Satipatthana sequencing

[Freawaru]

So I would say it is more a matter of understanding oneself first, which frame of reference is more accessible than the others at any given time to decide for an object of sati.

I know this is not as teachers like Soma Thera seem to teach it but it works for me.

My recollection of the book is that he discusses the usual Mahasi-style stuff, and that's exactly what is taught - be aware of whatever arises. Of course, one uses rising-falling etc if nothing else arises...

Metta
Mike

Hi Mike,

Maybe I misunderstood Soma Thera. I thought he meant that there are different characters in general and that some of them are so dumb that they cannot - at all - access thoughts for example. I seem to recall a chapter on this separation into different "character classes" (was it in the Visuddhimagga ???), that a teacher first needs to find out the character class of a student to decide for the reference frame.
Ah, here is one of those references: scroll down to "40 Meditation Exercises, as listed in the Path of Purification"

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... 6.html#app" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The trouble here is twofold: firstly, very few "pure" types can be found, most people being mixtures of two or more of them — and moreover ever-changing mixtures;...

I found that I can kinda identify with all those types - some more often than others - but no just one or even a mixture all the time. So I think it is more useful to observe oneself in the present state when attempting meditation and then decide for a type due to it. Say, I am in a current "hate" mode then I decide for one of those kasinas 5-8 (5. blue, 6. yellow, 7. red, 8. white) because they are recommended for the practice of hate characters because of their pure, pleasing colors. When "greedy" I decide for something else.

So I absolutely agree with Retro here:

If sati is already strong enough to attend to dhammas, then why not dive right in?

Yep! Go for it!