Dharma Treasure Community | John Anders | Activity http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/members/johnanders/activity/ Activity feed for John Anders. Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:32:53 +0000 https://buddypress.org/?v=4.2.0 en-US 30 hourly 2 807f575a23a7bf222160f75b83c5ceed John Anders replied to the topic Questions and Clarifications about Peripheral Awareness in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/questions-and-clarifications-about-peripheral-awareness/#post-2242 Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:49:11 +0000

The most important point is for the beginning meditator not to try to shut out everything else while you are focusing on the breath. Just let them be there.

So if I understand correctly, instead of setting an intention to “engage with the breath as fully as possible without losing peripheral awareness” I can just set the intention to focus on…[Read more]

]]> b271dd9877387ba9cef8554816067bce John Anders started the topic Struggling to understand how to set the intention to engage with the breath in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/struggling-to-understand-how-to-set-the-intention-to-engage-with-the-breath Wed, 11 Oct 2017 23:58:26 +0000 Hi everyone,

I am really frustrated as I am having a hard time understanding how to set the intention to engage with the breath as fully as possible without losing peripheral awareness.

While I have recently learned how to use intention (though I am still playing around with it) and I can direct and redirect attention, and I have had one or two…[Read more]

]]> ef6662b456f23195e753999e7f1dfcc8 John Anders started the topic Struggling with getting past the Six Point Preparation in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/struggling-with-getting-past-the-six-point-preparation Sat, 01 Oct 2016 23:40:19 +0000 Hello,

I have been struggling with getting my mind on the meditation object, out of the 45 minutes I spend meditating I only spend about 5-10 seconds on the meditation object. Maybe 30 seconds at most, though I doubt it. In addition, I have cut down my meditation time from a one hour session in the morning and a 45 minute session in the late…[Read more]

]]> 4e5cd84d2fa855deb127dfc3d21ee634 John Anders started the topic Struggling with getting past the Six Point Preparation in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/struggling-with-getting-past-the-six-point-preparation Sat, 01 Oct 2016 23:40:19 +0000 Hello,

I have been struggling with getting my mind on the meditation object, out of the 45 minutes I spend meditating I only spend about 5-10 seconds on the meditation object. Maybe 30 seconds at most, though I doubt it.

I am going to repost something I posted on reddit because while I got a few responses I would like to hear what a teacher or…[Read more]

]]> 8ffcbc816cd4d8d9bcca78e9736fb569 John Anders replied to the topic Dealing with strong and subtle restlessness in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/dealing-with-strong-and-subtle-restlessness/#post-1357 Sun, 31 Jul 2016 02:54:25 +0000 Hi Blake,

Nothing that I am aware of has changed in my life that could be causing this restlessness.

The restlessness starts at the beginning of the sit.

I do not feel I am putting to much effort into keeping my attention on the meditation object and if I am judging or holding expectations about the way things should be it is unconscious.

I…[Read more]

]]> bd517ba6a2fb1728f60f69ebe45ede89 John Anders replied to the topic Dealing with strong and subtle restlessness in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/dealing-with-strong-and-subtle-restlessness/#post-1357 Sun, 31 Jul 2016 02:54:25 +0000 Hi Blake,

Nothing that I am aware of has changed in my life that could be causing this restlessness.

The restlessness starts at the beginning of the sit.

I do not feel I am putting to much effort into kepping my attention on the meditation object and if I am judging or holding expectations about the way things should be it is unconscious.

I…[Read more]

]]> 08287448a90336455735fbffd2f73975 John Anders started the topic Dealing with strong and subtle restlessness in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/dealing-with-strong-and-subtle-restlessness Sun, 24 Jul 2016 23:26:29 +0000 Hello,

I have been dealing with extreme restlessness for the past few weeks and wold appreciate any help I can get in managing it.

For the past week or two the restlessness/monkey-mind has gotten to the point where I cant really focus on any sensations (whether they be sounds or body related sensations) at all.

The restlessness manifests…[Read more]

]]> d55928356fa931a6884cf22244daaa2a John Anders started the topic The Mind Illuminated Skype Discussion Group in the forum Dharma Treasure Community Information http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/the-mind-illuminated-skype-discussion-group Sun, 10 Jul 2016 23:49:41 +0000 Hello all!

We have started a Skype group for discussing Culadasa’s book. We have 12 members right now. All skill levels are welcome. We have daily discussions on anything concerning topics in the book, our progress and problem solving, and other closely related things. We try to keep discussions on topic.

You are all welcome to join us!

Pm me…[Read more]

]]> abe8b6e6cfc220e0e3b3306e319c9385 John Anders started the topic The Mind Illuminated Skype Discussion Group in the forum Dharma Treasure Community Information http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/the-mind-illuminated-skype-discussion-group Sun, 10 Jul 2016 23:49:41 +0000 Hello all!

We have started a Skype group for discussing Culadasa’s book. We have 12 members right now. All skill levels are welcome. We have daily discussions on anything concerning topics in the book, our progress and problem solving, and other closely related things. We try to keep discussions on topic.

You are all welcome to join us! Pm me…[Read more]

]]> 63572a5f0bdf4aa0ec786313f874d9f5 John Anders started the topic The Mind Illuminated Skype Discussion Group in the forum Dharma Treasure Community Information http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/the-mind-illuminated-skype-discussion-group Sun, 10 Jul 2016 23:49:41 +0000 Hello all!

We have started a Skype group for discussing Culadasa’s book. We have 12 members right now. All skill levels are welcome. We have daily discussions on anything concerning topics in the book, our progress and problem solving, and other closely related things. We try to keep discussions on topic. You are all welcome to join us, pm me for…[Read more]

]]> e98a9c3199cb212353a6c3dfc0a6097d John Anders replied to the topic Walking meditation question in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/walking-meditation-question/#post-551 Sun, 08 May 2016 21:17:26 +0000 > In Stage One of walking meditation, You will allow your visual attention to move as it will.

What about when focusing on the sensations in the soles of the feet?

Am I to understand correctly that in stage one I should hold my attention on both the sensation in the soles of the feet and on whatever my eyes are seeing?

]]> d7b7d9361832e6937afe970f8f4e028c John Anders started the topic Walking meditation question in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/walking-meditation-question Sat, 30 Apr 2016 13:04:24 +0000 I have tried the walking meditation a few times but have a question regarding where the focus of the eyes should be.

Should the gaze be focused on something in particular or just have a soft gaze and be unfocused on anything at all?

]]> f706f6983e5d29220c8e640b5e8bc985 John Anders replied to the topic Questions from Stage One. Peripheral awareness vs Attention. in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/questions-from-stage-one-peripheral-awareness-vs-attention/#post-509 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:54:55 +0000 Hello,

Its been a while but now I have a few other questions:

– Is it ok if the relaxation (from the six point preparation – posture) takes around 25 minutes to do? Should I try and do it faster?

– It says in the book that during the first three stages attention should move freely but is it ok to let it move intentionally if it does not move to…[Read more]

]]> 727f43af587a5994bd4bc113d5b869df John Anders replied to the topic Questions from Stage One. Peripheral awareness vs Attention. in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/questions-from-stage-one-peripheral-awareness-vs-attention/#post-491 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 00:25:27 +0000 I don’t know if this system is going to work out for me.
Although probably many, many people at some point think this way, maybe this system isn’t quite for everyone?

1- Specifically, I am having problems with letting go of thoughts.

In daily life whenever I get upset or think a thought that I don’t like (which is most of the time) I seem to p…[Read more]

]]> 1dd758f899feaffbe8410c75be4ccf88 John Anders replied to the topic Questions from Stage One. Peripheral awareness vs Attention. in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/questions-from-stage-one-peripheral-awareness-vs-attention/#post-459 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 22:31:51 +0000 Thank you for your response. I will take a look at the other thread.

So, if I understand correctly. You do not have to have peripheral awareness first and then have attention, rather
you focus your attention on the first thing you notice while having an intention to maintain peripheral awareness. And, after this you focus your attention on the…[Read more]

]]> 11a637df8098c5e771ae55923822947e John Anders started the topic Questions from Stage One. Peripheral awareness vs Attention. in the forum Meditation http://dharmatreasurecommunity.org/forums/topic/questions-from-stage-one-peripheral-awareness-vs-attention Thu, 18 Feb 2016 17:20:03 +0000 I have been meditating for about 3 months and have been using several forms of guided meditations. Reading the book seems like starting from scratch again and it seems like I am even at a level prior to me starting meditating (which is OK if it means I will eventually progress faster), and so I have several questions.

Is it normal to in the…[Read more]

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