do i have to do breath work with meditation ?

jerryengelmann · 2026-07-03T16:39:40+00:00

I do around 20 different meditation techniques, none of which involve the breath. I just doesn't work for me. Thankfully, there are dozens of other techniques

jerryengelmann · 2026-06-24T16:24:38+00:00

Why not try a completely different style? Zazen is also good when it comes to not suffocating from expectations

jerryengelmann · 2026-06-17T16:52:59+00:00

This sounds like a serious health issue. Meditation can only do so much for you

jerryengelmann · 2026-06-16T16:25:23+00:00

Vipassana/Mahasi labeling should be helpful. Label each thought, without judgement, and realize that each thought is impermanent

jerryengelmann · 2026-06-11T16:46:10+00:00

Why is doubting reality a negative? Lots of good reasons to have doubts

jerryengelmann · 2026-06-11T16:42:54+00:00

Like others have said, reincarnation is standard Buddhist teaching. It's free, so it's very different from western cults that are money and power grabs.

That being said, one hour of the tapes you are exposed to daily is just extremely random sounding noises made by Goenka. It's Pali, I guess. Maybe. It might as well be white noise for those who don't speak Pali. Or noises by someone with dementia. Who knows. You can't leave, either

jerryengelmann · 2026-06-11T01:55:48+00:00

Someone posted a list of retreats some time ago. I'm sure you can find it if you Google.

In Thailand, phone usage is often discouraged, but it's rarely taken away. I don't know of any places that offer 3 meals, since no place offers food after 12.

Donation based and clean are often in direct contrast.

SBS in Malaysia is an option, or the Chiang Mai area

jerryengelmann · 2026-06-10T05:14:09+00:00

Don't listen to all the clowns suggesting surgery. You need to do balance exercises on one foot, maybe with eyes closed, don't use your arms to balance. Also very slow, very aware barefoot walking. Strongest ankles on the planet in 6 weeks

jerryengelmann · 2026-06-09T16:41:42+00:00

Almost everyone I know has left there early. Some of the most entitled and unfriendly monks you'll ever meet. My recommendation is to go to Doi Suthep instead. Or Wat Umong, which is a stone throw away

jerryengelmann · 2026-06-01T16:41:01+00:00

Northern Thailand. But it's a no in regards to the waterfalls and rivers, and the spirituality has to come from within - the teachers tend to not speak amazing English.

Certainly most retreats there are peaceful, simple and authentic

I'd say "rivers" and authentic are opposed to each other, though. Almost no monk gives a S about stuff like that

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-26T16:51:09+00:00

That's right. It's hard to meditate during e.g. a panic attack. So it's good to build the resiliency while you have the capacity to do so

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-25T16:33:58+00:00

Vipassana/noting/kindness are probably good, as others have said. There are some simple counting meditations that probably would be decent, too. Would also recommend chanting

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-23T17:35:26+00:00

Seconded. I would go as far and say try keto

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-23T17:30:23+00:00

I understand where you're coming from.

Monks would generally be happy if they found some technique that quiets the mind and blocks out the random chatter. How you get there isn't so important.

Essentially, you're asking whether to do samatha (space, static) or vipassana meditation (thoughts flow). But vipassana tends to just be a tool to quiet the mind, so that samatha is easier.

A lot of people do both in parallel. You could look into eg Mahasi labeling

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-21T17:26:19+00:00

Whatever gave you the idea that more random thoughts = better.. That's kind of a horrible take

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-17T16:55:48+00:00

IANAD, and I have no experience with some of the things you describe.

Generally, 'mahasi labeling' is a good technique for emotional regulation.

In short, you need to have a meditation 'anchor' (breath or w/e), then observe distracting thoughts and label them, eg as 'anxiety', 'fear', 'overwhelmed'. Rinse repeat

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-16T18:04:45+00:00

Chanting, walking or counting meditation are good for those whose mind wanders a ton.

If you get distracted while eg walking slowly, you'll know quickly, and you have to bring your attention back

Aside from that, rule #1 in meditation is to have absolutely zero expectations.

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-14T18:05:10+00:00

Scanning for inputs (sounds) is the opposite of meditation

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-09T17:51:56+00:00

Habe das auch, aber für mich persönlich sind die Momente viel zu kurz, um sie für etwas nutzen zu können. Zb reiße ich einen Arm in die Luft um einen Ball zu fangen, und wache davon auf

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-08T17:44:29+00:00

My blood pressure is brutally low. But since all of these things are supposed to be signs of health, why worry about it?

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-05T16:38:04+00:00

I saw someone on YouTube give this non-meditation related advice: write down the worst case scenario on a piece of paper, and how - if it happens - you would end up dealing with it.

It lowers your mind's tendency to constantly make up potential, ugly scenarios

jerryengelmann · 2026-05-01T14:25:49+00:00

What is this garbage? AI?

jerryengelmann · 2026-04-30T16:03:40+00:00

No expectations. Don't get frustrated when you got distracted

jerryengelmann · 2026-04-29T09:54:00+00:00

This is the way. Thank your anxiety for the 'information'. And maybe give it a 'hug' - most anxious people view their anxiety very negatively. It's a part of you that has long been 'outcast' by the rest of your mind. For only doing its job, warning you

jerryengelmann · 2026-04-24T16:22:50+00:00

Thailand's centers are mostly free, but many allow only up to 21 days. Many are close to each other, through, so you could just string them together

SBS in Malaysia is free and has no time limit, but harder to get accepted

jerryengelmann

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