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I cannot recommend specific meditation techniques, because each person is different and needs to decide on that. General information is at:
“Bhāvanā (Meditation)“.Regarding the second question, there has been a lengthy discussion at:
“Goenka´s Vipassana”
If you have a question specific to this particular technique, it is better to be asked there.This topic was in the “General Forum” and I just moved it to this forum, where it should be.
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I cannot recommend specific meditation techniques, because each person is different and needs to decide on that. General information is at:
“Bhāvanā (Meditation)“.Regarding the second question, there has been a lengthy discussion at:
“Goenka´s Vipassana”
If you have a question specific to this particular technique, it is better to be asked there.This topic was in the “General Forum” and I just moved it to this forum, where it should be.
@ Lal – would you like to share how you go about vipassana bhavana. Because for a beginner like me , some more clarity or some specific methods employed as in examples will help in great effect. I read post on vipassana- buddhist meditation. you mentioned of two steps. can you please help in explaining how to practice to remove tendency to attach to distorted sanna
Thanks
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It’s not really about adopting a particular method. It’s about learning to see things clearly. But clarity cannot arise if a person habitually indulges every impulse that arises. That only keeps the mind intoxicated.
As long as that intoxication remains strong, it’s impossible to recognize the real issue. So the first step is to stop entertaining impulses that would reinforce that intoxication.
As you do this, the mind begins to understand for itself the danger in chasing sensual pleasures and the relief that renunciation provides. At that point, it no longer feels as though you have to coerce the mind into doing something it doesn’t want to do.
By continuing in this way, the mind gradually sobers up. As it does, the effects of distorted sanna begin to weaken. Then you can start to perceive that something doesn’t quite add up — to “see through the magic trick,” so to speak.
From there, the process becomes more intuitive. The problem is already visible at a perceptual level; what remains is to clarify it further and avoid undermining the clearer context that has been established.
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Yes. I think it is time to write a new post on mediation. I will try to base it on the “Sabbāsava Sutta (MN 2)” because it lays out the key ideas.
Basically, meditation can be divided into three categories:
(i) First, one must engage in contemplation to grasp the key concepts og Buddha’s worldview; this is ‘Dassanā pahātabba‘ or ‘getting rid (pahātabba) of wrong views (Dassanā).’ This is the first section of the sutta on ‘Defilements Given Up by Seeing.’
(ii) Then one must prepare the environment/conditions suitable to engage in ‘Bhāvanā.‘ These are discussed in sections 2 through 6.
(iii) Engage in ‘Bhāvanā‘ (actual meditation) is discussed in Section 7 (last section) of the sutta.
- I invite all to post comments/suggestions. I can write the post based on those.
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P.S. I saw Tetsuo’s comment after I posted my comment. Yes. Those are valid comments. But I think the sutta‘s analysis may help with some ideas.
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Dear Venerable Lal 🙏🏻
Concerning your request for suggestions as to meditation article content.
1. What if a person has been meditating for many years but is not able to get into jhana?
2. Is just remaining in jhana meditating, in light of that only an arahat has broken the 6th and 7th fetters (basically craving brahmaloka) so even an anagami will have attachment for jhana?
3. What if a person meditates but fails completely to make any progress, or does not know how to identify progress?
Thank you.
Namo Buddhaya 💙
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“1. What if a person has been meditating for many years but is not able to get into jhana?”
- It is not necessary to be able to get into a jhana to make progress on the Noble Path and to attain magga phala.
- Jhanas correspond to mental states of Brahmas in various realms of rupa loka. Getting to a jhana is an anatariya kamma (good one) that guarantees one of rebirth in a Brahma realm. So, it is not bad. However, unless that person has attained at least the Sotapanna stage, he/she will return to the human realm at the end of that Brahma existence and can then be reborn in an apaya; i.e., cultivating a jhana does not free one from future rebirths in an apaya.
- Thus, one should focus on attaining the Sotapanna stage rather than jhana. Some people attain jhana even without trying, and that would be a bonus.
” 2. Is just remaining in jhana meditating, in light of that only an arahat has broken the 6th and 7th fetters (basically craving brahmaloka) so even an anagami will have attachment for jhana?”
- Fetters (samyojana) are broken in a stepwise manner. One breaks the first three (sakkaya ditthi, vicikiccha, silabbata paramasa) when one attains the Sotapanna stage. Then they break the kama raga and patigha samyojana to attain the Anagami stage (those two samyojana are only weakened at the Sakadagami stage, which a Sotapanna would attain before the Anagami stage). The 6th and 7th samyojana (rupa raga and arupa raga) can be broken only by an Anagami. An Anagami attains the Arahant stage by eliminating three more samyojana (mana, uddacca, avijja). So, an Arahant has broken not only the 6th and 7th, but all ten samyojana.
- One with any jhana has not broken any samyojana unless they had also attained a magga phala, Sotapanna through the Arahant stage.
” 3. What if a person meditates but fails completely to make any progress, or does not know how to identify progress?”
- This is why it is good to understand the “Sabbāsava Sutta (MN 2)” I referred to in my previous comment. I will try to address that in the post. It may take a couple of weeks to write that post.
- In the meantime, everyone is welcome to read the sutta and ask any questions they would like clarified.
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P.S. By the way, one attains the Sotapanna stage by completing step (i) in the sutta (first section of the sutta) that I stated in my previous comment as follows:
(i) First, one must engage in contemplation to grasp the key concepts og Buddha’s worldview; this is ‘Dassanā pahātabba‘ or ‘getting rid (pahātabba) of wrong views (Dassanā).’ This is the first section of the sutta on ‘Defilements Given Up by Seeing.’
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