concentration vs. insight
- apperception
- Topic Author
13 years 6 months ago #89059
by apperception
concentration vs. insight was created by apperception
Has anyone found that doing concentration practice slows down your insight progress? I'm thinking of the following quotes from MCTB:
"In short, if you want to gunk up your insight practice because you simply need to slow down so as to be able to get on with your life or not completely flip out, such as to study for medical school boards, etc., one way to do this is to indulge in concentration states."
"If you have recently been trying to get into really stable samatha states, this can make it harder to see things flicker for a while. If you have recently been training hard to see things flicker, it can be hard to get into really stable samatha jhanas."
What's your experience?
"In short, if you want to gunk up your insight practice because you simply need to slow down so as to be able to get on with your life or not completely flip out, such as to study for medical school boards, etc., one way to do this is to indulge in concentration states."
"If you have recently been trying to get into really stable samatha states, this can make it harder to see things flicker for a while. If you have recently been training hard to see things flicker, it can be hard to get into really stable samatha jhanas."
What's your experience?
- Aquanin
- Topic Author
13 years 6 months ago #89060
by Aquanin
Replied by Aquanin on topic RE: concentration vs. insight
I think that once you are past a certain point. At least SE or 2nd path. It would be very difficult for that to happen. I think Daniel is referring to people that are pre path and stuck in a hellish Dark Night.
I do agree with the 2nd quote. It is hard to get stable samatha jhana's when all you have been doing in trying to break things down for so long.
I do agree with the 2nd quote. It is hard to get stable samatha jhana's when all you have been doing in trying to break things down for so long.
- andymr
- Topic Author
13 years 6 months ago #89061
by andymr
Replied by andymr on topic RE: concentration vs. insight
In general, I agree with the MCTB quotes.
But, my experience is that trying to attain really stable jhanas simply has not been as important to my practice as I thought it would be. Were jhanas cool and fun? Absolutely. Should I have spent more time trying to develop concentration states? Perhaps prior to stream entry.
I currently find it useful to have enough concentration to be able to sustain noticing the three characteristics. Also, when my insight practice has drifted around and hasn't gone anywhere, concentration work has often provided a stable base to allow for progress in my insight work.
But, my experience is that trying to attain really stable jhanas simply has not been as important to my practice as I thought it would be. Were jhanas cool and fun? Absolutely. Should I have spent more time trying to develop concentration states? Perhaps prior to stream entry.
I currently find it useful to have enough concentration to be able to sustain noticing the three characteristics. Also, when my insight practice has drifted around and hasn't gone anywhere, concentration work has often provided a stable base to allow for progress in my insight work.