Search found 37 matches

by Majjhima Patipada
Tue Nov 25, 2014 10:28 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Meditation rebuild brains gray matter in eight weeks
Replies: 5
Views: 1477

Re: Meditation rebuild brains gray matter in eight weeks

Interesting stuff. The article says The participants spent an average of 27 minutes per day practicing mindfulness exercises but I wonder what sort they mean? The further link to the Harvard Gazette has little more detail. One hopes that the next step would be to differentiate between the plethora ...
by Majjhima Patipada
Thu Sep 11, 2014 6:13 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Are you capable of living in poverty?
Replies: 21
Views: 2573

Re: Are you capable of living in poverty?

Already do. Under the name "poverty" it can be stressful, but when spun as "minimalism" it can be profoundly refreshing.

:namaste:
by Majjhima Patipada
Sun Aug 04, 2013 2:51 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Mindfulness of the brain?
Replies: 13
Views: 3756

Re: Mindfulness of the brain?

As a life-long student of the brain (academically, professionally, and recreationally), "mindfulness of the brain" is something I do practice. It takes a thorough knowledge of functional anatomy and the biochemical basis of neural activity in order to practice it in the way you may be thin...
by Majjhima Patipada
Fri Aug 02, 2013 8:30 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Comprehensive List of Practices and Meditation Styles
Replies: 16
Views: 4263

Re: Comprehensive List of Meditation Styles

To help clarify, let me rephrase the original question.

What would you call the practice (or set of practices) you do when you set aside time to practice?

For example, I practice zazen, shikantaza, kinhin, satipatthana-vipassana, anapanasati, and metta bhavana.
by Majjhima Patipada
Fri Aug 02, 2013 3:56 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Comprehensive List of Practices and Meditation Styles
Replies: 16
Views: 4263

Re: Comprehensive List of Meditation Styles

Hello, MP. In this PDF you can find a lot of (superficial) information on different aproaches to the practice of samatha and vipassana, even in each category you mentioned in your first list. I think both lists are very important. http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2009/...
by Majjhima Patipada
Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:11 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Comprehensive List of Practices and Meditation Styles
Replies: 16
Views: 4263

Re: Comprehensive List of Meditation Styles

dharmagoat wrote:My first question would be "where does ānāpānasati go?"
In and out the nostrils. :)

Anapanasati is a method I treat as both vipassana and samatha, but others may practice it differently. Does anyone have input about the classification of anapanasati from personal practice?
by Majjhima Patipada
Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:07 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Comprehensive List of Practices and Meditation Styles
Replies: 16
Views: 4263

Re: Comprehensive List of Meditation Styles

I see arupa jhana, but do not see rupa jhana, which is interesting. The list of 40 kammatthana or meditation objects is derived from Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga, which enumerates the arupa jhanas but not the rupa jhanas. Personally, I would not include either the rupa or arupa jhanas as "forms...
by Majjhima Patipada
Thu Aug 01, 2013 10:55 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Comprehensive List of Practices and Meditation Styles
Replies: 16
Views: 4263

Re: Comprehensive List of Meditation Styles

Perhaps it would be more helpful to list practices/emphases under schools/traditions instead. Here's a rough outline (again, this is completely open to revision). Forgive me for enjoying list-making so much. :) Śrāvakayāna Theravāda Sri Lankan Mahāvihāra Thai Forest Tradition Burmese Mahāsi Method U...
by Majjhima Patipada
Thu Aug 01, 2013 8:17 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Comprehensive List of Practices and Meditation Styles
Replies: 16
Views: 4263

Re: Comprehensive List of Meditation Styles

Buddhist practices more broadly (such as chanting, recitation, and other services) are also of interest.
by Majjhima Patipada
Thu Aug 01, 2013 8:16 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Comprehensive List of Practices and Meditation Styles
Replies: 16
Views: 4263

Re: Comprehensive List of Meditation Styles

Thanks for the replies so far. At the moment, the list of Theravada practices looks like this: Samatha - cultivation of tranquility (focused attention) Kammaṭṭhāna (40) - meditation objects Kasina (10) - colored discs Pathavi kasina - earth Āpo kasina - water Tejo kasina - fire Vayo kasina - air Nīl...
by Majjhima Patipada
Thu Aug 01, 2013 2:19 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Comprehensive List of Practices and Meditation Styles
Replies: 16
Views: 4263

Comprehensive List of Practices and Meditation Styles

A friend and I are seeking to compile a comprehensive list of Buddhist meditation styles across traditions. Consulting books, online resources, teachers, and personal practice, we have already encountered quite a few different techniques and approaches. Although we've created partial lists from our ...
by Majjhima Patipada
Mon Apr 01, 2013 5:09 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Need to get away from university party life in Canada
Replies: 28
Views: 8223

Re: Need to get away from university party life in Canada

Although I've never been the "party type" and have no history with any form of alcohol, drug, or what-have-you, I can attest to the importance of a sangha in maintaining a consistent and deepening practice, especially when surrounded by factors that can be alienating or potentially distrac...
by Majjhima Patipada
Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:45 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Which sutta it is???
Replies: 1
Views: 1378

Re: Which sutta it is???

There’s nothing at all unBuddhist about this quote, or the sentiment it expresses, but as far as I’m aware “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” isn’t found in the Buddhist scriptures.
More here.
by Majjhima Patipada
Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:37 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Physical Size of Samyutta Nikaya
Replies: 8
Views: 1917

Re: Physical Size of Samyutta Nikaya

Thanks everyone.

:namaste:
by Majjhima Patipada
Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:52 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Physical Size of Samyutta Nikaya
Replies: 8
Views: 1917

Re: Physical Size of Samyutta Nikaya

Thank you. The choice of one-volume vs. two-volumes was exactly why I asked after reading some reviews about the binding. Thanks again.