Lost and Still Searching

[Still Searching]

I am trying to become awake.
How does one awaken themselves?

I wish to seek enlightenment and achieve nirvana.

I know this won't be easy, but I want to give it a try.

[David N. Snyder]

Theravadin resource guide

[Ben]

Hi AJ,

I am trying to become awake.
How does one awaken themselves?

By walking on the noble eightfold path!

And check out some of the material here.
kind regards,

Ben

[Bakmoon]

I am trying to become awake.
How does one awaken themselves?

I wish to seek enlightenment and achieve nirvana.

I know this won't be easy, but I want to give it a try.

It's a long road to awakening and you need to be in it for the long haul. It's a full length marathon, not just a short sprint.

If you are serious and want to attain awakening, then you should seek to follow the Noble Eightfold Path. For a detailed description of it, take a look at the Maggavibhanga Sutta SN 45.8 which gives a good description.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

Do you practice meditation? If so, what kind? Meditation is an absolute must on the path to awakening.

[Still Searching]

I've been practicing meditation, it's not been going too well though.
I seem to be very distracted.
I try not to focus on anything else and just 1 thing but it doesn't work.
I then get headaches and feel confused.

Maybe I should just get lessons to help practice the meditation because I think I'm doing it wrong.

The meditation I'm doing is the healing one, to remove all negative energy surrounding me.

[Bakmoon]

I've been practicing meditation, it's not been going too well though.
I seem to be very distracted.
I try not to focus on anything else and just 1 thing but it doesn't work.
I then get headaches and feel confused.

Maybe I should just get lessons to help practice the meditation because I think I'm doing it wrong.

The meditation I'm doing is the healing one, to remove all negative energy surrounding me.

I'm not quite sure that I know what kind of meditation you are talking about. Getting yourself a teacher sounds like a good idea. Let me list a few of the different meditation traditions in Theravada Buddhism so you can see what kind of selection you have to pick from.

Thai Forest Tradition: This is a very diverse tradition that largely focuses on Anapanasati, a method of meditation based on breathing

Mahasi Sayadaw Tradition: Very popular worldwide these days. It is based on observing the body and mind and noting things as they happen with mental labels.

U Ba Khin/Goenka Tradition: Based on a body scan technique in which one moves one's field of awareness throughout the body.

Pa Auk Sayadaw Tradition: Focuses on several methods of meditation, some of which are focused on developing strong mental focus, and others which are focused on analyzing things and breaking them up into various categories.

You definitely want to start meditating, though. Meditation is a core part of the pathway to awakening. Meditating is even more important than studying the Buddha's teaching, although study is also important.

[Cittasanto]

I've been practicing meditation, it's not been going too well though.
I seem to be very distracted.
I try not to focus on anything else and just 1 thing but it doesn't work.
I then get headaches and feel confused.

Maybe I should just get lessons to help practice the meditation because I think I'm doing it wrong.

The meditation I'm doing is the healing one, to remove all negative energy surrounding me.

Hi Still Searching,
what is the heeling one?

[Still Searching]

I actually don't know the name of it.
I'm very new to the Buddhist practices and don't know the names of the meditations.
I bought a book by Madonna Gauding called The Meditation Bible and I'm on the page "Healing body, mind and spirit"

[cooran]

Hello SS,

This is not necessarily buddhist, or Theravada, meditation. Goodreads says about the author:
'With more than 140 techniques and practices drawn from Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Sufi, Taoist, Pagan, Jewish, Native American, and mystical traditions. ..... '

You may be better concentrating on the methods taught by the Buddha initially.

with metta
Chris

[Still Searching]

I'm still new to it all, I didn't realized Buddhism had specific meditation.
Thank you for bringing it up.
Bakmoon is helping me and explaining all the differences.

So far, I've only learned about basic stuff in Buddhism like the Four Noble Truths, where Buddhism originated and the life of Siddhartha the Buddha.

I still yet need to learn about the Eightfold Paths and meditation.

[LonesomeYogurt]

http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Books ... athing.htm

This is a primer on meditation from a Buddhist perspective, written by a Thai monk. It may help. Be wary of the resources you'll find out there; a lot of things referred to as "meditation" are not particularly Buddhism. There is much out there that does not conform to, or even contradicts outright, the teaching of the Buddha.

[Cittasanto]

I actually don't know the name of it.
I'm very new to the Buddhist practices and don't know the names of the meditations.
I bought a book by Madonna Gauding called The Meditation Bible and I'm on the page "Healing body, mind and spirit"

As Cooran noted it is probably not a practice relevant to the Theravada tradition specifically, although once you have developed some skill in an appropriate practice other techniques can be incorporated as a tool.

I'm still new to it all, I didn't realized Buddhism had specific meditation.
Thank you for bringing it up.
Bakmoon is helping me and explaining all the differences.

So far, I've only learned about basic stuff in Buddhism like the Four Noble Truths, where Buddhism originated and the life of Siddhartha the Buddha.

I still yet need to learn about the Eightfold Paths and meditation.

heads up the Noble Eightfold Path is the Fourth Noble Truth.

but here is a brilliant book on the Noble Truths
http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/4nobltru.pdf

and meditation
http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/deathless.pdf

[Digity]

I'm still new to it all, I didn't realized Buddhism had specific meditation.
Thank you for bringing it up.
Bakmoon is helping me and explaining all the differences.

So far, I've only learned about basic stuff in Buddhism like the Four Noble Truths, where Buddhism originated and the life of Siddhartha the Buddha.

I still yet need to learn about the Eightfold Paths and meditation.

I recommend you focus on learning the basics of Buddhism and laying a good foundation. For me that meant taking up the five precepts. Once you get a firm grounding then you can start looking into meditation.

I don't know what you mean by using meditation to get rid of "negative energy". Not sure there's any concept like that in Buddhism. Although, breath meditation can be very healing in that it eases the body and mind and negative thoughts can come and go when we're calm....so in a sense it can help dissipate negative energy.

[Still Searching]

I don't know what you mean by using meditation to get rid of "negative energy". Not sure there's any concept like that in Buddhism. Although, breath meditation can be very healing in that it eases the body and mind and negative thoughts can come and go when we're calm....so in a sense it can help dissipate negative energy.

I was looking at the wrong meditations, Bakmoon helped me and explained that some meditations are different from others.
I was looking in a book that wasn't to do with Buddhism which I didn't realize but I am a beginner so I am going to make quite a few mistakes on my journey.

I'm going to do some more research and practice the meditation before I begun anything else.
And I'll take your advice as well learn from the Five Precepts.

[drifting cloud]

Here is an audio recording of basic breath meditation instructions from Thanissaro Bhikku:

http://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/300.html

That should be enough to get you started, although I also recommend finding a qualified teacher as well.

Access to Insight has a wealth of information on basic concepts and the original teachings of the Buddha:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/

[alan...]

get yourself this book "the heart of buddhist meditation" by nyanaponika theraand this one "focused and fearless: a meditators guide to states of deep calm, joy and clarity" by shaila catherine

you can get both for under twenty dollars total if used ones are okay. if you're not looking to buy books then check out all the wonderful links others posted above. also really familiarize yourself with the eightfold path, each step is crucial! learn it inside and out. all of buddhist practice can fit within it.

[alan...]

and this book "in the buddha's words" translation and notation by bhikkhu bodhi

and/or this one "the life of the buddha: according to the pali canon" by bhikkhu nanamoli

[Still Searching]

Thank you Alan & Drifting Cloud

[alan...]

Thank you Alan & Drifting Cloud

you're very welcom.