Sustaining insight after retreat

[householder]

Ok thanks both, will carry on. Sorry to criticise tilt and I ask for your forgiveness for the harsh speech.

[tiltbillings]

How about letting go of posting the "something else to let go of" quote whenever someone asks a question about their experience? Speaking for those of us who don't have access to a teacher, when we are dealing with new experiences as a result of our practice, the message is that we're not going to get any help here either and we shouldn't ask. That quote is criticising them as either bragging or stupid, when I think many times people are trying to get a little reassurance that what is happening is normal, or how they should deal with what can be quite unsettling experiences.

Did not see your post until just now. Quite frankly, "something else to let go of" is very much to the point. It is not saying don't ask questions or do not talk about your experiences, it is not saying that to ask for reassurance is bragging nor is it saying that one is stupid, but it is pointing to the fundamental point that it is all too easy to get caught up in the "experience" and the wanting of the "experience."

[tiltbillings]

Ok thanks both, will carry on. Sorry to criticise tilt and I ask for your forgiveness for the harsh speech.

Nothing to forgive. I think you were feeling a bit frustrated, and it can be frustrating trying to sort all this out, especially when it is so new. Just be gentle with yourself and with your practice.

[Sidney]

Vibrations and letting them go to develop equaminity are the final instructions one may have when meditating under certain teachers, but I think this is more of samatha than of vipassana as it seems to lack the insight wisdom to appreciate the characteristics of existence; viz. 'anicca, dukkha and anatta' which is a necessacity to progress into further insights. I have gathered that the highest achievement of such a practice would be a rebirth in one of the Brahma realms, and there is no gurantee for enlightenment if reborn as a Brahma and may even miss the opportunity for enlightenment en masse with the future buddha, since some Brahmas have no faculties to ascertain Dhamma.

I have been to many camps and have practised few techniques including observing vibrations from head to toes & vice versa, penetrating in and out of body and letting them go, but I found that the instructions given by the late Mogok Sayadaw who was a reknown arahat from Burma were most helpful. It combines basic theory with practice to understand the three characteristcs mentioned earlier.
metta,

Sidney

[altar]

Relax...

also, i agree with goofaholix, that there is nothing to be sustained and this is what insight is about.
on the other hand there is the buddha's simile of starting a fire. it doesn't start if you rub the sticks together on and off, but it must be continual and for a while.