Dharma Treasure Community

Hi Julian,

Thanks very much for the information – it’s definitely useful. I thought my levels of awareness were ok as I don’t ever really notice attention exclusively on anything but I may be not be noticing that this is happening with these thought distractions. I’ll have to see what happens if I try and notice it during sitting and in daily…[Read more]

Hi Julian,

Thanks for the reply. I’ll try and bear in mind the info regarding the chatter and distractions/movements of attention.

The thing I’m still confused about is that whilst it feels like I’m still with the breath when I snap out of the distraction, I have no idea what was happening during the time of the distraction itself – all I can…[Read more]

Thanks for the reply Blake, I’ll bear it in mind. Regards.

Hello all, many thanks for the replies, they are all appreciated.

Honestly, I think I may be past the stage where any suggestions are going to make much difference as I’ve consulted various teachers in the past and I’ve read plenty on the suggested antidotes for the various obstacles I’m experiencing, without any making any real difference. This…[Read more]

Hi – thanks. I would say I generally have been unable to find pleasure in meditation when I have looked for it – I generally though spend more focus on trying to accept things as they are though than trying to find any pleasure. I’m sure my focus would be better were I able to find some enjoyment in the experience, which is usually neutral at…[Read more]

Hi, yes I’ve tried other practices, walking, metta, bodyscans, using sound etc. Pretty much the same experience – lack of being able to reach any kind of stability of being able to keep focus on the object for even short periods, as I mentioned usually worse when it comes to body sensations. It’s usually a strange mix of some mental fatigue along…[Read more]

Thank you both – I’ll take a look at your suggestions. Regards.

Thanks you both – I’ll take a look at your suggestions. Regards.

Thanks again for the replies.

Hi Colleen, I’m sorry to hear you’ve had similar issues but pleased to hear the meditation has benefitted you – it’s good to hear. It must have been really tough to put in the effort you describe. At the moment my willpower reserves seem shot so I’m not sure what I’ll be able to do but I’ll have a think about the v…[Read more]

Thanks for the replies – I very much appreciate them.

Ivan – the answer to the question, can I allow these feelings to be there without getting involved, is sometimes yes, sometimes no. I can sit with them at times but it seems when I struggle with for example particularly strong rumination, I normally find I haven’t been able to sit with this s…[Read more]

Hi Michael, many thanks for your reply.

–Firstly, what is your motivation for all of the hard work you have already put into your meditation practice over the course of 4 full years – what has driven you so far along this path, to begin with? Whatever this is, can you use this as a daily motivator to be on the cushion?–

Initially (and still) i…[Read more]

–Please describe 1) The precise steps you are doing when you sit down and 2) Your experience of the session as progresses
We need to know the details of what is happening when you are sitting.–

Many thanks for the reply Ivan.
I was doing around 45 mins per day prior to TMI and started off with 3x40min daily sessions when I started TMI – that l…[Read more]

And, to have a go at answering my own 1st question from reading the text on p160 – the person sitting with the knee pain highlighted in fig 33 represents peripheral awareness of the knee pain and the image of the knee itself represents the pain becoming a gross distraction.

I’m more than happy to be corrected on any of the above – I’ve read…[Read more]

..sorry the last sentence should say figure 35, not 165.

Hi Colleen, thanks for the reply.

I understand the explanation of the face/heart image but I’m a bit confused about the other images I think.

In Fig 33 I’m unsure what the difference is between the image of the knee itself and the image of the sitting person with the knee pain highlighted.

Then in figures 34 and 35, I wouldn’t have thought the…[Read more]