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@cetus56 Well, if the anxiety is caused by suppressing or repressing something subconsciously what can I do about it?

Start "working smart".

Does it really matter what mudra you use? if yes, why?

@Prabhaker What I mean by "mudra" is the way you place your hands in meditation.

The same way you see everything for what it really is, drop. the. concepts.

It can help you to create new habits.

@retardedhorse1 Since you're already familiar with Shinzen Young I suggest you read his "FiveWays" if you haven't already. There's a bunch of great different techniques to choose from.

Your motivations might change after being a monk for a few months. Anyways, best of luck!

Hey, a few days ago I started noticing a very, very quite voice in my head (mostly when I meditate). That voice says really random things. And every single time I am conscious of it I feel the need to repeat after it. What is this "thing"? It doesn't "look" like me. Is this something to worry about? Was that voice always present but I was just not aware of it ?

@Bob84 Lol.

Nothing can be described, really. Any meaning or name that you will attach to it will not be it.

Simplest advice, stop identifying with "your" thoughts and emotions. Just watch them pass by.

Don't pay much attention to that, unless you're meditating on "see out". Just continue doing your meditation.

What do you want to know it for? You may not like it.

@Aamir King Use them as a reminder to not fall unconscious, and to be patient.

I'd do one of 2 things: 1) Make them my teacher 2) Stop hanging around them ( completely or at least to some degree if possible )

"Items to aid with enlightenment"... sounds like a joke, at least to me.

Hey, I've been practicing meditation, zazen. I was wondering when should I switch from one technique to another (Breath Counting, breath following and silent illumination/Do nothing)? I'm currently practicing the first one, breath counting. Anyways, when should I switch to breath following/ do nothing?

@Schuchti11 I think the exact opposite, you're more equanimous,

@Svartsaft You know you'll come back.

The Strong Determination Sitting technique is mostly about not moving under any circumstances, which will introduce a sensory challenge – facing this challenge head on with concentration, sensory clarity, equanimity and high awareness for the duration of the sit is the aim here. The Do Nothing technique is about not manipulating your thoughts – it is sometimes called “just sitting” (no brain manipulation either there) or “choiceless awareness” (don’t try to focus your attention on x or y, instead don’t make any choices at all, and just have awareness of what is happening in the present moment right now)

Hey, whenever I label mental talk ( Hear In, Gone, Hear rest ) in mindfulness practice I notice that it almost always ends the moment I label it "Hear In" and the thing that makes me so annoyed about it is that almost immediately after that I have to label "Gone" and it makes me worried that I am doing something wrong. Is it fine if the moment I note a sensory experience it stops? am I doing something wrong? Thanks in advance!

There's nothing unhealthy about it, but it will cause you more suffering.

But the problem with this is that it makes you feel bad to not be infected with cultural illusion. In our modern society the cost of sanity is alienation, to some degree. By the way, are you sure you want to go live in a cave or build a cabin in the woods and live inside of it? after all, your life will be absolutely at your hands.

@mikeyy Don't take anything on blind belief, but be open to the possibility of it.