Ordination in Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand,

[appicchato]

...I get too involved in conventional stuff and forget about mindfulness at that time.

That could be a problem...you're thinking about being mindful instead of being mindful...those well known sayings about drinking tea, chopping wood, etc....'when drinking tea, just drink tea' don't say 'when drinking tea, just think about being mindful'...etc...

[Alex123]

Dear Bhante, and all,

...I get too involved in conventional stuff and forget about mindfulness at that time.

That could be a problem...you're thinking about being mindful instead of being mindful...those well known sayings about drinking tea, chopping wood, etc....'when drinking tea, just drink tea' don't say 'when drinking tea, just think about being mindful'...etc...

Well what happens is that in more high-paced situations I have to quickly make choices, decisions etc and there is less time to notice the hardness or softness experienced at the tactile-faculty, there is less attention to the process of seeing and mental states arising, etc etc.

But eventually when there is enough wisdom and conditions are right, things will fall in their places and understanding will be more unbroken and continuous.


With metta,

Alex

[Virgo]

Dear Bhante, and all,

...I get too involved in conventional stuff and forget about mindfulness at that time.

That could be a problem...you're thinking about being mindful instead of being mindful...those well known sayings about drinking tea, chopping wood, etc....'when drinking tea, just drink tea' don't say 'when drinking tea, just think about being mindful'...etc...

Well what happens is that in more high-paced situations I have to quickly make choices, decisions etc and there is less time to notice the hardness or softness experienced at the tactile-faculty, there is less attention to the process of seeing and mental states arising, etc etc.

But eventually when there is enough wisdom and conditions are right, things will fall in their places and understanding will be more unbroken and continuous.


With metta,

Alex

Dear Alex. The important thing is to have Right View. See the body as just body (not as "my" body), the feelings as just feelings, the mind as just mind, and mental objects as just mental objects. See them as not-self, impermanent, and dukkha. Doing that ofen is all the sati you need. "Bare attention" really isn't how "sati" is meant to be expressed here in my opinion. Others may disagree with me, of course. In Samatha, more "bare attention" is needed, but not necesarrily in developing Right Understanding of phenomena. Here keen discernment is needed.

kevin

[Alex123]

Dear Kevin,

Dear Alex. The important thing is to have Right View. See the body as just body (not as "my" body), the feelings as just feelings, the mind as just mind, and mental objects as just mental objects. See them as not-self, impermanent, and dukkha. Doing that ofen is all the sati you need. "Bare attention" really isn't how "sati" is meant to be expressed here in my opinion. Others may disagree with me, of course. In Samatha, more "bare attention" is needed, but not necesarrily in developing Right Understanding of phenomena. Here keen discernment is needed.

kevin

I agree with what you have said. You are also right about bare attention. Attention is never trully "bare" (at least not until Arhatship), and avijja can underlie so called "bare attention", so wisdom and understanding is required to avoid falling for avijja and tanha that can underly the nama process that is supposed to be observed.

With metta,

Alex

[Cittasanto]

Dear Bhante, and all,

...I get too involved in conventional stuff and forget about mindfulness at that time.

That could be a problem...you're thinking about being mindful instead of being mindful...those well known sayings about drinking tea, chopping wood, etc....'when drinking tea, just drink tea' don't say 'when drinking tea, just think about being mindful'...etc...

Well what happens is that in more high-paced situations I have to quickly make choices, decisions etc and there is less time to notice the hardness or softness experienced at the tactile-faculty, there is less attention to the process of seeing and mental states arising, etc etc.

But eventually when there is enough wisdom and conditions are right, things will fall in their places and understanding will be more unbroken and continuous.


With metta,

Alex

Hi Alex,
when we first start Anapanasati according to the instructions found in the sutta, we don't imediately focus on the full flow of the breath but at the entrace of the air, the nose or mouth, then expand it, just as we don't jump into the deep end of a pool untill we have the capability to swim there.

Keep it simple, focus on what you can and need to in any given moment, eventually you will develop deeper levels even when rushed.

[Alex123]

Thank you very much, Manapa.

[Phra Chuntawongso]

Hi there Alex.
Congratulationns on your decision to enrobe.
I too am intending to enrobe later this year in Myanmar(Burma)
I will enrobe at the Chanmyay Yeiktha in Yangon(Rangoon)
As was pointed out to you,monks have other duties apart from meditation.
I assume that at a meditation center you may get more time to meditate but I am sure that you will be expected to do more.
Anyway I hope that you find a place that you will feel well at,and by the way yes you can also ordain in Sri Lanka,or if you want ,Thailand has many good places where you can ordain and do a lot of medition,but again other duties will also be expected.Wat Chom Thom(just outside of Chiangmai)under the guidance of Ajaan Tong springs to mind.
With metta,
Greg

[convivium]

the general impression is that Burma consists largely of commentarial traditions, and Sri Lanka emphasizes intellectual study, while Thailand (namely, thai forest) contains practice and perspectives largely based on the suttas. How accurate is this, and what exceptions stand to mention? Also for those who consider requesting residence at a monastery, what recommendations can we give to those who feel impudent or like they might impose on the monastery ? Any skillful ways to phrase or approach this request?

[householder]

the general impression is that Burma consists largely of commentarial traditions, and Sri Lanka emphasizes intellectual study, while Thailand (namely, thai forest) contains practice and perspectives largely based on the suttas. How accurate is this, and what exceptions stand to mention? Also for those who consider requesting residence at a monastery, what recommendations can we give to those who feel impudent or like they might impose on the monastery ? Any skillful ways to phrase or approach this request?

Big ol' bump to this question!