realise I am ...
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Has Sādhna ( Meditation practice) with closed eyes more benefits than with open?
Nowadays, I've been practicing Vipassana (Sometimes anaapan) with open eyes since I instantly start feeling sensations almost everywhere in my body including flesh & organs when I draw my ...
user10804
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How do you master (control) your mind with Buddhism?
I'm a Hindu and don't know much about Buddhism. Many people say that Buddhism is the art of cultivating the mind, which I feel includes methods to control and discipline the mind. I have poor control ...
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What is the "meditation on emptiness" in MN 121?
What is the "meditation on emptiness" in MN 121?
What does "emptiness" refer to in this sutta?
Also, what does "oneness dependent on the perception of ..." mean in this sutta?
“Indeed, Ānanda, ...
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I have been meditating by myself since 2015 but nothing worked for me
Please help me, what to do. I've been meditating but not working for me anything. I get only tingling sensation on my forehead & constant buzzing sound. Besides, I have not gotten any slight ...
user10804
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What exacly is the so-called "formless" jhana?
When reading the suttas, sometimes I come across to the expressions:
"dimension of the infinitude of space",
"dimension of the infinitude of consciousness",
"dimension of nothingness" and
"dimension ...
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Which place is good for vipassana meditation?
Please recommend good place for Vipassana meditation for in 2017.
Including
Availability of visa
it does not matter short 7-14 days or long (in months) Vipassana meditation course
If it is remote ...
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Can loving kindness, compassion and sympathetic joy be developed through Vipassana meditation?
As far as I understand, Vipassana meditation trains attention and equanimity. Which makes sense because you are basically doing body scans all the time and remaining equanimous to bodily sensations, ...
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Remaining in first jhana, while walking, talking, eating
Is it possible to attain the first jhana, then remain in first jhana, while walking, talking, eating and performing other daily activities?
Or does one remain in first jhana only while in sitting ...
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