18
votes
Accepted
The object of meditation
In the meditation taught in the original Buddhist scriptures, the mind stays with the breath & free from thought.
In the original Buddhist scriptures, there is no 'shift' when vipassana is ...
- 40.5k
10
votes
Did the Buddha Meditate?
I can't find the reference at the moment but if I recall correctly, the Buddha continued to meditate after enlightenment for two reasons, according to the Theravada tradition: (1) To dwell in a ...
- 2,592
9
votes
No insight happening
IMHO, you should stop this nonsense. Sitting and waiting for insight is not going to work.
Insight meditation is not meant to be waiting. Instead, it is meant to be examination of the elements of ...
- 58.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Does the universe ever end?
There were fourteen questions to which Buddha remained silent. The universe is eternal, The universe is not eternal.. were two of them. Read the following sutta.
MN 63 - Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta: The ...
- 9,695
7
votes
Accepted
Can Buddhism help me find my passion?
The "passion" you talk about sounds like a craving for something which you haven't defined. Your question seems to be asking, "I crave something (I crave something to feel passionate about), but I don'...
- 46.3k
6
votes
What are we supposed to do while meditating?
There are many kinds of meditation, and as many ways of explaining them as there are people. After years of study and practice, here is a meditation I recommend. I call this "the coming to one's ...
- 58.3k
6
votes
Did the Buddha Meditate?
In fact, the Buddha meditated everyday. All Arahaths meditate whenever they are not busy with teaching or day to day activities. But it is not to get rid of any defilements like ordinary beings. ...
- 25.7k
5
votes
Discernment vs. judgement in the labeling meditation
I guess the big difference between mentally noting vs judging what you are experiencing is the degree of objectivity. Noting helps you to perceive your experiences with clarity, which should in turn ...
- 2,651
5
votes
The object of meditation
The focus of this meditation is breath. Keep coming back to that. I recommend you seek out some in-person meditation instruction - it will really help your meditation.
- 51
5
votes
Accepted
Why do i look sad, while doing things consciously?
It is difficult to be around non-meditative people when you are meditative. Dhammapada 302 states:
Suffering/difficulty comes from association with unequals.
When they say: "You are looking sad", ...
- 40.5k
4
votes
Computer Feedback in Meditation
I've heard of some meditators who use tools like EEGs. Of late these models are becoming pretty cheap, USD 100-500, which was unthinkable even a few years ago. They can't be very accurate at this ...
- 7,433
4
votes
Computer Feedback in Meditation
Biofeedback programs just take data such as heart rate, blood pressure, etc... and display them on a screen so that the person can see them. The underlying theory is that if a person can directly see ...
- 7,442
4
votes
Is it dangerous to focus on ticks from childhood during meditation?
Acknowledge the tick only a few times as it appears, but then acknowledge what else appears, your mind reacts to it somehow -- fear, anxiety, memories, analyses etc. And go back to the anchor (step or ...
- 951
4
votes
What is gained by learning Vipassana meditation in long retreats?
Background. 15 years ago I went to a 10 day Vipassana Retreat. I lasted 4 days. 10 years ago I went again and finished the Retreat. I went for a 3 day Retreat this last winter. It doesn't seem to get ...
- 41
4
votes
Rationalism and The spirit of inquiry
Logical thinking about Buddhism is like route / trip planning. The practice of Buddhism is the journey which will take you to the desired destination.
The Buddha has his for or adventure over ...
4
votes
Accepted
To what extent can Ānāpānasati be related to Vipassanā?
Anapanasati is divided into 4 tetrads which correspond to the 4 Satipatthana hence the pratice of Anapanasati is actually a forms of Satipatthana / Vipassana. A thorough introduction to Anapanasati ...
4
votes
What were the Buddha's meditation methods and practices during his pre-enlightenment wandering years in India?
The Buddha talks about this in MN 36: Maha-Saccaka Sutta. It's quite a long and detailed passage, in which he describes how he went to different teachers who taught him the Jhanas and starved his body ...
- 1,765
4
votes
Accepted
Retaining courage during mediation
The fear is instinctual (due to the ego fading/dissolving/melting somewhat). This instinctual fear can only be endured with composure & with the full acknowledgment it will pass. After the mind ...
- 40.5k
4
votes
Accepted
Why is focusing on the breath more difficult than focusing on Mantras, and how important is it before vipassana?
When reciting a mantra you have vitakka and vicāra which helps you get close to the 1st Jhana. But this is also accumulation of Fabrications (more particularly Verbal Fabrications) which should be ...
4
votes
No insight happening
Wellcome to the club.
This a common problem for many of us.
I suggest you start reading Sutta directly.
Also, remember it is gradual training.
You have some insight already, otherwise, you won't be ...
- 5,627
3
votes
Is it dangerous to focus on ticks from childhood during meditation?
Yah, those damn ticks have bothered me too! Around the time I broke through some of my old baggage I had continuous eye ticks for almost a year.
My advice is to not pay attention to ticks themselves, ...
- 58.3k
3
votes
What kind of vipassana retreats do you recommend in South East Asia?
If you come to Sri Lanka, there's nice place up in hill country called the Rathmalkanda Meditation Center for Insight Knowledge. The head monk there is venerable Madawala Upali thera who has been a ...
- 25.7k
3
votes
Is attachment to the word "Meditation" a problem?
Here is the thing about attachment...
New Buddhists learn how bad attachment is and they immediately thing\k all attachments are bad. Any ironically no one care to ask "Are all the attachments bad?". ...
- 3,953
3
votes
How to remove dullness of mind, without sitting meditation, in regular activity?
You can indeed meditate(Vipassana) while performing any task.
ex: if you are sweeping, keep reminding: sweeping.. sweeping.. sweeping..
Dullness or boredom is a form of aversion. Ignorance is the ...
- 25.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Sudden arising of disgust
Why is this happening? The mind could be becoming clear & attuned to what is healthy & peaceful. Inner wisdom could be functioning.
Below is a quote from The Removal of Distracting Thoughts ...
- 40.5k
3
votes
Sudden arising of disgust
The Buddha said that all suffering is caused by craving, which is also interpreted as attachment. Your meditation started out as letting go of these afflictive emotions, which you were clinging to as ...
- 758
3
votes
Accepted
Is there any meaning, which I am supposed to untangle, to things I saw during meditation?
In order to possibly determine the meaning of your thoughts, you would need to consult a psychoanalyst. What is important within the reference of a forum answering questions on Buddhism, is that these ...
- 758
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