Preparing The Mind For Anapanasati By Raising Joy

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

A nice little Dhamma talk to help prepare for our meditation practice.

Preparing The Mind For Anapanasati By Raising Joy
Dhamma Talk by Ven Ajahn Brahmavamso
http://www.metta.lk/english/joy.htm

"It’s a very good thing to keep in mind and to remember that if the mind is feeling tired, depressed, angry, upset, then it isn't really a sort of mind which can be worked and used to gain this peaceful, quiet state of mind"

Metta,
Retro.

[tiltbillings]

"It’s a very good thing to keep in mind and to remember that if the mind is feeling tired, depressed, angry, upset, then it isn't really a sort of mind which can be worked and used to gain this peaceful, quiet state of mind"

But on the other hand, all that is good stuff to mindfully watch as part of one's vipassana practice.

[Jechbi]

x2
thanks for the link retro

[Ben]

I on the other hand believe that if one truly concentrates on the rise and fall of the breath, and develops sufficient concentration, akusala mindstates cease to be the focus of one's attention.
Kind regards

Ben

[Jechbi]

That's true, too. Maybe it comes down to a personal judgment about what level of concentration is necessary to begin effective insight meditation, and how deep one wishes (or is able) to go in any particular session. Of course on a retreat it's best to follow the instructions of the teacher.

[christopher:::]

Preparing The Mind For Anapanasati By Raising Joy
Dhamma Talk by Ven Ajahn Brahmavamso
http://www.mettanet.org/english/joy.htm

"It’s a very good thing to keep in mind and to remember that if the mind is feeling tired, depressed, angry, upset, then it isn't really a sort of mind which can be worked and used to gain this peaceful, quiet state of mind"

Thanks for the link, Retro!!

[puthujjana]

When he is glad, rapture is born in him; in one who is rapturous, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil feels pleasure; in one who feels pleasure, the mind becomes concentrated.

MN 7 (and many other suttas)

[zavk]

Preparing The Mind For Anapanasati By Raising Joy
Dhamma Talk by Ven Ajahn Brahmavamso
http://www.mettanet.org/english/joy.htm

"It’s a very good thing to keep in mind and to remember that if the mind is feeling tired, depressed, angry, upset, then it isn't really a sort of mind which can be worked and used to gain this peaceful, quiet state of mind"

Thanks for the link, Retro!!

Hey Retro

The link is an unused domain. Is there a typo?

[cooran]

Hello zavk,

Maybe this one?
http://www.metta.lk/english/joy.htm

metta
Chris

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

The link is an unused domain. Is there a typo?

No, it must have elapsed. I never type these links out... I always copy them straight from the URL line.

Metta,
Retro.

[Jechbi]

Maybe this one?
http://www.metta.lk/english/joy.htm

Yep, that's the article.

[BlackBird]

I know i've been spamming it up recently, but I'd just like to add some weight to this (however small).

Recently I've been doing some 'preliminary' metta, before moving onto anapanasati, really focusing on moving that metta outwards, towards specific people and then out to the world in general, one can't help but smile, it definately brings a little pīti out to play, and it makes focus so much easier. For me it's been the like the difference of filling the car up with 91 unleaded, and filling it up with 98 super premium octane.

Hope you all have a Mettaful day.
Jack

[appicchato]

For me it's been the like the difference of filling the car up with 91 unleaded, and filling it up with 98 super premium octane.

Can't 'knock' that...

[BlackBird]

I suppose raising joy before moving onto anapanasati, is a bit like tuning the guitar to play the song.

--> Metta --> --> -->

Jack

[gavesako]

Some interesting ideas in this text:

http://www.chibs.edu.tw/mukherjee/artic ... l/2001.htm

And here is a longer one called
On the Earliest Path to the Tathāgatahood:
A Study in Nikāya Traditions
Biswadeb Mukherjee
Researcher,Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies

http://www.chibs.edu.tw/publication/chb ... bj1334.htm