Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

Hi everyone! I got such great answers and support for the questions I posted in the past few days, that I'd like to ask you something else.

I already searched for this on the forum, but couldn't really find an answer. In one a few of my previous posts I've said that I am considering starting to go to a Theravada Buddhsit temple. I will be trying two of them out in the next few days. They are both Thai wats. Additionally, as a few of you might remember, I am exploring the different vipassana techniques to see which one fits best for me, at least to begin with. I am curious about what techniques are typically taught to newcomers at Thai Buddhist wats.

Two questions for you:
1. What meditation methods can I -generally- expect at a Thai wat?
(I know this could be a potentially humongous list, but for instance, do Thai traditions typically only start you out with samatha techniques and only switch the advanced students over to vipassana? What sort of "beginner's" techniques do Thai traditions typically use: counting the breath, labeling, etc?)
&
2. Is it uncommon or unwise for someone to do begin doing a different method than what is taught at the Wat, such as the labeling technique?

Sorry, I really like my lists

Thanks so much, in advance!

Kabouterke wrote:Hi everyone! I got such great answers and support for the questions I posted in the past few days, that I'd like to ask you something else.

I already searched for this on the forum, but couldn't really find an answer. In one a few of my previous posts I've said that I am considering starting to go to a Theravada Buddhsit temple. I will be trying two of them out in the next few days. They are both Thai wats. Additionally, as a few of you might remember, I am exploring the different vipassana techniques to see which one fits best for me, at least to begin with. I am curious about what techniques are typically taught to newcomers at Thai Buddhist wats.

Two questions for you:
1. What meditation methods can I -generally- expect at a Thai wat?
(I know this could be a potentially humongous list, but for instance, do Thai traditions typically only start you out with samatha techniques and only switch the advanced students over to vipassana? What sort of "beginner's" techniques do Thai traditions typically use: counting the breath, labeling, etc?)
&
2. Is it uncommon or unwise for someone to do begin doing a different method than what is taught at the Wat, such as the labeling technique?

Sorry, I really like my lists

Thanks so much, in advance!

Good to hear from you again, and good as always that people take an interest in meditation.

1) Anapanasati tends to be one of the most popular forms of meditation so I would guess that is what you would be most likely to find. Counting the breath is usually where people start.

2) Are you asking whether you should start with one method and then practice another method? If so, I don't think that's the best idea because you could just spend that time working on a single method.

This list may be of interest:

Meditation in the Thai Theravada Tradition
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/meditation.html


With metta,
Chris

Great website, thanks Chris!

Kabouterke wrote:Great website, thanks Chris!

Hi Kabouterke,
You might check out this website http://www.amaravati.org/ ; it has loads of talks, articles and books for download. Another website is http://www.audiodharma.org/ ; again lots of information and they have an online mindfullness course with teacher support every few months.
By the way I am from Belgium too.
With metta
Willy

willyloco wrote:

Kabouterke wrote:Great website, thanks Chris!

Hi Kabouterke,
You might check out this website http://www.amaravati.org/ ; it has loads of talks, articles and books for download. Another website is http://www.audiodharma.org/ ; again lots of information and they have an online mindfullness course with teacher support every few months.
By the way I am from Belgium too.
With metta
Willy

Hi Willy, thanks for the tips. Are you from Flanders, Wallonia or BXL? Just curious

Hi Kabouterke,

I live in Tongeren, Limburg; Dutch speaking.
Actually I did 2 online courses at audiodharma. Very good support.
And once a year I do a short retreat at Amaravati Monastery in England.

I think there aren't many theravada practitioners in the area where I live. Not that I know of anyway.

With Metta

Willy

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/
i've always liked ajahn lee (since visiting wat metta), but a monk in ajahn mun/chah lineage monastery recommended this guy and said he'd teach me from one of these if i came back.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai ... along.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai ... uddho.html
enjoy...

To have the defilements gradually disappear with the method I've just explained is better than trying to arrange things, entering the four levels of absorption, abandoning directed thought, evaluation, rapture and pleasure, leaving just one-pointedness and equanimity; or trying to arrange the first stage of the path to nibbana by abandoning self-identity views, uncertainty, and attachment to precepts & practices; or by looking at your various defilements, telling yourself, "With that defilement, I was able to contemplate in such-and-such a way, so I've gone beyond that defilement. I have so-and-so many defilements left. If I can contemplate in such-and-such a way, my defilements will be finished" — but you don't realize that the state of mind that wants to see and know and attain these things is a defilement fixed firmly in the mind. When you finish your contemplation, the mind is back in its original state and hasn't gained anything at all. On top of that, if someone comes along and says something that goes against the way you see things, you start disagreeing violently, like a burning fire into which someone pours kerosene.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai ... uddho.html

willyloco wrote:Hi Kabouterke,

I live in Tongeren, Limburg; Dutch speaking.
Actually I did 2 online courses at audiodharma. Very good support.
And once a year I do a short retreat at Amaravati Monastery in England.

I think there aren't many theravada practitioners in the area where I live. Not that I know of anyway.

With Metta

Willy

Tongeren ken ik wel. Ik woonde namelijk een viertal jaar in Lanaken (en ook Maastricht) Mijn partner komt ook uit de regio (Nederlands Limburg).

Thanks everybody for the sources!... I think this'll definitely give me enough reading for the next few days.