Liam's Practice Journal
- LiamO%27Sullivan
- Topic Author
12 years 8 months ago #91939
by LiamO%27Sullivan
Replied by LiamO%27Sullivan on topic RE: Liam's Practice Journal
(edit: double post)
- LiamO%27Sullivan
- Topic Author
12 years 8 months ago #91940
by LiamO%27Sullivan
Replied by LiamO%27Sullivan on topic RE: Liam's Practice Journal
KFD seems to not be accepting my posts, so a quick one to see if this works...
110 mins dry noting last night, longest I've ever done, as I had decided to do a long sit since the practice the night before was so effortless. Slightly disappointingly routine, just grinding along putting the hours in, but satisfied all the same. So easy to want it all to be like the 4th ñana despite continual evidence that it isn't!
Off the cushion: Some laziness, have to keep reminding myself to turn on vipassana mode. Benefits of dis-embedding and more positive mental states arising clear. Feel substantially less dark-nightey.
Plan: Do kasina practice to supplement concentration. Keep 'choosing' the brahma viharas over negative states. More long sits.
110 mins dry noting last night, longest I've ever done, as I had decided to do a long sit since the practice the night before was so effortless. Slightly disappointingly routine, just grinding along putting the hours in, but satisfied all the same. So easy to want it all to be like the 4th ñana despite continual evidence that it isn't!
Off the cushion: Some laziness, have to keep reminding myself to turn on vipassana mode. Benefits of dis-embedding and more positive mental states arising clear. Feel substantially less dark-nightey.
Plan: Do kasina practice to supplement concentration. Keep 'choosing' the brahma viharas over negative states. More long sits.
- LiamO%27Sullivan
- Topic Author
12 years 8 months ago #91941
by LiamO%27Sullivan
Replied by LiamO%27Sullivan on topic RE: Liam's Practice Journal
Today- bowl kasina practice 60 mins:
I've tried kasina practice before with little result, my attention darting around the object. I resolved not to move for the whole hour, expecting a hard time and resolving to accept that, and this surrender/beginner's mind approach helped me to figure it out as I went along. I repeated 'bowl' subvocally which helped to keep the attention on the object but also to solidify it as a whole; it was a case not so much of actively ignoring the various sensations, images, thoughts and distractions, which would have paradoxically drawn my attention to them more, but more letting them pass.
After the various physical problems dropped away (tearing eyes, some dullness) I became aware of vipassana occurring anyway under the concentration afforded by the kasina, as small sensations were noticed before the attention went back to the bowl as a whole. Eventually I noticed a very calm, pleasant sensation pervading the body and the ability to deepen the concentration by relaxing bodily, the bowl starting to be seen as a flat disc. Very different to being one-pointed with the eyes closed, and I can see how samatha and vipassana could be described as being on a continuum. Afterwards, a bit of a blissful hangover which lasted about ten minutes.
I've tried kasina practice before with little result, my attention darting around the object. I resolved not to move for the whole hour, expecting a hard time and resolving to accept that, and this surrender/beginner's mind approach helped me to figure it out as I went along. I repeated 'bowl' subvocally which helped to keep the attention on the object but also to solidify it as a whole; it was a case not so much of actively ignoring the various sensations, images, thoughts and distractions, which would have paradoxically drawn my attention to them more, but more letting them pass.
After the various physical problems dropped away (tearing eyes, some dullness) I became aware of vipassana occurring anyway under the concentration afforded by the kasina, as small sensations were noticed before the attention went back to the bowl as a whole. Eventually I noticed a very calm, pleasant sensation pervading the body and the ability to deepen the concentration by relaxing bodily, the bowl starting to be seen as a flat disc. Very different to being one-pointed with the eyes closed, and I can see how samatha and vipassana could be described as being on a continuum. Afterwards, a bit of a blissful hangover which lasted about ten minutes.