Meditation advice

[Coyote]

I'd like some advice on my meditation practice. At the moment I have not had any formal training but plan to get in contact with local meditation groups and monasteries so that I can get some more formal guidance. As there are so many different practices and techniques available on the web, I think I need a nudge in the right direction.
I currently sit for around 15 minutes to half an hour a day alternating three different practices throughout the week: Metta, a meditation where I note the in and out breaths around the stomach area and any intruding thoughts and feelings, sounds ect., and where I concentrate on the breath around the tip of the nose and try to breathe "with the whole body". I think this last one is Anapanasati.
My problem is that I am not entirely sure what I am supposed to be looking for, or what I am supposed to "achieve", if anything. I have the feeling that if am not sure what direction I should be going in in terms of goals then I may get lost or stuck in a rut.
On a similar note I have been listening to talks by Thanissaro Bhikkhu and he recommends trying to attain at least the first Jhana in order that one won't crave sense pleasure - what do members think of this?

[bodom]

At the moment I have not had any formal training but plan to get in contact with local meditation groups and monasteries so that I can get some more formal guidance.

Hi Coyote

This is your best bet. If you are able to contact a qualified meditation teacher then I urge you to do so. If you are unable to find one then your next best bet would be to read an introductory book on the subject such as this:

Mindfulness In Plain English
http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html

[Buckwheat]

Be patient and don't be afraid of uncertainty. Finding a sangha didn't necessarily help me understand meditation the way you can understand baking a cake, but it did give me the ability to move forward with confidence.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

See:

MN 118: Anapanasati Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

Metta,
Retro.

[santa100]

Also check out this great link from Ajahn Brahm..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTWDEzbRza4

[Coyote]

My thanks to all.

[carlosm]

I'm really new into meditation, but for me the THanissaru meditation texts have been really helpful, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... tions.html

also the basics talks http://dhammatalks.org/mp3_collections_index.html

metta

[Spiny O'Norman]

If you are able to contact a qualified meditation teacher then I urge you to do so.

This is good advice. Also you may want to consider visiting a local Buddhist group or centre, this link might be helpful:

http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/

Spiny

[befriend]

dhammasukha.org there is a monk nun and senior students that can answer your questions.