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Why no Journals? Goenka
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Why no Journals? Goenka
by rucontent » Wed May 23, 2012 5:38 am
The special note on instructions for 10 day retreat includes "no journals" curious about the nature of that "reasoning"...is it to stay in your head.....?
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Re: Why no Journals? Goenka
by Ben » Wed May 23, 2012 5:51 am
For the type of meditation retreat, I don't think its that unusual, rucontent.
One is asked not to bring anything that would distract you from the task at hand, so - no computers, music players, instruments, books, pens and journals/diaries, no mobile phones or computers & etc.
kind regards,
Ben
One is asked not to bring anything that would distract you from the task at hand, so - no computers, music players, instruments, books, pens and journals/diaries, no mobile phones or computers & etc.
kind regards,
Ben
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-- John le Carré, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief •
UNHCR Somali Emergency Relief Appeal • Kiva: (person to person micro-finance)
e: ben.dhammawheel@gmail.com
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Re: Why no Journals? Goenka
by mikenz66 » Wed May 23, 2012 6:25 am
It does, of course, depend on what sort of retreat you are doing, but most teachers I'm familiar with discourage reading, writing, and, especially, talking, during intensive retreats where the idea is to build high levels of mindfulness and concentration. It's very easy to get sucked into conceptual thinking and for the mindfulness and concentration you've built up to simply evaporate...
Mike
Mike
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Re: Why no Journals? Goenka
by David2 » Wed May 23, 2012 6:32 am
Well, if journals were allowed, some people would spend more time writing journals than meditating.
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Re: Why no Journals? Goenka
by polarbuddha101 » Wed May 23, 2012 9:15 am
David2 wrote:Well, if journals were allowed, some people would spend more time writing journals than meditating.
bahahaha, for some reason that just really hit me on a deep level"I don't envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, leads to such great benefit as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, leads to great benefit."
"I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress."
"I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress."
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Re: Why no Journals? Goenka
by retrofuturist » Wed May 23, 2012 10:53 am
Greetings rucontent,
The instructions provided are about focusing on the breath for the first few days, and then there is an emphasis on observing vedana (feeling) and its qualities.
If instead you are in journal-mode you are in thinking-mode and while you are engaging in conceptual proliferation, your experience is neither connected to the breath (i.e. anapanasati) nor to feelings/sensations (i.e. vedananupassana.)
There's nothing inherently wrong with journals - it's just that the use of them is contrary to what you're attempting to cultivate of this retreat, and Mr Goenka has determined that "noble silence" is the best condition upon which to progress, whilst on retreat.
Metta,
Retro.
rucontent wrote:The special note on instructions for 10 day retreat includes "no journals" curious about the nature of that "reasoning"...is it to stay in your head.....?
The instructions provided are about focusing on the breath for the first few days, and then there is an emphasis on observing vedana (feeling) and its qualities.
If instead you are in journal-mode you are in thinking-mode and while you are engaging in conceptual proliferation, your experience is neither connected to the breath (i.e. anapanasati) nor to feelings/sensations (i.e. vedananupassana.)
There's nothing inherently wrong with journals - it's just that the use of them is contrary to what you're attempting to cultivate of this retreat, and Mr Goenka has determined that "noble silence" is the best condition upon which to progress, whilst on retreat.
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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