I’d say beyond these videos being extremely helpful, the community of commenters here is as well! Everyone in our community has such wonderful advice and I love being able to read/hear from such intelligent individuals. Makes me feel like I am on the right path with good people. Thank you all ❤ Namo Buddhaya, peace to ALL, EVERYWHERE
I have never heard such a detailed and high-level explanation of anapana. I really feel that in just a few minutes I have been able to learn very deep concepts and have a clear guide to avoid many mistakes that I usually make. For example, I think it has happened to me several times that I fell into slot and thorpor, and had a kind of pleasant semi-sleep, and then woke up thinking: "I had a pretty good time, I must have reached some jhana. I'm great." (pride also sneaks in hahaha). Other times I think I have been captured by a nimitta that constantly changed colors and shapes, and even without realizing it I have had fun following what the nimitta did, as if hypnotized by it. It really is not easy to stay on the right path! Sometimes I also see nimittas that constantly mutate when I am simply about to fall asleep. It has even happened to me that this nimitta transforms into the face of someone I know and tells me: "I am actually an invention of yourself, don't you realize?" and then it vanishes. It's a strange, somewhat creepy experience. Thank you very much Ajahn. 🙏
Thank you. I"m surprised to see so many bridges between the Thai Forest Tradition and the Soto Zen school :) Perhaps a lesson about zazen and meditation in the Theravada tradition?
This is extremely helpful and confirms a few things I've learned the hard way. The translation of "concentration" got me to narrow my focus for a long time, until I started seeing a pattern where that would put me to sleep. Dullness of mind is the collapse of the periphery part of awareness and narrowing focus is purposely collapsing the periphery. I started just relaxing into the breath and prioritizing calm in the breath. It felt better and was clearly "correct." It has led to far deeper samadhi and ironically, far easier concentration. Stability is a good way to put it: the mind doesn't flit from thing to thing. And what surprised me is how naturally it calms down. You don't have to "do" much if you're just gentle and tune into it calming itself. I still have a long way to go, but I feel renewed confidence that I'm on the right track after listening to you Ajahn! My journey is without a teacher so it's helpful to have these kinds of signposts along the path.
I am a big fan of Webu Sayadaw and his collection of discourses titled, The Way To Ultimate Calm. Anapana for me is the bedrock of my practice. Focus On The Spot
Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu. Thank you, Bhante. I'm glad to hear that you think "concentration" is a misleading translation for samadhi. It does seem to point a new meditator in the direction of straining and stressing to acquire or become, when the natural progression toward Nibbana is a gradual and increasingly pervasive letting go. So it would seem to be much more useful to regard samadhi as a calming of the mind, allowing thoughts to float away as they floated in, instead of compulsively sending the mind here and there after them.
Dear sir, on the further steps down the Anapanassati method, i.e. step 5th to step 16th. There are many confusing translations and interpretations it's hard to know how to actually practice the whole Anapanassati to its fulfillment so as to complete the Four Satipatthana and the Seven Factors of Awakening.
Rather than concentration or concentrated, I feel the term 'collected' or 'collectedness' better expresses the unified and settled quality one is looking for-a sense of 'gathering in'. A suggestion for your consideration. Thank you Bhante.
I'd even say "calm" is a good way to put it. The breath calms and the mind calms. Westerners want to will something to happen and if they're going to do that, it's best they try to "will" calm I think.
Regarding the nimitta: from what I understand of the Vissudhimagga and the Pa-Auk instructors that teach that method, you aren't supposed to switch to the nimitta as your object until it is refined and switching your attention happens naturally. In the early stages of the nimitta appearing it will jump around or morph or do many other such things, and that means you stay with the breath until it calms down and becomes clearer. Of course, I'm not an instructor and I'm just repeating what I've understood the way I've understood it. It's better to ask someone in that tradition.
It would be helpful if you elaborated or provided a source discussing what you mean. I've never heard anapanasati not being samatha. Sometimes I hear about it, when tuning into the sensation of breath, capable of producing vipassana, but its main function seems to be samatha.
@@BarbarraBay Alright, I'm just going to disengage now. I'm happy to have a productive conversation if you want to clarify and elaborate what you mean but I suspect your intention is to instead sow discord and ill will. I wish you peace either way.
@@saintsword23 sorry but you do not understand. You are obviously not a buddhist nor have the capacity to understand & realise buddhism. you spoke to me in a very rude manner as though you were an authority where in reality you are ignorant. you continue to make slanderous allegations. Buddhism has nothing for you when you have the capacity to engage in slander. you continue to tell lies inferring your mind is peaceful. i suggest to read MN 61 and the Buddha's view about liars. Personally, I posted the truth. The monk in the video is talking things unrelated to Anapanasati
In the Samyutta Nikaya there is a collection of sutta's about anapanasati. In SN 54.8 the Buddha talks about 'anapanasatisamadhi' and how it leads to the four jhana's and the formless attainments (samatha) and then how it leads to insight into impermanence (vipassana). Anapanasati develops both samatha and vipassana, and that is precisely why the Buddha recommends it.
@@saintsword23 wow. you no nothing about Dhamma yet you accuse others of ill-will. this monk is teaching commentary ideas about anapanasati that are unrelated to what the Buddha taught.
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I’d say beyond these videos being extremely helpful, the community of commenters here is as well! Everyone in our community has such wonderful advice and I love being able to read/hear from such intelligent individuals. Makes me feel like I am on the right path with good people. Thank you all ❤ Namo Buddhaya, peace to ALL, EVERYWHERE
These talks are extremely helpful ajahn thankyou very much.
May all beings be happy well and peaceful.
I have never heard such a detailed and high-level explanation of anapana. I really feel that in just a few minutes I have been able to learn very deep concepts and have a clear guide to avoid many mistakes that I usually make. For example, I think it has happened to me several times that I fell into slot and thorpor, and had a kind of pleasant semi-sleep, and then woke up thinking: "I had a pretty good time, I must have reached some jhana. I'm great." (pride also sneaks in hahaha).
Other times I think I have been captured by a nimitta that constantly changed colors and shapes, and even without realizing it I have had fun following what the nimitta did, as if hypnotized by it. It really is not easy to stay on the right path!
Sometimes I also see nimittas that constantly mutate when I am simply about to fall asleep. It has even happened to me that this nimitta transforms into the face of someone I know and tells me: "I am actually an invention of yourself, don't you realize?" and then it vanishes. It's a strange, somewhat creepy experience.
Thank you very much Ajahn. 🙏
No room left. Fill the mind with the breath. ❤🙏💐🙏
Thank you for a very informative and useful talk on Anapanasati.
"Fill the mind with the breath" 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you. I"m surprised to see so many bridges between the Thai Forest Tradition and the Soto Zen school :) Perhaps a lesson about zazen and meditation in the Theravada tradition?
This is extremely helpful and confirms a few things I've learned the hard way. The translation of "concentration" got me to narrow my focus for a long time, until I started seeing a pattern where that would put me to sleep. Dullness of mind is the collapse of the periphery part of awareness and narrowing focus is purposely collapsing the periphery.
I started just relaxing into the breath and prioritizing calm in the breath. It felt better and was clearly "correct." It has led to far deeper samadhi and ironically, far easier concentration. Stability is a good way to put it: the mind doesn't flit from thing to thing. And what surprised me is how naturally it calms down. You don't have to "do" much if you're just gentle and tune into it calming itself.
I still have a long way to go, but I feel renewed confidence that I'm on the right track after listening to you Ajahn! My journey is without a teacher so it's helpful to have these kinds of signposts along the path.
Sadhu
How helpful. Language is still our greatest barrier. Thank you for the Dhamma
Thank You very much! Sadhu!
Thank you Ajahn. I will return to this. It answers a few questions I’ve head! Sean.
🙏 🙏 🙏 Anumodana sadhu sadhu sadhu Ajahn 🙏
I am a big fan of Webu Sayadaw and his collection of discourses titled, The Way To Ultimate Calm. Anapana for me is the bedrock of my practice.
Focus On The Spot
Thank you and Much Love from the Philippines.
🙏 ❤ 🙏 Thank you so much! 🙏❤ 🙏
Awsome advice and very helpfull. Thank you.
thank you
🙏🙏🙏
Thank you!
🙏🙏🙏
Excellent.
Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu. Thank you, Bhante. I'm glad to hear that you think "concentration" is a misleading translation for samadhi. It does seem to point a new meditator in the direction of straining and stressing to acquire or become, when the natural progression toward Nibbana is a gradual and increasingly pervasive letting go. So it would seem to be much more useful to regard samadhi as a calming of the mind, allowing thoughts to float away as they floated in, instead of compulsively sending the mind here and there after them.
Sadhu
Dear sir, on the further steps down the Anapanassati method, i.e. step 5th to step 16th. There are many confusing translations and interpretations it's hard to know how to actually practice the whole Anapanassati to its fulfillment so as to complete the Four Satipatthana and the Seven Factors of Awakening.
Rather than concentration or concentrated, I feel the term 'collected' or 'collectedness' better expresses the unified and settled quality one is looking for-a sense of 'gathering in'. A suggestion for your consideration. Thank you Bhante.
I'd even say "calm" is a good way to put it. The breath calms and the mind calms. Westerners want to will something to happen and if they're going to do that, it's best they try to "will" calm I think.
Regarding the nimitta: from what I understand of the Vissudhimagga and the Pa-Auk instructors that teach that method, you aren't supposed to switch to the nimitta as your object until it is refined and switching your attention happens naturally. In the early stages of the nimitta appearing it will jump around or morph or do many other such things, and that means you stay with the breath until it calms down and becomes clearer.
Of course, I'm not an instructor and I'm just repeating what I've understood the way I've understood it. It's better to ask someone in that tradition.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
What MN sutra is the relay coach race?
Can doing anapanasati meditation be used as a Samatha meditation?
It is the quintessential samatha meditation.
🙏🏼
I'd be curious about your thoughts on the Pa-Auk method of paying attention to the idea of the breath from the very beginning.
the buddha didn't teaching what this monk is teaching. parimukhaṁ does not refer to anything physical. anapanasati is not samatha.
It would be helpful if you elaborated or provided a source discussing what you mean. I've never heard anapanasati not being samatha. Sometimes I hear about it, when tuning into the sensation of breath, capable of producing vipassana, but its main function seems to be samatha.
@@saintsword23 this comment is so ignorant
@@BarbarraBay Alright, I'm just going to disengage now. I'm happy to have a productive conversation if you want to clarify and elaborate what you mean but I suspect your intention is to instead sow discord and ill will. I wish you peace either way.
@@saintsword23 sorry but you do not understand. You are obviously not a buddhist nor have the capacity to understand & realise buddhism. you spoke to me in a very rude manner as though you were an authority where in reality you are ignorant. you continue to make slanderous allegations. Buddhism has nothing for you when you have the capacity to engage in slander. you continue to tell lies inferring your mind is peaceful. i suggest to read MN 61 and the Buddha's view about liars. Personally, I posted the truth. The monk in the video is talking things unrelated to Anapanasati
In the Samyutta Nikaya there is a collection of sutta's about anapanasati. In SN 54.8 the Buddha talks about 'anapanasatisamadhi' and how it leads to the four jhana's and the formless attainments (samatha) and then how it leads to insight into impermanence (vipassana). Anapanasati develops both samatha and vipassana, and that is precisely why the Buddha recommends it.
this monk should stick to his history lectures.
I think you might want to check your mind for ill will here.
@@saintsword23 wow. you no nothing about Dhamma yet you accuse others of ill-will. this monk is teaching commentary ideas about anapanasati that are unrelated to what the Buddha taught.
Your comment is very negative and has nothing to do with Dhamma.
@@ricardomir2363 no. the monks ramblings have nothing to do with Dhamma; similar to your false speech
there is no such thing as mindfulness "of" breathing.
🙏🙏🙏