3 ms·

Ok so how do I try this out?

rikibro 11y ago
You could try this, which is similar, but more serious and demanding (the 10 day course): https://www.dhamma.org/ https://www.dhamma.org/ If you have the time, it can be one of the most unique and life changing experiences, in a good way, one can have.
- vijayr 11y ago
  Silence, food etc are easy. But ten hours of meditation everyday for 10 days sounds scary. Could you talk more about your experience?
  - rtl49 11y ago
    I attended one of these ten day retreats in September. It was a worthwhile experience, but it hasn't produced any great change in my day-to-day experience. That said, many people I met at the retreat reported feelings of great personal significance. I'm completely open to the possibility that the fault lies with me, but I wonder whether these reports were influenced by group pressure, since there is something of a sense of community and to admit that you "didn't feel anything" is to exclude yourself. After ten days of silence and seclusion from the world (there's no technology, communication, reading, etc.), you will want all the social interaction and acceptance you can get. Also bear in mind that this is basically a self-selected group of people who are searching for "something." Whatever "it" is, it doesn't come as a surprise to me that people find it after ten days alone with their thoughts (which still come to mind, however much you try to focus on bodily sensations). As an aside, I was also turned off by some of the quasi-religious content of the retreat. The website claims that this is a strictly evidence-based practice, but you'll quickly realize this isn't the case when you hear Goenka chanting in Pali or explaining the benefits of meditation as an effect of releasing "sankhara." After the retreat, I thought a fellow named Harmanjit Singh did an excellent job evaluating Goenka's teachings here: http://harmanjit.blogspot.com/2007/07/critique-of-vipassana-as-taught-by-mr-s.html http://harmanjit.blogspot.com/2007/07/critique-of-vipassana-... If I ever have another continuous twelve days to spare, I'd still be willing to try another retreat with a more secular focus.
ue_ 11y ago
There's a great book called Mindfulness in Plain English, which I've been recommending for some time. It's direct, to the point, and addresses many topics such as distractions, pain during practice, exactly how to prepare, and of course what to do with your mind. I think this is complete: http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html But it's always nice to have something in paperback or Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindfulness-Plain-English-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0861719069/ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindfulness-Plain-English-Anniversar... The printed edition also has a nice afterword.
howlingfantods 11y ago
Try Headspace. I've been using it for a while and I find it helpful.
jpbutler 11y ago
I've really enjoyed "Search Inside Yourself," a book by the person who runs the courses at Google. It takes an engineering eye to the benefits of mindfulness.
Menge 11y ago
I'd recommend something in the spectrum of Jon Kabat Zinn's work in whatever format you prefer. For casual interest, you can find him guiding mediations on youtube or buy any of his older books for pretty much nothing on used book sites. People with chronic pain or health issues may want something with more support like the stress clinic at UMASS lowell medical. But you really only need about 15 minutes of instruction and guided meditation and then to find whatever motivators work for you. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Kabat-Zinn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Kabat-Zinn

You could try this, which is similar, but more serious and demanding (the 10 day course): https://www.dhamma.org/ https://www.dhamma.org/ If you have the time, it can be one of the most unique and life changing experiences, in a good way, one can have.

vijayr 11y ago
Silence, food etc are easy. But ten hours of meditation everyday for 10 days sounds scary. Could you talk more about your experience?
- rtl49 11y ago
  I attended one of these ten day retreats in September. It was a worthwhile experience, but it hasn't produced any great change in my day-to-day experience. That said, many people I met at the retreat reported feelings of great personal significance. I'm completely open to the possibility that the fault lies with me, but I wonder whether these reports were influenced by group pressure, since there is something of a sense of community and to admit that you "didn't feel anything" is to exclude yourself. After ten days of silence and seclusion from the world (there's no technology, communication, reading, etc.), you will want all the social interaction and acceptance you can get. Also bear in mind that this is basically a self-selected group of people who are searching for "something." Whatever "it" is, it doesn't come as a surprise to me that people find it after ten days alone with their thoughts (which still come to mind, however much you try to focus on bodily sensations). As an aside, I was also turned off by some of the quasi-religious content of the retreat. The website claims that this is a strictly evidence-based practice, but you'll quickly realize this isn't the case when you hear Goenka chanting in Pali or explaining the benefits of meditation as an effect of releasing "sankhara." After the retreat, I thought a fellow named Harmanjit Singh did an excellent job evaluating Goenka's teachings here: http://harmanjit.blogspot.com/2007/07/critique-of-vipassana-as-taught-by-mr-s.html http://harmanjit.blogspot.com/2007/07/critique-of-vipassana-... If I ever have another continuous twelve days to spare, I'd still be willing to try another retreat with a more secular focus.

ue_ 11y ago

There's a great book called Mindfulness in Plain English, which I've been recommending for some time. It's direct, to the point, and addresses many topics such as distractions, pain during practice, exactly how to prepare, and of course what to do with your mind. I think this is complete: http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html But it's always nice to have something in paperback or Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindfulness-Plain-English-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0861719069/ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindfulness-Plain-English-Anniversar... The printed edition also has a nice afterword.

howlingfantods 11y ago

Try Headspace. I've been using it for a while and I find it helpful.

jpbutler 11y ago

I've really enjoyed "Search Inside Yourself," a book by the person who runs the courses at Google. It takes an engineering eye to the benefits of mindfulness.

Menge 11y ago

I'd recommend something in the spectrum of Jon Kabat Zinn's work in whatever format you prefer. For casual interest, you can find him guiding mediations on youtube or buy any of his older books for pretty much nothing on used book sites. People with chronic pain or health issues may want something with more support like the stress clinic at UMASS lowell medical. But you really only need about 15 minutes of instruction and guided meditation and then to find whatever motivators work for you. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Kabat-Zinn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Kabat-Zinn