Tag: vipashyana

exhausted young woman yawning while reading textbook in armchair
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
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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
tranquil black man sitting with closed eyes and crossed legs on floor
Student's Question

What does ‘resting in the nature of mind’ mean? A student asks how can we be sure we’re not resting in ‘ordinary mind’ when we meditate?

Seeing reality accurately is Liberation.  So the doubts that trigger enquiry are our best friends on the path – open to them with humility and love – they are bringing us closer and closer to the truth… Continue reading What does ‘resting in the nature of mind’ mean? A student asks how can we be sure we’re not resting in ‘ordinary mind’ when we meditate?

Awakened Heart Sangha
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Lama Shenpen Teaching

The Pranidhana for Radical Happiness at the Heart of Love & Compassion Teachings

The important thing about the Apramanas practice is to really break through that thinking and dare to wish all beings to be happy and free from suffering, because that is actually what you’re wishing for, and you do wish it to be radical happiness, where they’ve realised what is the cause of suffering and what causes happiness, and they’re just abiding by that, so they’re not going to fall back into suffering… Continue reading The Pranidhana for Radical Happiness at the Heart of Love & Compassion Teachings

Awakened Heart Sangha
Student's Question

Can I listen to music when I meditate? Or use an object to focus on?

Some people are not able to engage properly with vipashyana because they just haven’t enough Shamata [calm abiding], and sometimes the reason is that they are too tense and so relaxation needs to be their first step.
Others are too loose so focusing on a single object helps to bring the focus back to a single point in order to settle and integrate the mind and body enough to be able to develop vipashyana. Continue reading Can I listen to music when I meditate? Or use an object to focus on?

Awakened Heart Sangha
Student's Question

Why Formless Meditation can be difficult to relate to at first and why we should keep going

Formless meditation takes time to learn, Often people get discouraged along the way and think that they would rather have something more definite to do. Formless meditation produces shamatha but in a way that opens itself up to vipashyana (insight). It is the insight that brings about liberation at a very deep and complete level. Continue reading Why Formless Meditation can be difficult to relate to at first and why we should keep going

Loshi