This talk / Q&A was originally posted on Ven. Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu’s YouTube Channel. To watch it on YouTube kindly click here.
00:34 Meditation Q&A
11:53 Does this practice also lead to attainment of jhanas?
12:43 If you become aware of that craving that was present a few seconds ago, should you note "craving" or "knowing"?
13:35 Recently, my daily meditation and mindfulness are failing because of my crushing obsession with a movie actor. The images of this movie actor appear in my mind overwhelmingly. What should I do?
15:28 Should one use "distracted" when liking or disliking is prominent, but there is thinking along with the liking/disliking?
16:08 Is noting about saying words mentally? Do we actually say things like "seeing, thinking..."? Or do we just imply it without saying anything?
16:59 Should we know that striving is suffering based on the long term results of it or based on the feeling that arises with the wish?
18:11 I am facing potential jail time or conviction of criminal charges because someone recorded me and lied and said I sent a video to them and threatened them. I cannot stop thinking about it. Help.
19:59 Why can I not hold to the noting especially in times when the mind is racing? Is it just that I haven't practiced enough?
21:04 I practise Vipassana as taught by SN Goenka....but in daily life, I'm not able to apply it. I get carried away in the moments. It feels as if I'm attached to my suffering.
21:55 If we come to a state of clarity, what if that reveals a reality of more suffering, pain, evil, and chaos than if we had remained in a less perceptive state?
24:00 When I am deep into Photoshop art, there are no thoughts to the past nor the future. My mind is totally present. Is this called mindfulness? What’s the difference with the mindfulness in meditation?
27:21 Are there any long term dangers of legs getting numb and spine getting tired by meditating for long?
28:47 Since finishing the at-home course, I am not able to motivate myself to meditate. Any advice?
29:27 I've taken your advice to note "knowing" when I notice myself comparing myself to someone else or unwholesomely judging someone else. Is there anything else to look out for with regards to conceit?
30:55 How can I be mindful in teaching, driving, doing house chores, and talking to people?
32:19 What's the Buddhist relation to thoughts in general? Are there thoughts that are true or are thoughts never true, since they are only concepts? Is reality the experience of having a thought?
33:53 I came back to this method after a time, but now thoughts are difficult to note. My physical actions are easy, but thought feels "far away." Perhaps I should restart an at-home course?
35:13 I have started doing more meditation at home 3 times for 2 hours each time. Is it normal that the perception of time to change? Yesterday "feels" like 3 days ago?
39:13 Sitting meditation and listening to Dharma talks, I have to put on long sleeve clothing. Sometimes, passing-gas happens, and I feel guilty or even sinful. How to handle this appropriately?
41:23 Can over indulgence and getting bored by our addictions lead us to permanent motivation to meditate?
43:34 Can we theoretically get to enlightenment by only using your booklet and not consulting a teacher?
45:45 If one is meditating and noting various thoughts and feelings rising and falling, and some instances or few seconds of nothing in-between, is those in-between states increasing a sign of progress?
47:37 If I am reborn as a human, how will I find the teachings of the Buddha if I am in a society that doesn't believe or know it?
48:42 How can we meditate to overcome anxiety, disappointment, and ruminating on a problem like insult and anger?
49:51 When noting, "rising, falling," follow by, "sitting," I find myself wanting to note "sitting, sitting,” in time with the breath. Is this mixing objects, or can it be beneficial?
50:56 Is there a distinction between how samatha feels - e.g. there is nothing but a white disc - and how our awareness of whatever arises in vipassana feels? I think I'm being overly scrupulous in my practice.
52:46 Can we eat meat if we are getting malnourished and underweight on vegan diet and how to prevent constipation after eating meat?
53:55 Is being our own light by growing on our experience is better than listening to any preacher?
55:15 The most common distraction in practise I note is planning. Either for work or house chores. I return to rising & falling as soon as I notice it. Any tips on how to deal habitual persistent planning?
56:41 Does the concept of impermanence rely upon the concept of permenance?
57:30 If a person hates me, is that my bad karma in the past causing him to hate me in this life, or could it be that he has just created a bad karma to me now? How do I know this?
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