Originally posted by An Eternal Now:soul, do you practice Pa Auk Sayadaw, Mahasi Sayadaw, Goenka, or Thai?
haha, actually if you look at them, they are all aiming the same thing , which is Sotapatti Magga (path consciousness of the Stream Enterer) . The method they use may differ. Some stress on cultivation of Jhana first, then from there, they emerge into Access Concentration. With a sharpened mind, they start to direct their mind into the dependent origination, 32 parts of body, 4 elements, etc to gain insight.
Some use the Vipassana + Jhana , some use sole Vipassana method. I am using Vipassana method, simply because i am instructed that way, not because it's superior or inferior
Originally posted by Rooney9:so what are the theravada temples in KL
Sri lankan monks - Maha Vihara in bricksfield KL
Citawan temple - A thai temple i heard
There are a few more, some run by burmese monks too.
Originally posted by Rooney9:care to explain what are these?
Different practice systems in Theravada. Pa Auk Sayadaw aims for jhanas before vipassana. Mahasi Sayadaw and Goenka goes for vipassana straight. These three systems are from Burma/Myanmar. Thai generally teaches Vipassana but I believe they have emphasis in a path that I call '2nd gear' or the Witness or what they call Poo Roo. However Ajahn Brahmavamso is a little different and he emphasizes developing samatha jhanas first. I am not familiar with Sri Lankan but I believe they also aim jhanas.
Originally posted by soul2soul:haha, actually if you look at them, they are all aiming the same thing , which is Sotapatti Magga (path consciousness of the Stream Enterer) . The method they use may differ. Some stress on cultivation of Jhana first, then from there, they emerge into Access Concentration. With a sharpened mind, they start to direct their mind into the dependent origination, 32 parts of body, 4 elements, etc to gain insight.
Some use the Vipassana + Jhana , some use sole Vipassana method. I am using Vipassana method, simply because i am instructed that way, not because it's superior or inferior
I see.. so you received your instructions from the Sri Lankan temple or Thai temple?
Anyway Anapanasati goes both ways: it can be practiced as a samatha method (concentrating on the in and out of breathe) or it can be practiced as vipassana (observing 3 characteristics, bare sensations)
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Different practice systems in Theravada. Pa Auk Sayadaw aims for jhanas before vipassana. Mahasi Sayadaw and Goenka goes for vipassana straight. These three systems are from Burma/Myanmar. Thai generally teaches Vipassana but I believe they have emphasis in a path that I call '2nd gear' or the Witness or what they call Poo Roo. However Ajahn Brahmavamso is a little different and he emphasizes developing samatha jhanas first. I am not familiar with Sri Lankan but I believe they also aim jhanas.
so many diff practices. I prefer to follow the Buddha's methodology.
Originally posted by Rooney9:so many diff practices. I prefer to follow the Buddha's methodology.
The Buddha's method is whatever is best for you. He taught that there are those who enter by insight first before developing tranquility, or the other way around. It all works.
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:I see.. so you received your instructions from the Sri Lankan temple or Thai temple?
Anyway Anapanasati goes both ways: it can be practiced as a samatha method (concentrating on the in and out of breathe) or it can be practiced as vipassana (observing 3 characteristics, bare sensations)
Sri lankan. But the teacher there teaches in all the theravada temples around KL.
Originally posted by Rooney9:so many diff practices. I prefer to follow the Buddha's methodology.
Step by step friend. step by step. slowly and surely you will understand.
Originally posted by soul2soul:Sri lankan. But the teacher there teaches in all the theravada temples around KL.
I see...
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:1) Just curious why dont u chant ?
My personal preference. I practice what suits me better.
2) I'm interested to learn about meditation , i can refer to information from the net but would prefer to hear it from a person who has experience in meditation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapanasati
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapanasati_Sutta
How should i start ?
First learn the proper meditation posture, sit in full lotus, half lotus or burmese posture, and just be aware of the sensations of breathing -- whether it is cold, hot, soft, solid, etc. Just fully sense the texture of the breathe without labeling or giving a thought. It's best to learn it from a meditation teacher.
Thanks for your advice. : )
Originally posted by soul2soul:Dear friend,
Are there any meditation centres in Singapore that teach Vipassana and Samatha meditation? If there is, you may want to pay the centre a visit. Meditation needs a teacher, and certain fine points in meditation cannot be read from the books, but have to be passed down by teacher-student experience.
For example, when you encounter certain hindrance, you may need to refer it to your teacher to get some answers, something that books cannot provide you.
Hi Soul , thanks for your advice too. I think some dharma centres do conduct some meditation classes , however the duration of the lesson is only for a certain period of time so i think personal guidance is not possible. For the moment, i think i just want to learn maybe some general meditation.
Originally posted by knightlll:
Hi Soul , thanks for your advice too. I think some dharma centres do conduct some meditation classes , however the duration of the lesson is only for a certain period of time so i think personal guidance is not possible. For the moment, i think i just want to learn maybe some general meditation.
Hi friend,
It will benefit you even if you get some initial instruction for a brief period. I think almost all Theravada centres teach Vipassana as it is the core of the Buddhas teaching. The technique they use may differ, as mentioned, some stress on Jhanas first, some a combination of both, and some pure Vipassana.
Even if you approach it in pure vipassana, some of the Samatha meditation can be used as just mental exercises (not cultivating into Jhana that is). For me, I am taught Metta too to reduce hatred , and to get less irritated with other beings in daily life.
Dear firends,
If you are interested to learn meditation, then spend a few months, look for a nice teacher in one of the traditions mentioned by AEN and soul2soul. First, go for a basic breathing in and out meditation course, then after that, if you still want to learn more, go shopping around meditation centres and the best is to spend some retreats with each centre to understand their system and to give yourself a chance to have personal one-to one instruction with the teacher. Then maybe you can see which one you like best and visit the centre more often :)But please do not spend all your time shoppiong. Do settle down. Not all systems are compatible with one another so do choose a tradition and work with it! Best of luck to all!:)
Metta_(|)_
I dont know much about meditation and their purposes.
I think i just want to learn how to meditate to reduce unwholesome thoughts , defilements and etc.
Shall find out more
Thanks for everyone's suggestions and advices. : )
For pple who like me who hasnt started yet.
http://www.thubtenchodron.org/Meditation/index.html#purificationHarvard
just curious, although sutras like ratana sutra and metta sutra are chanted in pali, but does Mahayana monks also chant ratana and metta sutra in sanskrit?
No, we encourage translating to modern languages like Chinese and English so that normal people like you and me can understand.
Originally posted by Rooney9:just curious, although sutras like ratana sutra and metta sutra are chanted in pali, but does Mahayana monks also chant ratana and metta sutra in sanskrit?
Yes ..Compassion Mantra is the equivalent of metta Sutra
Oh ya forgot to mention, only sutras are translated, mantras remain in sanskrit form.
curious. regarding on the sutra's uttered by Guan Shi Yin Pusa to Shariputra, how come the buddha didnt expound this sutra, instead it was left for Guan Shi Yin Pusa to expound?
Originally posted by Rooney9:curious. regarding on the sutra's uttered by Guan Shi Yin Pusa to Shariputra, how come the buddha didnt expound this sutra, instead it was left for Guan Shi Yin Pusa to expound?
In Mahayana, there are also Sutras expounded by Bodhisattvas and even Arhats. But the content of these Sutras would have been "approved" (so to speak) by the Buddha, so it would also be considered the Buddha's teachings though not directly spoken by the Buddha. One example of such Sutras is the Vimalakirti Sutra ç¶æ‘©ç¶“.
Originally posted by Rooney9:curious. regarding on the sutra's uttered by Guan Shi Yin Pusa to Shariputra, how come the buddha didnt expound this sutra, instead it was left for Guan Shi Yin Pusa to expound?
I think you're referring to the "Heart Sutra"? Actually it is said that the Heart Sutra is a condensation of the whole Prajna Paramita Sutras 摩訶般若波羅蜜經, which is a huge collection.
I think when the buddha expounded the dhamma, its without distinction if it is theravada or mahayana isnt it.
Originally posted by sanath:In Mahayana, there are also Sutras expounded by Bodhisattvas and even Arhats. But the content of these Sutras would have been "approved" (so to speak) by the Buddha, so it would also be considered the Buddha's teachings though not directly spoken by the Buddha. One example of such Sutras is the Vimalakirti Sutra ç¶æ‘©ç¶“.
care to explain what Vimalakirti Sutra ç¶æ‘©ç¶“ is? is it in the theravada canon as well? thanks.
Originally posted by sanath:I think you're referring to the "Heart Sutra"? Actually it is said that the Heart Sutra is a condensation of the whole Prajna Paramita Sutras 摩訶般若波羅蜜經, which is a huge collection.
read that Prajna Paramita Sutras 摩訶般若波羅蜜經 was expounded by Guanshi yin pusa to shariputra isnt it.
is this sutra exclusively to guanshi yin pusa?
Originally posted by Rooney9:care to explain what Vimalakirti Sutra ç¶æ‘©ç¶“ is? is it in the theravada canon as well? thanks.
Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vimalakirti_Sutra