u/Far-Impression2284

I live with illnesses/conditions that make my life much harder. When I used to go to church, I was often told that I was carrying the burden of sin and that these illnesses were punishments it’s strange though now, given the burden I carry, I do feel like it is a sort of punishment.. Yet, I was told that God sometimes works in mysterious ways. That—along with seeing how faith was used to hurt others, to make people feel better about themselves, to shame members of the group, and to foster hypocrisy—led me to abandon my faith and the group. I felt there was no God in them; I saw no fruit on that path and no genuine positive emotions in my interactions. There was also God’s silence throughout a lifetime of prayer. I’ve since explored agnosticism and Dharmic religions, yet that early influence remains strong within me.I wonder if you all went through something similar, too? How did you deal with those bad experiences?

Exactly I’ve never felt this good doing nothing in particular other than staring at the wall and simply observing my thoughts without judging anything. After just one 20-minute session, my mind - ADHD, anxiety, low selfsteem and rumination—has been quiet for hours; and if any ruminating thoughts do arise, they just pass through without sticking. I also catch myself getting distracted much sooner now. Why does this happen? And why didn't I discover this sooner?

After completing retreats or practicing Vipassana, what changes did you notice in yourselves over time? Were they positive or negative changes?

That is one of my greatest fears: that over the years, I’ll simply become apathetic toward material reality.

I am referring to lifelong illnesses—or, in fact, any similar circumstance.

So far, I’ve learned techniques and have been sorting out the ones I like best. How did you discover your type of meditation? Does the type matter?How many months or years have to pass?

I saw several groups, but they’re all in English. That’s frustrating for me—I’ve taken several courses for learn english, but since I don’t practice it every day, I forget all. I’m not looking for a specific school; I’m interested in practicing and observing first.

Does anyone have positive experiences with practicing shikantaza over the medium or long term?Along with the note-taking vipassana technique, it is one of the ones that has appealed more interesting.

I discovered Vipassana after samatha practices and have fallen in love with the technique and its variations. Lately, I’ve been more interested in the "noting" technique from the Mahasi school than in the body scan (which is valid, but I want to explore other methods).

There are days when simply sitting and observing without judgment significantly lowers my stress and makes me more attentive to everything. It’s like taking medicine for the mind or spirit.

I deal with a massive workload on a daily basis, requiring long hours of study; I face high-pressure situations, daily blows to my ego, difficult clients, negative people in general, and conflict. I am looking for a meditation technique to build psychological resilience to stress, keep my ego in check, and remain calm and at peace in the face of conflict. Based on your experience, do you have any recommendations for reducing stress and pressure?

I’ve spent a long time practicing Zen and standard mindfulness. But I felt quite good scanning through the sensations in my body and observing them.I would like you to share your experiences.

I’ve been practicing a lot of Anapanasati these past few weeks, and halfway through, I start scanning my body in order; however, I’m not sure if I should simply feel without reacting, or feel, label, and not react.It would also help me a great deal more to go through most of the known systems, in order to try them all out and feedback about vipassana meditation. I am following a body-scanning guide and the most basic suttas.

Unfortunately, I haven't found a sangha, group, or teachers from whom I could receive instructions. I wanted to ask if there are any free practices I can do on my own in the meantime, while I work on overcoming the obstacle of not having a guide.And Vajrayana has sparked a strong curiosity in me, but from what I've read, it has to be with a guide and transmission.

I’ve already looked into communities, Temples , and meditation groups in my area, but there’s nothing. It’s always the same response: either no one replies, or if they do, they say the community or group no longer exists.And I don't speak English for something online.

I’ve been studying like this for two semesters now, dealing with the fatigue, the uncertainty, results that don't reflect the effort I put in, having no social life, losing friendships, and the disappointment over my grades. I used to think that simply putting in the time would pay off... It feels strange.

Is it because, despite having gone to church my whole life, my body simply rejects the idea of ​​an Abrahamic God? Since childhood, I’ve gone to church just to keep up appearances, yet it always felt so empty and futile. And that feeling only grows stronger as I get older.

I have prayed for years for some guidance, and groups have prayed for me, but there is never anything.

What advice could you give me?

Lately, I’ve been looking into meditation and mindfulness as a complement to pharmacological treatment. I’ve noticed daily progress regarding relaxation and stress levels.

Have you had any experiences with mindfulness? Were those experiences positive, negative, or neutral? From what I’ve read, there’s a bit of everything when it comes to ADHD—meaning experiences ranging from very positive to negative and neutral.

I’ve been researching and familiarizing myself with Theravada, Mahayana, and Zen Buddhism. However, I’d like to understand the perspective and daily practice of Tibetan Buddhism and Vajrayana—I know very little about them. I’m interested in their Buddhist canon and traditions, and I’d welcome any advice on how to learn more about this school.

I feel like they all have something special, so I can't quite choose one yet. I've read up on them, but I'd still like to know more about what the actual practice or day-to-day is like.

I’ve been delving into readings, but most of them talk about cultivating detachment. I’ve tried reflecting on this and meditating, but I simply find it incredibly difficult to detach myself from the world, to let go fear, or the feeling of failure after investing so much time. I come from a competitive background, and it’s tough.