February 06, 2021

Heartwood (with Q&A)

1 hour 9 minutes

This talk / Q&A was originally posted on Ven. Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu’s YouTube Channel. To watch it on YouTube kindly click here.

00:00 Welcome

02:49 On the topic of Heartwood

31:33 How do you overcome the voice of self-doubt, and how do you teach yourself to let go of regret of past mistakes and the anxiety of an uncertain future?

36:02 Should I give in to unfocused sleepiness when it arises?

38:12 I can sense a deep unhappiness inside of me. How do I deal with this?

42:40 Is anxiety only a hindrance if it is accompanied by disliking?

43:41 I find myself calm in walking meditation quite often, and I note it. It becomes difficult to notice the dissolution of the calming feeling since walking meditation is a naturally serene practice. Do you have advice on noting this dissolution?

45:25 I once asked you about ADHD, the answer was helpful, but I am still struggling with it. Is there any way I can look at it and face it until it disappears from my life?

46:40 What should I change about my practice if after a session I find myself unable to make conversation with others? I feel stuck.

48:43 Living in a non-Buddhist society, there are numerous people with wrong views in my life. I never point it out, but I see judgement arising in the mind because I study the Dhamma. Is it correct to note ‘conceit’?

50:41 During walking meditation, should I walk extremely slowly so that I can note every step perfectly or should I continue to walk moderately slowly?

52:20 During meditation I felt my eyes water, goosebumps, and pressure on my forehead. Is this good?

53:47 Can I change the object of my meditation during meditation? For example if I am focusing on my breath, can I change it to noting?

54:36 I could have an available time to meditate early in the morning but I am discouraged because it seems too difficult an undertaking even if it could have excellent benefits. How do I find the courage?

57:04 I'm a bit stuck with the formal practice; it feels too exhausting at the moment. Can keeping the precepts, watching Dhamma talks, and reading suttas create a fertile soil for further progress?

58:49 How does one deal with suicidal tendencies?

1:01:15 Would eating meat affect our meditation?

1:02:15 Where exactly in nostril breath meditation does one focus?

1:02:50 How you be mindful when being unintentionally dragged into stressful situations like work? It seems I always forget to note.

1:03:42 If somehow one is not able to meditate what is the best advice you can give to start again?

1:04:38 During my meditation, there comes a point where I become exeedingly focused. I start feeling a very pleasent feeling in the body, like a lifting up in the air. Should I stay with the breath or the feeling?

1:05:27 Does meditation increase one's sensitivity to sensations or emotions?

1:06:10 Often in times of intense practice I experience a phenomenon of lucid dreaming, and I am a bit inexperienced in this area. Now I find that it is more effective to meditate when this state comes up. Is this proper?

1:06:50 I have followed the advice to practice the mantras throughout the day, and I have been seeing how I am different to the thoughts I have. Is non-duality a part of this practice?

1:07:47 When the mind gets obsessively fixed on something, how does one be mindful of that?

1:09:21 Sadhu...

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By Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu