Practice Instructions

Dear Kenneth,

what is meant by:
"If you are able to notice the sensations while maintaining the mental note, "Rising, Falling," do that"?
Should I not NOTE the sensations like softness, warmth, clothes rubbing against my abdomen, but just noTICE them and keep noting "rising/falling"?
And then:
"However, keep in mind that eventually you would like to be able to stay with the rise and fall without being called away, noticing sensations as they occur, but using the rise and fall as an anchor, and noting "rising, falling."
And when, if at all, is noting these sensations appropriate?
Is there anything like the right noting technique?
Regards and thanks for any feedback
Matts

I would re-ask this question in general discussion where more people will see and answer it -

welcome to KFD though!

Hi Matts,

(I am not Kenneth, but here are my thoughts.)

As far as I know, those instructions are outdated and Kenneth hasn't been teaching noting using the abdomen as an anchor for a while. It is of course a valid method and more in line with the teachings of Mahasi Sayadaw.
With it, you're supposed to stay with the rising and falling and note anything that takes your attention away from it. So, if the softness, warmth etc are not "distractions", you would notice them while concurrently noticing and noting the rising and falling. If something pulls your attention away from the rising and falling, note it.

The noting method Kenneth was teaching more recently was a "pure noting" variety, where you continuously (every 1-2 seconds ideally) note whatever is happening without using the abdomen/breath as an anchor. So, pressure-unpleasant, softness, tension-unpleasant-aversion, frustration, judging thought, frustration, coolness, etc.

Another even more recent noting variety from Kenneth is Mahamudra noting, which is described here www.buddhistgeeks.com/2011/07/mahamudra-noting/
I think there's a recorded talk about it somewhere on kennethfolkdharma.com/ too.

I believe that all of these will work when applied continuously. Which one is right for you will depend on your personality and where you are in the progress of insight, I suspect. I personally prefer the "pure noting" approach and it was the main technique that got me to stream entry and 2nd path. I'm not an expert, but I think that would be your best choice if you haven't yet crossed the A&P. Either way, pick one, stick with it, and let us know how it goes.

Thank you very much nadavspi,

is the pure noting as simple as you describe it?

I think I´m still far away from A&P, because I´m struggling with the Mahasi technique for a good year now (did some Goenka scanning and Zen before) and don´t seem to get anywhere. Basically due to a heavy wandering mind and doubt about the right meditation technique.

I will give the pure noting a try.

Thanks again,
Matts

Matts,

See my reply in the other thread.