Lying Meditation
People sometimes chuckle, “Yeah, yeah lying meditation. Just go to sleep.” But actually, it’s one of the postures that we live in and if we can develop lying meditation it’s very valuable.… Read the rest
People sometimes chuckle, “Yeah, yeah lying meditation. Just go to sleep.” But actually, it’s one of the postures that we live in and if we can develop lying meditation it’s very valuable.… Read the rest
In the beginning, developing concentration may be very difficult because the mind may be agitated and restless. This will make the practice of developing concentration somewhat difficult for us. Yet, if we are patient and put forth a lot of effort–really work at the practice–then the periods where our mind is agitated will lessen and the periods where our mind is peaceful will increase.
*Translated by Ajahn Tejapanyo… Read the rest
One of the hallmarks of Luang Por Chah’s training is the idea of frustration. He felt that sense restraint was very important, but also frustration, when it’s applied judiciously, has an interesting effect. This is because when when get something we don’t want or we want something we don’t have, that wanting really challenges us.… Read the rest
Tahn Ajahn Dtun answers questions on topics such as…
Techniques– there’s so many you can use. Techniques are like tools–you have to try them out to see how they’re useful. The idea is that meditation is a craft, it’s not an achievement. It’s more a craft within which you can get results. But, a craft is a more hands on affair. You have to pick up the material you’re working with–which is your mind and body–and you have to try stuff out.… Read the rest
I try to watch the interior relationship between restlessness and discomfort. Because when there’s discomfort, there’s the desire to get rid of discomfort, and that’s restlessness.… Read the rest
Today the bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, and all the laypeople have gathered here due to our faith in the dispensation of the Lord Buddha. We are very close now to the celebration of Vesākha Puja, which is an important day in Buddhism. The day of Vesākha is the full moon day in May. It is the day that the Buddha himself was born and also he died on that day and his enlightenment also took place on the full moon day in May.
*Translated by Ajahn Tejapanyo… Read the rest
There’s an oral tradition from teacher to disciple, from practitioner to practitioner where we share questions and insights and the teacher acts like a mirror. I’ve been very fortunate because my teachers–Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho– and my peers have been very helpful in helping me to understand Buddhism in that kind of reflective way.… Read the rest
A typical problem in meditation is to literally try to look for the breath with our eyes. One of the things that’s very good as we’re meditating is to be aware of our eyes. What I would recommend then is to include the eyes in awareness of the body.… Read the rest
Perhaps we could just consider how we pay attention. This wooden carving has a deliberate flaw. Now, if you’re looking for the flaw, what do you do? You’re looking for something in order to try and find something. That’s one way that we pay attention. We look for something. There’s another way we can pay attention. We can pay attention by being receptive.… Read the rest