Buddhism
Q&A for people practicing or interested in Buddhist philosophy, teaching, and practice
Latest Questions
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Is Practicing Tantric/Wrathful Meditation Dangerous Without a Guru?
Some time ago, I found a mala in a shop that I was quite drawn to for reasons I cannot explain. At the time I thought it was wood but as the stain wore off I saw it was bone. This lead me to do some research into Bone Malas and I learned about tantric buddhism and wrathful meditation. This in turn l...
Some time ago, I found a mala in a shop that I was quite drawn to for reasons I cannot explain. At the time I thought it was wood but as the stain wore off I saw it was bone. This lead me to do some research into Bone Malas and I learned about tantric buddhism and wrathful meditation. This in turn lead me to a mantra I started repeating with the mala 108 times every day. Everything I read said I needed a master or guru to help initiate or guide me. So my question is how dangerous is this? Do I need a guru, and how on earth does one get initiated into a a type of buddhism?
CarterMan
(153 rep)
Aug 18, 2014, 05:44 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:53 PM
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Meditation for higher concentration
What kind of meditation can help one to have a higher concentration; maybe lasting for hours or days? I am a Buddhist, specifically Theravada, and I am trying to keep my mind on one thing. Buddha kept his meditation in the dushkara kriya (self mortification) period for more than 4 years. So is there...
What kind of meditation can help one to have a higher concentration; maybe lasting for hours or days? I am a Buddhist, specifically Theravada, and I am trying to keep my mind on one thing. Buddha kept his meditation in the dushkara kriya (self mortification) period for more than 4 years. So is there any way we can apply that concentration technique in our lives?
Thank you.
TanJay
(364 rep)
Aug 4, 2014, 07:41 AM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:52 PM
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How to use Sloth and Torpor as an object for meditation
The [Satipatthana Sutta][1] details the use of the sloth and torpor hindrance as an object for mindfulness meditation. Does anyone have any practical advice, either of a personal nature or from an established teacher, about how this might be achieved. Whenever I am suffering from this hindrance it c...
The Satipatthana Sutta details the use of the sloth and torpor hindrance as an object for mindfulness meditation. Does anyone have any practical advice, either of a personal nature or from an established teacher, about how this might be achieved. Whenever I am suffering from this hindrance it completely negates any attempt at meditation of any sort. So I am interested about advice how tiredness could be used as grist for the meditation mill.
Crab Bucket
(21199 rep)
Aug 15, 2014, 12:50 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:51 PM
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Limitations of meditation/mindfulness without Vinaya
Some teachers say that the meditation practice without the Vinaya is very limited on its achievments. That is equivalent of saying that lay meditators will have very limited results, even if he/she keeps the 5 precepts. Can anyone explain what is the real difference? What gets limited by not followi...
Some teachers say that the meditation practice without the Vinaya is very limited on its achievments. That is equivalent of saying that lay meditators will have very limited results, even if he/she keeps the 5 precepts.
Can anyone explain what is the real difference? What gets limited by not following Vinaya?
PS: The teacher was Ajahn Chah, he was talking about retreat, even in retreat the lay person wont get so far because of Vinaya, there is only so much a lay men can develop in meditation (even in a retreat).
konrad01
(9895 rep)
Jan 21, 2015, 02:13 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:50 PM
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Is there any such thing as a bad meditation?
I've always been told that there is no such thing as a bad meditation. No matter what happens it is OK. In fact the meditator is a bad judge of the effectiveness and efficacy of any sit even if those concepts did have meaning. However I was reading [Everyday Zen][1] by [Charlotte Joko Beck][2] and s...
I've always been told that there is no such thing as a bad meditation. No matter what happens it is OK. In fact the meditator is a bad judge of the effectiveness and efficacy of any sit even if those concepts did have meaning. However I was reading Everyday Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck and she said that she encounters people who have been meditating who are frankly wasting their time. She says they may as well have been practicing their golf swing for 20 years. Ooohhhh harsh.
So what's going on here? Is there really no such thing as a bad meditation and every sit is just grist for the mill. Or is it possible to waste your time and potentially waste years. Is 'there is no such thing as a bad meditation' just something you tell beginners to motivate them - a kind of expedient means?
Crab Bucket
(21199 rep)
Jul 6, 2014, 12:06 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:49 PM
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Is there a way to help us remember our previous life?
There have been claims that some people can remember their previous life, their life before they are reborn. I can't say these are true or not. Is it possible to remember our previous life? If so, is there any method to help us remember our previous life through meditation or any other means?
There have been claims that some people can remember their previous life, their life before they are reborn. I can't say these are true or not.
Is it possible to remember our previous life?
If so, is there any method to help us remember our previous life through meditation or any other means?
Mawia
(781 rep)
Jul 8, 2014, 01:45 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:48 PM
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How long does it take for one to remember a previous life in a sitting?
I have always wondered how long does it take for one to remember a past life in a sitting, an immediate previous life for example, does it take just a few minutes, or hours or maybe days? This [answer][1] briefed the following way to remember past lives: 1. Obtain the four rūpa-jhānas. 2. Exit the f...
I have always wondered how long does it take for one to remember a past life in a sitting, an immediate previous life for example, does it take just a few minutes, or hours or maybe days?
This answer briefed the following way to remember past lives:
1. Obtain the four rūpa-jhānas.
2. Exit the fourth jhāna and remember the last thing one did before one sat down.
3. Remember the last thing before the thing remembered in the last step. If at any time, one is unable to remember a given experience, one should revert to step one, and after leaving the fourth jhāna attempt to continue where one left off.
4. Repeat step 3 until one is able to remember the first moment of conception.
5. Attempt to remember the last moment before conception (i.e. the death moment).
Look at step 3, you have to remember the previous thing, and previous, and previous... Wow, how long would it take? Do we need to skip some huge steps (maybe 10 years of one's childhood) ? Or maybe the mind work lightningly faster when you are in that recollecting mode?
fxam
(991 rep)
Jul 8, 2014, 10:38 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:47 PM
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Could meditation help with reducing memory and concentration problems? As with ADD or ADHD?
There have been studies showing that meditation can help dealing with depression, stress and anxiety. But are there meditation techniques that help with ADD and ADHD problems? And if there are, which ones? Since three of the unwholesome mental factors seem to coincide with ADD/ADHD symtoms: Muṣitasm...
There have been studies showing that meditation can help dealing with depression, stress and anxiety. But are there meditation techniques that help with ADD and ADHD problems? And if there are, which ones?
Since three of the unwholesome mental factors seem to coincide with ADD/ADHD symtoms:
Muṣitasmṛtitā - forgetfulness
Asaṃprajanya - non-alertness, inattentiveness
Vikṣepa - distraction, desultoriness
DirkM
(1555 rep)
Jul 13, 2014, 04:36 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:47 PM
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Why is it hard to breathe naturally when meditating?
For me it is rather hard to breathe naturally while doing Samatha meditation. It makes it harder to concentrate because I'm always controlling my breath. Do you have any suggestion how to overcome this problem? Is this a normal problem for a beginner in Samatha meditation?
For me it is rather hard to breathe naturally while doing Samatha meditation. It makes it harder to concentrate because I'm always controlling my breath.
Do you have any suggestion how to overcome this problem?
Is this a normal problem for a beginner in Samatha meditation?
Blaze Tama
(777 rep)
Jul 14, 2014, 07:51 AM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:46 PM
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Why do users of psychedelic drugs tend to gravitate toward Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies?
This post was submitted to reddit and I thought it might be interesting to re-post it here. I will now copy and paste the body of text the original poster submitted: "It seems like so many people who use psychedelics are drawn to the Eastern way of thought. I could probably count on one hand the amo...
This post was submitted to reddit and I thought it might be interesting to re-post it here. I will now copy and paste the body of text the original poster submitted:
"It seems like so many people who use psychedelics are drawn to the Eastern way of thought. I could probably count on one hand the amount of people in the world who took LSD and became a supporter of Hobbes' argument for the sovereign or any other western way of thought (save, perhaps, existentialism). Conversely, almost any forum for psychedelic drug users will have lots of discussions of meditation, buddhism, taoism, and so forth, especially when discussing how the drugs have changed the individual using them.
What is it about psychedelics and eastern thought that causes this? Why is this correlation exist?"
re: http://www.reddit.com/r/Buddhism/comments/2aqzgw/why_do_users_of_psychedelic_drugs_tend_to/
So why is this?
DLV
(1009 rep)
Jul 15, 2014, 08:39 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:46 PM
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Will smoking cigarettes permanently hinder meditation?
The breath is such an important part of meditation. Will a decreased lung capacity decrease the depth I can achieve in meditation?
The breath is such an important part of meditation. Will a decreased lung capacity decrease the depth I can achieve in meditation?
Yoda Bytes
(539 rep)
Aug 9, 2014, 01:04 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:45 PM
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What are the advantages/disadvantages of meditating with eyes closed?
I'm not normally distracted by noise, touch, smell or taste when I meditate. But I do keep looking and looking and looking. Sometimes I'll fixate on a crack between the spars of wood on the floor, sometimes something of more soteriological value like a statuette. What are the advantages/disadvantage...
I'm not normally distracted by noise, touch, smell or taste when I meditate. But I do keep looking and looking and looking. Sometimes I'll fixate on a crack between the spars of wood on the floor, sometimes something of more soteriological value like a statuette.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of meditating with ones eyes open or ones eyes shut?
MatthewMartin
(7221 rep)
Aug 15, 2014, 02:29 AM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:45 PM
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Is it possible for active people to truly live practice "mindfulness"?
Several buddhist/meditation books recommend me to practice "Mindfulness" or living in the present moment alone. I am a married man with a 4 yr old son and wife.I am currently working in one of the top 10 IT company in the world. On any given time I will have a "list of things to do" which are import...
Several buddhist/meditation books recommend me to practice "Mindfulness" or living in the present moment alone.
I am a married man with a 4 yr old son and wife.I am currently working in one of the top 10 IT company in the world.
On any given time I will have a "list of things to do" which are important and which are pending from my side.
So if I ignore my tasks and "live only in the present moment" it will greatly harm me and my family's life.
Also how am I supposed to be at peace when all the pending items keep reminding me that they are not yet completed even if I try to calm myself for couple of minutes.
Does this mean that people with lot of responsibilities should refrain from practicing "mindfulness" ?
Varun
(305 rep)
Aug 17, 2014, 01:04 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:44 PM
5
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What are the physiological effects of mindfulness based meditation?
I was meditating on the breath recently and I noticed that my breath slowed to a significant extent (not a huge insight admittedly). So this made me wonder if anyone has measured the effects of mindfulness type meditations on the body while the person is meditating. For instance what is the affect o...
I was meditating on the breath recently and I noticed that my breath slowed to a significant extent (not a huge insight admittedly). So this made me wonder if anyone has measured the effects of mindfulness type meditations on the body while the person is meditating. For instance what is the affect on breath rate, blood pressure, heart rate, the hormonal system and so forth.
Crab Bucket
(21199 rep)
Aug 22, 2014, 04:57 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:43 PM
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How buddhist meditation leads to liberation?
Buddha taught meditation to develop concentration, calm of the mind to finally experience nibbana. Other religions (Hindu yoga, etc) also taught meditation. So in which way Buddhist meditation is different? and leads to end of suffering? If I'm not wrong, if someone is absorbed in concentration, wha...
Buddha taught meditation to develop concentration, calm of the mind to finally experience nibbana.
Other religions (Hindu yoga, etc) also taught meditation.
So in which way Buddhist meditation is different? and leads to end of suffering?
If I'm not wrong, if someone is absorbed in concentration, whatever religion does not matter. since there is no thought during absorption.
Please explain if possible in terms of 7 factors of awakening, 8 foldpath, etc...
Nyan
(1014 rep)
Aug 25, 2014, 06:47 AM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:42 PM
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Meditating in stressful days
In stressful days, when I really need to calm down and find some inner peace, is when I find it harder to meditate. A lot of thoughts going in and out and creating intense feelings as a consequence of the events of the day. Is there any kind of method one can use to meditate in such days?
In stressful days, when I really need to calm down and find some inner peace, is when I find it harder to meditate. A lot of thoughts going in and out and creating intense feelings as a consequence of the events of the day.
Is there any kind of method one can use to meditate in such days?
konrad01
(9895 rep)
Aug 26, 2014, 01:18 AM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:41 PM
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Is there a specific range of meditation styles that could help with extreme clumsiness and disconnected mind-body?
I have always been very clumsy, specifically,i am not aware, if that's a correct term,o f where my body is located or how its moving, leading to accidents, over-use of force, hitting things accidentally ,etc.... I have been practicing basic mindfulness meditation,along with zen meditation and it has...
I have always been very clumsy, specifically,i am not aware, if that's a correct term,o f where my body is located or how its moving, leading to accidents, over-use of force, hitting things accidentally ,etc.... I have been practicing basic mindfulness meditation,along with zen meditation and it has worked wonders in many aspects of my life. Given that, would there be a specific type of practice which would affect this somewhat disconnected body "syndrome"?, for lack of a better term.
Mathew
(103 rep)
Aug 27, 2014, 03:47 AM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:41 PM
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What's the relationship between effort and zazen?
I'm currently reading [Zen Mind Beginners Mind][1] which I am enjoying. However when I read Zen books I'm always confused about the role of effort in zazen practice. Reading the book it makes it seem like there is no effort involved. In one sense I can subscribe to this. However if zazen was truly e...
I'm currently reading Zen Mind Beginners Mind which I am enjoying. However when I read Zen books I'm always confused about the role of effort in zazen practice. Reading the book it makes it seem like there is no effort involved. In one sense I can subscribe to this. However if zazen was truly effortless then everyone would be doing zazen most of the time. That seems like a flawed conclusion to me. Can anyone help me with how effort relates to zazen please.
Crab Bucket
(21199 rep)
Aug 27, 2014, 12:00 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:40 PM
5
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1
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Did Ledi Sayadaw invent a vipassana technique?
According to the currently available historical sources, did Ledi Sayadaw invent his technique of meditation, or did he learn it in the caves of the Sagaing Hills? Is there enough information to tell which possibility is more likely?
According to the currently available historical sources, did Ledi Sayadaw invent his technique of meditation, or did he learn it in the caves of the Sagaing Hills? Is there enough information to tell which possibility is more likely?
kami
(2732 rep)
Aug 29, 2014, 09:46 PM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:40 PM
3
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2
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How does one know that he's reached a Jhana level in Metta meditation?
When someone practices Metta meditation towards a beloved person using a phrase, > e.g. May xx be be free from enmity and danger what is the counterpart sign (nimitta) in this method and how does the practitioner identify whether he's reached a Jhana level?
When someone practices Metta meditation towards a beloved person using a phrase,
> e.g. May xx be be free from enmity and danger
what is the counterpart sign (nimitta) in this method and how does the practitioner identify whether he's reached a Jhana level?
dmsp
(4313 rep)
Aug 31, 2014, 10:21 AM
• Last activity: May 30, 2015, 12:39 PM
Showing page 422 of 20 total questions