Sense restraint practice

[Tad]

Dear Mystics,

please share any practical experience and tips on practicing sense restraint. How much sense restraint do you recommend on a daily basis for a lay practitioner that aims for stream entry in this life style? How to implement it? Any helpful tips would be welcome.

[Jhanananda]

sense restraint requires discipline; nonetheless, we should keep in mind the point of sense restraint.  The point is as long as we are obsessed with the stimulus of the senses will never come to the charisms which are our vehicle to depth in meditation. So, while I agree discipline is important; nonetheless, the regular practice of meditation in pursuit if depth is essential.

[Rodan]

Greetings Tad,

This has been a topic of concern for myself as well since I began; besides the obvious (remaining absolutely still throughout the sit), it's difficult to find advice techniques. I recently learned approximately two months ago that pratyahara existed but it was difficult finding good sources on the practice. I think I found a few techniques, I need to find the book again but it involved utilizing various locks found in pranayama; supposedly resting the eyes pointed upwards subdues response to mental visual stimuli. I forget what the other techniques were but I'll try to find them. I don't think they were particularly helpful but I did not perform them for too long. They were difficult for myself to incorporate at the time.

I will say though, the effacement of the senses are happening slowly and in parts. I have found my mouth and tongue to readily get numb within a matter of seconds these days.

[Tad]

Good day All,

Rodan,
my understanding is that whenever we spend time away from activities that stimulate our senses, we practice sense restraint. I think following 5 precepts is a good foundation. Additionally, I also find that things such as not eating late and limiting exposure to media are among simple practices that reduce unnecessary stimulation in the mind. Lastly, practice of meditation also involves sense restraint.

Jhananda,
thanks for conveying the essence of sense restrain practice in a very brief and clear way. It is not like we practice sense restraint to please some higher deity. So it is definitely a healthy reminder.

[Jhanananda]

Good day All,

Rodan,
my understanding is that whenever we spend time away from activities that stimulate our senses, we practice sense restraint. I think following 5 precepts is a good foundation. Additionally, I also find that things such as not eating late and limiting exposure to media are among simple practices that reduce unnecessary stimulation in the mind. Lastly, practice of meditation also involves sense restraint.

I agree

Jhananda,
thanks for conveying the essence of sense restrain practice in a very brief and clear way. It is not like we practice sense restraint to please some higher deity. So it is definitely a healthy reminder.

Thank you