Lost in a sea of suggestions...

I am new to Buddhist practice. My only local resources are the internet and a very informal meditation group. I would like to start meditation practice, but I'm lost in a deluge of conflicting advice. I was introduced to Kenneth Folk via Buddhist Geeks. He has made the most sense of anyone I've seen online. I just can't figure out what I need to do to actually start. I don't know which techniques I should use, I'm not sure how long I should spend per session, or when to scale up. I could really use a solid "Do this." I would like to attend a retreat, but the closest place I can find is very strict about using only their methods. That would preclude Samatha practice. As this is the most forthcoming resource I can find, I would like to follow this practice, so I would appreciate suggestions about retreat options (I'm in Indiana) and technique.

To help give you an idea of who you're looking at, I'll give you a short bio. I am a full-time college student. I live on grants and loans. Most of my life has fallen apart recently. I've hit a low I could never have imagined. From this came an insight. I have been living on auto-pilot. My whole life has been one long pursuit of anything that could blind me to dissatisfaction. This has led me trough darkest places a person can go. Still, somehow I've held out hope, and I have been trying to improve my life for a few years, it wasn't enough. I just found new habits, that destroyed my peace over a longer period of time. If I ever hope to prevent myself from falling so drastically again, I have to deconstruct and alter the list of excuses I've come to think of as myself. To add to this, I have been diagnosed with adult ADHD. This is a blessing and a curse. . I need a practice that helps with the ease in which I am distracted, and can help capture the ADHD tendency to "Hyper-focus" on things that I hold to be worthwhile.

Welcome, Hopeful. Here is what I suggest:

Go to the home page of this site: kennethfolkdharma.wetpaint.com/

-Take one day for each of the first four practices, listed under "First Gear."

-Spend 45 minutes each day noting aloud, per the instructions.

-On the fifth day, report your experiences here (if you haven't already done so by that time).

-By this time, you will have a clear idea of now to note the Four Foundations of Mindfulness aloud. Ask the community for clarification at that time if there are any questions about how to proceed.

-This practice will lead you through the 16 Insight Knowledges of the Progress of Insight, to Stream Entry and beyond, and eventually to the happiness that does not depend on conditions, aka "enlightenment" or "awakening." There is no excuse not to succeed in this practice. It simply works for those who apply it. Good luck!

Kenneth

Thank you very much. I'm rather impressed by the text, audio, and videos from you that I've watched. I have been wandering aimlessly around the net with all of my spare time for over a week trying to find some straight answers. You are the only person I've found that actually seems to want to help people toward enlightenment, instead of tooting their own horn through cryptic speech, sanctimonious attitude, and dangling insight just outside of reach. I could just be misinterpreting faulty communication, but it has been frustrating.

On the subject of reporting, should I do that here, or should I start a thread devoted to my reports?

Once again, thank you.

"Thank you very much. I'm rather impressed by the text, audio, and videos from you that I've watched. I have been wandering aimlessly around the net with all of my spare time for over a week trying to find some straight answers. You are the only person I've found that actually seems to want to help people toward enlightenment, instead of tooting their own horn through cryptic speech, sanctimonious attitude, and dangling insight just outside of reach. I could just be misinterpreting faulty communication, but it has been frustrating.

On the subject of reporting, should I do that here, or should I start a thread devoted to my reports?

Once again, thank you."

Start your own threat We'll be there to help out.

All the help and information and support you need is here if you want it, and it sounds like you do.

Your search for the facts reminds me of how i felt when i found this site (also through Buddhist geeks interview) and now i can confidently say that i have found happiness that does not depend on conditions. Good luck!