ARTICLES
Between suppression on one side and identification on the other lies a third possibility, the balanced state of non-self-interference…equanimity.
An introductory overview of techniques for mental development within the Buddhist traditions of Theravada, Tantra and Zen and including reference to Christian contemplative practice.
Meditation: Escaping Into Life
Michael Toms of New Dimensions interviews Shinzen Young. How to contact one's spiritual source by experiencing the moment completely.
Purpose and Method of Vipassana Meditation
An introduction to Vipassana which appeared as an article in The Journal of Humanistic Psychology.
Charles Tart interviews Shinzen Young for the Institute of Noetic Sciences.
Mantra Practice Versus Mindfulness
How does the popular technique known as "TM" relate to mindfulness practice? A careful examination reveals a deep connection between the two methods which on the surface would seem to represent opposite approaches.
What is the relationship between one's diet and one's spiritual state? Can you eat big macs and still get satori?
Working With Physical Discomfort During Meditation
When one first sits still and attempts to meditate, it's common to experience many physical discomforts. This need not be a problem if one knows a few tips about why this happens and what to do about it.
The Buddha said that there is no thing called the self. Then who meditates?
The Icky-Sticky Creepy-Crawly It-Doesn't-Really-Hurt-But-I-Can't-Stand-It Feeling
There is a phenomenon commonly experienced but seldom discussed in the literature of spiritual growth. As one calms the mind and body, one begins to get a reaction of subtle yucky feeling. This gets worse the deeper one relaxes. What does this mean, and what should one do about it?
Practical steps for reducing suffering and transforming physical pain into spiritual growth.
Increasing fulfillment, reducing compulsiveness and purifying consciousness through having a complete experience of the pleasure of eating.
Some techniques for greeting negative circumstances with love.
How to use the activity of walking as an object of meditation.
How to gain insight and purification by working with pleasure as an object of focus.
Meditation and Emptying the Mind
Is the goal of meditation to empty the mind? If not, how should one deal with incessant distracting thoughts?
Is it possible to meditate in a noisy chaotic environment?
Experiences Associated With Meditating on the Thought Process
What happens when you try to focus on thought as an object of meditation and what to do about it.
People often equate thought with verbal mental processing ("self talk") but visual mental processing is more primary. This article will sensitize one to the wide range of sources of mental imagery.
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Vipassana Support Institute: http://shinzen.org