I've been using vipassanaai.org, and it told me that I'm not supposed to scan symmetrically (i.e. both legs at once), but instead focus on each part of the body on its own.
Have I misunderstood? I thought the technique was to do the body symmetrically, so each side of the chest, each arm together, etc.
Basically I want to know if there is a place online where I can go and ask questions about the technique and trust that I'm getting an answer from someone who I can reliably expect to be in the know (an assistant teacher or whatever). Reddit can be really useful but at the end of the day, you don't know who is responding and just because someone sounds like they know what they're talking about, that doesn't mean they do, and I obviously want to be sure of the information I'm receiving. Thanks.
Did the course, was impressed to actually experience some benefit. I had sort of worried it just wouldn't work for me, but I've felt lighter and freer since completing it and when keeping up my practice.
However, there were a lot of things Goenka said that I didn't buy in to. This ranged from stuff I'm open to but don't know enough about to have an opinion on, but am skeptical of given his other claims (the account of how the whole thing works involving sankharas etc.), to stuff I straight up disbelieve and am unlikely to be convinced of (reincarnation, nearly all Vipassana mediators remaining conscious and smiling at the time of their deaths, etc.).
I'm also slightly concerned that I could have easily felt better during the course just because I was eating well and wasn't on my phone all the time and stuff, and have felt better afterwards simply because I've felt like I was doing the right thing/on the right path by keeping up with the practice.
Basically, I'm open to the technique working and providing some of the benefits advertised, but I don't really trust Goenka's claims in this regard given that he makes a lot makes a lot of claims I can't get on board with.
What I'm looking for is long term practicioners - particularly people who share my doubts about the more unlikely claims Goenka makes - who can attest to the benefits of keeping up with the practice. I'd be interested to hear how long you've been practicing, and what benefits you think it has brought you.
Thanks.
My mum had a blood test and the doc wanted to speak to her fairly quickly afterwards. They want to do more bloods as the initial ones apparently suggested that she could have either rheumatoid arthritis or leukemia.
I appreciate I haven't given much info, but can anyone confirm that based on this little info, it's more likely to be the former and not the latter? Ideally, quite a bit more likely?
In my day to day life, when I get a negative thought, I observe it as a thought and turn my attention to whatever is going on around me in the present moment. That makes me feel better. Is this the proper technique, or is this fighting thoughts when I should be accepting them?
I'm really struggling to find entirely unscented deoderant. Been to a few places. Would I be OK with something with a milder scent like nivea or sure on the course?
Because I work long days, if I meditate an hour before bed and an hour upon waking, I end up not getting enough sleep. How much of an issue is it for me to meditate earlier in the day, rather than before bed? Or maybe even to split up that second session, so do half an our in the afternoon and half an hour before bed, say?
I'm sure the answer is "If that's all you can manage, do that." But beyond that, how much of an issue is this? Like, it's suboptimal at least, right?
Like everyone, I sometimes deal with negative/anxious thoughts which affect my mood. I often have success in dealing with these thoughts by willfully turning away from them. However, since I've been practicing vipassana it's been my understanding that as part of the practice I'm supposed to not turn away from (or fight, or whatever metaphor you want to use) these thoughts, but instead just notice and accept them. However, I've found that when I do this, this gives the thoughts the opportunity to bed in and affect my mood more.
Can I get some clarification here: am I doing the right thing by not turning away from these thoughts? Is it normal and natural that my mood would be affected more after dropping my old turning-away coping mechanism, and can I expect that over time my mood will be less affected once the new coping mechanism of just observing these thoughts to diminish their power begins to take effect?
Like everyone, I sometimes deal with negative/anxious thoughts which affect my mood. I often have success in dealing with these thoughts by willfully turning away from them. However, since I've been practicing vipassana it's been my understanding that as part of the practice I'm supposed to not turn away from (or fight, or whatever metaphor you want to use) these thoughts, but instead just notice and accept them. However, I've found that when I do this, this gives the thoughts the opportunity to bed in and affect my mood more.
Can I get some clarification here: am I doing the right thing by not turning away from these thoughts? Is it normal and natural that my mood would be affected more after dropping my old turning-away coping mechanism, and can I expect that over time my mood will be less affected once the new coping mechanism of just observing these thoughts to diminish their power begins to take effect?
I'm looking for a good, layman's source of AI updates. Somewhere I can go (articles, podcasts, whatever) and see where things currently are, how the people in the know currently think things are likely to play out from here, etc.
I just saw a post about an eight year old girl who apparently got Sainsbury's to add pockets to their girls' school trousers. This is the sort of thing you'll see from time to time, presented as if the campaign of an individual or group has successfully managed to get a company to do something.
While I imagine that sometimes this is the case, I would think that more often (certainly with big companies like Sainsbury's) what's really going on is that the company has made the decision that this is how they're going to proceed for whatever reason and they choose an individual/group who is currently campaigning for the new way of things, or recently wrote them a letter requesting they do things in the new way, or whatever, and attributes the change to them so that it'll get written up in a feel-good story. This both helps get the message out about the change and also makes the company seem like they listen to their customers/users.
What I want to know is, is there a specific name for this?
I've been meditating on and off for years but recently have been getting more consistent with it. I'm starting to feel somewhat downcast at the fact that I don't seem to be making any progress. I feel like I'm better able to sit for longer without becoming agitated, but I feel like I would have gotten that benefit if I just practised sitting with my eyes closed. I don't feel like I'm any better at actually paying attention to the breath. I feel like I still get lost in thought for as long and as often as when I started.
I understand that the thing to do here is just keep on noting when I become distracted and returning to the breath during sessions, and that mentally chasing progress is actually antithetical to the goal. But I'd still appreciate some words of encouragement!