Methods of Awakening

  [Edited January 27th 2020: Fixed a load of run-on sentences and corrected grammar. Also removed any reference to AF. An audio version of this post will be made available shortly.] Practice Playtime YouTube, Attentiveness & Insight In my own practice, I've explored lots of game-like ways of incorporating various modes of practice into everyday activities that I would otherwise have done with less than 100% enjoyment, attentiveness/mindfulness or determination. I managed to make noticeable progress by essentially turning everything I did into insight practice during every waking moment, be it noting the breath as soon as I woke up, or noticing the patterns of sensations involved in dialing a phone number or mixing down a new recording. The whole of our everyday experience is full of opportunities for insight, moment by moment, and so it makes sense to extend practice off the cushion and take advantage of this. A potential problem with this is that it ...

[Edited January 27th 2020: Corrected a few bits and pieces, but I've generally left this one intact. I don't know for certain whether or not I've actually attained "Stream Entry", but it doesn't really change the nature of this post and the practical advice which has proven useful to many (based on the very kind e-mails I've received).] Audio Version - Subscribe on YouTube Access Concentration One of the things that threw me when I started seriously meditating and using the Buddhist framework was the concept of "access concentration". I had spent a long time working with other conceptual maps and meditative techniques, over a decade of experimentation with everything from raja yoga to ritual magick, but I thought that this was some major meditative accomplishment which would require decades of practice. It was only when a more experienced yogi pointed out that, since I was claiming to have attained "Stream Entry", t...

[Edited January 27th 2020: My downright abuse of semi-colons was despicable and inexcusable, but I think I've fixed it now. I've also removed reference to AF (Actual Freedom) as it's a distraction from the basics and something we can discuss in later posts. ] CLICK HERE FOR THE MOA PODCAST - EPISODE ONE! The Beginning Attentiveness is a commonly used word and is something that forms the bare bones of our practice, regardless of which model we use. I intend to break the word down and provide a practical description of what attentiveness “is”, and how to improve practice through really understanding what it means to be attentive. This is just my take on it based on what works, and is working for me although this may change as new information becomes available. The Word Attentiveness describes the act of paying attention to an object. To be “attentive” is to be engaged in the act of paying attention. “ Attention” is defined as “the act ...