Non-Self Q&A

00:00 Welcome 04:07 On the topic of... Non-Self 31:39 I'm recovering from losing someone. The practice is extremely painful. Is it wrong to go to samatha at this time? My suffering is unbelievable and I'm desperate for respite. I want to let go. Any advice? 37:29 Meditation has uncovered hostility I have for people who I used to associate with. I feel like I also have allowed it to fester. How can I reign it back, aside from being mindful? 38:59 I read that all taints are removed for the one who knows and sees. What should I see exactly, to understand non-self? Is it pain? 40:53 I have been meditating myself in a room for 4 years. I have struggled for 2 years, sometimes seeing shadows, hearing sounds. Later I realized it's normal in practice. Am I on the right track? 42:53 When there are lots of objects i.e. pain, thoughts, disliking, hearing etc. all coming rapidly, can I note "scattered?" I've designated "distracted" for when I'm thinking a lot. Not sure if that's right. 43:40 Did the Buddha specify that there is no self? 46:13 Would you say that being a narcissist, and therefore void of positive emotion, one still could get benefits from your noting technique? 47:52 My first meditation left me feeling sick and nauseated the rest of the day. After several more meditations, the sick feeling is dying down quite a bit. Was this normal or was I doing something wrong? 50:02 Sometimes there is no inclination to label an ongoing phenomenon. There is just the knowledge of it as either pleasant/unpleasant/neutral physical or mental feeling. Is the naming always necessary? 51:35 Why do I feel pressure in the forehead when I meditate? 53:08 Does being able to relax during meditation mean I'm not meditating? I have heard that you only feel relaxed during a bad meditation session. Is there any truth to this? 55:02 I feel myself hitting a plateau in my practice. I find it hard to get past the 30 minute mark. Should I try to push through it even if the quality is worse, or try to do multiple shorter sessions? 56:20 If I note problems - as this problem that has nature to arise also has nature to cease, is that noting sufficient to remove disturbance of sensuality, disturbance of becoming, and disturbance of self? 57:47 I feel when I let my attention move freely, but still have the meditation object in my awareness, I get less strain in my forehead. Is this right practice? 58:58 What is the cause of this illusion or misinterpretation of "self"? 1:01:08 Sorry to ask a "how do I" question but how do I not react? It seems so automatic. How can I not be distrubed by experience when the disturbance comes so immediately? 1:03:31 Is non-self fully realised at the Sotapanna stage? 1:05:10 How do I practice being present if I find myself focusing my attention on my thoughts? I try to focus on my surroundings but I always end up focusing more on my thoughts. 1:06:10 I've been meditating for years based on your booklet, and I am interested in reading from the Pali Canon. Is there a specific text in which the practice is outlined, or is it mostly scattered? 1:07:18 Sadhu... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - How To Meditate Booklet: https://htm.sirimangalo.org/ To join our meditation community and sign up for an at-home meditation course, please visit: https://meditation.sirimangalo.org/ Our Website: https://www.sirimangalo.org/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Subscribe for updates here: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=yuttadhammo and don't forget to click the 'like' button to help promote these videos! Thanks for your questions, comments and support for what I do. May all beings be happy. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yuttadhammo Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yuttadhammo Weblog: https://yuttadhammo.sirimangalo.org/ Supporting This Work: https://www.sirimangalo.org/support