Search found 39 matches

by amtross
Wed Apr 27, 2016 4:11 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Sad i want to attain jhanas but i have mental illnesses. Anyone else who have mental illness and practice meditation?
Replies: 38
Views: 9530

Re: Sad i want to attain jhanas but i have mental illnesses. Anyone else who have mental illness and practice meditation

If you haven't already, it may be helpful to look into types of diet and exercise that may ease some of your suffering. Specifically, make sure you're getting enough vitamin d (sun or supplement, best to test with bloodwork as some people have genetic polymorphisms that make it harder for them to ab...
by amtross
Wed Apr 27, 2016 3:18 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Favorite Metta technique
Replies: 19
Views: 7358

Re: Favorite Metta technique

This technique works very well for me in sitting meditation: 1. Contemplate impermanence (bodily sensations and thoughts arising and fading away) 2. Contemplate no self (there is no single part of me that is me) 3. Consider that I am here in this moment exactly as I am because I am conditioned by ev...
by amtross
Fri Nov 21, 2014 4:20 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Thanissaro Bhikkhus Talks...
Replies: 6
Views: 2364

Re: Thanissaro Bhikkhus Talks...

I just listened to this talk last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQZRNXB7Loc

It effected me very deeply. I hope it helps.

sean
by amtross
Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:45 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: My opinion on common attachment to meditation
Replies: 13
Views: 3381

Re: Common attachment to meditation

"Lighten up Francis" You came to a meditation forum and declared meditation is attachement with nothing to back it up. Expect some freindly ribbing. This reminds me of a story my teacher likes to tell about one of her students in an advanced meditation class announcing to her that he was j...
by amtross
Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:34 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: My opinion on common attachment to meditation
Replies: 13
Views: 3381

Re: Common attachment to meditation

Look guys it's the enlightenment fairy!!! All you have to do is think good thoughts and the work is done. I feel so silly with all this work on sila and mental cultivation. All hail the enlightenment fairy.

yeah, I know...wrong speach. I'm having one of those nights :rolleye:
by amtross
Sun Sep 09, 2012 4:05 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Buddadassa Bikkhu
Replies: 9
Views: 3063

Re: Buddadassa Bikkhu

My teacher was a student of his. From her stories, it sounds like he was quite a character. He used to always use the term Nibbana in everyday situations to drive home the point that it simply means "extinguish": "Nibbana that fire", he would say. :tongue:
by amtross
Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:31 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Are metta jhanas mentioned in the suttas?
Replies: 7
Views: 5521

Re: Are metta jhanas mentioned in the suttas?

Thanks for those links Bodom. Here is another Sutta that talks about metta in realation to Jhana's and as a vehicle leading all the way to full liberation.

Metta Sutta:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
by amtross
Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:58 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept
Replies: 115
Views: 32879

Re: Selling medicine marijuana, is it violate the 5th precept

I had a friend with Rheumatoid Arthritis that hated getting high but she ingested MJ (had a prescription) because it was the only effective relief she could find. RA is extremely painful. Providing someone in this kind of need with medicine that helps them is compassionate!
by amtross
Sat Feb 25, 2012 6:25 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: He trains himself...relinquishment
Replies: 24
Views: 5352

Re: He trains himself...relinquishment

I think Thanissaro Bhikkhu's point is that you can experience Rapture before you have mastered the prior steps. Assuming some sort of Bodily calming is a prerequisite for rapture (and I'm not sure this is true) then isn't it possible that partial calming could produce a lower level of rapture? I ima...
by amtross
Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:05 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Less Chatty Metta Bhavana?
Replies: 40
Views: 8479

Re: Less Chatty Metta Bhavana?

I love the idea of Metta but my mind just seems to revolt at the idea of chanting those mantras over and over. I spent about a year with it being my primary form of practice but it never felt comfortable. Something that really works for me, especially in walking meditaion (these steps are additive, ...
by amtross
Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:02 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: How to cultivate pasada if you *don't* believe in rebirth?
Replies: 21
Views: 4877

Re: How to cultivate pasada if you *don't* believe in rebirth?

I don't personally know of any "beliefs" (such as rebirth) in buddhism or elsewhere that will help much but there are many practices in Buddhism that can lead to more calm in your life: Do any of these regularly: 1. Reciting Suttas 2. Chanting 3. Being mindful: here's two methods for maint...
by amtross
Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:24 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Anapana meditation in Vipassana
Replies: 27
Views: 6434

Re: Anapana meditation in Vipassana

The difference I've been able to generalize from most teachers has to do with the way you deal with the wandering mind. Vipassana techniques gererally involve noting or labelling or sometimes even staying with the new mind object. Samatha techniques generally pay less attention to secondary objects ...
by amtross
Fri Feb 10, 2012 4:43 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Buddha nature
Replies: 55
Views: 13031

Re: Buddha nature

if you're talking to me, no

I was refering to my use of the term "just sit", which I've heard used quite often by zen practitioners.
by amtross
Fri Feb 10, 2012 4:35 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Buddha nature
Replies: 55
Views: 13031

Re: Buddha nature

Here's one you might recognize from Zen: Why don't you just sit? Get a good Vipassanna book or a teacher, sit down and see what you see. If you see buddha nature...great. What does that feel like. Is it permanent? or changing?....you get the idea.

May you be well
sean
by amtross
Fri Feb 10, 2012 6:05 am
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: How to gain Samadhi - answer to the Buddha's questions
Replies: 19
Views: 7736

Re: How to gain Samadhi - answer to the Buddha's questions

→ Right mindfulness [of body/feeling/mind/the Dhamma (including the 4NT)] -- Anapanasatti [1) Start with mindfulness of breathing until no detectable in/out breath at the nostrils -- no bodily fabrication: 繫意鼻頭, 觉知一切身行(入息、出息; experience the bodily fabrications - in and out breathing), 觉知一切身行休息[expe...