Why is focusing on the breath more difficult than focusing on Mantras, and how important is it before vipassana?
score:4
When reciting a mantra you have vitakka and vicāra which helps you get close to the 1st Jhana. But this is also accumulation of Fabrications (more particularly Verbal Fabrications) which should be avoided.
Vitakka and vicāra without the constant awareness of arising and passing inhibits the ability to see impermanence. That is why when you are doing Vipassana you become aware of vibration but not when doing mantra meditation.
To aid you breath meditation you can use vitakka and vicāra to your advantage. Be aware that your are aware of breathing then periodically assess whether you are actually with the breath, but at the reducing frequency. Start with even in breath and out breath and when you notice you can stay a while then do it after each breath and then after few breaths and you your mind just sticks to the task then drop it altogether.
Vitakka and vicara in initial application and sustained application. 1st your bring your mind to the breath then this is the initial application followed by trying to keep the breath in mind.
Upvote:1
I do not recommend to do mantra like what you are saying "Aun". I prefer meditation to mantra since mantra was not recorded in Pali Canon or Tripitaka. In Buddha discourses mantra is not found as far as I read.
Less effort, more natural
Anapana (watching breathing in and out) is more natural to man. You do not need to put any extra unnecessary effort to acquiring concentration. To say "Aun", you need have the following unfavorable conditions.
- volition/will to say
- making movement of sound producing organs
- opening your mouth to produce voice
- if saying "Aun" is too long, there could be distraction during producing sound "Aun", if the duration is short and fast (to eliminate distractions during long "Aun"), you can get tired easily.
- The sound is danger to Jhana, so you cannot achieve the common fruitful expectation of getting more concentrated mind or sharp mind.
- You said your body emitted wave when you did mantra but what it is good about it or you just like the sensation of wave coming out from your body. And definitely, you are detouring from your mantra by getting attention on waves from your body (lost primary focus).
- Lack of specific goal in doing mantra. I have read very little about mantra but as far as I found in literature, it is obscure and no specific goal or achievement by doing mantra.
On the other hand Anapana seems legit (we have Buddha discourses about Anapana). Even if you cannot do leverage on Anapana meditation to Vipasana, you can achieve concentration up to some Jhanas. There is some personal experiences (on both web and printed form) that people get more healthy by doing Anapana (need citations here). The more favorable facts are
- It is more natural
- Less effort, the breath in-breath out goes even if you do not have any attention or care to do so
- It does not make any tiresome extra physical activities (Kaya Sinkhara)
- It does not produce any sound, distracting to others and as well as you
- If you are trying to build concentration, it is more proper way and easy to do.
- You can put concentrated mind to where you like to be at and this could eventually lead to acquire 4 Rupa Jhanas (under favorable environment, Sila and good guidance)
Anapana For about Anapana and getting focused during Anapana meditation please find my answer in this question here.
This may be a little biased answer to Anapana than your mantra but I can guarantee that if you do properly Anapana you can acquire peaceful mindfulness, and keen concentration by practicing Anapana. That's for sure.
Upvote:1
In mantra meditation, it feels like something (kind of waves) coming out of body.
It agrees with my own experience. I just attended a practice led by a monk since 18 now in his 50s. He instructed us to observe the vibration starting from the abdomen spiraling up to the head, chanting "Om Ah Hum". We were a group of few and did it the same time, the mantra amplified in resonance we were all uplifted.
I have no idea about vipassana since personally I don't practice it but I do visualization. Neither am I interested in breathing practice however I read something related which I answered in this post. For breathing practice, the aim is not just about concentration/ awareness, it's also an energy gathering practice - in short; related to the Sacred-Vase-of-Wind 寶瓶氣 and Primordial-Fire 拙火. (The English translations are my inventions not sure if these have proper terms in English).
Upvote:1
Why is focusing on the breath more difficult than focusing on Mantras?
Mantras are more interesting than the breath.
The breath is much more stiller.Mantras have obvious movement.(Speech or mental verbalisation).The mind easily latches on to mantras.Which is why you can find yourself in a trance like state (tranquilising state) much more faster.
How important is it (Focusing on the breath) before vippassana?
Very important.If i can't focus on the breath which is gross and physical (at the start) i won't be able to focus on the subtle movements of the mind. Focusing on the breath trains you to develop concentration.You need concentration to practice vippassanna.To what extent you'd like to develop concentration is up to you but generally you need some form of concentration for vipassanna.
What is the difference between the results of breath vs vipassana?
Focusing on the breath develops concentration.Focusing on Vipassanna objects develop insight.You can still use the breath to practice both concentration and vipassanna.Your just focusing on two different aspects of the breath.
I can hardly do 10 conscious breaths (feeling peace). Any suggestions for betterment?
Do 5 conscious breaths.If you can't.Do 3 conscious breaths.Master that.
When you can do 3.Then slowly add 1 conscious breath and then another. Until you reach 8 conscious breaths.don't do 10 conscious breaths that's too long.It's not about the numbers it's about the quality of your attention on each breath.Please feel free to find a number that suits you.
In mantra meditation, it feels like something (kind of waves) is coming out of my body.
This could be piti (rapture).Piti is what makes the mind stay with the meditation object without feeling forced.Because it's pleasurable..Otherwise you'll have to rely on good old effort (Vitakka).which is why it's easier to do mantra meditation.Piti is generated faster.With breath meditation there is also piti but that "waves coming out of the body" feeling.That is way too agitating if your using the breath.There is a lot more happiness in the stillness of the breath.
More post
- 📝 Right understanding of Dāna
- 📝 Time in Buddhism
- 📝 What is the true meaning of Kaya Sankhara, Vaci Sankhara and Citta Sankhara
- 📝 Sitting suggestions for a tall and inflexible meditator
- 📝 Recovery from Meditation
- 📝 To learn Tripitaka to academic level
- 📝 What are the strengths and weaknesses of attempts to describe Nirvana in scripture?
- 📝 3 deliverance 8 liberations and stages of enlightenment
- 📝 Hungry ghosts and food offerings to the dead
- 📝 Is Upekṣā (equanimity) a feeling or simply numbness?
- 📝 Is there a time difference between death and re-birth?
- 📝 Converting knowledge into wisdom
- 📝 How can I know that I am clear of thoughts while I am meditating?
- 📝 Wing Chun Buddhism Zen Stance - Standing Meditation
- 📝 Why Buddha said "There is No God" and Later "There is God"?
- 📝 Did nuns participate in the councils?
- 📝 Anapanasati: Mindful Breathing Concentration Point
- 📝 How Am I not the owner of the mind?
- 📝 What is called a promise in Buddhism?
- 📝 Why does Snp 2.2 not consider eating meat to be killing karma?
- 📝 How do I get rid of ill will?
- 📝 What is the Buddhist attitude towards cosmology?
- 📝 Skillful ways to induce Rapture and Pleasure in meditation
- 📝 Buddhist view on letting the anger out. Any problems with that?
- 📝 The meaning v of this phrase in Satipattana Sutta
- 📝 Can a Buddhist use antibacterial soap?
- 📝 Not wanting to meditate = bad karma?
- 📝 How does the story of General Siha's Meal for the Buddha at Vaisali vindicate the Buddha?
- 📝 Does Buddhist's Time Dilation have something to do with Physics's Time Dilation?
- 📝 What does celestial mean in 'celestial bodhisattva'
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Why is focusing on the breath more difficult than focusing on Mantras, and how important is it before vipassana?
- 📝 How do i Focusing on the breath and letting thought go
- 📝 Why does the mind always want to 'do something' and how to cultivate 'non-doing'?
- 📝 Are any of the three poisons considered stronger or more difficult to break than the others?
- 📝 Why I find it difficult to breathe when meditating, a lack of oxygen in my head? And how to overcome it?
- 📝 How to stop reverberations running in mind? And why they are in the first place?
- 📝 How are 'conceit' and 'identity-view' not the same?
- 📝 How do I slow down and start living according to my values? How do I change the direction of my life?
- 📝 How compatible are the beliefs of atheists and Buddhism?
- 📝 Attachment is a poison. Why is attachment to the Buddha and to Buddhist philosophy not a problem?
- 📝 Isn't Buddhist insight practice more scientific than the so-called scientific method?
- 📝 How compatible are (Theravada) Buddhism and the Western life?
- 📝 How and when did the name "Buddhism" appear?
- 📝 How to keep balance in the thin line between non attachment to reputation and "not caring about anything"
- 📝 How can one define luxurious beds and seats in the eighth precept?
- 📝 How to apply meditation in the following difficult situations
- 📝 How to accept and surrender to the mind's non-acceptance of doubt and ill-will?
- 📝 If there's no "self" then why should I care about the future lives and nirvana?
- 📝 How do we unconditionally love and wish people the best?
- 📝 Does anybody know the composition of the 6th council and how the delegates were chosen?
- 📝 Why is Zen/Chan thought to be more related to Buddhism than to Taoism?
- 📝 How are Buddhist Sacred Texts used in practice and historically, given the questioned authenticity of some of them
- 📝 Why are "Fear and Shame" listed among the beautiful cetasikas?
- 📝 In the five paramitas, what is patience and why is it on the list?
- 📝 What are the rotating cylinders in monastries, and why are they there?
- 📝 How does a monk cope with all the bad things happening in the world if the only thing monks do is sitting and meditating?
- 📝 Did the Buddha have more advice for the lay follower than is typically supposed?
- 📝 How does the buddhist teachings differentiate between reality and perception?
- 📝 Iconography in Buddhism - from the Greeks? And why isn't the Buddha bald?
- 📝 How were dreams and visions seen in the context of Chinese Buddhism?