Part of tag cluster Meditation in key topic Meditation Practices
{170} “Should we judge the quality of our meditation only by the time we spend in focused concentration?” Answered by Ajahn Jotipālo, Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and the Abhayagiri Saṅgha. [Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo] [Meditation/Results ] [Concentration] // [Mindfulness] [Right Effort] [Investigation of states] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Hindrances]
References: Walking Meditation by Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo; “The Five Hindrances,” from The Anthology Vol. 1 by Ajahn Sumedho, pp. 35–44.
Story: Ajahn Tate and the bhavaṅga states. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Tate] [Wrong concentration] [Ajahn Mun] [Mindfulness of body]
Story: Ajahn Khao meditates all night with no awareness. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Khao]
Western Disciples of the Thai Forest Tradition [2016], Session 3, Excerpt 1
{180} “I’ve been practicing mindfulness of breathing for over 15 years, and to be honest, my meditation periods consist of nearly constant daydreaming, planning, etc. It hardly seems useful. Maybe it’s time to try body sweeping or contemplation meditation or something else. What do you think?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Meditation/Techniques] [Meditation/Results ] // [Buddho mantra] [Body scanning] [Unattractiveness] [Desire] [Recollection]
4. The four results of samādhi described in AN 4.41. Teaching by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Results] [Concentration] // [Jhāna] [Perception of light] [Psychic powers] [Mindfulness] [Clear comprehension] [Aggregates] [Impermanence] [Outflows]
Story: As a novice, Ajahn Puth directed his mind to which questions would be on the Nak Tam exams. [Ajahn Puth] [Learning]
7. “I’ve been practicing mindfulness of breathing for over 15 years, and to be honest, my meditation periods consist of nearly constant daydreaming, planning, etc. It hardly seems useful. Maybe it’s time to try body sweeping or contemplation meditation or something else. What do you think?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Meditation/Techniques] [Meditation/Results ] // [Buddho mantra] [Body scanning] [Unattractiveness] [Desire] [Recollection]
19. “Today I had pure moments of concentration on bliss. No matter what I did, I felt fully present, aware, and mindful. Does that mean I was an enlightened being for a few minutes? Too bad I lost concentration when I started writing this!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Happiness] [Meditation/Results] [Liberation]
3. “What is the antidote to the mind’s tendency to overestimate [and] overinterpret one’s experiences?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Results] // [Suffering]
1. “Sometimes I will see a bit of greed come up, I apply an antidote, for example, if its craving, apply some asuba; but it seems to exacerbate it–do you have any encouragement or similes from Ajahn Chah?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Unwholesome Roots] [Right Effort] [Meditation/Results] [Ajahn Chah] // [Investigation of states] [Patience]
Simile: Putting a tiger in a cage. [Similes] [Mindfulness] [Discernment]
3. “I love clues that help identify that some experience is or is not what I thought it is. For example, Ajahn Ñāniko’s point that just a blank purely absorbed state is not jhāna, (a wrong conclusion anybody any get to) and that instead it should be more ‘broad-based’ and mettā-bhāvanā is very useful for that. This sort of ‘TEST’ for the labels we may jump to apply to our experience is very useful insight—‘cool’ if I may say. Are there more such ‘tests?’ P.S. This is to help prevent my mind from becoming too proud, or thinking I have attained some state when not.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Jhāna] [Meditation/Results] // [Conceit] [Suffering] [Contentment]
Sutta: MN 113.21: “For however one conceives it, it is always other than that.”
1. “Should we judge the quality of our meditation only by the time we spend in focused concentration?” Answered by Ajahn Jotipālo, Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and the Abhayagiri Saṅgha. [Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo] [Meditation/Results ] [Concentration] // [Mindfulness] [Right Effort] [Investigation of states] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Hindrances]
References: Walking Meditation by Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo; “The Five Hindrances,” from The Anthology Vol. 1 by Ajahn Sumedho, pp. 35–44.
Story: Ajahn Tate and the bhavaṅga states. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Tate] [Wrong concentration] [Ajahn Mun] [Mindfulness of body]
Story: Ajahn Khao meditates all night with no awareness. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Ajahn Khao]
2. Discussion about evaluating the results of practice. Led by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Results] [Right Effort] // [Faith] [Investigation of states] [Self-identity view] [Not-self]
Comment: I notice that I have preconceptions about the way I evaluate my practice. [Meditation/Results]
Response: Ajahn Pasanno distinguishes between investigation and evaluation.
The very pattern, “What will make me good enough?” is suffering. Comment by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Habits] [Cause of Suffering]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno.
Story: Aversion towards the nada sound and the importance of having a teacher. Told by Ajahn Jotipālo. [Teachers] [Ajahn Jotipālo] [Sound of silence] [Aversion] [Insight Meditation Society] [Ajahn Amaro]
2. “I often find it hard to stay settled on the breath. Though I’ve been meditating for some time, my mind does not seem to focus well. When things are going “well”, I feel sense of joy but my mind jumps from topic to topic quickly (as though excited it’s going well). When things aren’t going well, my mind shifts into work mode, trying to “fix” the situation and bring the joy back. This results in a lot of tension in my face and long, difficult sittings. Do you have any advice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Meditation/General advice] [Meditation/Results] // [Tranquility] [Self-reliance] [Trust]
Quote: “That’s really a farang Buddha. Look how tense he is!” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Buddha images] [Culture/West] [Ajahn Sumedho]
4. “It seems I have returned to remedial meditation practice. I can’t seem to find ease in my body, let alone my breath. It feels like I’m stuck in physical pain - an invisible barrier I can’t seem to penetrate. Acceptance and loving kindness are being applied, but without much movement. I am trying to develop concentration on breath - so far no piti or sukha. What to do?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/General advice] [Pain] [Goodwill] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Meditation/Results] [Posture/Walking] [Chanting] [Cleanliness]
Quote: “One of the things that is really frustrating is waiting to get those results that we’re hoping for and feel we should be getting.” [Meditation/Results]
13. “Please demystify jhāna a little for those like myself whose vipassana past has had minimal samadhi focus. The emphasis on calming and brightening has been so helpful. Whereas in past I associated deep concentration with vipassana elites and insight practice more for those living in the mess of the world, now I wonder, in our post election universe, whether a more jhānic or balance between practices would prevent overwhelm, hiding, running to Canada! Thoughts?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Jhāna] [Insight meditation] [Gladdening the mind] [Calming meditation] [Everyday life] [Politics and society] // [Ajahn Chah] [Tranquility] [Mindfulness of body] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Relinquishment]
Quote: “That desire to measure and quantify attainment is an obstacle in itself.” [Meditation/Results]
1. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: Ajahn Chah would encourage people to use whatever practice helped support mindfulness and reflective investigation. [Meditation/Techniques] [Mindfulness] [Recollection] [Ajahn Chah]
Story: When Ajahn Sumedho arrived at Wat Pah Pong, he asked Ajahn Chah if he can continue the hua tou practice he had been using. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Hua tou] [Master Hsu Yun] [Meditation/Results]
10. “What is the illumination that appears during sitting meditation? Is the false or the true? Is it from inside or outside or neither?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Suffering] [Questions] [Proliferation]
Refer to the previous question.
Story: Well, I contemplated impermanence and nothing happened. [Impermanence] [Recollection] [Meditation/Results]
11. The first two reviewing knowledges of one who has made progress on the path: Freedom from the hindrances and serenity of mind. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Meditation/Results] [Hindrances] [Tranquility] [Communal harmony] // [Principles of Cordiality] [Right View] [Abhayagiri] [Conflict]
Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.
4. “Is what you’re describing (meditation states like AN 10.6) something that somebody might arrive at in their ordinary waking ...?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Meditation/Results] // [Insight meditation] [Non-identification] [Perception] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Sense bases] [Abhayagiri]
Vinaya: Khandhaka 21.1.5: Ānanda’s awakening. [Great disciples] [Arahant] [Postures]
Reference: The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sachs.
2. Reflection by Ajahn Pasanno: The sign of spiritual maturity is the inclination to disenchantment and relinquishment. [Meditation/Results] [Disenchantment] [Relinquishment] [Impermanence] // [Ajahn Chah]