Search found 16 matches

by buddhajunkie
Tue Oct 04, 2011 12:40 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Should every child learn meditation at school?
Replies: 98
Views: 16236

Re: Should every child learn meditation at school?

Strictly speaking, the question was should we do X. Therefore, the political viability of meditation is not relevant. snip... Of course, I think a more interesting question is, "Do you think meditation could become widespread in public schools in the next 20 years?" Why do you think these...
by buddhajunkie
Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:45 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Should every child learn meditation at school?
Replies: 98
Views: 16236

Re: Should every child learn meditation at school?

Strictly speaking, the question was should we do X. Therefore, the political viability of meditation is not relevant. We should do a lot of things that aren't politically viable. Of course, I think a more interesting question is, "Do you think meditation could become widespread in public school...
by buddhajunkie
Sun Oct 02, 2011 3:22 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: "Optimism" and the Dhamma
Replies: 9
Views: 2619

Re: "Optimism" and the Dhamma

i do not understand saying to yourself, i will have this job forever, i dont need a plan b. buddhism isnt either i think buddhis is realistic. buddhism actually teaches, that you could die in 5 minutes from now, so live your life with wisdom. buddhism doesnt say i am healthy now i will live to be 1...
by buddhajunkie
Sat Oct 01, 2011 7:26 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: "Optimism" and the Dhamma
Replies: 9
Views: 2619

"Optimism" and the Dhamma

I read "Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman and thought it was a fantastic book. An overview of Seligman's "Optimism": I put "optimism" in quotes because Seligman's definition is much different from what a layperson would think. According to Seligman, optimism is a des...
by buddhajunkie
Thu Sep 29, 2011 5:36 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Video: Meditation: Suttas vs Commentaries
Replies: 101
Views: 25365

Re: Video: Meditation: Suttas vs Commentaries

I am interested in hearing teachers flesh out and explain how they implement the Anapanasati Sutta. I have some questions. I ran across Vimalaramsi's free online book but haven't read it. (I saw it on Amazon when I looked up "anapanasati". 1. Is there a different, free online book/article ...
by buddhajunkie
Tue Sep 27, 2011 11:43 pm
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Body scan details
Replies: 7
Views: 6326

Re: Body scan details

Thanks everyone for the input.

Yeah, Goenka's body scan seems to require a very refined mindfulness. I won't be able to do a 10-day retreat for the next year, so in the meanwhile I'll just experiment with more coarse body exercises.
by buddhajunkie
Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:26 pm
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Body scan details
Replies: 7
Views: 6326

Body scan details

Hi guys, lately I've been emphasizing the Body in my practice and have found that to be tremendously useful. I've recently come across Goenka's body scan technique (from his 11-day talks I found online). I've never been on retreat, and typically meditate for 30-45 mins a day at sporadic times. Some ...
by buddhajunkie
Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:04 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Numberings like "[1]" in the suttas
Replies: 3
Views: 1042

Numberings like "[1]" in the suttas

In suttas like MN118 on ATI, there are numbers in brackets at the start of each stage of meditation (such as, "[1] Breathing in long, he discerns..." ). Are these numbers from the original Pali, or were they put in there by the translators? On a related topic, are the paragraph breaks from...
by buddhajunkie
Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:32 am
Forum: Pāli
Topic: 'nivarana' as 'covering'
Replies: 3
Views: 1649

'nivarana' as 'covering'

I heard one teacher say that the literal Pali for the Five Hindrances is 'five coverings'. How correct or plausible is this? Is 'cover' or 'covering' (or anything aside from 'hindrance') the likely intended usage? I am interested in this because I feel my practice has been greatly aided by conceptua...
by buddhajunkie
Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:59 am
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Mind states in Satipatthana
Replies: 21
Views: 6438

Mind states in Satipatthana

What do the words "constricted", "scattered". "enlarged" and "surpassed" mean in MN10? When the mind is constricted, he discerns that the mind is constricted. When the mind is scattered, he discerns that the mind is scattered. When the mind is enlarged, he dis...
by buddhajunkie
Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:34 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Gunaratana's Teaching Method in "Mindfulness"
Replies: 14
Views: 4296

Gunaratana's Teaching Method in "Mindfulness"

I browsed through "Mindfulness in Plain English" for the first time in many years and was surprised by something: Of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, he emphasizes almost exclusively Mind States and the 5 Hindrances. I was also reminded of something else: He strongly downplays the prac...
by buddhajunkie
Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:25 am
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Mental Noting
Replies: 41
Views: 14153

Re: Mental Noting

Yes, that would be interesting. I'd better search out my copy of Ven Nyanaponika's HEART OF BUDDHIST MEDITATION... Actually, here's a scan of the relevant section: http://www.alexox.com/sangha/bareattention.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; :anjali: Mike Interesting excer...
by buddhajunkie
Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:39 am
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Mental Noting
Replies: 41
Views: 14153

Re: Mental Noting

Because it seems to me that some of the discussion here heads in quite a different direction to the point of the noting method (or any "vipassana" method, such as what Goenka teaches), which is to get one focussed continuously on whatever is arising in the present. What one sees arising i...
by buddhajunkie
Sat Jul 09, 2011 6:41 am
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Mental Noting
Replies: 41
Views: 14153

Re: Mental Noting

Keep it simple! I agree with Jack's use of the Four Foundations, however, I prefer to keep it very, very simple (at least for now). Get more nuanced later if you want. Right now, I basically pay attention to Body: "tightness/tension", "excited heart", "butterflies" Feel...
by buddhajunkie
Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:53 am
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Observing bodily sensations
Replies: 7
Views: 3606

Re: Observing bodily sensations

We should clarify that there's a difference between "bodily sensations", "feelings", and "emotions." When practicing the Four Foundations of Mindfulness I think it is important to understand those distinctions. Thus, there are: 1. Body sensations 2. "Feelings"...