Question

There are so many techniques now. Which one to use in which situation or to counter certain negativities in the mind, like the hindrances?

Answer

One of our students wrote down all the techniques, and also wrote down how that technique affected them and how it tended to neutralize certain things for them. So I encourage you to write down the different techniques and what you have seen the results of these to be in your meditation practice. Certainly we have been giving you a lot of techniques, but you don't have to perfect them all in this retreat.

With aversion, we have given you the Compassion/Lovingkindness meditation; Sympathetic Joy also works with this.

With desire, Death Reflection helps, because usually desire is always future orientated and when we reflect on death we realize that we may not actually be there in the future. Also the reflection on How Fortunate We Are helps with sense desire, because we are reflecting on what we already have; this helps to counter craving and makes us more grateful and content with the understanding of what we already have.

With restlessness and worry, Death Reflection again can help. The reflection on Cause and Effect also helps with restlessness, it helps make us more patient, because often restlessness arises from desire. Another technique that helps with restlessness is basic Body Mindfulness, because worry has to do with future; by learning how to come into the present moment and be there allows for a lot of restlessness to fade away. Sometimes too, if there is a lot of restlessness, focusing on the breathing is very helpful for bringing a little bit more calm in the mind.

Doubt, Sympathetic Joy, reflection on your good past Kamma, and reflection on your Generosity helps with overcoming doubt. Reflection on the Dhamma especially helps with overcoming doubt, and by asking yourself, "What the Dhamma has done for you?" Reflection on the Paramis helps with overcoming doubt too; because sometimes we judge our practice only on the quality of our concentration practice, rather than the development of beneficial human qualities. Especially the Wisdom and the Compassion techniques, we then start to develop more Wisdom and Compassion, and wonderful human qualities that can help us to develop within our life.

So these are just a few, it may be helpful for you to list them all, as this other student did, and go through them and see how they work for you.

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.