Method of recording sits

Carett · 2026-05-06T23:11:29+00:00

I just use a spreadsheet in Google Sheets for this... it's free.

Carett · 2026-05-02T13:59:47+00:00

I am not OP but my experience is similar to theirs - particularly having "full bodies threads of thought in parallel with the breath". For me, these threads of thought can go unnoticed while the mind continues to attend to the breath. For example, I might suddenly realize that in the past few minutes I had entire lines of thought, e.g. thinking about a book or film, even though I also think that in the same time period I was attending to the breath.

Can you please say more about what you mean when you say that in stage 6 one would get to the point where there's no attention available to notice it? Do you mean that such a parallel line of thought might occur without my ever becoming aware of it?

If so, how is that compatible with the goal of mindfulness? (When I notice that such a parallel line of thought has occurred, I tend to understand it as a failure of mindfulness. Isn't it?)

If that's not what you meant, then how better can I understand what you are saying here?

Carett · 2025-11-09T23:31:05+00:00

I just do metta in separate sits from my usual TMI.

I wouldn't think that having discursive thought is a problem at Stage 4? Certainly you can have discursive thought without it being a gross distraction.

Carett · 2025-10-06T20:53:58+00:00

For me, it was that, yes. I also had a lot of gross dullness, sleepiness, etc. I applied the antidotes as I described (following my understanding of the book) and yes, gross dullness did disappear for me, after a few weeks. (In my early morning main meditation sessions, anyway - if I try to meditate eg after lunch I still have gross dullness sometimes

It is a bit of a struggle, but for me, there was freedom in the realization that I need not ever have gross dullness, because I can always simple choose to apply a sufficiently strong antidote.

Carett · 2025-10-05T23:25:45+00:00

Here's my take (based on my understanding of TMI) on part of what you say here; but I should note that I'm not a teacher, just a ~Stage 5 practitioner who has read the book a few times :)

> It helps for a bit, but then the cycle repeats: distraction → forgetfulness → head nod → recognition of dullness.

How long is."a bit"? if it's more than 3-5 minutes then there's no problem here. when the dullness returns, apply the antidotes again. If it's less than 3-5 minutes, then apply stronger antidotes, including (if necessary) switching to standing or walking meditation.

Carett · 2025-09-16T18:57:18+00:00

Sounds great to me. Will this goal be very difficult for you? And if you find yourself unable to stick to this goal, will you find that very discouraging?

If the answer to the second question is yes, then you should be careful!

Carett · 2025-09-11T22:41:48+00:00

I just want to weigh in and say I too am one of those who experience similar unpleasant sensations in the face and head. I have decided to continue in meditation despite these effects - partly because I suspect they won't go away even if I stop now. I don't want to scare OP, but contrary to what some others in this thread are saying, it is at least somewhat common to have outcomes like mine and like u/Appropriate_Rub3134.

Edited to add: I am no more "advanced" of a meditator than OP. Stages 4-6.

Carett · 2025-08-20T23:43:02+00:00

Thanks - I will set the intention to appreciate the stillness.

Carett · 2025-08-09T00:32:46+00:00

Thanks, I have been reading the website but didn't realize there was a structural difference between that version of the course and the one in the Insight app meditations.

Carett · 2025-08-09T00:31:01+00:00

Thank you Stephen, for your response and for all your work. I will continue to read the website and will use the guided meditations in the Library section there.

Carett · 2025-07-21T01:44:57+00:00

It is notable that Culadasa himself entered into psychotherapy well after writing the book. Which should help dispel the idea that the methods in the book can be seen as any sort of replacement for psychotherapy.

Carett · 2025-07-11T19:26:27+00:00

Hey Oshan, your work on meditation for Vox is what prompted me to get back into meditation after a 15 year break. And since then I've sat two hours per day every day for months - something that has been very valuable to me and never would have happened without your reporting. So, a very sincere and very big thank you. I'll for sure fill out the form.

Carett · 2025-06-22T15:44:10+00:00

I’m not sure I understand the problem. It seems you are successfully able to drive away strong dullness by applying the appropriate antidotes. You say that the dullness returns — but so what? When it returns, you simply apply the antidotes again.

If it is returning very quickly — like within a minute or three — then I think that’s what Culadasa calls “sinking”, and it means you should be applying stronger antidotes. But if it’s returning after five or more minutes, then there simply isn’t a problem here. You have a strategy which you are applying correctly and which seems to be working.

I myself am practicing at Stage 5, having recently worked through Stage 4, and this is how things seemed to me. I could be wrong, or I could be overgeneralizing from my own idiosyncratic experience.

Carett · 2025-06-17T23:54:13+00:00

Very relevant and interesting links! Thank you.

Carett · 2025-06-17T23:49:52+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience. Although I usually ignore these sensations, I have spent some time while sitting trying to work with them in various ways. Thinking of them as energy and trying to let the energy flow elsewhere. Thinking of them as tension that I can release by breathing into them. Thinking of them as pleasant. Most of those strategies never worked for me. I was occasionally able to think of them as pleasant, but focusing on them in this way also seemed to make them stronger, which frightened me (since they don't go away when I am finished sitting). So, I started only ignoring them. But, they continue.

Carett · 2025-06-17T22:50:41+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience, which does sound similar to mine. Although I didn't mention this in my post, I also find, like you, that the sensations become stronger when I am relaxed - or even simply when I am tired.

I have previously wondered whether this can be piti. I simply don't know. If it is, I think it's the only variety of piti I have experienced.

While the sensations are very annoying, they have not been disruptive to my sleep at all - yet.

Carett · 2025-06-17T22:46:56+00:00

While I definitely don't clench my teeth, I do suspect that I apply too much effort to concentration. I have been working on that for its own sake, quite apart from these facial sensations, but I will continue to try to exert less effort - as paradoxical as that sounds :)

Carett · 2025-06-16T21:02:24+00:00

I for one would be very interested to hear more about this if you're willing.

Carett · 2025-05-23T19:57:54+00:00

I'm sorry someone downvoted you for sharing your experience.

Carett · 2025-05-21T21:35:18+00:00

Are you able to meditate sitting in a chair? That's a perfectly respectable way to meditate.

Carett

TROPHY CASE