THE FORUMS
What is meditation exactly? Whenever I've done it I've just sat down and closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind of all thoughts.
Read my post earlier on this thread.Basically it's the art of doing as less as possible. Both science and buddhism distinguish two kinds,
one strengtens concentration (samadhi) through Focused Attention (FA),
the other trains an open awareness of your own thoughts, which is usefull for insight (vipasanna), this is also called "open monitoring" (OM) sometimes.
They differ in that FA has an object you concentrate on, which serves as an anchor for your attention, while with OM you focus on whatever passes by, and let immediatly go.
FA is the basis for OM, because without enough concentration, you can't monitor your thoughts because you get dragged away with them.
Meditation is therefore NOT trying to think nothing; (although that's a result of strong concentration), and it's also not about "just sitting" (then you get lost in your thoughts) or doing nothing (then you just start daydreaming -- or you relax and fall asleep).
__________________
wel heb ik je ooit!
I just got back into the "real world"
Being on this little black rectangle that projects images and words is a bizarre experience right now. I can't believe that at one time I was attached to this little thing for hours at a time...wow.
--------------
I'll say that the 10-day course is something that you TRULY have to commit yourself to.
I basically changed my entire life at a DEEP level by attending and REALLY putting in the hard work. I viewed the painful memories with the same attitude as the pleasurable memories - total equanimity.
Now, it's just a matter of me keeping up the habit...I'm actually going to meditate in a couple of minutes, so yeah. 100 hours of meditation pretty much. 30 hours teaching you how to train your mind 70 hours spent exploring the very depths of your being.
Wow.
I'm going to be off this forum for a while, but I just wanted to say...thank you Diskodancer for sharing this with me. It came at the right time in my life.
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear"
-AR
Being on this little black rectangle that projects images and words is a bizarre experience right now. I can't believe that at one time I was attached to this little thing for hours at a time...wow.
--------------
I'll say that the 10-day course is something that you TRULY have to commit yourself to.
I basically changed my entire life at a DEEP level by attending and REALLY putting in the hard work. I viewed the painful memories with the same attitude as the pleasurable memories - total equanimity.
Now, it's just a matter of me keeping up the habit...I'm actually going to meditate in a couple of minutes, so yeah. 100 hours of meditation pretty much. 30 hours teaching you how to train your mind 70 hours spent exploring the very depths of your being.
Wow.
I'm going to be off this forum for a while, but I just wanted to say...thank you Diskodancer for sharing this with me. It came at the right time in my life.
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear"
-AR
__________________
My game = social skills + having a dick. Morely the latter.
Equanimity and Awareness.
What is meditation exactly? Whenever I've done it I've just sat down and closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind of all thoughts.
__________________
My game = social skills + having a dick. Morely the latter.
I just got back into the "real world"
Being on this little black rectangle that projects images and words is a bizarre experience right now. I can't believe that at one time I was attached to this little thing for hours at a time...wow.
--------------
I'll say that the 10-day course is something that you TRULY have to commit yourself to.
I basically changed my entire life at a DEEP level by attending and REALLY putting in the hard work. I viewed the painful memories with the same attitude as the pleasurable memories - total equanimity.
Now, it's just a matter of me keeping up the habit...I'm actually going to meditate in a couple of minutes, so yeah. 100 hours of meditation pretty much. 30 hours teaching you how to train your mind 70 hours spent exploring the very depths of your being.
Wow.
I'm going to be off this forum for a while, but I just wanted to say...thank you Diskodancer for sharing this with me. It came at the right time in my life.
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear"
-AR
Quite a chilling response, i am looking forward to TRULY commit myself for this. My 10 days is supposed to have loud noises because of construction, do you think headphones will be good enough or should i buy ear plugs? Being on this little black rectangle that projects images and words is a bizarre experience right now. I can't believe that at one time I was attached to this little thing for hours at a time...wow.
--------------
I'll say that the 10-day course is something that you TRULY have to commit yourself to.
I basically changed my entire life at a DEEP level by attending and REALLY putting in the hard work. I viewed the painful memories with the same attitude as the pleasurable memories - total equanimity.
Now, it's just a matter of me keeping up the habit...I'm actually going to meditate in a couple of minutes, so yeah. 100 hours of meditation pretty much. 30 hours teaching you how to train your mind 70 hours spent exploring the very depths of your being.
Wow.
I'm going to be off this forum for a while, but I just wanted to say...thank you Diskodancer for sharing this with me. It came at the right time in my life.
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear"
-AR
__________________
Recently came back from my retreat.
It was tough at times but far from inhuman. Delicious food. Cool people.
I didn't enjoy some of the discourses (I heard a translated version so it could be the interpretor's fault) because I found them either preachy or full with buddhist concepts I disagreed with. THAT made it tough to meditate. Full belief in the technique is absolutely essential to practice diligently, diligently.
Having that said... This stuff works.
I've definately become more centered. When negative emotions come, they no longer stick around and put me in a bad mood. I feel them in my body as they arise, then my mind quickly regains composure and I'm back in a neutral state.
As I wrote before, I didn't like all of the teachings. Goenka (the guru) believes casual sex is bad and even sex in a commited relationship is considered unimportant. Kind of ironic how we use it to go out and pick up chicks...
I also don't understand why they keep saying Vipassana is not connected to any religion. It IS! I'ts chock full of buddhist teachings concerning karma, life after death and so on.
My advice (and Goenka states this himself) to anyone planning to attend is that you simply ignore the stuff you find disagreeable. The technique works.
Do it!
It was tough at times but far from inhuman. Delicious food. Cool people.
I didn't enjoy some of the discourses (I heard a translated version so it could be the interpretor's fault) because I found them either preachy or full with buddhist concepts I disagreed with. THAT made it tough to meditate. Full belief in the technique is absolutely essential to practice diligently, diligently.
Having that said... This stuff works.
I've definately become more centered. When negative emotions come, they no longer stick around and put me in a bad mood. I feel them in my body as they arise, then my mind quickly regains composure and I'm back in a neutral state.
As I wrote before, I didn't like all of the teachings. Goenka (the guru) believes casual sex is bad and even sex in a commited relationship is considered unimportant. Kind of ironic how we use it to go out and pick up chicks...
I also don't understand why they keep saying Vipassana is not connected to any religion. It IS! I'ts chock full of buddhist teachings concerning karma, life after death and so on.
My advice (and Goenka states this himself) to anyone planning to attend is that you simply ignore the stuff you find disagreeable. The technique works.
Do it!
Hehe,
you know, I actually thought of you while this was going on.
I went to the retreat in Southern GA and there was also some construction going on. Even thought it was relatively closeby, I didn't hear it unless I allowed it to affect me. Once you get there and TRULY commit yourself, you're going to see that your mind focuses so much that you can barely hear the person next to you.
From personal experience, there were many times that I was so focused that I'd just get into this "deep trance" for minutes at a time and then all of a sudden, I'd hear chanting (which meant that the session was coming to a close). People were coughing around me, sneezing, farting, and other stuff, but it barely affected me once I took it serious. You get to a point where you realize NOTHING can affect you on the outside without you reacting to it.
Once you get in there, you'll understand.
I thought that I had control of my mind, I was dead fucking wrong. The deeper I went, the more I realized just how chaotic everything was. It got to a point where I was reacting to the very deepest parts of my being, then all of a sudden, I made a strong determination to stop reacting (which was very hard). I started gaining glimpses of my life and how I was always in control from beginning to end, but I realized that I have a long journey to take.
Once I got out, there was a MASSIVE disconnect between old habit patterns that I kept falling into and my reactions. It felt like I could see my reactions about to come up in slow motion. Whenever you become aware and equanimous to whatever reaction the mind produces, you get to a point where things just dissolve and you understand that every emotion is just a sensation. You can't control the sensations, but overtime, you can control you reactions so that you have no reactions.
Very interesting stuff.
But to answer your question: Bring some headphones just in case. You may need them, you may not. Start WITHOUT them and see if you need them by Day 4 or 5 or so.
you know, I actually thought of you while this was going on.
I went to the retreat in Southern GA and there was also some construction going on. Even thought it was relatively closeby, I didn't hear it unless I allowed it to affect me. Once you get there and TRULY commit yourself, you're going to see that your mind focuses so much that you can barely hear the person next to you.
From personal experience, there were many times that I was so focused that I'd just get into this "deep trance" for minutes at a time and then all of a sudden, I'd hear chanting (which meant that the session was coming to a close). People were coughing around me, sneezing, farting, and other stuff, but it barely affected me once I took it serious. You get to a point where you realize NOTHING can affect you on the outside without you reacting to it.
Once you get in there, you'll understand.
I thought that I had control of my mind, I was dead fucking wrong. The deeper I went, the more I realized just how chaotic everything was. It got to a point where I was reacting to the very deepest parts of my being, then all of a sudden, I made a strong determination to stop reacting (which was very hard). I started gaining glimpses of my life and how I was always in control from beginning to end, but I realized that I have a long journey to take.
Once I got out, there was a MASSIVE disconnect between old habit patterns that I kept falling into and my reactions. It felt like I could see my reactions about to come up in slow motion. Whenever you become aware and equanimous to whatever reaction the mind produces, you get to a point where things just dissolve and you understand that every emotion is just a sensation. You can't control the sensations, but overtime, you can control you reactions so that you have no reactions.
Very interesting stuff.
But to answer your question: Bring some headphones just in case. You may need them, you may not. Start WITHOUT them and see if you need them by Day 4 or 5 or so.
I just got back into the "real world"
Being on this little black rectangle that projects images and words is a bizarre experience right now. I can't believe that at one time I was attached to this little thing for hours at a time...wow.
--------------
I'll say that the 10-day course is something that you TRULY have to commit yourself to.
I basically changed my entire life at a DEEP level by attending and REALLY putting in the hard work. I viewed the painful memories with the same attitude as the pleasurable memories - total equanimity.
Now, it's just a matter of me keeping up the habit...I'm actually going to meditate in a couple of minutes, so yeah. 100 hours of meditation pretty much. 30 hours teaching you how to train your mind 70 hours spent exploring the very depths of your being.
Wow.
I'm going to be off this forum for a while, but I just wanted to say...thank you Diskodancer for sharing this with me. It came at the right time in my life.
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear"
-AR
Quite a chilling response, i am looking forward to TRULY commit myself for this. My 10 days is supposed to have loud noises because of construction, do you think headphones will be good enough or should i buy ear plugs?Being on this little black rectangle that projects images and words is a bizarre experience right now. I can't believe that at one time I was attached to this little thing for hours at a time...wow.
--------------
I'll say that the 10-day course is something that you TRULY have to commit yourself to.
I basically changed my entire life at a DEEP level by attending and REALLY putting in the hard work. I viewed the painful memories with the same attitude as the pleasurable memories - total equanimity.
Now, it's just a matter of me keeping up the habit...I'm actually going to meditate in a couple of minutes, so yeah. 100 hours of meditation pretty much. 30 hours teaching you how to train your mind 70 hours spent exploring the very depths of your being.
Wow.
I'm going to be off this forum for a while, but I just wanted to say...thank you Diskodancer for sharing this with me. It came at the right time in my life.
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear"
-AR
__________________
My game = social skills + having a dick. Morely the latter.
This is REALLYYY fascinating because I got NOTHING like this out of the retreat. I attended a course in English where Goenka directly gave the discourses.
If you're going out to "pickup chicks and get laid" then you're just using Vipassana as a tool for more craving. When you're going out to give love to people, that's when you realize that there's a fine line between craving and expressing yourself.
He never EVER says that having specific type of sex was bad. He just says, "refrain from sexual immorality". The furthest definition that he goes into about that is: don't fall into passion.
Vipassana is NOT trying tot force any religion on somebody. Goenka just teaches from Buddhism because they happen to explain so thoroughly what's going on. Once you get to a point that you realize everything is changing within yourself, you also see the change every where outside of you. However, one can only understand this from direct experience.
But yes, if you don't believe something, just leave it aside.
If you're going out to "pickup chicks and get laid" then you're just using Vipassana as a tool for more craving. When you're going out to give love to people, that's when you realize that there's a fine line between craving and expressing yourself.
He never EVER says that having specific type of sex was bad. He just says, "refrain from sexual immorality". The furthest definition that he goes into about that is: don't fall into passion.
Vipassana is NOT trying tot force any religion on somebody. Goenka just teaches from Buddhism because they happen to explain so thoroughly what's going on. Once you get to a point that you realize everything is changing within yourself, you also see the change every where outside of you. However, one can only understand this from direct experience.
But yes, if you don't believe something, just leave it aside.
Recently came back from my retreat.
It was tough at times but far from inhuman. Delicious food. Cool people.
I didn't enjoy some of the discourses (I heard a translated version so it could be the interpretor's fault) because I found them either preachy or full with buddhist concepts I disagreed with. THAT made it tough to meditate. Full belief in the technique is absolutely essential to practice diligently, diligently.
Having that said... This stuff works.
I've definately become more centered. When negative emotions come, they no longer stick around and put me in a bad mood. I feel them in my body as they arise, then my mind quickly regains composure and I'm back in a neutral state.
As I wrote before, I didn't like all of the teachings. Goenka (the guru) believes casual sex is bad and even sex in a commited relationship is considered unimportant. Kind of ironic how we use it to go out and pick up chicks...
I also don't understand why they keep saying Vipassana is not connected to any religion. It IS! I'ts chock full of buddhist teachings concerning karma, life after death and so on.
My advice (and Goenka states this himself) to anyone planning to attend is that you simply ignore the stuff you find disagreeable. The technique works.
Do it!
It was tough at times but far from inhuman. Delicious food. Cool people.
I didn't enjoy some of the discourses (I heard a translated version so it could be the interpretor's fault) because I found them either preachy or full with buddhist concepts I disagreed with. THAT made it tough to meditate. Full belief in the technique is absolutely essential to practice diligently, diligently.
Having that said... This stuff works.
I've definately become more centered. When negative emotions come, they no longer stick around and put me in a bad mood. I feel them in my body as they arise, then my mind quickly regains composure and I'm back in a neutral state.
As I wrote before, I didn't like all of the teachings. Goenka (the guru) believes casual sex is bad and even sex in a commited relationship is considered unimportant. Kind of ironic how we use it to go out and pick up chicks...
I also don't understand why they keep saying Vipassana is not connected to any religion. It IS! I'ts chock full of buddhist teachings concerning karma, life after death and so on.
My advice (and Goenka states this himself) to anyone planning to attend is that you simply ignore the stuff you find disagreeable. The technique works.
Do it!
__________________
My game = social skills + having a dick. Morely the latter.
I know what you're saying. I'm not implying that I only meditate 4 teh chickz. No, its a tool to improve my life in general. But let's not kid ourselves... This IS a pick-up forum, and it's quite relevant to discuss the benefits of meditation for PU.
I read about Goenkas views on sexuality in an interview found in the book "The Art of Living. Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka"
I read about Goenkas views on sexuality in an interview found in the book "The Art of Living. Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka"
I recently started a little thread where I asked the question; will meditation help increase my concentration, focus, and help me from drifting off, catch thoughts, and ultimately experience less resistance while doing school work?
After reading this whole thread I guess I've gotten my question answered.
But could anyone share experience on how meditating has affected your shcool work?
Either here or in my thread http://www.rsdnation.com/node/179617?page=1#comment-693791
After reading this whole thread I guess I've gotten my question answered.
But could anyone share experience on how meditating has affected your shcool work?
Either here or in my thread http://www.rsdnation.com/node/179617?page=1#comment-693791
__________________
My Hot Seat review (2010): http://www.rsdnation.com/node/167964
Review of my bootcamp with Alex (2011): http://www.rsdnation.com/node/195363
Review of my bootcamp with Alex (2011): http://www.rsdnation.com/node/195363
olio
Senior Member
Join Date: 03/28/2008 | Posts: 274
-Rickson Gracie
"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle
The other is as though everything is a miracle."
-Albert Einstein