Search found 85 matches

by Goob
Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:44 am
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: Visa to stay at monastery in the U.S as a European?
Replies: 5
Views: 954

Visa to stay at monastery in the U.S as a European?

Does anyone know what the visa rules are for a European to stay long-term at a monastery and possibly later ordain in an American Theravada monastery?

Can the monastery sponsor you in any way or would one have to go on a limited tourist visa?
by Goob
Tue Oct 04, 2016 3:43 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Karma and Bourdieu's concept of habitus
Replies: 3
Views: 1579

Karma and Bourdieu's concept of habitus

I was reading a section on the french sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus - which can be roughly explained as our dispositions inherent in our mind and bodies, determined by our histories and social positions, which determine our outlook and possibilities - and was struck by how similar...
by Goob
Thu Sep 03, 2015 3:55 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Samatha/concentration focused retreat centers in Asia?
Replies: 4
Views: 2333

Re: Samatha/concentration focused retreat centers in Asia?

Thanks for the info! Ah yes, it seems like the Pa-Auk camp has been prolific in establishing monasteries. Has anyone practiced in this tradition and care to offer some opinions about it?
by Goob
Wed Sep 02, 2015 6:07 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Samatha/concentration focused retreat centers in Asia?
Replies: 4
Views: 2333

Samatha/concentration focused retreat centers in Asia?

Hiya! Does anyone know of any suitable retreat centers (or other places) in South or Southeast Asia where one can do a longer retreat (say between two to six weeks or more) where the focus is on developing concentration and Jhana to a solid degree? I know of some various centres in the Mahasi and Go...
by Goob
Sat Feb 01, 2014 4:39 pm
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Body Scanning and Jhana...
Replies: 13
Views: 3935

Re: Body Scanning and Jhana...

If you ask me tho, the Goenka tradition ties in a lot of unique interpretations and later commentarial things that I don't find very useful, but hey, to each his/her own. Take care! Could you please elaborate on these interpretations and commentarial things Goob? Hiya, I'm by all means no expert or...
by Goob
Fri Jan 31, 2014 1:10 pm
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Body Scanning and Jhana...
Replies: 13
Views: 3935

Re: Body Scanning and Jhana...

Yeah, I never really got why either. It seems so much more awkward to to make the technique comform to the Satipatthana-sutta and ideas about momentariness than to the anapanasati-sutta, but it probably has to do with being connected to the Burmese lay-meditation movement in the beginning of the 20t...
by Goob
Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:07 am
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Body Scanning and Jhana...
Replies: 13
Views: 3935

Re: Body Scanning and Jhana...

It struck me a while back that concentrating on the breath and concentrating on bodily sensations are actually quite similar activities. This is probably why the in and out breath is classed as a body among bodies: MN 118 On whatever occasion a monk breathing in long discerns, 'I am breathing in lo...
by Goob
Fri Jan 24, 2014 2:29 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Experimenting with different meditation techniques
Replies: 9
Views: 2329

Re: Experimenting with different meditation techniques

You might find this of value in your exploration: http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Six-Guided-Practices-Awakening/dp/1622030842/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390504314&sr=8-1&keywords=Mindfulness%3A+Six+Guided+Practices+for+Awakening Thanks buddy! Eventually you'll probably find awareness ta...
by Goob
Thu Jan 23, 2014 7:02 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Experimenting with different meditation techniques
Replies: 9
Views: 2329

Re: Experimenting with different meditation techniques

Thanks for the answers guys. I see what you're saying about finding a centre and a teacher in order to learn the Mahasi techique and I am in fact thinking about attending a longer retreat in this tradition, that's basically why I asked the question. And I agree, long-term commitment to a style is th...
by Goob
Thu Jan 23, 2014 5:46 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Experimenting with different meditation techniques
Replies: 9
Views: 2329

Experimenting with different meditation techniques

I have in the past couple of years developed a fairly stable daily routine of sitting (2x45 mins) informed by mainly Ajahn Lee/Thanissaro Bhikkhus meditation instructions which have worked fairly well for me considering I don't have steady access to a retreat environment. I have however lately been ...
by Goob
Sun Jan 05, 2014 12:35 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Deep psychological issues and meditation
Replies: 2
Views: 1615

Re: Deep psychological issues and meditation

Yeah, a lot of things that LB is saying in the video strike me as important. I think we, and especially young men, succumb to the lone hero toughing it out narrative common to our culture. Having sat a couple of popular retreats in a tradition that I feel doesn't really offer any emotional or psycho...
by Goob
Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:26 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Deep psychological issues and meditation
Replies: 2
Views: 1615

Deep psychological issues and meditation

I found this video interview with Leigh Brasington on meditation practice and its relation to deep psychological issues that may come up during practice. Some interesting points being made.

http://vimeo.com/61893225
by Goob
Sat Aug 24, 2013 10:05 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: 'Buddhists Are Making Life Hell for Sri Lanka's Muslims'
Replies: 10
Views: 2798

Re: 'Buddhists Are Making Life Hell for Sri Lanka's Muslims'

Although I've only read parts of it I can recommend the book 'Legends of People, Myths of State' by Australian anthropologist Bruce Kapferer who discusses and compares state discourses, nationalism(s) and social hierarchies in Sri Lanka and Australia and in what ways they are produced and maintained...
by Goob
Fri Aug 23, 2013 8:57 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: 'Buddhists Are Making Life Hell for Sri Lanka's Muslims'
Replies: 10
Views: 2798

Re: 'Buddhists Are Making Life Hell for Sri Lanka's Muslims'

Not only is this obviously unjust, the consistent poor reporting in many such articles is quite damaging as can be seen by some of the responses here. So in your eyes the fact that companies had to comply to new regulations to ensure that everyone could practice their religion is justification for ...