Questions tagged [meditation]
For general questions about what is meditation, what is it for and what types of meditation are.
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Disenchanted with Buddhism
Im nearly 50 years old and so far in my life I have never found a sense of belonging or any sense of purpose. I haven't found a way to work that offers any sense of contribution or meaning. I have ...
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Meditation and 'not trying to change anything'
I've been practicing mindfulness meditation for around three months now. I've heard many times that a key aim for meditation is to be with whatever thoughts and feelings are present, without trying to ...
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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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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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What could I say to someone when they ask me "why do you meditate?"
I was talking to someone about my morning routine, which includes meditation. They asked me why do I do it. I didn't know what to say. Finally I said "you should find out yourself" with a smile. I don'...
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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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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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Any benefit from meditation, if your mind is already completely blank?
I have never meditated before. I really want to get into meditation to explore the benefits, especially trying to understanding who I am and how my mind affects my perception of reality (looking for ...
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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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Meditation for Psychosis
I have psychosis.
I have no ability to understand reality from birth.
Can meditation give me the ability?
Or will I never be able to end my mental suffering?
Do you know how can I end my pain and fear,...
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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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What do you wish you knew when you started down the path of buddhism?
This stack exchange actually lead me towards the path of finding a lama and becoming a Buddhist. Thank You!
This got me thinking, what would you tell sentient beings new to the path of Buddhism? Is ...
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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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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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How do I deal with Buddhist teaching's complexity?
I'm feeling very overwhelmed by the sheer amount of different things to remember and practice. Firstly the four foundations of mindfulness Im not sure when one is meant to practice each one. Do you do ...
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What are the suttas in which the Buddha provides instruction on how to meditate?
What are the actual suttas in which the Buddha described how to meditate? A list of all such suttas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
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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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How can we stop overthinking?
Many people suffer because of an endless mind-thoughts. What is the simplest way to stop overthinking and make the mind still?
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Did the Buddha say anything about attachment to meditation?
I was unable to meditate today and this left me feeling frustrated, disappointed and anxious about my practice. This type of emotional reaction seems equivalent to what occurs when one is prevented ...
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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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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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Meditation - how to practice it?
Is it more important to develop one's own meditation skills or follow a prescribed method of a teacher? After all I think the Buddha worked it out for himself. And I have noticed in my own practice ...
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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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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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Did the Buddha discover jhana by himself?
I was reading Ajahn Brahmavamso's book 'The Jhanas' (available freely online) in which he says that the Buddha discovered Jhanas by himself, and what Alara Kalama and Uddakha Ramaputta taught, were ...
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Effort in Practice
I noticed recently that for some odd reason, none of my resolutions and efforts have come to fruition. My attempts to diminish junk food, social media, and other such negative behaviours have remained ...
user7302
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What is the difference between concentration and mindfulness practice ?
I am new to buddhism and meditation (I have been practising it for one month now), and despite finishing my fourth book on the matter, I am still very unclear about what a meditation session should ...
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Formal Meditation Laziness
I have the intuition, from what I've heard within Buddhism, that formal meditation is rarely ever "wrong", and provides benefit if even slight form is held.
Nevertheless, I am struggling to create a ...
user7302
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Can software development benefit from mindfulness?
Can software development benefit from mindfulness?
As I'm software developer and as I want to register for Vipassana meditation so far I couldn't because of time but still thinking if I could go for ...
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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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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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My short story with anxiety problems - could meditation be the cause?
My background is that my father was/is an alcoholic and I had pretty rough childhood. I recently turned 33. I always was pretty self aware. I have a good job. I’m easy going open person, have a bunch ...
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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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Can't meditate anymore
I used to meditate daily, about 2 or 3 years ago I stopped.
A week ago I decided to start meditating again. I sat down closed my eyes... and suddenly I am halfway through cleaning my dishes.
So I ...
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Is it even possible to attain Nirvana?
Sorry, I've just read Satipatthana Sutta (MN 10) and feel a bit overwhelmed.
As far as I understand, this is some sort of instruction on how to attain enlightenment. It teaches, that one has to ...
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Skillful ways to induce Rapture and Pleasure in meditation
The fifth and six steps in Ananpansati, talk about training ones' self to be sensitive to these feelings, how can a mediator do this and avoid the dangers of getting caught up in them?
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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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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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Exercise for meditation sitting
I couldn't find this exact question asked before.
What kind of exercise is recommended for better physical comfort and "endurance"/"stamina" when sitting in meditation; apart from the sitting itself?...
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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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The Dangers of an Extended Meditation Session
The Buddha was said to have meditated 40 days and 40 nights in a single sitting which begs the question is it possible to sit this long without any physical or mental injury?
As an example, my ...
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How to increase will power?
What are some Buddhists techniques by which I can increase my will power? I lack will power which is basic to practice 8fold path. I don't have will power which makes me stray to be consistent on ...
user10804
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Contemplating during meditation
What can be object of contemplation during meditation? Can I take a puzzle or mathematical problem for contemplation? What is the right way of contemplation?
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Meditation posture and language as a monk in Thailand
I am not able to sit in the lotus position. I'm only 24 years old but quite tall (189 cm). Usually I sit in this position:
(I googled the picture, it's from EMPFOHLENE MEDITATIONS-POSITIONEN UND ...
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Getting started young with many attachments
I realize that at least the first part of the title is probably the most easily researched question with relevance to Buddhism possible, but I'd say I've read quite a bit and though I've seen very ...
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Which is the best posture to Practice meditation?
Does any one know, which is the best posture to be assumed for practicing meditation?
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Saving the stink bug
Real question (this happened today). Imagine you're meditating by the fireplace. Outside is cold winter with snow. You have achieved a nice level of concentration, and suddenly you see a stink bug ...
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Meditation causing headaches
In the last couple of months, I have experienced a chronic headache in my forehead and after checking with doctors etc nothing could be found. I then kind of had the intuition it could be related to ...
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When an experienced monk meditates how much does their mind wander?
I’m wondering if most monks would go 99 pct of time with no mind wandering, just focus on breath.
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