Search found 395 matches

by IanAnd
Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:49 am
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Technical Meditation Aspects
Replies: 4
Views: 2473

Re: Technical Meditation Aspects

The labelling with a word is helpful when you're getting started or concentration is poor, you should drop it when you don't need it. The mental noting is just a brief moment of recognition in the mind, you don't need a word to label it. Ultimately you are aiming to be fully and continuously aware ...
by IanAnd
Mon Apr 20, 2015 4:34 pm
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: Agamas divergence from Pali Canon, still practiced?
Replies: 45
Views: 11768

Re: Agamas divergence from Pali Canon, still practiced?

I think even a good Christian or any other can become an Arahant if he eliminate the personality view . (Understanding Anatta) So the crux of Buddha's teaching is Anatta. The rest of the teaching is found in other religions as well. Five Aggregate, Dependent origination, Abhidhamma etc are all abou...
by IanAnd
Wed Apr 15, 2015 4:25 am
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: Agamas divergence from Pali Canon, still practiced?
Replies: 45
Views: 11768

Re: Agamas divergence from Pali Canon, still practiced?

So the crux of Buddha's teaching is Anatta. The rest of the teaching is found in other religions as well. Are you certain of that? In what other doctrine of truth/reality (your word "religion") is there found a teaching the same as paticca samuppada (dependent co-arising) or pancakkhanda ...
by IanAnd
Sun Mar 01, 2015 4:44 am
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: jhanas and nirodha?...
Replies: 98
Views: 80340

Re: jhanas and nirodha?...

As I understand, you lost your awareness for a while, then later you regained your awareness and realized that missing time (Correct me if I misunderstood you). Yes. sometimes the awareness can be lost for hours. in other cases - for some minutes. There are two camps on the subject of jhana - those...
by IanAnd
Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:22 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Ingram, et al - "Hard Core Dharma" & claims of attainment
Replies: 1063
Views: 223382

Re: Ingram, et al - "Hard Core Dharma" & claims of attainmen

What I found interesting in watching this video is how inarticulate he was in talking about his experiences. Are you suggesting that an arahant (either ancient or modern) is immune from being inarticulate? If so, what are your thoughts about the communication skills of the person who many accept as...
by IanAnd
Thu Jun 19, 2014 4:18 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Basic instructions for entering first jana?
Replies: 22
Views: 13774

Re: Basic instructions for entering first jana?

Thanks very much, Ian, for describing your personal experience. It's very useful. Happy to be of corroborative assistance. After reading the articles posted above, LB's instructions were the most appealing. He has some additional writings on his website (http://www.leighb.com/jhanas.htm); were ther...
by IanAnd
Thu Jun 19, 2014 5:25 am
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Basic instructions for entering first jana?
Replies: 22
Views: 13774

Re: Basic instructions for entering first jana?

Jhana Not by the Numbers by Ven. Thanissaro Bhikkhu Keeping the Breath in Mind by Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo has a chapter on Jhana Each and Every Breath by Ven. Thanissaro Bhikkhu discusses Jhana in Part Four of the text Instruction for Entering Jhana by Leigh Brasington So, from a preliminary reading ...
by IanAnd
Wed Apr 23, 2014 4:03 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Falling asleep during meditation
Replies: 5
Views: 3421

Re: Falling asleep during meditation

Hi Dhammakid, I used to have the same problem until I began to pay closer attention to the instruction recommended by Gotama. Think you can follow this simple instruction? "And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu abide contemplating the body as a body? Here a bhikkhu, gone to the forest or to the roo...
by IanAnd
Sun Mar 02, 2014 12:11 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: longer sits for beginners
Replies: 7
Views: 2976

Re: longer sits for beginners

However I am not an absolute beginner and at that point I had been sitting every day for over two weeks and the sits were both enjoyable and fruitful. I was well into the groove and my problem was actually that I live next to a semi busy road and I was wondering if this might be inhibiting me from ...
by IanAnd
Tue Dec 24, 2013 3:48 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Concentration Cycles..
Replies: 5
Views: 2775

Re: Concentration Cycles..

Hi Zimesky, Have you thought about giving yourself some direction before you sit down to meditate? In other words, during this meditation, "I'm going to focus on accomplishing this or that." The "this or that" may be increasing your concentration; it may be endeavoring to stay wi...
by IanAnd
Sat Dec 14, 2013 6:29 am
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Does euanimity means that youre not overweening?
Replies: 21
Views: 5683

Re: Does euanimity means that youre not overweening?

But my question is what is improvement of equanimity? and what happens? Goenka said that when the equanimity is perfect enlightenment is perfect . From another thread on this same topic : Sati silently observes, like a spectator at a play, without in any way interfering. Some refer to this non-reac...
by IanAnd
Sat Dec 14, 2013 6:05 am
Forum: Dhammic Stories
Topic: Do you know this koan?
Replies: 9
Views: 6458

Re: Do you know this koan?

The version I read had the monk meditate for seven years, realize he didn't remember the arrangement of shoes, and decided he needed to go meditate another seven years. The message I took from that is that there is no upper bound on the proper measure of mindfulness, because who remembers stupid li...
by IanAnd
Tue Oct 22, 2013 3:50 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Breath feels like an intrusion...
Replies: 13
Views: 3774

Re: Breath feels like an intrusion...

If you can, gently let your attention go to the happy mental feeling that could have arisen at the time. If that feeling is strong enough, the breath will drop out of focus and the meditation will become more peaceful. To me this happens automatically, though, not really trough conscious choice. Is...
by IanAnd
Tue Oct 22, 2013 3:40 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Breath feels like an intrusion...
Replies: 13
Views: 3774

Re: Breath feels like an intrusion...

If you can, gently let your attention go to the happy mental feeling that could have arisen at the time. If that feeling is strong enough, the breath will drop out of focus and the meditation will become more peaceful. To me this happens automatically, though, not really through conscious choice. S...
by IanAnd
Mon Oct 21, 2013 4:33 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Interview with Bhikkh Anālayo
Replies: 8
Views: 3162

Re: Interview with Bhikkh Anālayo

Interesting. Thank you for the post and link.