Hello All,
I will be going on my first 9-day retreat in April and I was interested to hear what advice people have, especially from those of you with much retreat experience.
Is there anything I can do in the months leading up to the retreat (other than get a lot of meditation practice) which will be beneficial come retreat time?
Some ideas I have before the retreat:
1) If I have the time available I will probably sleep a lot for 2 days prior to the retreat to help with sloth and torpor
2) I will try to avoid most forms of entertainment, especially as I come close to the retreat period
3) I will ask some of the Ajahns here questions about my meditation practice
During the retreat:
1) Be kind to my body and mind
2) Give it my best effort
3) No expectations
Feedback on these ideas would be appreciated as well as anything which you have found useful.
With Metta,
Guy
First 9-Day Retreat
First 9-Day Retreat
Four types of letting go:
1) Giving; expecting nothing back in return
2) Throwing things away
3) Contentment; wanting to be here, not wanting to be anywhere else
4) "Teflon Mind"; having a mind which doesn't accumulate things
- Ajahn Brahm
1) Giving; expecting nothing back in return
2) Throwing things away
3) Contentment; wanting to be here, not wanting to be anywhere else
4) "Teflon Mind"; having a mind which doesn't accumulate things
- Ajahn Brahm
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- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:40 pm
Re: First 9-Day Retreat
Hi Guy - here's a link to some retreat advice that I've found useful in the past and have shown to friends going on their first retreats:Guy wrote:
During the retreat:
1) Be kind to my body and mind
2) Give it my best effort
3) No expectations
Feedback on these ideas would be appreciated as well as anything which you have found useful.
With Metta,
Guy
http://www.interactivebuddha.com/retreats.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Best wishes for your preparation and retreat,
Tim
Re: First 9-Day Retreat
Thanks Tim, good practical advice!
Four types of letting go:
1) Giving; expecting nothing back in return
2) Throwing things away
3) Contentment; wanting to be here, not wanting to be anywhere else
4) "Teflon Mind"; having a mind which doesn't accumulate things
- Ajahn Brahm
1) Giving; expecting nothing back in return
2) Throwing things away
3) Contentment; wanting to be here, not wanting to be anywhere else
4) "Teflon Mind"; having a mind which doesn't accumulate things
- Ajahn Brahm