Why does Mahasi Method have the points on the Body to attend to?
Upvote:-1
The goal of the Mahasi method is 'vipassana', namely, seeing the arising & passing of phenomena. Therefore, beginners watch the rising & falling of the breath at the abdomen.
Often unskilled meditators force or suppress the mind when trying to practise Anapanasati (awareness of breathing), which results in a 'wrong one-pointedness', which blinds the mind & makes the mind sleepy & foggy.
Genuine or right one-pointedness occurs in jhana, which only meditators skilled in letting-go can genuinely reach.
Jhana cannot be reached by suppression or force, even though many Buddhists claim it can.
Such Buddhists are over-estimating their meditation because a suppressed/forced mind can generate calm & rapture but such momentary rapture is not the true rapture of true jhana.
Therefore, the Mahasi method aims for beginners to keep the mind 'open & awake' rather than 'suppressed, sleepy & foggy', which more closely represents the path taught by the Buddha.
In conclusion, it is forced/wrong 'one-pointedness' that is counter productive.
Upvote:4
Any type of meditation that is worth the name will increase concentration in a beginner.
The body is a good first object of vipassana meditation because it is inescapable and we identify with it so strongly, so automatically all kinds of thoughts also get faced.
More post
- π When Zen monks are completing a task, why are they doing it very quickly?
- π Explaining non-attachment to the very attached
- π Apocarteresis in Buddhism
- π Feeling others thoughts
- π Are there studies about the difference between meditating in the morning versus in the evening?
- π A Creation Story in Buddhism?
- π Would Buddhists help non-Buddhists continuing their attachments?
- π Why should one not address a venerable as friend?
- π How, if at all, does karma exist in the form and formless realms?
- π Does Ichinen Sanzen include "wishful thinking"?
- π When to help and when not to?
- π First life in samsara
- π The Vanishing of Greed, Hatred, and Delusion ~ Nyanatiloka
- π Where does morality come from in Buddhism?
- π Did the Buddha visit modern day Assam?
- π Kamma and right livelihood in a modern business environment
- π Buddhists are rather serious people, wonβt wear make-up and never have any fun
- π In any Buddhist Context, is there a Necessary Existent
- π Mental Release from Breath Versus Metta
- π Is there any kind of stress and suffering the Buddhas medicine would not help?
- π What texts in Buddhism should be read for understanding/ controlling these emotions?
- π Acts of evil by "aryans": how can you explain them?
- π Computers and Buddhist monks, offering computer to monk makes bad karma to both monk and donor?
- π What is the method for "Coupling of the Serenity and Insight Powers" referred to in the Path of Discrimination?
- π Directing attention on body parts
- π What is a Mudra and what do they mean?
- π How to get along
- π What is the origin or history of the concept of 'Buddha Sasana"?
- π How does one hold themself in full awareness during new complicated and complex learning?
- π Is there a name for being totally dependent?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π Why does Mahasi Method have the points on the Body to attend to?
- π Why does the Buddha call himself the TathΔgata?
- π In terms of reliability of understanding reality, how does the scientific method compare with Buddhist insight practice?
- π Why does the Buddha always answer a question if asked three times?
- π If a Buddhist believes lay life is not ideal for the practice, why does he or she continue?
- π Through the Processes of Jhana does it have a Permanent effect or temporary effect on your life
- π Why does Mara, the Evil One one comes looking for consciousness at death?
- π Why does the Buddha, in the Pali Canon, periodically engage in harsh speech?
- π Does Pure Land Buddhism ever have a Buddha other than AmitΔbha as the object of devotion?
- π Why does the mind always want to 'do something' and how to cultivate 'non-doing'?
- π Why does the Buddha appear androgynous in some depictions?
- π If we have the law of karma, why do we need other laws, or do we?
- π Anesthesia, being knocked out, unconsciousness...what does the Buddha have to say about it?
- π Why do you have sadness in the first Jhana?
- π The Buddha is said to have rediscovered the ancient path. Why was it lost to begin with?
- π πWhat does the idea of "separation" have to do with the Buddha's teaching?
- π The question of why do we have craving
- π Why does Buddhism seem to have more than one goal?
- π Does Sotapanna have the fear of death?
- π Does our conventional body belong to the external sense bases?
- π Does the Dalai Lama have bodyguards?
- π Why does the third noble truth not include the ten fetters?
- π Why does the Buddha blame Ananda asking him to remain living forever?
- π In the movie Spring Summer Fall Winter and Spring, why does the master cry?
- π Does every Buddha have knowledge of the past, present and future?
- π Does any other sect of Buddhism have the stages of insight?
- π Why does Buddhism use the word "realm" when describing one of the different races?
- π During Anapana, why does the breathing become slower and slower as we progress?
- π Where does the Buddha say that human life can have at most 50% happiness?
- π Does speed of body movements affect the calmness of mind?