Switching from Goenka body-scanning to Mahasi noting

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
Post Reply
upekkha
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:41 am

Switching from Goenka body-scanning to Mahasi noting

Post by upekkha »

:anjali:
Last edited by upekkha on Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:51 pm, edited 3 times in total.
PeterB
Posts: 3909
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:35 pm

Re: Switching from Goenka body-scanning to Mahasi noting

Post by PeterB »

For what its worth I learned both Goenka and Mahasi and fashioned myself a little reptoire drawn from both too.....encouraged by one of the forest Ajahns who had done the same.
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Switching from Goenka body-scanning to Mahasi noting

Post by Ben »

Hi upekkha
One of the best things I've done.
So taking tens of courses and practicing at home
What sort (duration) courses did you take?
kind regards

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
User avatar
Goofaholix
Posts: 4017
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:49 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Switching from Goenka body-scanning to Mahasi noting

Post by Goofaholix »

You can never have too many tools in your tool box. As long as you are clear about what you are doing at any one time and what it is supposed to achieve, rather than drifting from technique to technique or muddling it up.

This is not so much true if you are doing jhana practice as then you need to dig one deep hole not several shallow ones.
Pronouns (no self / not self)
“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.”
― Ajahn Chah
nathan
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:11 am

Re: Switching from Goenka body-scanning to Mahasi noting

Post by nathan »

Goofaholix wrote:You can never have too many tools in your tool box. As long as you are clear about what you are doing at any one time and what it is supposed to achieve, rather than drifting from technique to technique or muddling it up.

This is not so much true if you are doing jhana practice as then you need to dig one deep hole not several shallow ones.
When you practice through the entire waking day for a few days you eventually discover it is all the same hole and that any consistently applicable insight is a consistently useful insight as long as it continues to take you deeper.
But whoever walking, standing, sitting, or lying down overcomes thought, delighting in the stilling of thought: he's capable, a monk like this, of touching superlative self-awakening. § 110. {Iti 4.11; Iti 115}
upekkha
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:41 am

Re: Switching from Goenka body-scanning to Mahasi noting

Post by upekkha »

:group:
Last edited by upekkha on Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Sekha
Posts: 789
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:32 am
Location: Earth
Contact:

Re: Switching from Goenka body-scanning to Mahasi noting

Post by Sekha »

I am not sure anyone can hold any one-sided-only view applicable to everyone. Everyone is different and will have a different experience. Some techniques may be more adapted to some individuals, and less to others. I don't think there is any general rule.

As to the time it takes before getting to stream entry, some people have their five hindrances strong, so it will take time at first to weaken them. Some people have them weak already. Goenka told the story of his friend who became sotapanna on the third day of his first course (under Sayagyi U Ba Khin), even before vipassana was taught.

And to quote the Buddha himself on this matter (translation by Bikkhu Bodhi):

ImageImageImage

So it is clearly shown here that there is difference in people's progress according to inner dispositions

:anjali:
Where knowledge ends, religion begins. - B. Disraeli

http://www.buddha-vacana.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
upekkha
Posts: 52
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:41 am

Re: Switching from Goenka body-scanning to Mahasi noting

Post by upekkha »

Inner dispositions AND methods used (or not used) :)
Post Reply