lanocheoscure journal

Hi,

The idea of this thread is to document my personal experience and meditation practice.

I have been meditating on and off for a long time. About 3 years ago I went to the MBMC in Penang Malaysia. I did there my first Mahasi-stile retreat after reading Daniel's book. I reach what I still think it was the A&P.

Here is a description of the what I think was the A&P. I wrote this down short after the retreat:

"I just finished a 15 day retreat using the noting technique. In one occasion, I was noting my breath and suddenly I got into what it seems to fit the description of the first Jahna: this state was blissful and very calm (like being drunk and high without the mental lethargy), but the most important point is that I could notice the sensations of my breath with a tremendous clarity. Furthermore, after a while, watching the breath was boring (too slow) and I decided to watch the itchy sensation on my legs (caused by the numbness). This felt like watching a bullet bouncing against the walls of a maze with a high speed. There was no effort required to hold this state and it lasted until I decided to finish my sitting meditation."

I have been doing the Mahasi-style meditation as well as concentration practices (some kasina but mostly freezing the sensations on my nose).

Two weeks ago I started one-on-one sessions with Kenneth. I will try to log here the results of my practice using Kenneth's advice as well any other experience coming from other type of practices.

So far Kenneth showed me what I will call "laud noting": I try to note verbally (not mentally) the strongest sensation, making more details out of the tactile sensations. Other sensations are kept simple, e.g. hearing, seeing, smelling, taste and thought.

At the beginning this is quite awkward, since I was used to do this type of practice in silence. After overcoming the first difficulties, I could do the practice fluently!

This type of practice requires that you sit alone (or perhaps with someone who is practicing with you in some sort of tandem).

I found the instruction interestingly: there is nothing that can disturb you from the practice, for example if there is a loud sound you just say "hearing". You do not have so be upset about being disturbed by a sound! this is obviously quite liberating since there is no way you can mess up your practice .

Another advantage is that by noting loudly the chances you fall a sleep during meditation are much lower!

This type of practice can be used on day-to-day settings, for example I do it some times in the train on my way home/work (I have a bout 50min single-way commuting time every day). Obviously in those situations I only do mental noting...

Welcome, and all the best with your practice!