concentration of the suttas regular concentration

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
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purple planet
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concentration of the suttas regular concentration

Post by purple planet »

If someone has good daily-life concentration will he be good at meditation concentration - or are this two different things ?

(and mini question do you also have a problem where you dont see topic names at the home page ?)
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Sam Vara
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Re: concentration of the suttas regular concentration

Post by Sam Vara »

purple planet wrote:If someone has good daily-life concentration will he be good at meditation concentration - or are this two different things ?

(and mini question do you also have a problem where you dont see topic names at the home page ?)
I think there would only be one way to find out whether daily-life concentration leads to good meditation concentration - develop them for oneself. Otherwise, you would never know whether the person was naturally good at one, or both, to start off with. There is an interesting supplementary question as to whether there are different forms of daily-life concentration.

Some of the suttas seem to imply that meditative concentration (right Concentration as a path factor) is different from everyday concentration:
Now what, monks, is noble right concentration with its supports & requisite conditions? Any singleness of mind equipped with these seven factors — right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, & right mindfulness — is called noble right concentration with its supports & requisite conditions.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
If we ignore the "noble" bit, what makes it "right" is that it is supported by the other seven factors.
There is also
"Now what is concentration, lady, what qualities are its themes, what qualities are its requisites, and what is its development?"

"Singleness of mind is concentration, friend Visakha; the four frames of reference are its themes; the four right exertions are its requisites; and any cultivation, development, & pursuit of these qualities is its development."
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
This seems to say that it is more a matter of what we concentrate on.

As for the mini question, yes, it is a temporary problem affecting the site. Someone asked the mods and they are aware of it.
5heaps
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Re: concentration of the suttas regular concentration

Post by 5heaps »

purple planet wrote:If someone has good daily-life concentration will he be good at meditation concentration - or are this two different things ?

(and mini question do you also have a problem where you dont see topic names at the home page ?)
yes cant see topic names on the front page

yes, daily life concentration helps immensely. one of the most important points regarding meditation: what one does off the cushion is as important as what happens on it
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