Share meditation tips here

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
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Zenainder
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Re: Share meditation tips here

Post by Zenainder »

tiltbillings wrote:
alan wrote:Going to the gym and watching the weights--even with mindfulness--will not make you stronger. You have to pick up the damn things yourself. For me, "Bare attention" was a waste of time. I'm taking a more active approach now.
Given your "watching the weights" comment it is obvious you do not understand what bare attention is as a practice.
Splitting hairs here. :lol: He means I will not grow in strength at the gym by watching the weights. In the case for meditation, how does one inspire oneself to "grow in mindfulness (stronger mindfullness)", so that if he were at the gym how could he be mindful of those weights he's watching? ;-) *sarcasm disclaimer*
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Zenainder
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Re: Share meditation tips here

Post by Zenainder »

To answer the question:

Speaking from my relative state this is what inspires me:
1. Liberation.
a. It's freeing being simply aware, as opposed to constantly engaged and entangled.
b. It's freeing to see the temporal nature of existence.
c. The emptiness of a still mind is equanimous.
d. It's refreshing to sit, do nothing, and expect nothing. Only be present.

If you struggle with your practice the greatest tool is curiosity. I also recommend emptying yourself of concepts and goals --- saves one from frustration. Simply sit and be mindful. Nibanna is emptiness / obliteration, it's essentially "nothing", so having no concepts or goals when I sit has only assisted my practice. "You can't find the beat until you lose yourself in it" as they say.

Hope that helps!

Metta,

Zen
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tiltbillings
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Re: Share meditation tips here

Post by tiltbillings »

Zenainder wrote:
tiltbillings wrote:
alan wrote:Going to the gym and watching the weights--even with mindfulness--will not make you stronger. You have to pick up the damn things yourself. For me, "Bare attention" was a waste of time. I'm taking a more active approach now.
Given your "watching the weights" comment it is obvious you do not understand what bare attention is as a practice.
Splitting hairs here. :lol: He means I will not grow in strength at the gym by watching the weights. In the case for meditation, how does one inspire oneself to "grow in mindfulness (stronger mindfullness)", so that if he were at the gym how could he be mindful of those weights he's watching? ;-) *sarcasm disclaimer*
He could mean all that, or he could be simply attacking the idea of bare attention as being a useless meditation practice.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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Zenainder
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Re: Share meditation tips here

Post by Zenainder »

tiltbillings wrote:
Zenainder wrote:
tiltbillings wrote:Given your "watching the weights" comment it is obvious you do not understand what bare attention is as a practice.
Splitting hairs here. :lol: He means I will not grow in strength at the gym by watching the weights. In the case for meditation, how does one inspire oneself to "grow in mindfulness (stronger mindfullness)", so that if he were at the gym how could he be mindful of those weights he's watching? ;-) *sarcasm disclaimer*
He could mean all that, or he could be simply attacking the idea of bare attention as being a useless meditation practice.
Maybe. I prefer to assume the best I suppose. :woohoo:
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tiltbillings
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Re: Share meditation tips here

Post by tiltbillings »

Zenainder wrote:
Maybe. I prefer to assume the best I suppose.
One would hope that Alan would not gratuitously attack and so egregiously misrepresent the practice of bare attention by equating it to sitting a gymnasium and merely watching the weights. I am sure he would not do so.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
inpractice
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Re: Share meditation tips here

Post by inpractice »

Sit, concentrate on my breath, and persistently doing it without giving time limit. Before I start meditating, I already prepare myself and everything else so there is no disturbance while meditating. If there is any disturbance, try not to be upset, or meditate another time
SarathW
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Re: Share meditation tips here

Post by SarathW »

§ 97. Fire. Monks, on occasions when the mind is sluggish, that is the wrong time to develop serenity as a factor for Awakening, concentration as a factor for Awakening, equanimity as a factor for Awakening. Why is that? The sluggish mind is hard to raise up by those mental qualities. Just as if a man, wanting to make a small fire blaze up, were to place wet grass in it, wet cow dung, & wet sticks; were to give it a spray of water and smother it with dust. Is it possible that he would make the small fire blaze up?

No, lord.

In the same way, when the mind is sluggish, that is the wrong time to develop serenity as a factor for Awakening, concentration as a factor for Awakening, equanimity as a factor for Awakening. Why is that? The sluggish mind is hard to raise up by those mental qualities.

Now, on occasions when the mind is sluggish, that is the right time to develop analysis of qualities as a factor for Awakening, persistence as a factor for Awakening, rapture as a factor for Awakening. Why is that? The sluggish mind is easy to raise up by those mental qualities. Just as if a man, wanting to make a small fire blaze up, were to place dry grass in it, dry cow dung, & dry sticks; were to blow on it with his mouth and not smother it with dust. Is it possible that he would make the small fire blaze up?

Yes, lord.

In the same way, when the mind is sluggish, that is the right time to develop analysis of qualities as a factor for Awakening, persistence as a factor for Awakening, rapture as a factor for Awakening...

Now, on occasions when the mind is restless, that is the wrong time to develop analysis of qualities as a factor for Awakening, persistence as a factor for Awakening, rapture as a factor for Awakening. Why is that? The restless mind is hard to calm down with those mental qualities. Just as if a man, wanting to put out a large fire, were to place dry grass in it, dry cow dung, & dry sticks; were to blow on it with his mouth and not smother it with dust. Is it possible that he would put it out?

No, lord.

In the same way, when the mind is restless, that is the wrong time to develop analysis of qualities as a factor for Awakening, persistence as a factor for Awakening, rapture as a factor for Awakening...

Now, on occasions when the mind is restless, that is the right time to develop serenity as a factor for Awakening, concentration as a factor for Awakening, equanimity as a factor for Awakening. Why is that? The restless mind is easy to calm down with those mental qualities. Just as if a man, wanting to put out a large fire, were to place wet grass in it, wet cow dung, & wet sticks; were to give it a spray of water and smother it with dust. Is it possible that he would put it out?

Yes, lord.

In the same way, when the mind is restless, that is the right time to develop serenity as a factor for Awakening, concentration as a factor for Awakening, equanimity as a factor for Awakening. Why is that? The restless mind is easy to calm down with those mental qualities.

As for mindfulness, I tell you, that is beneficial everywhere.

— SN 46.53
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... part2.html
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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