preferred meditation.

Yes, it appears the Buddha mainly practiced Shamatha or mindfulness of the breath meditation as outlined in the annapansati sutta.

[sky]

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipi....118.than.html

I just re-read it after a short 30 minute meditation.
It appears if I read with appropriate attention that the instructions allude to more than just being aware of the breath.
Many passages describe where to actively acknowledge the way you are breathing. Even "willing" to point that awarens of the breath to sensations that are there. Adjusting them away from certain experiences and inducing others.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by Eelco

Yes, it appears the Buddha mainly practiced Shamatha or mindfulness of the breath meditation as outlined in the annapansati sutta.

I think the satipatthana sutta covers the mindful objects (pillars of mindfulness) including breath as it re-caps the anapanasati sutta at the start, and is generally considered to be the central discourse on meditation in Buddhism.

Originally Posted by Gem

I think the satipatthana sutta covers the mindful objects (pillars of mindfulness) including breath as it re-caps the anapanasati sutta at the start, and is generally considered to be the central discourse on meditation in Buddhism.

Yes, and sort of.
Generally, the Anapanasati brings one to a pleasant abiding during the path, as where the satipatthana seems to bring insight which appears to be more of a bumpy ride.
We talked about vipassana and the satipatthana before.
I'd be more than willing to go there again.
My main practice (which was only renewed mere days ago so no deep revelations about that yet) seems to consist of starting out with the breath until some concentration on full-body breath is established. Then a deepening of the pleasurable feeling already presents and a moving away from the unpleasurable ones. The goal being Jhana.
If distractions pop up, I note them and bring back attention to the breath.
Earlier vipassana style practices consisted more of a speeding up of awareness to see the arising and passing away of all phenomena appearing in the mind's attention/awareness.

There is a difference in directed intention/attention between the 2 is my experience now.

found our discussion previous here.
It would be fun to see if we both wised up a bit after that fiasco of a conversation.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Eelco

It appears if I read with appropriate attention that the instructions allude to more than just being aware of the breath

Yes definitely, and by practicing it becomes noticeable.
Breath moves the body in subtle ways which we don't always notice.

Originally Posted by sky123

Yes definitely, and by practicing it becomes noticeable.
Breath moves the body in subtle ways which we don't always notice.

Does this come about spontaneously to you.
I'm confused about your using of the word practice here.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by Eelco

Yes, and sort of.
Generally, the Anapanasati brings one to a pleasant abiding during the path, as where the satipatthana seems to bring insight which appears to be more of a bumpy ride.
starting out with the breath until some concentration on full-body breath is established. Then a deepening of the pleasurable feeling already presents and a moving away from the unpleasurable ones. The goal being Jhana.

I looked up your retreat online, and like how they say it's medicine, because the work is a purification. It's pretty much inevitable that there will be lots of unpleasant feelings, sensations and emotions, because that's just the way it goes, but I read on the site that you maintain neutrality rather than like, dislike or even identify with such things, so I like the principles of the practice.

The way I see it is people will want to avoid the unpleasant feelings and want the pleasurable ones because aversion toward the former and desire for the latter, but I take a very factual approach to it so if it's pain, OK, and if it's pleasure, alright. I think the trick is coming to understand the impermanence. Pain, pleasure: this will pass, and knowing impermanence is a key to establishing equanimity.

If the pleasurable states are necessary to have equanimity, it means discomfort is eliciting too much aversion. Pain in the outset of practice is a very good opportunity to see how the mind reacts adversely and how that generates suffering. It takes some determination to notice the reactivity and continually cease doing that. I mean that's what makes it hard work, but it's part of one's right effort not to generate negative states of mind, and painful feelings or discomfort are perfect for that practice. We can develop a lot equanimity that way, which is important because we'll need it later on as the purification accelerates.

Vipassana is mostly physical sensation meditation, and the mind aspect of it isn't separate per-se, but in conjunction with feeling awareness. It's mainly about how feeling relates to craving, because according to dependent origins, 'from feeling craving arises', and since craving is the cause of suffering, understanding how feeling and craving operates together in yourself is necessary to discovering the 2nd Noble Truth.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Eelco

Does this come about spontaneously to you.
I'm confused about your using of the word practice here.

When I use practice I mean Meditating.