Momentary Concentration

[Tamas CMember]

Hi All,

First of all: I tried to use the search functionality on this site before asking this question, but I am not sure if I did it the right way, as I have found no relevant posts. Please, point me to the right forum if there is already one for this question.

So my question is: I have been meditating for a little more than 6 years, and during this time my practice was always mindfulness meditation. Since I started reading Culadasa’s TMI book, there is a question that keeps bothering me; I am not sure if the book can be used the way I try to do it. More specifically: can I use the book without one pointed concentration, using momentary concentration instead, like it is generally done in Vipassana? Does the whole thing still work, or would that somehow be incompatible with Culadasa’s teachings?

Again, I am sorry if I am asking something that have been answered a thousand times, but I could not find anything with the search functionality on the site.

Thank you,
Tamas

[Ted LemonMember]

Are you talking about Mahasi-style noting practice?

[Tamas CMember]

Hi Ted, Other than noticing objects and changes, I usually do not do anything else. I find that noting interrupts my practice by encouraging mind chatter.

Also, I forgot to mention that I do one pointed concentration when I start my sessions. The question is whether it is OK to switch to momentaty concentration once the mind settles and mind wandering / gross distructions is not an issue anymore.

Thank you,
Tamas

[Ted LemonMember]

Ah. I know several people who definitely use this technique, but I don’t use it myself, so I can’t really speak from personal experience. But I would say you are probably on firm ground here, if it’s working for you. Do you have a sense of what stage you are meditating at?

[Tamas CMember]

Hi Ted,

Thank you for your reply!

I am around stage 5 or 6. It is hard to tell, as I have not read stage 6 yet, but I have met the requirements for the first 5 stages already (though of course it does happen sometimes that I get more distructed or dull than usual, according to the book, this is acceptable).

I know I should continue reading the book, and I do find it very well written and informative, but one pointed concentration is something I am not very interested in, at least for now. On the other hand, I do want to have better concentration, of course, and as the book is really good at explaining how to deal with dullness and agitation, I started wondering if I could just simply use momentary concentration, as I normally do, but otherwise follow the book’s instructions. And this is the point where I realised that with my limited knowledge, I simply cannot tell if this makes sense or not. 🙂

– Tamas

[Ted LemonMember]

Ah, thanks for clarifying. Using momentary concentration at stage five is not what Culadasa recommends—he says that momentary concentration, while it can be successful in producing insight, is less stable than continuous attentional stability with mindful awareness. You should keep reading! 🙂

[Tamas CMember]

Thank you! And yes, I do need to keep reading, you are right! 🙂

– Tamas

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