Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

[wingsofwax]

Hello,

I've been meditating daily since March, and have made some progress, but I think I would benefit greatly from some interaction and guidance. I have run into a few hurdles here and there, so the guidance of an experienced meditator would be appreciated.

So I am looking for someone who would be willing to talk over Skype. I have some concrete questions related to the breath and posture, but I am also looking for a general discussion about meditation. I'd love to pick your brain, so to speak.

My schedule is wide open, so you decide the time (it should be noted that I am in central Europe, GMT+1).

If you're interested and have the time, please contact me.

Thanks.

[SarathW]

This service is provided by the Barre Center for Buddhist studies.
Unfortunately, it cost a lot of money.
Perhaps you may qualify for their scholarship programme.

https://www.bcbsdharma.org/

[mal4mac]

Samatha.org offer a free course with skype interaction:

https://samatha.org/online-course

The course has already started for this year, but they might let you jump in and start now, worth asking anyway. The course has been developed by Peter Harvey, one of the most respected Buddhist academics.

[wingsofwax]

Thank you. I have sent an email to Samatha.org and I hope they will be able to help me.

[SarathW]

Why is it called Buddhist Samatha meditation?
Don't they teach Vipassana?

[Dhammanando]

Why is it called Buddhist Samatha meditation?
Don't they teach Vipassana?

The preferred approach of their Thai teacher, Nai Boonman, is samathavipassanā yuganaddha, the third of the four outlined in the Yuganddhasutta.

“Then there is the case where a monk has developed tranquillity in tandem with insight. As he develops tranquillity in tandem with insight, the path is born. He follows that path, develops it, pursues it. As he follows the path, developing it & pursuing it—his fetters are abandoned, his obsessions destroyed.

https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.170

[SarathW]

Thank you, Bhante.

[Dhammanando]

Thank you, Bhante.

See also this talk by Lance Cousins, the co-founder of the Samatha Trust:

Samatha Meditation and Insight Meditation: Complementary or Competing?

[mal4mac]

Here's an article on the "big money" being made by some holders of retreats. Samatha.org get some good press for being the least expensive!

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... ebt-crisis

$200 to get a glimpse of a Tibetan lama seems a bit steep...

[Dhammanando]

Here's an article on the "big money" being made by some holders of retreats. Samatha.org get some good press for being the least expensive!

And no charge at all for their online Skype course.