Am I approaching samadhi properly?
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**The problem:** I've encountered some confusion about the differences between samadhi and vipassana, as would seem to be a frequent problem amongst beginners. This confusion was only worsened by my having a Zen master tell me that my practice was vipassana, and that I should just continuously count my breaths up to ten and then back down instead. I don't think she realized that I was striving for samadhi, and I don't think she really knew what she was talking about. I find Theravada to be the path for me, and have stopped visiting that zen center, but am still confused nonetheless.
So, in the absence of a formal teacher, I figured I could ask here to see if someone can provide me with some guidance.
**My meditation practice:** Concentrate on the sensation of the breath and nothing else, no numbers, thoughts, or words for as long as I can or unless I feel like they would help me.
Some thoughts I use, for example, are, "Let go of it", "Become one with the breath in the present moment", "I am looking for my thoughts; I should be looking for my breath", and other thoughts of a similar nature.
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So basically, does this kind of practice generate samadhi, or vipassana? I'm not looking for insight while meditating. Just looking for the breath and focusing on it.
Thanks in advance.
Asked by Eben
(97 rep)
Mar 24, 2017, 04:08 AM
Last activity: Mar 25, 2017, 03:45 PM
Last activity: Mar 25, 2017, 03:45 PM