Reflection

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At present there are 55 entries in this list.

Source / Teacher
Day
Index
Question
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Steve
3
9
Can you talk about wise attachments more? Also how to balance attachments to teachers and people.
Ref: 2001.07.x.03.09
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Rosemary
7
2
Could you talk more in detail about being objective with difficult emotions, while also being open to learning about the true causes of those emotions, so they arise less in the future?
Ref: 2001.07.x.07.02
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Steve
5
6
What should we do if we feel we are getting tired of Reflection meditation and getting restless and agitated?
Ref: 2001.07.x.05.06
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Steve
8
4
A Zen master once said, "In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind, there are few." Question: How can we avoid, break open routines in every day life in meditation?
Ref: 2001.07.x.08.04
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Steve
4
12
Could you give some tips for some different systems for the Reflection meditations? I seem to be going over the same thoughts again and again.
Ref: 2001.07.x.04.12
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Steve
5
4
Statement (this is Ananda here): One of the aims of our practice is the development of more and more unbroken Mindfulness throughout the day. Question: Is it possible to extend Mindfulness to the times of sleeping and dreaming? If yes, do you have any advice on how to practice Mindfulness in that way?
Ref: 2001.07.x.05.04
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Steve
3
3
Can you explain more about dealing with difficult mental states which persist after attempting objective observation, observing the body?
Ref: 2001.07.x.03.03
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Steve
5
3
The Paramis of Patience and Equanimity. Could you speak more about them? Especially the qualities or characteristics of Equanimity and ways of developing both.
Ref: 2001.07.x.05.03
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Steve
8
2
We're taught to reflect on the various ways we are fortunate, and the precious opportunity we have with our life. Could you expand more on the second part of this Reflection, the precious opportunity we have with our life? I would like more clarity on this.
Ref: 2001.07.x.08.02
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Steve
5
5
Should we be reflecting during the day, like when we're washing our laundry, et cetera?
Ref: 2001.07.x.05.05
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Rosemary
6
1
How can I strengthen the Resolution or Determination Parami?
Ref: 2001.07.x.06.01
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Steve
4
4
Could you please talk about mind spins. How they arise, how to identify them as a spin and then stop them?
Ref: 2001.07.x.04.04
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2001
Steve
3
10
Can you talk more about these important moments when Mara switches the mind to unbeneficial ways, like the judging mind, envy, sloth and torpor. How can one more skillfully and quickly root out these thoughts?
Ref: 2001.07.x.03.10
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2003
Rosemary
9
3
Do you think it can be helpful to add more reflections to the five or seven reflections like topics or phrases so that they become 9 or 10 reflections that we can use regularly every day?
Ref: 2003.07.x.09.03
Written answer
- Reflection
Special Retreat Germany June 2020
Steve
7
11
Could you please give me an example of how we can work that a hindrance doesn’t arise anymore in the future? How much do we have an impact on that (on worries arising or not for example)?
Ref: 2020.06.x.07.11
Audio answer
Special Retreat Australia April 2004
Steve
8
5
Sometimes my reflections don't go deeply into my mind, they seem to be rather shallow, what is there to consider?
Ref: 2004.04.x.08.05
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand January 2007
Steve
8
13
Can you please explain about chanting? What is it, and why do you do it?
Ref: 2007.01.x.08.13
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand January 2008
Steve
4
6
What is more important to do at a certain moment: reflecting or being in the moment?
Ref: 2008.01.x.04.06
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand January 2003
Steve
8
12
How can we help to strengthen awareness of the Four Noble Truths in our practice and our daily life, especially the third and the fourth one?
Ref: 2003.01.x.08.12
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2010
Steve
3
3
Why might letting the mind be entertained by such things as movies, books and following sports teams be harmful to our practice ?
Ref: 2010.07.x.03.03
Written answer
Special Retreat Germany July 2019
Rosemary
17
7
What role does the development of powerful levels of concentration play it the development of selfless emotions?
Ref: 2019.07.x.17.07
Audio answer
Berlin QA September 2008
Steve
8
8
How do we ensure the use of reflections in meditation does not lead us to a mantra-style type of practice?
Ref: 2008.09.x.08.08
Written answer
Berlin QA September 2008
Rosemary
8
6
I believe we become wiser by getting older. What do you think about this?
Ref: 2008.09.x.08.06
Written answer
Berlin QA September 2008
Steve
7
1
How do you avoid complacency in the practice?
Ref: 2008.09.x.07.01
Written answer
Berlin QA September 2008
Rosemary
7
4
In everyday practice, I have a lot of problems with breath meditation, being aware of the breathing. Is this it a problem if I do only reflection instead?
Ref: 2008.09.x.07.04
Written answer
Special Retreat Germany July 2018
Steve
17
15
Is it good to reflect at the end of the day about good Kamma done and forgive yourself for possible wrong actions or speech?
Ref: 2018.07.x.17.15
Audio answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2007
Steve
3
6
When doing the reflections, followed by concentration meditation, I find it hard to let go of my mind's desire to story tell, or wonder. Can you suggest how better to direct my mind towards concentration?
Ref: 2007.07.x.03.06
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2007
Rosemary
9
2
How do you know which reflection to choose to focus on? There are so many I am getting stuck in choosing? This is especially challenging if nothing is up for me in that moment.
Ref: 2007.07.x.09.02
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2007
Steve
3
3
Can you share your experience of balancing Generosity with Wisdom and Compassion? For example, avoiding enabling unbeneficial behavior through our generosity?
Ref: 2007.07.x.03.03
Written answer
Special Retreat Germany September 2007
Steve
8
5
Please give an example for a balanced meditation practice. For example, if someone has one hour each day for formal practice, how can they organize the different methods?
Ref: 2007.09.x.08.05
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2009
Steve
5
4
Could you please explain the Anapanasati practice, its benefits and its limitations?
Ref: 2009.07.x.05.04
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand July 2009
Steve
3
11
If you find yourself in the middle of a hindrance attack, yet you can't locate it in the body, what should you do then?
Ref: 2009.07.x.03.11
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
8
6
When I decide to meditate every day, one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening, how much time should I use the Reflection, awareness of the breathing or body, standing, walking meditation. For example, 70% Reflection, 30% awareness of the breathing?
Ref: 2000.01.x.08.06
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
5
12
Why do you want us not to reflect while doing walking meditation?
Ref: 2000.01.x.05.12
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
6
6
Could you please explain the difference between fear and worry and how we can differentiate them when we investigate the hindrances?
Ref: 2000.01.x.06.06
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
5
5
Is it all right to let meditations to flow into each other, or should we keep strictly to the form? E.g., while practicing Mindfulness of Breathing, strong aversion to a sensation arises, switch object to the sensation, which passes, leading to a reflection on impermanence.
Ref: 2000.01.x.05.05
Written answer
- Impermanence
- Reflection
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
8
3
Sometimes a hindrance like planning comes up frequently, not all at once, but again and again, and most times I note it, then it disappears quickly. Is it enough just to note it, or does it still have an effect through it's coming up so often, and would I need a balancing Reflection at some point?
Ref: 2000.01.x.08.03
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
5
7
What is Broong Dtang?
Ref: 2000.01.x.05.07
Written answer
- Broong Dtang
- Reflection
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Steve
7
18
What do I do if I can't seem to feel compassion for certain people?
Ref: 2000.01.x.07.18
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
3
1
Could you please repeat the Reflection to do before walking meditation, and maybe talk a little about Rebirth in relation to this?
Ref: 2000.01.x.03.01
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Steve
4
12
When you reflect on the Five Reflections during one whole period, do you go through each one of them, and once this is done, pick one to meditate on, or can you go on to body awareness if no more ideas arise to reflect on?
Ref: 2000.01.x.04.12
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
8
10
Is there a technique to prevent ourselves from creating self-images?
Ref: 2000.01.x.08.10
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
8
2
What kind of Reflection could help to lessen the self-pity mind?
Ref: 2000.01.x.08.02
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
5
11
With the Death Reflection I find my mind can get quite fascinated with all the different ways to die, what they would be like, then it starts to want to experience them, so it would know definitely how it would feel. Is this a type of hindrance, and is there a technique to balance it?
Ref: 2000.01.x.05.11
Written answer
- Death
- Reflection
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
5
9
Would you like to give a numbered list of the contents of the tool box?
Ref: 2000.01.x.05.09
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
3
11
During the D/D (Defusing/Diffusing Compassion and Lovingkindness) meditation last night, I found it easier to imagine someone of a certain age by bringing to mind briefly someone I know that age. Is it OK to do this to help my visualization? Does this take away from making it universal?
Ref: 2000.01.x.03.11
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
5
8
I wanted to do a reflection where I took Sympathetic Joy for the efforts the Sangha makes to work on themselves/help each other. E.g. I thought about how people on this island celebrated the New Year, and how at Wat Kow Tahm it was celebrated, or how most people work for profit and generally most people in the Sangha don't. Do you have a short form of Sympathetic Joy, and I wasn't always sure when to say the Sympathetic Joy phrase, especially when one thought sparked off another about the good qualities of the Sangha. Hope this makes sense.
Ref: 2000.01.x.05.08
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand 1999-2000
Rosemary
6
7
Rosemary talked about changing objects of meditation yesterday, say from the breathing to being aware of a sensation in the body, unpleasant sensation in the body leading to a reflection on impermanence and said that is ok. Was she only referring to this being ok while doing the breathing or is it ok for doing also with Reflection meditation?
Ref: 2000.01.x.06.07
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand January 2005
Steve
8
23
What is the difference between reflecting and concentrated thinking about a subject in order to write about it for example?
Ref: 2005.01.x.08.23
Written answer
- Concentrated thinking
- Reflection
Special Retreat Thailand January 2002
Steve
5
3
Could you please explain more about the Paramis Reflection last night? I found it difficult to consider how much or how much more I have of a certain quality. Could you maybe give some examples? And do you mean with considering how I feel about this growth, if I am content with it or do I feel I could have done more, or how the quality enriches my life?
Ref: 2002.01.x.05.03
Written answer
- Paramis
- Reflection
Special Retreat Thailand January 2002
Steve
8
10
What do you do if you are doing a reflection and when the bell rings and you feel you are not finished? Should you continue sitting or standing until finished?
Ref: 2002.01.x.08.10
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand January 2002
Rosemary
6
5
Can you give any advice how to balance the restlessness that can be generated from the thinking process in reflection, and the investigative factor of the mind?
Ref: 2002.01.x.06.05
Written answer
- Reflection
- Restlessness
Special Retreat Thailand January 2002
Steve
8
9
Could you please summarize all the different ways of doing Death reflection?
Ref: 2002.01.x.08.09
Written answer
Special Retreat Thailand January 2002
Steve
8
8
Do you see any benefit in looking at dreams and then trying to reflect appropriately as to what the theme was? For example I had a dream about a situation which went out of my control so I reflected on situations which I can't control and don't like, and asked myself "Can I control this?" If you do think there could be some benefit, what type of reflection would you recommend for anxiety dreams, that is, having to catch a plane and not being able to get there on time?
Ref: 2002.01.x.08.08
Written answer
- Dreams
- Reflection
Special Retreat Thailand January 2004
Steve
5
7
Please, sometimes while I am doing reflections my mind starts to crave different stories or stupid thoughts, totally drift away. What is good to do in such a situation?
Ref: 2004.01.x.05.07
Written answer
- Mental noting
- Reflection