This talk / Q&A was originally posted on Ven. Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu’s YouTube Channel. To watch it on YouTube kindly click here.
01:25 Meditation Q&A
10:43 When I'm noting, I only seem to notice pain and itching. What could be done about that?
11:37 I am having problems falling sleep (somniphobia). You have talked about sleep before in relation to meditation and the amount of sleep needed. Any advice?
14:22 As soon as I concentrate on the breath, I feel like I'm controlling the breathing. Do you have any suggestions?
15:16 What should I note when I don't know the right word for the feeling or experience?
16:01 I sometimes move between "hearing, feeling, distracted, impatient" quickly, should I latch onto one or make a general note on it all?
16:45 When I hear something instead of Staying at the ear, I notice that a recognition of the sound arises (car driving by, people talking). Should I just note "knowing" or keep with "hearing"?
18:05 When meditating, you come to some realizations. Are these realizations again just concepts in another form?
19:07 Recently I’ve noticed that my mind is troubled by a lot of jealousy, which I know is unskillful and causes suffering yet I’m still experiencing it. How can I work on this to purify my mind and heart?
20:49 When noting, should you wait until one sensation passes away before you note a new sensation?
22:17 How do you start with meditation?
22:55 In deep meditation I saw visions which I believe are my past life memories. I saw that in my previous life I was married and was fed up at the end. I don't want to do the same in this life. Do you have any advice?
24:31 How do you meditate properly when you're in difficult situations in life or when you're just having a bad day?
26:34 How do I break the patterns of procrastination and a strong aversion to all duties and tasks, big or small? It’s causing a lot of stress and has impacted my life.
27:44 Could it be a result of my practice that I have recently moved, have stabilised my life and feel more at peace? If so, is this attainable by all those suffering at present?
30:02 I killed a mosquito the other day. I felt terrible for such an action. What can I do to remedy this? What are the karmic consequences?
31:39 I'm quite keen to indulge in sensual pleasures, noting "pleasure" and “wanting” don't seem to change this very much, should I expect a change or what Is then the purpose of meditating on the pleasure?
33:37 When you mention problems are only problems because it’s our perspective, is no experience inherently positive or negative?
35:32 Why ts idle speech an unwholesome action?
36:59 Is more lucid dreaming an indicator for progress?
37:47 I'm finding many many benefits in informal meditation, quality is improving. Could you list some higher quality great appreciable powers that formal meditation has, not acheivable by the informal one?
41:15 How can we “translate” the bramavihara into today’s reality? How can we practice those qualities?
42:23 How does passion help to attain Nirvana quickly?
42:56 I know I shouldn’t say “how do I", but how do I actually gain clarity in life; more specifically, how do I remain at peace while I’m on the path to self discovery and making a career by working hard?
46:12 Is it of benefit to join a Buddhist community to help with the practice? It feels like it would have a potential for attachments.
48:59 I don't wish to worship Buddha. Is this only for some traditions? When joining a session recently I felt uncomfortable when he was being praised. Is this OK?
50:07 How you you deal with sites and videos that say to overcome fear and anxiety and you need to face the fearful stimulus, but you don't know where the negative emotions are coming from and you still feel bad?
51:55 Could one become an arahant by meditating as a lay person?
52:18 I would like to try an intensive course but being keen on pleasures I think I might not succeed very much, but I could try, in your opinion how many days would be a doable goal?
53:49 How do we come to know the truth about the rebirth Karma? For instance, how do we know that beings who are close to enlightenment won't be reborn as animals? Is this something possible to know?
55:58 What can a person do if you have excessive sexual desires? I meditate but it’s a consistent problem for me.
57:28 I'm currently following a meditation, and I know it takes time to get results, but how can I know I'm doing it right or wrong?
59:08 How can I balance mindfulness with decision making? Having to factor in the future impact of the decision moves me away from the present. Can a decision be made entirely in the present moment?
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