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Here in this answer I am going to give some resources I found in the web and not going to copy and past anything here as the process is quite lengthy and detailed. You could learn about Kasina meditation from "Visuddhimagga (Path of purificaiton)". If your refer page 117 and onwards describe the details about "Earth kasióa". If you need a shorter version ...
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There are 10 Kasina meditations. They are categorized due to the object that meditater concentrate in meditation. Meditation method cannot be anything. If you use non-kasina object, it is just loose the time and you will never be able to concentrate. Anapanasathi is not included into Kasina Meditation.
When you select meditation method, it is better to meet ...
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While different traditions might emphasize one over the other, they all need a certain level of development for both:
"These two qualities have a share in clear knowing. Which two? Tranquillity (samatha) & insight (vipassana).
"When tranquillity is developed, what purpose does it serve? The mind is developed. And when the mind is developed, what ...
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I will try to answer from my point of view as a Vajrayana practitioner.
I've been taught that one needs to have a relatively stable mind in order to practice insight meditation. But this doesn't mean that one has to spend years in Samatha meditation before trying Vipassana.
In Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition too much tranquility and so-called 'inert ...
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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" sensations out. In fact, noticing them is part and parcel of the practice itself. Restlessness and agitation are thus sensations to be noticed and analyzed, and their ...
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First, physically, you're probably always going to cause some pain by sitting in a strict posture unless you've been doing it since you were young. So if a person had just started meditation and did so with a great deal of zeal, I could see them causing some pain and stress in the body by doing too much at once. They might even cause some permanent damage if,...
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Often mediators will get stuck in Samatha thinking that they have become permanently enlightened. Samatha takes away all the defilments but it's only temporary. Also mediators could get addicted to the bliss and calm that samatha brings. So, yes there is vipassana only approaches called "dry insight meditation" like in the Mahasi tradition that is perfect ...
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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. I'll share with you why I think I have had these experiences; perhaps some of my thoughts/insights might be useful to you.
You mention being interested in a ...
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Yes it is very normal, just try to remember that we meditate to let things go... let go of control, let go of stress, just be there concentrated in one single point
If you see yourself thinking too much on how you are breathing, remember to repeat to yourself "thinking, thinking, thinking...", you need to remind yourself not to follow thoughts, pain or ...
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In the beginning one tends to control the breath out of habit. The moment we think about the breath we tend to take it over. Even going as far as trying to even it out, make it pleasant, make it smooth.
Sticking with it long enough one can realise that the breath is not completely controllable or always pleasant. Realising this one can think that the ...
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As answered here, the forty samatha meditation objects are:
1-10: The Kasinas
These all lead to the four jhānas; they are practised by creating a disk and focusing on it, while repeating, e.g., "earth, earth..."
1. Earth
2. Water
3. Fire
4. Air
5. Blue
6. Yellow
7. Red
8. White
9. Light
10. Space
11-20: Foulness
These lead to the first jhāna; they are ...
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You lose interest because your MINDFUL. Mindfulness acts like a barrier or a filter. It creates distance. Your not as engaged to the five senses and it's objects as you use to be, therefore your not lost or absorbed in it.When we are mindlessly absorbed in something we are at the mercy of our greed, hate and delusions .In other words your no longer acting ...
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The prepatory steps (precepts, location, time, etc.) are just as important as the actual practice. Ven.Buddhadasa's detailed anapanasati's instruction might be useful..
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The proof of the pudding is in the eating, no matter how many books are written about the pudding. Once eaten there can be no mistake about it.
As a samatha meditator, both the signs exist for both types of meditation and which still appear when the eyes are open if they are vivid.
Having said that I've quiet a few fellow meditators who do not see the ...
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You should not have an emphasis on which should develop fist but let it take its natural course. Both are important as wisdoms has concentration as the base and concentration has morality as the base. Like a roof over your head cannot exist without walls and a foundation.
answered Jan 8 '15 at 16:32
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
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One should begin by reflecting on the qualities of nibbana, according to the Buddha's words:
“Bhikkhus, in so far as there are dhammas, whether formed or unformed,fading away is pronounced the best of them, that is to say, the disillusionment of
vanity, the elimination of thirst, the abolition of reliance, the termination of the
round, the destruction ...
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In accordance with my understanding of the Buddha's teachings I offer the following:
First: if the bare insight thing is valid -- i.e. if it is possible to
go straight to Vipassana without going via Samatha -- then why
wouldn't everyone just do that? Insight is The Point, after all,
(isn't it?) so why waste time with what seems to be mere training
...
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The 7 enlightenment factors:
Mindfulness (sati)
Investigation (dhamma vicaya)
Energy (viriya)
Joy or rapture (pīti)
Relaxation or tranquility (passaddhi)
Concentration (samādhi)
Equanimity (upekkha)
There is a reason the teachings list things to develop and be aware of (eightfold path, enlightenment factors, jhana factors, five hindrances, etc). Any one of ...
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I have. The hypnagogic/hypnaponic state is known for the interesting and even intense phenomena that can arise. Here's my most vivid experience:
I woke up one morning, paralyzed. This happened before (sleep paralysis), and I knew it was a symptom of the hypnagogic/hypnaponic state. Well, I had recently read a book on out-of-body experiences (OBE), and ...
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It might vary from meditator to meditator.
The following quote is from the book "Practicing The Jhanas" by Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder. They were both students of Pa Auk Sayadaw and undertook a Samatha Meditation Course under his guidance.
They write in the book that they achieved the 4 material jhanas and the 4 immaterial jhanas.
Here is a ...
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Summary: "Negative" is a subjective term - I believe there is learning to be had in every moment in life.
Certain Samatha and Vipassana experiences can puzzle the unstable or ignorant mind. The damage in these cases is self caused or self amplified.
I'm not saying one can be stuck seeing blue, but if one does, so what? Observe it too, like anything else, ...
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I suddenly looked down and saw myself sitting, I was out of my body, I
tried to look around and I saw what I can only describe as many beautiful places/doors
This is an effect of certain Samatha meditations. It is called out of body experience. I remember reading something similar in a book by venerable Ananda Maithriya thero. He would start the ...
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Samatha = citta-samatha = Leading to wholesome mind = seclusion of unwholesome in 5 strings, kāmaguṇa.
Vipassanā = samatha-vipassanā = Leading to sabbasaṅkhāra-samatha, nibbāna = seclusion of whole 5 clinging-aggregates.
So, samatha is for taṇhā-carita (unwholesome often arise), vipassanā is for diṭṭhi-carita (wholesome often arise).
People, who can't ...
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Higher levels of concentration is not possible while the mind is active but you can have some level of non-exclusive focus on like the breath or bodily sensations while working. You need to develop initial and sustained focus on a chosen object.
answered Nov 16 '19 at 12:21
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
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I am in your state. I am sick as well. I want to be a monk but I can't.
The difference is I don't feel bad because I can see my effort when looking back to check what I did.
I can say I never sit as much as you, and I can say if I can practice as much as you doing, I am going to be very happy and proud of it surely.☺
I understand the chance to meet Dhamma ...
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I aim to sit for an hour in the early morning and an hour in the evening. I find samatha meditation more difficult and sometimes I break the sit before the hour is completed. When I do noting, I experience impatience less and therefore I am more likely to complete the whole hour. If impatience does arise, it can simply be noted as impatience, impatience, ...
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This link goes into detail about how to construct and use a colored-wheel kasina device. I have been using this 'method' for a few weeks now to some good effect...there is something about being able to concentrate on a tangible visual object that makes it easier for a beginner like myself to cultivate and sustain concentration.
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