Matthew Immergut
@matthewimmergut active 6 years, 1 month ago-
Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Guided Body Scan in the forum Meditation 6 years, 1 month ago
Thanks everyone for the responses! Very helpful
M
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Matthew Immergut started the topic Guided Body Scan in the forum Meditation 6 years, 1 month ago
Does anyone know of a good guided body scan approximately 20 minutes long? I’m not looking for a body scan for relaxation but more of a formal practice.
Thanks
Matthew -
Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Help, Stuck for two years, convulsions during vipassana in the forum Meditation 6 years, 1 month ago
Sheldon
The one other thing that I found helpful is the various “pleasure jhanas”. They allow a distribution/management of intense energy in a very helpful way. I’d suggest even doing a retreat with Leigh Braisington if possible as he really is quite skillful in guiding people through these specific jhanas.
M
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Help, Stuck for two years, convulsions during vipassana in the forum Meditation 6 years, 1 month ago
Hi Sheldon
Thanks for sharing. I’ve had convulsive bodily movement issues as well. But not as intense as you’re describing. I think I’m going to skip my “what to do in meditation” advice and make a different suggestion…. specifically I would look into doing some sort of body based therapeutic intervention such as Somatic Experiencing. A…[Read more]
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Questions on involuntary body movements in the forum Meditation 6 years, 3 months ago
Hi Samuel
As Blake said, the amount and intensity to which involuntary movements happen varies significantly. For some, they are super intense…. I’m one of those people. For others, such as Culadasa, they are minimal… as I can recall all he had was some thumb twiddling. Thus I understand your concern and think it’s wise to be prepared…[Read more]
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Generalised Anxiety in the forum Meditation 6 years, 5 months ago
Hi
Yes, it’s possible that it’s connected to your practice. If so, there’s lots of good advice above. But it’s also possible it isn’t connected to your practice. It’s just hard to say on an online forum what’s going on with you in particular. Thus it can’t hurt to be cautious, to monitor your anxiety, to back off on practice to see what…[Read more]
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic curious about ringing buzzing like sound in the head in the forum Meditation 6 years, 5 months ago
Orhan
Other than sound seeming like a good meditation object for you, I’m not sure of its significance. Thus all I can really say is use sound as you see fit … whether you’re hearing it in the context of formal meditation or daily life.
Be well
Matthew -
Matthew Immergut replied to the topic curious about ringing buzzing like sound in the head in the forum Meditation 6 years, 6 months ago
Hi Orhan
Sound has also been a prominent feature of practice for me. Some type of internally generated sound is often one of the “signs” that concentration is deepening. If I turn attention to the sound, concentration tends to deepen even further to the point where “I” can be enveloped in a kind of soundscape… which is quite pleasant. It’s…[Read more]
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Agitating piti and confusion of the object in the forum Meditation 6 years, 7 months ago
Hi Bobby
Shaila’s comment is quite interesting and it might be a strategy you take up for dealing with Piti. However, she is talking about a practice for entering Jhana. In the tradition she’s coming out of it seems the constantly changing sensations of the breath aren’t a useful object for absorption. Instead, the breath is used only up to a…[Read more]
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Stage 7 techniques in the forum Meditation 7 years, 8 months ago
Hi Charles,
I’ve attached an older draft version of what’s in the book. This should help until you get the book.
M
INVESTIGATION OF MENTAL OBJECTS
This practice involves maintaining exclusive focus on the breath as you non-discursively investigate mental objects with metacognitive introspective awareness. This kind of purposeful activity…[Read more] -
Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Personal Regular Practice of Advanced Meditator in the forum Meditation 7 years, 8 months ago
Hi Bakary
1. I try to meditate 1.5 – 2 hours a day on average.
2. I go on retreats regularly. I’d say on average 2-4 weeks per year. This past year much more because I’m on sabbatical
3. I’ve hit lots of obstacles – pretty much every one outlined in the book and even a few that aren’t in there.I hope this helps
Matthew
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Asking about who and where the 'I' really is… in the forum Meditation 7 years, 8 months ago
Hi,
Let’s start with what you describe as fuzziness/dullness. My guess is this dullness is a defense against some sort of difficult material trying to emerge – in other words a purification. This hypothesis stems from the fact that you’re at Stage Four, which is usually when such purifications begin to emerge (see the book). Also because…[Read more]
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Asking about who and where the 'I' really is… in the forum Meditation 7 years, 8 months ago
Hi, so just some clarification. When you say you’ve always been strict about adhering to a practice and not dabbling, are you saying you’ve been following the 10 stages practice as outlined in TMI? Also, when you say “current difficulties” are they in relationship to the 10 stages or something else? Also, when you say “setting myself up for…[Read more]
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Questions about peripheral awareness and continuous introspective awareness in the forum Meditation 7 years, 9 months ago
This is a great thread and pointing to a fundamental issue with the moments of consciousness model. Developed by the “Abhidarmists,” the moments of consciousness model did not take into consideration the distinction between attention and awareness (nor, from what I understand, the unconscious). Arguably, all they were talking about were moments…[Read more]
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Subtle Energies and meditative joy in the forum Meditation 7 years, 10 months ago
Hi Maryhill
That’s a great gift that they’re coming so soon. It can make developing a regular practice much easier. Anything you can do to link positive feelings to sitting practice is beneficial.
M
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Subtle Energies and meditative joy in the forum Meditation 7 years, 10 months ago
Hi Mary
Yes, they are very common. Everyone is different, however, in terms of their frequency and intensity. They can also be quite wonderful and energizing as well we really disruptive and exhausting. But as you progress on the path they tend stabilize into the wonderful and energizing.
Matthew
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Finding Joy and the will to continue in the forum Meditation 7 years, 10 months ago
Praxis
First of all, it’s great that you’re so clear on your motivation. With that motivation I also wonder if a guided relaxation/meditation might not be better. The Insight Timer app (the paid version) has a lot of guided meditations – many of them geared toward stress reduction and relaxation. You may have to experiment to find one you…[Read more]
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Teachers availible through skype? in the forum Help Wanted or Offered 7 years, 10 months ago
Please let us know what Tucker says Jonas
Thanks
Matthew
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Distinguishing Between Jhanas in the forum Meditation 7 years, 10 months ago
Hi
My initial suggestion would be to do what works and don’t worry about parsing the distinctions at this point. You first should just get familiar with getting into jhana consistently. Experiment with using the whole body with the breath and then try using pleasurable sensation. See what works and enjoy yourself.
Hope this helps.
Matthew
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Matthew Immergut replied to the topic Finding Joy and the will to continue in the forum Meditation 7 years, 10 months ago
Hi Praxis,
Lots of good advice above. But I have two questions for you. 1. what’s personally motivating you to want to practice? In other words, what’s bringing you to the cushion in the first place – and there’s no “right” answer to this. 2. how long are you meditating for?
Matthew
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