Question

Which methods and techniques do you do in formal meditation at least once every day?

Answer

I do the Five Reflections at least once every day, and I also do Compassion/Lovingkindness meditation at least once every day.

Which ones do I do every week? Every month? I will make sure that I do, and I encourage others to do this as well, is to reflect on the Triple Gem, or some Sympathetic Joy or another confidence inspiring object every week. Every month? There are a lot of techniques to go through, but as to what I do each week and each month often that depends on what is happening in my life - that is why we use mindfulness.

We have a basic practice, and this is the basic practice that we have been giving you: the Unselfish Emotions and Five Reflections, plus being mindful of the hindrances in the formal meditation and in your normal life. As I become aware of what is arising during my normal life I will apply appropriate methods and do these more often than others depending on what is occurring. And we would like for you to be able to understand the antidotes to certain difficulties that are arising in your life so that you can apply the appropriate methods.

We have been giving you short reflections: the Dedication of Intention, the reflection on the Buddha/Dhamma/Sangha and the bowing. In interviews we often encourage confidence inspiring meditations to deal with doubt and the different hindrances. But the base practice of doing the Five Reflections, of watching the breathing and the hindrances, and the Compassion/Lovingkindness meditation is a foundation of our practice from which we can add other techniques as appropriate. Keeping an understanding of our direction, the Paramis, is very helpful as well.

Our apologies if there are any errors in the above text. If anything seems to be wrong or confusing in any way, please feel free to contact the teachers for further clarification.