I would love to get some conversations going about #meditation. I’m not sure how well this platform supports such things, but the best way to find out…
I started a practice some time in the mid 2000’s. I kept it to short (10-15m) sits, but managed to make it a consistent habit within a year or two. I like Headspace and similar meditation apps as a starting point, and recommend them to people if the topics comes up.
Around 2018, I started with The Mind Illuminated, which is a more structured approach based on the book of the same name. This involved longer sits (20-60m), with some clear guidelines. I feel that my sense of equanimity improved dramatically around this time, and many facets of my day-to-day life along with it.
While I did reap significant benefits, I did not progress through the stages outlined in the book. This led me to a more metta-based practice called Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation or TWIM, which is my core practice now. This has raised my baseline level of happiness quite noticably, and has also driven more “moral development” in terms of how I see the world and my place in it.
Does anyone else here follow one of these practices? Anything you’d care to share about your practice?
@IAmErik Hello, I’ve been insight meditating for 12 years. This year I’ve done a lot of #TWIM practice, including an online retreat which seemed fruitful. That method of radiating the BVs comes from the suttas and is wonderful. It’s well-explained in TWIM. Was never a fan of TMI’s overly technical approach and unhealthy obsession with maps. My copy has been intended for charity since the author went off the rails. I’m heavily influenced by the Thai Forest tradition and Rob Burbea.
@markcooper You might like “The Path to Nibbana” if you haven’t already read it. I found it helpful in my practice.
I don’t know that Yates / Culadasa went off the rails. Sounds like he was just human, but I don’t have a strong opinion about him either way. The author of the original TWIM book seems a bit odd as well, but I think that he really understands his practice, and is good at sharing his understanding.
@IAmErik I have read The Path to Nibbana, thanks. Actually, I feel like picking it up again.