Bhante Answers your Questions on Meditation
Q. Is there a correct posture for sitting meditation? A. In reality, meditation can be done in many postures: sitting, walking, lying or standing. As to what is the correct one, one has to go on practising for some time to discover one's own correct posture. It is necessary, first, to follow the principle instruction for sitting posture. Sit with your legs touching each other, whether you sit on a chair or on the floor. Without instruction from a teacher do not sit cross-legged. Keep your body and spine straight. Look straight forward. Keep your fingers touching or crossing each other and place them on your legs. Do not cross your palms on top of one another as they can create heat and distract you. Now close your eyes and start meditating. Do not move immediately or frequently if you feel pain but focus on the pain and meditate on it. Q Should I have one meditation object? A. You should choose one object as the primary one and start with it. Regard it as your home. You can focus on breathing, on your nostril, abdominal movements, movement on the top of your head etc. There are many. All are physical. But you have to meditate on any other objects too as they arise. When you hear a noise, then the sound becomes your meditation object at that moment. Notice that for 3-4 times and then come back to your primary object. Sometimes you may have to go to and fro many times. This is still all right. Keep on doing it. Q I started OK but then my mind was wandering. Does this mean my meditation was not correct? A. No. Whether you meditate or not your mind does wander. Unless we have eradicated all the defilement like attachment, aversion and ignorance the mind will be wandering. Remember, the wandering mind is an object of meditation too. Note that and come back to your primary object. Q Can I meditate when I am angry (agitated, excited,frightened,anxious etc)? A. You can. And you should do more when you are angry! Anger, agitation and frightened anxiety .. all are meditation objects. As you meditate on them more and more you will come to understand them. With understanding, they will become less frequent. Q How can I tell that my meditation is progressing? A. If you cannot join our session, you can send me your experience through email or fax. Or telephone me . I rarely reply to letters. Do not write to me about your meditation unless that is the only means of communication easily available to you. Q Do you recommend other forms of meditation? A. There are many forms of meditation and each works in its own way to its own degree. If it emphasises mental training, not ignoring daily problems, it is a good technique. But mainly I teach Vipassana meditation. In practising Vipassana meditation, I always combine it with one of another four types of meditation: Metta, Different parts of the Body, Death and the Buddha. Q Is relaxation the same as meditation? A. Similar but not exactly. Sometimes meditation is quite relaxing but at times it can be quite a struggle. I do use a mild form of relaxation for some people. But I prefer not to use it unless I see it as very necessary. |
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Home Page |
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Initial Steps to Cope with Fear and Pain |
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Why we need to meditate |
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The Concept of Dukkha |
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Bhante answers your questions on meditation |
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An Understanding of Anicca (Impermanence) |
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