Where is the story that Buddha was worried about a monk who meditated with a straight back?
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I've heard Ajahn Brahm tell this story during a lecture which was recorded on YouTube, so I can confirm it's definitely told by him; however I don't remember which one it was.
The story is not (strictly) in the suttas. It is probably (very loosely) based on AN 6.42, and deals more with the disturbances of nearby lay life as opposed to the wilderness.
Nagita, there is the case where I see a monk sitting in concentration in a village dwelling. The thought occurs to me, 'Soon a monastery attendant will disturb this venerable one in some way, or a novice will, and rouse him from his concentration.' And so I am not pleased with that monk's village-dwelling.
But then there is the case where I see a monk sitting, nodding, in the wilderness. The thought occurs to me, 'Soon this venerable one will dispel his drowsiness & fatigue and attend to the wilderness-perception, [his mind] unified.' And so I am pleased with that monk's wilderness-dwelling.
So in this sutta it looks more like he's worried about the auspiciousness of the environment rather than the current condition in which a monk dwells, and his being pleased is based on his assumption that the monk will soon generate right effort, and not that he'll be heedless.
However, I think it's important to stress that Ajahn Brahm's purpose for telling this story, regardless of where he had heard it, were probably that he has many lay followers which come to the practice with high expectations for quick results. He has to teach people how to give themselves some breathing space first - and that, I believe, he does very well.
Upvote:2
From what I read in several sources, the straightness of the back is not as important as the intention of the meditator. Here is where I was reading [CTRL F and insert "straight" in the search box]
http://ask.sirimangalo.org/book
Hello! The posture (straight back) is not so important as long as you are able to note the rising and falling of the stomach ! So next time you realise you are focusing on maintaining your posture remind yourself "distracted","distracted" or "sitting" ,"sitting" and bring your focus back on the rising and falling of the stomach.
This should help you : http://www.sirimangalo.org/files/HTMa5s.pdf
"Chapter 2: Sitting meditation
The formal method for sitting meditation is as follows:
We sit with the legs crossed if possible, with one leg in front of the other, or in any position which is comfortable as necessary. Traditionally, we sit with one hand on top of the other, palms up on our lap. 3. We sit with our backs straight, although it is not necessary to have the back perfectly straight if this is uncomfortable; just as long as one is not bending over to the point where one is not able to experience the movements of the abdomen. We practice with the eyes closed. Since our focus is on the stomach, having the eyes open will only distract us away from our object of attention. Once we are in a suitable position, we simply send our 5 Please see illustration 41 in the appendix for two traditional sitting postures.mind out to the abdomen; when the abdomen rises, we simply say to ourselves, silently, in the mind, "rising". When the stomach falls, we say to ourselves, "falling". "Rising", "falling" "rising", "falling". "
Seems like the Buddha may have seen some pride in the perfectly straight back and some dogged determination in the slumping monk.
Others say don't worry, meditate walking or standing on your head. Presence.
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