28
votes
If I start doing Vipassana now, how long will it take me to achieve Nirvana?
There is a lovely zen saying, a dialogue between new student and master:
"Master, if I put in great effort every day to attain awakening, how long will it take?"
The master replies, "20 years."
"...
13
votes
If I start doing Vipassana now, how long will it take me to achieve Nirvana?
The Buddha himself gave the answer in the Maha Satipatthana Sutta—The Greater Discourse on Steadfast Mindfulness or the Great Discourse on the Establishing Awareness (DN22):
"Indeed, bhikkhus, ...
- 2,254
12
votes
If I start doing Vipassana now, how long will it take me to achieve Nirvana?
Call me an over-enthusiast but presently, the highest priority in my life is to achieve the object of Nirvana or moksha.
This is good! You need enthusiasm to stay motivated in your practice.You also ...
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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 ...
- 2,593
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 ...
- 56.9k
8
votes
Accepted
Is vipassana practice the same as insight practice?
They are synonymous. Insight is in fact the word that is used to translate the word Vipassana.
All schools of Buddhism that talk about meditation talk about Samatha and Vipassana (but of course they'...
- 7,436
8
votes
Accepted
Vipassana meditation comes naturally; Samatha meditation incredibly hard.
I have also found this to be the case when practicing samatha meditation. Here is my understanding of why that is, and how to deal with it:
In vipassana meditation, you do not need to "tune" ...
- 635
7
votes
If I start doing Vipassana now, how long will it take me to achieve Nirvana?
Becoming a monk is not necessary to attain Nirvana. In the time of the Buddha there were great numbers of laypeople who attained stream entry, a fair number of laypeople who became non-returners, and ...
- 7,436
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 ...
- 9,587
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'...
- 44.8k
6
votes
How much is the minimal time for practicing Vipassana in daily life for achieving better mindfulness?
Sincerity matters more than time. One minute of sincere meditation is better than one hour of wishing it to get over. As someone else observed, build up to longer sits. Thich Nhat Hanh suggests a ...
- 7,423
6
votes
Why Vipassana meditation need a base object?
Two reasons:
The mind gets lost in the contents very easily, so having an anchor (base object) will not let it go too far and for too long. The anchor forces you to let go of stuff every time you ...
- 921
6
votes
How to Practice Vipassana?
A hammer has two ends for a reason; one end is great for pounding nails, but not at taking them out. The nose is avoided in Vipassana for a reason; it is too apt to lead to calm.
That being said, it ...
- 23.9k
6
votes
Accepted
Shamata and vipassana - loss of willpower
I can relate to your question. I too come from a software background and have had a similar set of experiences.
Even though we have had similar experiences, the underlying cause could be different. ...
- 558
6
votes
How to Develop Insight - Samathayanika
As per the Visuddhimagga:
Herein, “purification of view” is the correct seeing of mentality-materiality.
One who wants to accomplish this, if, firstly, his vehicle is serenity, should
emerge ...
- 23.9k
6
votes
Accepted
How to realise "anatta" of "Nama-rupa"
The three characteristics are not meant to be understood through analysis; they are meant to be understood through direct realization (paññā). Once you truly see anatta for yourself, the next moment ...
- 23.9k
6
votes
Accepted
What's the first thing that arises, from which everything else arise?
Suppose you completely empty your mind of all thoughts
This is what happens when you go into deep sleep. When you don't dream, the mind falls back to the Bhavanga process. This is called the passive ...
- 25.7k
6
votes
How to ordain and become a monk?
Hope this video, "Ask A Monk: How To Ordain As A Monk" by Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu would help you! And hope you will achieve what you want!
- 953
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 ...
- 56.9k
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
If I start doing Vipassana now, how long will it take me to achieve Nirvana?
To achieve Nirvana you have to follow he 3 fold practice:
Morality
Control over the mind so you can bee focused on a chosen object to see its true nature
Wisdom through the understanding of reality ...
5
votes
Accepted
Is insight meditation counter-productive (sometimes)?
The statement:
"By developing a non-reactive awareness we begin to see why we think, speak and act the way we do"
When there is awareness, there is mindfulness and clear comprehension of the ...
- 3,388
5
votes
What is the difference between a Vipassana Jhana and a Samatha Jhana?
There is no samatha jhana nor is there vipassana jhana mentioned in the suttas, I may have missed it!
There are the 4 rupa jhanas mentioned with each containing various jhana factors and 4 arupa ...
- 3,388
5
votes
the value of a regular vipassana meditation practice
We practice meditation to purify our minds of greed, hatred, and delusion. We can't do this by yearning for ourselves to reach a particular stage of realization nor by yearning for special experiences ...
- 9,492
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 ...
- 2,653
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.
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