Search found 727 matches

by alan...
Mon Apr 08, 2013 1:38 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Backsliding in my sitting meditation
Replies: 12
Views: 3152

Re: Backsliding in my sitting meditation

I don't fully understand what's going on, but I feel like I've been backsliding in my sitting meditation. Before I could at least have a few sittings where I got fully concentrated on my breath. However, now it never happens. It's been like this for weeks and weeks. I just can't bring myself to con...
by alan...
Mon Apr 08, 2013 1:31 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Mahayanists and the historical record
Replies: 73
Views: 19105

Re: Mahayanists and the historical record

Let me put this another way. If I found out tomorrow that the Buddha wasn't real. I would probably lose most faith in the teachings, and no longer consider myself a Buddhist. I would probably still practice meditation and seek some sort of gnosis, but it would shake my beliefs to the core. It all r...
by alan...
Sat Apr 06, 2013 5:15 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: A Critique of the Hardcore Dharma Movement.
Replies: 113
Views: 28357

Re: A Critique of the Hardcore Dharma Movement.

EDIT: Interesting how before meditating, I felt like expressing a view on this topic, but after meditating, I feel like a better option is not to say anything about it at all. So I've taken down that previous post I wrote. In peace. :anjali: this describes most of my experience on this forum lol! s...
by alan...
Fri Apr 05, 2013 2:24 am
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: mahasi sayadaw
Replies: 33
Views: 8793

mahasi sayadaw

does anyone practice the mahasi sayadaw methods? could you give me some thoughts on them? answer some questions? progress, technique, and so on? i have read "heart of buddhist meditation" by nyanaponika thera and am about to read "practical insight meditation" and "the progr...
by alan...
Fri Apr 05, 2013 2:05 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: realistically watching pain as a meditation object
Replies: 15
Views: 4440

Re: realistically watching pain as a meditation object

I have been utilising the anicca characteristic of sensation (pleasant, unpleasant and neutral) as a meditation object for nearly 3 decades. I can assure you, it is far easier observing painful sensation with objective awareness than it is for pleasant sensation. Without proper instruction, one can...
by alan...
Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:50 am
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Dry Anapanasati?
Replies: 16
Views: 4658

Re: Dry Anapanasati?

i think this is a very important question considering the anapansati sutta makes no direct mention of "jhana". so i've always wondered this myself. I came across this again, and thought you would like to see: Generally there tends to be a somewhat curious distance in the Suttas between th...
by alan...
Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:41 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: realistically watching pain as a meditation object
Replies: 15
Views: 4440

Re: realistically watching pain as a meditation object

I have been utilising the anicca characteristic of sensation (pleasant, unpleasant and neutral) as a meditation object for nearly 3 decades. I can assure you, it is far easier observing painful sensation with objective awareness than it is for pleasant sensation. Without proper instruction, one can...
by alan...
Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:22 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: realistically watching pain as a meditation object
Replies: 15
Views: 4440

realistically watching pain as a meditation object

i've heard many teachers teach that if one has pain that one has trouble ignoring that one should watch the pain as the meditation object. has anyone had success with this? in my experience the pain gets worse and lasts longer. how many times have we been in pain and then get distracted by a movie o...
by alan...
Fri Mar 29, 2013 7:47 pm
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Dry Anapanasati?
Replies: 16
Views: 4658

Re: Dry Anapanasati?

Are there teachers who teach Anapanasati as a means of dry Insight Meditation? For the purpose of this inquiry, a practice may include the vipassana jhanas and still be considered dry. Thank you. Mojo i think this is a very important question considering the anapansati sutta makes no direct mention...
by alan...
Fri Mar 29, 2013 7:45 pm
Forum: Suggestion box
Topic: Quote a quote a quote a quote...
Replies: 4
Views: 2971

Re: Quote a quote a quote a quote...

ben is right. i have a droid too, there is no way to fix this problem other than just wiggling your fingers in there and getting the text highlighted that you don't want and deleting it. the only other way to remedy this would be to have a mobile version of the site which would make using it on a dr...
by alan...
Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:09 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Autonomous Breathing?
Replies: 20
Views: 5344

Re: Autonomous Breathing?

i struggle with this as well. for me what happens is i get into a super deep state of meditation where everything fades but awareness of my mind, then i notice i'm not breathing! and so i try to ignore it, i still don't breathe, try to ignore, no breath, and finally, i just breathe. it's weird. not ...
by alan...
Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:23 pm
Forum: Wellness, Diet & Fitness
Topic: Can meditation help you lose weight?
Replies: 19
Views: 6483

Re: Can meditation help you lose weight?

meditation will help in sticking to a permanent change in diet and lifestyle. if you learn to control your urges by sitting and walking meditation you will stick to your diet and exercise routine and lose weight.
by alan...
Sat Mar 23, 2013 7:05 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: A friend in the dhamma
Replies: 24
Views: 5735

Re: A friend in the dhamma

a dhamma friend can be anything from a fellow monk whom one spends every day with training in the dhamma to a friend one sees in lay life once a month at temple events and anything in between. that being said, naturally you should be able to have a dhamma friend, in fact you could have many! then yo...
by alan...
Sat Mar 23, 2013 6:10 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Buddhism & Alcohol
Replies: 18
Views: 5710

Re: Buddhism & Alcohol

alcohol is easily countered with dhamma. this is not to say it will be easy from day one but that once you get good at practicing meditation and mindfulness it will be easy to stay sober. i'm reposting my post from another thread because it is appropriate: just know that there is a point of no retur...
by alan...
Sat Mar 23, 2013 6:05 am
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: How to know if you are suitable?
Replies: 25
Views: 8498

Re: How to know if you are suitable?

Coyote: My thought was that there seem to be many opportunities to go forth that may not involve the hardships that Bhikkhus like Ajahn Brahm and others endured. I've spent some time at Wat Metta in San Diego, and have observed that the young monks there are very smart, very engaging, studious and ...