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Sanjeev replied to the topic LIVE Online Course with Culadasa this Monday, 11/12 in the forum Events 5 years, 5 months ago
I am not able to post on the forum. So, I am posting my question here:
I am wondering about the use of continuous noting within the TMI system. I understand the efficacy of labelling the mind wandering and returning attention back to breath as per TMI instructions. But, I wonder why we are not doing checking in and labelling continuously at stage…[Read more] -
Sanjeev replied to the topic Difference between gross and subtle distractions in the forum Meditation 6 years ago
Dear Ted Lemon,
Thanks for the reply.
“Beware of confusing gross distraction with forgetting.” I learned this difference in a hard way and now I enjoy the transition from forgetting (stage 3) to gross distractions (stage 4) [Earlier, I was mistakingly writing stage 3 when I meant stage 4. I edited my question to correct this.]
I cannot have…[Read more]
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Sanjeev started the topic Difference between gross and subtle distractions in the forum Meditation 6 years, 1 month ago
Sometimes I overcome mind wandering, forgetting, and gross distractions progressively. Then I quickly overcome strong and subtle dullness and enter stage 6practice. I find no sign of dullness. But, soon I find my attention alternating between breath and subtle distractions. Occasionally, a subtle distraction takes away so much attention that I…[Read more]
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Sanjeev replied to the topic Ten stages of meditation when the meditation object is chanting instead of breat in the forum Meditation 6 years, 1 month ago
Now, I can reach stage 4 and 5 with both breath and mantra as meditation object. Yet, when I work with distractions, gross or subtle, I feel that breath is a better option because I can apply following and connecting to it. Can’ anyone using chanting a mantra as meditation object point various ways how can I use the techniques of following and c…[Read more]
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Sanjeev replied to the topic Ten stages of meditation when the meditation object is chanting instead of breat in the forum Meditation 6 years, 1 month ago
Dear Blake,
Thanks for reminding the subtle difference between peripheral awareness and alternating attention to distractions. I will read the interlude again. -
Sanjeev replied to the topic Ten stages of meditation when the meditation object is chanting instead of breat in the forum Meditation 6 years, 2 months ago
Dear Blake,
I read this link as well as other posts by Upasana Culadasa. They cleared many confusions. I am wondering what I am calling peripheral awareness might be just alternating attention on most of the occasions.As I am writing this mail, I am peripherally aware of the ambient sounds in the background and my bodily sensations as well.…[Read more]
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Sanjeev replied to the topic Ten stages of meditation when the meditation object is chanting instead of breat in the forum Meditation 6 years, 2 months ago
Yes, we can have selective auditory attention and it improves if a same sound is selected again and again. This is what science says, “when attention is sustained on one auditory object within a complex scene, attentional selectivity improves over time”. Thanks.
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Sanjeev replied to the topic Ten stages of meditation when the meditation object is chanting instead of breat in the forum Meditation 6 years, 2 months ago
Thanks for sharing. I cannot say that I can make a distinction between a sound in foreground and other sounds in background as for as listening sensation is considered. Both sounds appear at the same place. Unlike the breath felt at nose and other sensations felt in rest of the body- we can focus on breath and be aware of other. But how can I…[Read more]
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Sanjeev replied to the topic Keeping peripheral awareness active during the day in the forum Dharma Practice in Daily Life 6 years, 2 months ago
Thanks Becky for the compliment. But I cannot maintain continuous peripheral awareness during the day. It’s like stage one of the meditation. Even worse than that. It’s like having a peripheral awareness of breath for few moments following by long periods of mind wandering and attention moving constantly from one distraction to another. When a tas…[Read more]
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Sanjeev replied to the topic Keeping peripheral awareness active during the day in the forum Dharma Practice in Daily Life 6 years, 2 months ago
I understand mindfulness as the “optimal interaction of attention and awareness in a given situation.”
“During daily life, we set intentions all day long. Are those intentions followed? Or do we quickly degrade into mind wandering?”
– Great point and I am adopting it into my practice. Thanks! I was maintaining peripheral awareness without set…[Read more]
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Sanjeev replied to the topic Ten stages of meditation when the meditation object is chanting instead of breat in the forum Meditation 6 years, 2 months ago
Hi Darlene T,
“The work is in placing attention on the OBJECT in your case the mantra, and just noticing when peripheral awareness fades”
Paying attention to the sound of the Mantra, what does that mean? I understand that it means paying attention to the sound of the mantra. The question is what about other sounds? What does it mean to be…[Read more]
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Sanjeev replied to the topic Ten stages of meditation when the meditation object is chanting instead of breat in the forum Meditation 6 years, 2 months ago
Thanks, Mimi.
“I use vedic mantras which have three notes(a tonic, a higher and a lower note) and I note the distinctions between the vibrations of each of the notes and when they happen in the mantra.”
– Excellent suggestion. I had stumbled on it but was not consistent. Bored with one tone, I would change the tone. I had also thought about…[Read more]
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Sanjeev started the topic Ten stages of meditation when the meditation object is chanting instead of breat in the forum Meditation 6 years, 2 months ago
Chanting used to be meditation object before I read the Mind Illuminated book. I switched to breath as meditation object as I found difficulties with implementing the instructions on chanting. For example, how one can keep other sounds in peripheral awareness and the sound of mantra in the field of attention? Any background sound is given equal…[Read more]
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Sanjeev started the topic Keeping peripheral awareness active during the day in the forum Dharma Practice in Daily Life 6 years, 2 months ago
I have found it helpful to keep my peripheral awareness active throughout the day. The idea is to be mindful even in difficult situations where one loose mindfulness due to lack of conscious power. I sometimes notice that although the strategy works, but it dims the attention on what is most important in that situation. So, maintaining awareness,…[Read more]
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Sanjeev‘s profile was updated 6 years, 2 months ago
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Sanjeev replied to the topic What to do during long periods of dullness? in the forum Dharma Practice in Daily Life 6 years, 2 months ago
I was experiencing the dullness and feeling sleepy for many consecutive meditation sessions. I was having a little less sleep than usual and a little more work. So, I took a precautionary step: before meditating today morning, I took five deep breaths – in through the nose, out through the mouth. It worked! But, I felt like I have taken a walking…[Read more]
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Sanjeev replied to the topic Procrastination and Unification of the Mind in the forum Dharma Practice in Daily Life 6 years, 2 months ago
“So yes, in theory, by Stage Eight, you should have enough conscious power to multi-task with mindfulness.” Even if this is true, we should not wait for this to happen and procrastinate meanwhile. And, the theory itself says that loss of mindfulness happens because of multitasking. There are multitasking situations where it is absolutely…[Read more]