RYB,
Thank your advice, the transformation was 10% perspiration and 90% inspiration, the Buddha Dhamma is wonderful isn't it?
I had already had it in mind to attend a retreat in the
other Vipassana tradition but at the moment, because of personal circumstance, won't be able to find the time to take an extended retreat for at least another year.
In the meantime, I am just observing the touch of breath and feelings whilst going about daily life, combined with sila.
it is a good technique, there is a deepening quality of mind in being mindful of the present moment.
In daily life sometimes the discursive mind 'stops', sometimes there is random burst of piti. By staying with the level of breath and vedana, the mind is very quick to pick up unskilful thoughts, let alone allow it to manifest to unskilful speech/actions.
Re more consistent practice, this is where I have to be forthcoming with my lack of effort in practice - there is this hidden fear that exists in the mind that more intensive practice was dangerous for my lay-life! The rationalizations went like this... "you have already got equanimity and peace from continual mindfulness, no need to sit" or " be careful, you might just 'lose it' and run away to the forest"
How crafty are the defilements of the mind? :cookoo: So I'm very to lucky to discuss this topic now as it was actually halting the formal practice of 'sitting'.
Re: bhanga and special status in different circles, Goenka in his discourses mention that it is a signpost that the mind is calm and sharp enough observe nama-rupa at a very subtle level, nothing worth clinging to. Usually, these people ignore instructions by the teacher and start developing craving for the 'special experience', when the aim of the technique is to reduce craving.
So the dangers of ti-lakhanna are all pervasive in any tradition
I am not too qualified to comment, but in my limited experience, clinging to views meditation experience and meditation technique as 'something special' hinders progress, and hugging signposts is not very skilful behaviour especially when the path is long and arduous! And I suffered from this attachment to views quite badly, one day, reading an online comment I got very self righteous thinking "how on earth can they criticise this tradition, its done wonderful things for thousands of people", observing the tight feeling in the chest and shortness of breath, the thought arose in the mind "this is painful suffering isn't it, these views you have", I answered "you bet", the voice came back "why not let go?"
Its hard to find comparisons but it was like a mountain off my back when I felt my mind unwrap itself from this view that was plaguing me since the retreat.
Anyways, back to topic, so in the spirit of the original post, my experience of this 'technique' reduces greed, hatred and delusion when practiced in the context of sila, samadhi and panna under the guidance of a good teacher.
Used in isolation, without sincere consulation of a teacher as means to get 'special experiences', for 'nice sensations', is very dangerous.
As an side: because I have had the immense privilige of talking with a senior teacher in this tradition, in normal life, not in a retreat condition, where he confided that this tradition does have stream enterers, but they are not publicised by Goenka. How interesting....