Search found 68 matches

by Heaviside
Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:49 am
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: What Now?
Replies: 21
Views: 4518

Re: What Now?

I thank each and every one of you for thoughtfully responding to my desperation plea. I have found much wisdom in your thoughts and suggesions, and I will weigh them carefully as I continue to struggle.

Peace be unto you.
by Heaviside
Wed Apr 17, 2019 12:09 am
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: What Now?
Replies: 21
Views: 4518

What Now?

I have been interested in, and reading about, Therevada for some fifty years. I have meditated in stretches, off and on, for that long. In some periods of being "tuned in" I have typically meditated for 45 minutes, in some periods less. But I have never achieved any of the jhanas to the be...
by Heaviside
Tue Aug 09, 2016 7:46 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: What did the Buddha actually teach regarding meditation?
Replies: 23
Views: 5492

Re: What did the Buddha actually teach regarding meditation?

With all humility I will venture a comment. I have read many suttas, but do not claim to be an expert---and certainly I cannot read Pali. But in all the translations I have seen, the "meditation instructions" I have seen are all couched in very ambiguous terms. Indeed, many present day ins...
by Heaviside
Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:23 am
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Ajahn Brahm's method
Replies: 34
Views: 9955

Re: Ajahn Brahm's method

Though he is indeed an interesting speaker, I find Brahm to be long on generalities and short on practical methods.
by Heaviside
Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:17 am
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Ajahn Brahm's method
Replies: 34
Views: 9955

Re: Ajahn Brahm's method

I, too, enjoy Ajahn Brahm's talks. But when I sit down to meditate, I realize that he has been long on generalities and short on method. There are very few specific instructions on how to actually meditate in his talks---.
by Heaviside
Sat Sep 14, 2013 3:40 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Advice on tactile "nimittas", and how best to use them?
Replies: 37
Views: 14505

Re: Advice on tactile "nimittas", and how best to use them?

You have made a good point, reflection, about my use of the word "bad". My first reaction was, "Oh, well, it was only a choice of words!" But after further (ahem!) reflection, I realized just how deeply ingrained judgement is and, in truth, I was indeed making a value judgement. ...
by Heaviside
Fri Sep 13, 2013 11:31 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Advice on tactile "nimittas", and how best to use them?
Replies: 37
Views: 14505

Re: Advice on tactile "nimittas", and how best to use them?

It may be worth saying that a tactile nimitta is not really a tactile sensation. The sense of the body (and thus also the breath) is gone and all that remains is the mental component - aka the mind itself. The nimitta is simply how the mind represents itself. It can be by a visual sign (which also ...
by Heaviside
Fri Sep 13, 2013 10:06 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Advice on tactile "nimittas", and how best to use them?
Replies: 37
Views: 14505

Re: Advice on tactile "nimittas", and how best to use them?

I found this old thread only recently through the kind reference of someone else on the forum, and I have really been engrossed with it. May I add my own experience? I have been practicing fairly religiously for forty-five minutes each day for about two years. I have experienced what might be termed...
by Heaviside
Sun Sep 08, 2013 3:09 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Leigh Brasington and retreats
Replies: 27
Views: 9625

Re: Leigh Brasington and retreats

Jhana4, Yes, that is a much more polite and, on the basis of listening to most of Brasington's talks and reading a bit of his writing, probably more accurate interpretation. But I think you must admit that there are many hucksters and mountebanks out there. Tiltbillings, Thanks for posting the link ...
by Heaviside
Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:20 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Leigh Brasington and retreats
Replies: 27
Views: 9625

Re: Leigh Brasington and retreats

Jhana4, Thanks for your comment. I bow to your direct experience. My comment was based upon a mistrust of "escape clauses," not of Leigh Brasington himself, whom I find to be both interesting and informative. As a more general issue, I wonder if anyone has seen this video of Bhante Vimalar...
by Heaviside
Fri Sep 06, 2013 11:26 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Leigh Brasington and retreats
Replies: 27
Views: 9625

Re: Leigh Brasington and retreats

A friend of mine from my sutta study group has been on a number of jhana retreats in Asia ( some lasting several months ). She knows Lee and invited him to speak to and sit with our group. He is a very talented speaker, very easy to talk to, grounded in science and he has read the entire Pali Canon...
by Heaviside
Fri Sep 06, 2013 11:15 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Focusing on the nostrils?
Replies: 5
Views: 2836

Re: Focusing on the nostrils?

mal4mac said: "Many books say that you don't always get wonderful feelings during meditation, and not to mind this, not to expect it. If you don't expect wonderful feelings, you will not feel frustration. Just do it everyday, maybe for a shorter period each day until things get better? Anyone c...
by Heaviside
Tue Jul 30, 2013 10:15 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Leigh Brasington and retreats
Replies: 27
Views: 9625

Re: Leigh Brasington and retreats

I haven't physically been to any of his retreats, but I have listened to most of the presentations/workshops he has placed on his website. I have seen an interview with him on youtube, but I completely missed what you mentioned on his site. Thank you. I think maybe I was mistaken in thinking that h...
by Heaviside
Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:58 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Asthma/heart problems and meditation?
Replies: 4
Views: 1440

Re: Asthma/heart problems and meditation?

Thanks. It had occurred to me to adopt the "distracting" sensations as part of the breathing, but was wondering if it would provide a focus that was tight enough.

I will give both suggestions a try.
by Heaviside
Tue Jul 30, 2013 5:12 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Asthma/heart problems and meditation?
Replies: 4
Views: 1440

Asthma/heart problems and meditation?

I have asthma and a couple of congenital heart ailments. When I meditate, I am far too conscious of my pulse and chest flutter, as well as a raw lump in my chest I am always aware of. This makes it hard to stay mindful of the breath per-se.

Does anyone here have similar problems? Any advice?