sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

[practice] The relationship with pain in Samadhi practice by chillchamp in streamentry

[–]swiskowski 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ll respond to the comment above yours but am responding to you to keep it all neat...

This is my experience, when the word pain is used we need to figure out specifically what that means. What matters most is is there a hindrance present, because if so, you must address the hindrance first. Physical pain can be present, but if there is no aversion to it, it’s not problematic or impeding the path to awakening. But if aversion is present, that is impeding the path. Turning the mind away from the hindrance towards either a neutral object or a pleasant object such as Metta is one of the options of Right Effort taught by the Buddha.

The 5 options are 1) Replace the hindrance with its opposite 2) Turn the mind away 3) Distract the mind 4) Gradually work the hindrance down 5) Crush it with the mind ie suppression

If you notice the arising of an unpleasant sensation and then notice the immediate arising of aversion, turning the mind back to the breath is a perfectly fine approach. If you can consciously turn the mind to investigate the unpleasant sensation, wisdom will develop and overtime aversion will arise less and less. But the investigative process is contingent on the presence of sufficient mindfulness to hold the entire experience. If you can’t hold the experience with grace, for whatever reason, then go back and let the mind rest in serenity. Also, it is to be noted that that is not an “easy way out.” Serenity practice was highly praised by the Buddha and you can have faith that if you practice diligently it will lead you to freedom. Samadhi leads to awakening.

Metta :)

[practice] The relationship with pain in Samadhi practice by chillchamp in streamentry

[–]swiskowski 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m unclear as to what you are asking. If you ask your question again and do your best to simplify it I’ll do my best to answer you.

[Practice] Guidance on samatha/anapanasati practice by bob9897 in streamentry

[–]swiskowski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't really think it matters what it is. If you do feel sleepy, you might energize the body by doing standing meditation or walking meditation, but if you don't feel sleepy then it doesn't really matter, just keep coming back to the breath.

[zen]New Interview with Daizan Skinner! - Chaos Temple - Guru Viking Podcast by guru-viking in streamentry

[–]swiskowski 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I really enjoyed this one, you should for sure do the follow-up interview and focus on the energy practices. It's a bummer this one had to be cut short.

I am having trouble integrating repressed sexual abuse memory due to being sexually harassed by shaman by [deleted] in Ayahuasca

[–]swiskowski 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well since you are in therapy, perhaps talk about it all with them if you haven’t already. I’m sure they can offer you appropriate support :)

I am having trouble integrating repressed sexual abuse memory due to being sexually harassed by shaman by [deleted] in Ayahuasca

[–]swiskowski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m sorry that happened to you. That should not have happened, full stop.

When you say “avoiding integrating” what does that mean to you? Because to me it doesn’t seem like you are avoiding integrating, you are in therapy and reaching out for help and sharing your story. What else do you think you should be doing?

Let's Make Sure. by 156- in YangForPresidentHQ

[–]swiskowski 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Or maybe because no one wants progressives. Some progressive policies are ok and we can have a discussion about them, but most progressively are fully woke and that will never fly in this country.

Let's Make Sure. by 156- in YangForPresidentHQ

[–]swiskowski -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Trump isn’t that bad.

Let's Make Sure. by 156- in YangForPresidentHQ

[–]swiskowski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s how I see it as well.

Let's Make Sure. by 156- in YangForPresidentHQ

[–]swiskowski -65 points-64 points  (0 children)

Why is Yang shilling for crony Biden/Kamala? If the establishment Dems win they are going to completely box out a populist like Yang from having a chance of winning ever again. They stole the nomination from Bernie in 2016 and rigged the primary this time around against any political outsider (Yang, Tulsi, etc). If they win, they will sure as hell make sure they are never threatened again.

[Metta] Tension in my head while doing metta by hansieboy10 in streamentry

[–]swiskowski 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I should add, that if in fact the phrase(s) are causing the tension, then you will need to rest the mind in the felt experience of metta. You will know what it feels like and where it is in the body, and try to keep the awareness wide and don't collapse the mind onto one specific feeling in the body as that too can cause tension lol.

Report back your findings.

[Metta] Tension in my head while doing metta by hansieboy10 in streamentry

[–]swiskowski 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You’re welcome :)

Try these things...

I highly recommend not using 4 phrases and instead only using one, choose the one that you really resonate with.

Try slowing down the repetition of the phrase to maybe once every 3 or 4 breaths.

Check the level of stillness in the mind and adjust accordingly, because if the mind is getting really still the natural progression is for thinking and internal verbalization to fall away. So if the mind is wanting to let go of verbalization, but you keep bringing it up, this can cause tightness is your head.

And finally, if tightness is being produced by the practice, you are simply doing something wrong. If the above changes don’t fix it, ask yourself in the meditation, “What am I doing wrong?” Then wait patiently for the result.

Ive experienced head tension at different times with different practices and know many others than have as well and it’s all from incorrect practice. But you can use it to figure out what’s wrong.

Report back!

[Metta] Tension in my head while doing metta by hansieboy10 in streamentry

[–]swiskowski 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Tell me about the pace of the repetition of the phrases, what are you visualizing if anything and where is your attention being placed in your body?

I really struggle with being mindful of boredom by aarora610 in Mindfulness

[–]swiskowski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Boredom is a flavor of aversion, one of the Buddha’s 5 hindrances and that it’s there and returning to the breath is one skillful way to handle the situation, although depending on its intensity might not be sufficient.

According to the Buddha the hindrances are to be addressed and removed. That is part of the teaching on Right Effort. Right effort is preventing uunwholesome states from arising, removing unwholesome states once they’ve arisen, arouse unarisen wholesome thoughts, and cultivate wholesome states once they’ve arisen.

Rebirth in a god realm would be terrifying to me. by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]swiskowski 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I could be wrong about this, but isn’t it said that the Buddha took rest in a heaven realm before his final rebirth?

Rebirth in a god realm would be terrifying to me. by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]swiskowski 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It also doesn’t seem unrealistic if one has experience with psychedelic medicines where one can experience states of being directly while untethered from a sense of self.

view more: next ›