Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

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wingsofwax
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 7:27 pm

Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

Post by 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
Posts: 21231
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

Post by 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/
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
mal4mac
Posts: 370
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 1:47 pm

Re: Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

Post by 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.
- Mal
wingsofwax
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 7:27 pm

Re: Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

Post by wingsofwax »

Thank you. I have sent an email to Samatha.org and I hope they will be able to help me.
SarathW
Posts: 21231
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

Post by SarathW »

Why is it called Buddhist Samatha meditation?
Don't they teach Vipassana?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Dhammanando
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Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:44 pm
Location: Mae Wang Huai Rin, Li District, Lamphun

Re: Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

Post by Dhammanando »

SarathW wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2017 6:40 am 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
Yena yena hi maññanti,
tato taṃ hoti aññathā.


In whatever way they conceive it,
It turns out otherwise.
(Sn. 588)
SarathW
Posts: 21231
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

Post by SarathW »

Thank you, :bow: Bhante.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Dhammanando
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Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:44 pm
Location: Mae Wang Huai Rin, Li District, Lamphun

Re: Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

Post by Dhammanando »

SarathW wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2017 10:22 am Thank you, :bow: Bhante.
See also this talk by Lance Cousins, the co-founder of the Samatha Trust:

Samatha Meditation and Insight Meditation: Complementary or Competing?
Yena yena hi maññanti,
tato taṃ hoti aññathā.


In whatever way they conceive it,
It turns out otherwise.
(Sn. 588)
mal4mac
Posts: 370
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 1:47 pm

Re: Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

Post by 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...
- Mal
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Dhammanando
Posts: 6492
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:44 pm
Location: Mae Wang Huai Rin, Li District, Lamphun

Re: Looking for meditation guidance over Skype

Post by Dhammanando »

mal4mac wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2017 12:26 pm 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.
Yena yena hi maññanti,
tato taṃ hoti aññathā.


In whatever way they conceive it,
It turns out otherwise.
(Sn. 588)
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