Let it be

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
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befriend
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Let it be

Post by befriend »

Im having some difficulty finding a guided meditation where the theme is let everything be. I've heard teachings like this from Ajahn chah, Ajahn sumedho but not in depth or guided meditations on this approach. Does anyone know where one wouldb be? Thanks.
Take care of mindfulness and mindfulness will take care of you.
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Nicolas
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Re: Let it be

Post by Nicolas »

From a talk by Ajahn Sumedho in 1979:
Ajahn Sumedho wrote: The practice of 'letting go' is very effective for minds obsessed by compulsive thinking: you simplify your meditation practice down to just two words – 'letting go' [...] , just 'let go, let go, let go'.

I did nothing but this for about two years – every time I tried to understand or figure things out, I'd say 'let go, let go' until the desire would fade out. So I'm making it very simple for you, [...] be [one] who knows only two words – 'let go, let go, let go'.

[...] Keep this 'letting go' like a constant refrain in your mind, so it just pops up on its own no matter where you are.

At first we have to obsess our minds with this, because our minds are obsessed with all kinds of useless things. [...]

[...] It's only through learning how to empty the mind out that you can fill it with things of value – and learning how to empty a mind takes a great deal of wisdom.

Here in this meditation retreat, the suggestions I am giving you are for skilful means. The obsession of 'letting go' is a skilful one – as you repeat this over and over, whenever a thought arises, you are aware of its arising. You keep letting go of whatever moves – but if it doesn't go, don't try to force it. This 'letting go' practice is a way of clearing the mind of its obsessions and negativity; use it gently, but with resolution. Meditation is a skilful letting go, deliberately emptying out the mind so we can see the purity of the mind – cleaning it out so we can put the right things in it.

[...] let go of it all. Even if you have insight, even if you understand everything clearly – let go of the insight.

[...] Keep the practice simple: live your life mindfully, morally, and have faith in letting go.
budo
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Re: Let it be

Post by budo »

There is no "let it be" theme meditation, they usually refer to objects that are not the primary object. The reason behind this is that in life many things will happen that goes against your desires, the average person's reaction is to react negatively, like say, a wasp landing on your plate and eating your food, you may get scared or angry. So you "let it be" or "let it go".

This means that your worst behavior should be to do nothing, because doing nothing is better than being angry or scared. Doing nothing is neutral.

The point of meditation is to focus on one primary object, and when things that are not the one object arise, you do not react to them, you let them go, and return to the one object, because what you resist persists. If you fight the wasp, the wasp will fight back, if you let the wasp take his bite of food then odds are the wasp will fly away.

Often people overreact when things happen, like a pendulum swinging from one extreme to the other, by staying still, the pendulum stays in the middle.
befriend
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Re: Let it be

Post by befriend »

Take care of mindfulness and mindfulness will take care of you.
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salayatananirodha
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Re: Let it be

Post by salayatananirodha »

13. "Rāhula, develop meditation that is like the earth; for when you develop meditation that is like the earth, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not invade your mind and remain.[645] Just as people throw clean things and dirty things, excrement, urine, spittle, pus, and blood on the earth, and the earth is not repelled, humiliated, and disgusted because of that, so too, Rāhula, develop meditation that is like the earth; for when you develop meditation that is like the earth, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not invade your mind and remain.

14. "Rāhula, develop meditation that is like water; for when you develop meditation that is like water, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not invade your mind and remain. Just as people wash clean things and dirty things, excrement, urine, spittle, pus, and blood in water, and the water is not repelled, humiliated, and disgusted because of that, so too, Rāhula, develop meditation that is like water; for when you develop meditation that is like water, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not invade your mind and remain.

15. "Rāhula, develop meditation that is like fire; for when you develop meditation that is like fire, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not invade your mind and remain. Just as people burn clean things and dirty things, excrement, urine, spittle, pus, and blood in fire, and the fire is not repelled, humiliated, and disgusted because of that, so too, Rāhula, develop meditation that is like fire; for when you develop meditation that is like fire, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not invade your mind and remain.

16. "Rāhula, develop meditation that is like air; for when you develop meditation that is like air, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not invade your mind and remain. Just as the air blows on clean things and dirty things, on excrement, urine, spittle, pus, and blood, and the air is not repelled, humiliated, and disgusted because of that, so too, Rāhula, develop meditation that is like air; for when you develop meditation that is like air, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not invade your mind and remain.

17. "Rāhula, develop meditation that is like space; for when you develop meditation that is like space, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not invade your mind and remain. Just as space is not established anywhere, so too, Rāhula, develop meditation that is like space; for when you develop meditation that is like space, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not invade your mind and remain.

http://obo.genaud.net/dhamma-vinaya/wp/ ... tbb.wp.htm
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DC2R
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Re: Let it be

Post by DC2R »

This is not a guided meditation, but Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu instructs people to repeat the words "hearing, hearing, hearing" or "seeing, seeing, seeing" while meditating, depending on what arises in the mind and what reaches the senses, which helps them focus on the object without judging or attaching to it. You let go by observing thoughts and sensations, letting them arise and cease; all you are doing is noting, which is similar to letting it be.
paul
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Re: Let it be

Post by paul »

befriend wrote: Sun Aug 05, 2018 3:40 pm Im having some difficulty finding a guided meditation where the theme is let everything be.
There is no Theravada meditation on “let it be” (equanimity of multiplicity) as it’s a tactic which has limitations and is prone to attachment:

“both equanimity and contentment have their place in training the
mind, but neither of them is mindfulness. And they have their limitations. As we
have already noted, MN 101 states that equanimity may be enough to induce
dispassion for some causes of stress, but not for all. And although an
equanimous state of mind is more likely to see things clearly than an
impassioned state, MN 106 points out that it’s possible to feel
passion for the peace of equanimity, and so be blinded by it.”—-“Right Mindfulness”, chap. 4 'The Burden of Bare Attention', Thanissaro.

I think secular mindfulness is based on it, and it is the 'opium of the masses' so to say.
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badscooter
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Re: Let it be

Post by badscooter »

i've heard of "letting go" meditation, but not "let it be".. Ajahn Brahm has a bunch of guided meditations about letting go that are worth checking out...

maha metta
"whatever one frequently thinks and ponders upon will be the inclination of one's mind"
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mikenz66
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Re: Let it be

Post by mikenz66 »

Or one could simply listen to the late, great, Aretha:



:heart:
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SarathW
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Re: Let it be

Post by SarathW »

:rofl:
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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