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First Vipassana sitting
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First Vipassana sitting
by greggorious » Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:29 pm
A couple of weeks ago I went to an introductory workshop of Vipassana, have done it a bit on my own too, but today was my first proper sitting for over an hour. I felt constantly disturbed as people kept walking in and out, shuffling about, coughing etc. I used to practice Zen and they are really strict that you don't move unless it is absolutely necessary, it's perfectly quiet, but at the threveda Vihara centre I went to it wasn't what I expected. I thought people would be a little more strict with themselves and not move around so much. Maybe I'll get used to it.
"The original heart/mind shines like pure, clear water with the sweetest taste. But if the heart is pure, is our practice over? No, we must not cling even to this purity. We must go beyond all duality, all concepts, all bad, all good, all pure, all impure. We must go beyond self and nonself, beyond birth and death. When we see with the eye of wisdom, we know that the true Buddha is timeless, unborn, unrelated to any body, any history, any image. Buddha is the ground of all being, the realization of the truth of the unmoving mind.” Ajahn Chah
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Re: First Vipassana sitting
by retrofuturist » Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:32 pm
Greetings Greg,
Did they give instruction on what to do when 'disturbed' by something?
Metta,
Retro.
Did they give instruction on what to do when 'disturbed' by something?
Metta,
Retro.
If you have asked me of the origination of unease, then I shall explain it to you in accordance with my understanding:
Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)
'We should not congratulate someone on the success of their misdeeds, but on the contrary should endeavour to advise him or her to lead a more skilful and wholesome life. If such advice is ignored then we can only give up and let go' - Phra Panyapatipo
Dharma Wheel (Mahayana / Vajrayana forum)
Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)
'We should not congratulate someone on the success of their misdeeds, but on the contrary should endeavour to advise him or her to lead a more skilful and wholesome life. If such advice is ignored then we can only give up and let go' - Phra Panyapatipo
Dharma Wheel (Mahayana / Vajrayana forum)
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Re: First Vipassana sitting
by greggorious » Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:47 pm
No not really. I probably should have asked beforehand but I didn't realise. If I got too distracted I tried just counting my breath for a while.
"The original heart/mind shines like pure, clear water with the sweetest taste. But if the heart is pure, is our practice over? No, we must not cling even to this purity. We must go beyond all duality, all concepts, all bad, all good, all pure, all impure. We must go beyond self and nonself, beyond birth and death. When we see with the eye of wisdom, we know that the true Buddha is timeless, unborn, unrelated to any body, any history, any image. Buddha is the ground of all being, the realization of the truth of the unmoving mind.” Ajahn Chah
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Re: First Vipassana sitting
by Ben » Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:50 pm
Well done, Greg!
...he wondered whether there was any love between human beings that did not rest upon some sort of self-delusion.
-- John le Carré, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
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e: ben.dhammawheel@gmail.com
-- John le Carré, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar)
Buddhist Global Relief
UNHCR Somali Emergency Relief Appeal
e: ben.dhammawheel@gmail.com
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Re: First Vipassana sitting
by Goofaholix » Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:59 pm
greggorious wrote:A couple of weeks ago I went to an introductory workshop of Vipassana, have done it a bit on my own too, but today was my first proper sitting for over an hour. I felt constantly disturbed as people kept walking in and out, shuffling about, coughing etc. I used to practice Zen and they are really strict that you don't move unless it is absolutely necessary, it's perfectly quiet, but at the threveda Vihara centre I went to it wasn't what I expected. I thought people would be a little more strict with themselves and not move around so much. Maybe I'll get used to it.
This is a learning opportunity, notice the sense contact (hearing), notice the reaction (sensation in the body), notice the thoughts about why this shouldn't be happening (thinking) etc etc. Repeat and continue until the mind learns to be calm and not disturbed by internal and external sense contact, this is one of the main things vipassana is syupposed to help us learn.
"Whenever we feel that we are definitely right, so much so that we refuse to open up to anything or anybody else, right there we are wrong. It becomes wrong view. When suffering arises, where does it arise from? The cause is wrong view, the fruit of that being suffering. If it was right view it wouldn't cause suffering." - Ajahn Chah
"Remember you dont meditate to get anything, but to get rid of things. We do it, not with desire, but with letting go. If you want anything, you wont find it." - Ajahn Chah
"Remember you dont meditate to get anything, but to get rid of things. We do it, not with desire, but with letting go. If you want anything, you wont find it." - Ajahn Chah
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