Category: Student’s Question

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Student's Question

Meditation makes my mind dull and sleepy, what can I do?

The problem here is that the Shamata [calm abiding meditation) is strong but there is very little insight [Vipashyana meditation]. You need to become interested in the nature of the thoughts instead of just letting them go. If you let them go too quickly it is almost as if you are cutting them off rather than simply letting them be. It is a very fine edge or distinction… Continue reading Meditation makes my mind dull and sleepy, what can I do?

Awakened Heart Sangha
Student's Question

“The meditation cushion is not a magic wand” – Lama Shenpen on balancing acting in the world & meditating

The meditation cushion is not a magic wand that solves all problems.  Each situation needs to be addressed with Openness, Clarity and Sensitivity – sometimes face to face in the situation we find ourselves in – and sometimes face to face with ourselves in meditation. Continue reading “The meditation cushion is not a magic wand” – Lama Shenpen on balancing acting in the world & meditating

Awakened Heart Sangha
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Student's Question

Should we label all thoughts as ‘thinking’ in meditation?

I think this question relates to reflection – when and how do we engage in reflection? Often it is when we are sitting quietly on our meditation cushion and thoughts and feelings are coming up, we recognise patterns and insights pop out sometimes as if from nowhere. Sometimes we worry that we are going to forget them and are tempted to quickly note them down. To do that would be useful from the reflection point of view but not what we should be doing when we are first developing some kind of Shamata. Continue reading Should we label all thoughts as ‘thinking’ in meditation?

Awakened Heart Sangha
anonymous young woman sitting on floor in ardha padmasana position near esoteric objects used for meditation
Student's Question

An important conversation with a student about misunderstanding Dharma and ‘spiritual bypassing’

Not everyone is at the same stage in their Buddhist life and so it’s good to think in terms of spiral learning. It’s not all upwards and onwards – it is about staying grounded where you are right now and the next step forward in our own path of discovery.  Continue reading An important conversation with a student about misunderstanding Dharma and ‘spiritual bypassing’

Awakened Heart Sangha
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Student's Question

Lama Shenpen advises a student who is struggling with feeling there’s no point or purpose to their being

Our purpose is to hang on in there, trusting that our True Nature hasn’t actually changed, that how it manifests is not how it is and that although the pain of not being able to recognise that True Nature seems endless and hopeless, actually it is spurring us on to abandon what is false and open to what is real. Continue reading Lama Shenpen advises a student who is struggling with feeling there’s no point or purpose to their being

Awakened Heart Sangha