Things arises and passes away.
'This is not mine, this is not me, this is not my self.'
What are you thinking while meditating?
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: This is called right speech.
-
- Posts: 10262
- Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:32 am
- Location: Andromeda looks nice
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
It certainly makes my brain hurt.reflection wrote: Thinking sucks.
Buddha save me from new-agers!
-
- Posts: 10262
- Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:32 am
- Location: Andromeda looks nice
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
Do you mean using this like a mantra, or just as a response to thoughts and feelings arising?pegembara wrote:'This is not mine, this is not me, this is not my self.'
Buddha save me from new-agers!
-
- Posts: 10262
- Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:32 am
- Location: Andromeda looks nice
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
There seem to be many different approaches to meditation.Viscid wrote:Discursive thinking in meditation has a rather undeserved poor reputation.
Buddha save me from new-agers!
-
- Posts: 88
- Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:41 am
- Location: Gone Bush
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
All emphasise awareness.porpoise wrote:There seem to be many different approaches to meditation.Viscid wrote:Discursive thinking in meditation has a rather undeserved poor reputation.
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
Deleted post.
Last edited by torqz on Mon Dec 08, 2014 10:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
May the triple gem bless bless you, may you quickly realize the 4 noble truths in this Gautama Buddhas dispensation... Sādhu! Sādhu! Sādhu!
-
- Posts: 88
- Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:41 am
- Location: Gone Bush
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
I think there is agreement that methods differ, serve different purposes, yield different effects, but all access the same experience.PeDr0 wrote:... it seems to me that everyone thinks they are an expert at meditation but no two people can agree on the correct methods.
A particular method is correct only for its specific purpose.
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
Hi PeDr0,
Mike
That's certainly true. Such practices certainly involve thinking and concepts.PeDr0 wrote:What about asubha bhavana meditation, I have been told that this is a very important meditation practice, that definately involves thought. As does the metta bhavana.
This is partly because there are variety of methods, and the natural thing when one has learned a little is to think that one particular method is the only correct approach and/or all that is required.PeDr0 wrote: Good question, it seems to me that everyone thinks they are an expert at meditation but no two people can agree on the correct methods.
Mike
-
- Posts: 10262
- Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:32 am
- Location: Andromeda looks nice
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
I agree, and it's good to be clear about what particular methods are for.dharmagoat wrote:A particular method is correct only for its specific purpose.
Buddha save me from new-agers!
-
- Posts: 10262
- Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:32 am
- Location: Andromeda looks nice
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
Possibly because insight is non-conceptual and thinking gets in the way?daverupa wrote: But this is absurd; so, of what benefit is this lack of thought, mentioned by so many?
Buddha save me from new-agers!
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
Thinking has gotten a bad rap, but the texts speak of three ways of developing wisdom, one of which is using conceptual thought. There is wisdom obtained from listening to others (suta-maya panna), wisdom obtained from one's own thinking (cinta-maya panna) and wisdom obtained by meditation (bhavana-maya panna).porpoise wrote:Possibly because insight is non-conceptual and thinking gets in the way?daverupa wrote: But this is absurd; so, of what benefit is this lack of thought, mentioned by so many?
Digha Nikaya #33: The Sangiti Sutta
http://levityisland.com/buddhadust/www. ... angiti.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.
- BB
- BB
- reflection
- Posts: 1116
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:27 pm
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
My main practice is breath awareness, there I practice stilling the thoughts.
But I must say I agree with those who said that contemplation can also be very useful. And of course metta/compassion and the like, practices with a bit of thought (although you can also do them without). But these are greatly aided by stilling thoughts, because unrelated thoughts won't come up as easily. Also, these practices with discursive thoughts are mainly aimed at removing unwholesome thoughts, at least for me.
Because to really understand the mind, in my experience it has to be able to be silent. That's because thoughts disturb the mind. It's not clear, it can't really see itself. The stiller it is, the closer it gets to itself. So it's twofold. The peace is needed for strength, but also for insight.
So it's all interrelated.
I think this video is useful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqb7ZuMI8HY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
But I must say I agree with those who said that contemplation can also be very useful. And of course metta/compassion and the like, practices with a bit of thought (although you can also do them without). But these are greatly aided by stilling thoughts, because unrelated thoughts won't come up as easily. Also, these practices with discursive thoughts are mainly aimed at removing unwholesome thoughts, at least for me.
Because to really understand the mind, in my experience it has to be able to be silent. That's because thoughts disturb the mind. It's not clear, it can't really see itself. The stiller it is, the closer it gets to itself. So it's twofold. The peace is needed for strength, but also for insight.
So it's all interrelated.
I think this video is useful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqb7ZuMI8HY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
I use it as a way of viewing objects (sounds, sensations, thoughts etc) arising and passing away. To do that you need a certain degree of stillness/samadhi.porpoise wrote:Do you mean using this like a mantra, or just as a response to thoughts and feelings arising?pegembara wrote:'This is not mine, this is not me, this is not my self.'
And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: This is called right speech.
-
- Posts: 10262
- Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:32 am
- Location: Andromeda looks nice
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
Do you see these as a progression, ie first hearing, then internalising, then directly experiencing?bodom wrote:Thinking has gotten a bad rap, but the texts speak of three ways of developing wisdom, one of which is using conceptual thought. There is wisdom obtained from listening to others (suta-maya panna), wisdom obtained from one's own thinking (cinta-maya panna) and wisdom obtained by meditation (bhavana-maya panna).
Buddha save me from new-agers!
Re: What are you thinking while meditating?
while i'm meditating i think "...is this jhana? which jhana is this...?" you know, stuff like that...
just kidding
Best,
Daniel
just kidding
Best,
Daniel