what is Ajahn brahm talking about?

[identification]

The first meditation technique he describes in his book is present moment awareness. He says to be in the present and that it is a foundation for the rest of the techniques. But he doesn't describe how to be in the present moment, no object, nothing. How do I practice this?

[TheNoBSBuddhist]

Simple.

Quit thinking about what you have done, through the sources you have, of memory.

Quit thinking about what you will do, through the sources of planning you have, in your analytical brain.

Quit thinking about what you are doing, through the sources of sensory appreciation you have, through the appropriate skhandas.

Perform every action, mindfully attentive of what you are doing, with no labelling, no desire, no running commentary.

Just 'see', and 'do'.

That's about it, really.....

[mikenz66]

Hi Identification,

You might find Ajahn Brahm's guided meditations useful. It's a lot easier to understand what he's getting at by listening. I gave some links here:
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.ph ... 37#p296291


Mike

[identification]

Simple.

Quit thinking about what you have done, through the sources you have, of memory.

Quit thinking about what you will do, through the sources of planning you have, in your analytical brain.

Quit thinking about what you are doing, through the sources of sensory appreciation you have, through the appropriate skhandas.

Perform every action, mindfully attentive of what you are doing, with no labelling, no desire, no running commentary.

Just 'see', and 'do'.

That's about it, really.....

Thanks, but I can't just intentionally stop doing all of that. It's not a light switch for me that I can turn on and off. And he doesn't describe being mindful of actions or being mindful of anything. He says to build on this specific technique before moving onto mindfulness of breathing. And if this present moment awareness technique he's talking about just means to be mindful of anything in the present, that wouldn't make sense, because you can be in the present with the breathing, yet like I said, he recommends not doing that. The purpose of the technique from what I'm reading is to be able to get use to being in the present so then when you start mindfulness practice like being mindful of actions it will be easier. But I still don't understand how to do it.

[identification]

Hi Identification,

You might find Ajahn Brahm's guided meditations useful. It's a lot easier to understand what he's getting at by listening. I gave some links here:
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.ph ... 37#p296291


Mike

Thanks. I'll go through them.

[TheNoBSBuddhist]

Thanks, but I can't just intentionally stop doing all of that. It's not a light switch for me that I can turn on and off.

To be honest, its an equally difficult practice for everyone..

And he doesn't describe being mindful of actions or being mindful of anything. He says to build on this specific technique before moving onto mindfulness of breathing. And if this present moment awareness technique he's talking about just means to be mindful of anything in the present, that wouldn't make sense, because you can be in the present with the breathing, yet like I said, he recommends not doing that. The purpose of the technique from what I'm reading is to be able to get use to being in the present so then when you start mindfulness practice like being mindful of actions it will be easier. But I still don't understand how to do it.

Ah. I see.
I'm sorry, you didn't mention that part before, I was unaware of the remainder of the text....
In that case, I see your confusion, and refraining from further comment, will merely follow the thread and learn from other posts!

[manas]

The first meditation technique he describes in his book is present moment awareness. He says to be in the present and that it is a foundation for the rest of the techniques. But he doesn't describe how to be in the present moment, no object, nothing. How do I practice this?

Hi identification,

while I don't agree with the Venerable's take on jhana, I did find many of his advices very useful in the book I suspect you are referring to ('Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond'?), and as I recall (I suspect) he meant to simply remain aware of where you are, sitting there in meditation, and to not get lost in thoughts; to be aware when a thought arises and not to follow or get lost in it; to notice when a bird sings, or any other distraction occurs, noting it but not getting lost in that, either. Just knowing where you are, and what you are doing - without getting lost in thought - can actually be an interesting challenge in itself.

Having said that, that isn't how the Buddha instructs us in basic anapanasati in the anapanasati sutta, or in the satipatthana sutta.

manas