7
votes
What can be done when one is having difficulties establishing a regular practice?
This happens when you have a mistaken idea that practice is something separate from your normal life. But meditation is only 1/3rd of the practice, the top of the wedding cake (shila-prajna-samadhi). ...
- 58.3k
5
votes
How to Proceed By Right Effort
Not just my own understanding, but a standard teaching is to approach things gradually, from coarse to subtle.
First, we have to stop creating major sources of trouble for ourselves. How do we do ...
- 58.3k
5
votes
Accepted
Deload weeks for meditation
Tibetan lineage teachers usually say, meditation should be like spending time with a best friend. You meet joyfully, you spend time effortlessly, and you separate easily, knowing you can't lose each ...
- 58.3k
4
votes
Teachings that Inspire Practice
Read the nice anecdotes of Ajaan Fuang. A small selection below.
§ A woman came to Wat Dhammasathit to observe the precepts and
meditate for a week, but by the end of the second day she told ...
4
votes
How much should i try while meditating?
I recalled a dharma talk by Ajahn Thanissaro Bhikku on Youtube. In it he compared mindfulness and meditation to a skill. And like anything else in life you need to practice to become good at that ...
- 1,705
4
votes
Accepted
Over expectations and overconfidence
You are not alone on this… @Ashwin Kumar. You have good company. When you stop and think about it, that’s what a lot of people do in this world. They do something because they think it makes them ...
- 9,695
4
votes
What did the Buddha say about motivation?
Right effort(sammā-vāyāma) in terms of mindfulness is not a forceful , grit your teeth kind of effort. It's a moment by moment, continuous, good cyclical habit kind of effort.
Cetanā is Pali for
1- ...
- 7,144
4
votes
Accepted
Why have I awoken Now?
-- "why is it that in this life time I have became obsessively bent to attain nibbana"
There is a traditional Buddhist teaching that explains this Awakening through a combination of lucky causes and ...
- 58.3k
4
votes
Are Good Qualities Proportional to Our Efforts?
From MN 117, we read that Right Effort (samma vayamo) must go in the right direction:
"One tries to abandon wrong view & to enter into right view: This is
one's right effort...
"One ...
- 37.4k
3
votes
What could a lay follower do to increase his zeal to become a monk?
I could easily have written your query. At this time however there are a few differences which may be helpful if shared.
Am in my mid 40’s. Never thought that it was actually possible. Met a ...
- 409
3
votes
What did the Buddha say about motivation?
'Chanda' as an 'iddhipada', translated as 'zeal', 'desire', 'will', 'love'. I prefer 'devotion'.
Some suttas: SN 51.15 and SN 51.20.
- 40.5k
3
votes
Effort in Practice
In traditional Buddhism, effort is not only the way to move forward but, almost more importantly, the main source of satisfaction! This satisfaction then serves as the main source of fuel for going ...
- 58.3k
3
votes
Developing Positive Qualities and Diminishing Negative Qualities
In my opinion, this boils down to the differences I previously outlined between "formless" and "form-full" paths.
The formless path is about relinquishing negative qualities without explicitly ...
- 58.3k
3
votes
Buddhism and Losing Determination
Sit on the cushion. You’ve posted scores of variants on this question and still seem to be under the impression that there’s an answer out there somewhere that’s going to get things to click for you -...
- 349
3
votes
Accepted
What comes first: effort or motivation?
In the standard Buddhist model there are "desire" and "aversion". Sometimes there are both desire and aversion at the same time.
For example, desire to get something and aversion ...
- 58.3k
2
votes
What can be done when one is having difficulties establishing a regular practice?
I think the answer to your straggle has very much to do with your personality. I will try to give you some general directions and hopefully you will find them beneficial.
Until this moment of your ...
- 601
2
votes
Right effort and concentration
Right Efforts is about removing unwholesome states and cultivating wholesome states. Right Concentration deals with developing the Jhana as a means to displace certain subset of unwholesome states. ...
2
votes
Why have I awoken Now?
You've been here since forever due to craving and ignorance.
Ignorance of not knowing the Four Noble Truths.
There are 3 types of craving - sensual, becoming and unbecoming.
Basically, you're here ...
- 37.4k
2
votes
What are the guides for lay followers, as to how far they should go to be compassionate?
The most important things is to get Panna yourself as much as you can. You can achieve it by either reading Tripitaka or consulting monks about wholesome and unwholesome acts or both.
Passionate or ...
- 1,119
2
votes
Accepted
How important is constancy in meditation practice?
Your question is concerned about motivation and constancy, right?
Answering the latter briefly: Yes, constancy is important & also the quality of it. This can be compared to every skill really. ...
- 2,560
2
votes
How to Proceed By Right Effort
The order is in the 3 fold training is
sila
samadhi
panna
Having said that dana proceeds sila. The 3 main merits are
dana
sila
bavana
Bavana incudes samadhi and panna.
So do,
dana
sila
samadhi
...
2
votes
How to Proceed By Right Effort
There's a non-Buddhist saying, "Put the big rocks in first".
I understood that to mean "duty first", i.e. don't neglect what it might be immoral or unwise to neglect.
There's a Zen story, Wash your ...
- 46.3k
2
votes
Are Good Qualities Proportional to Our Efforts?
Any action which requires more effort or planning requires more volitional thoughts. This compounds the karmic effort. E.g. killing a mosquito is quite reactive and requires little thought relative to ...
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible