Mental labeling/noting

[panegalli]

Hello, everyone!

The noting technique basically consists on giving the experience you are aware in the moment a name, and saying that name mentally when you have the experience.
 
I want to know the opinion that you guys have on the mental labeling/noting technique used and taught on the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition. If you think it is a good technique either for maintaining self-awareness during the day informally or during the formal meditation practice.


   Thank you

[Cal]

Hello, everyone!

The noting technique basically consists on giving the experience you are aware in the moment a name, and saying that name mentally when you have the experience.
 
I want to know the opinion that you guys have on the mental labeling/noting technique used and taught on the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition. If you think it is a good technique either for maintaining self-awareness during the day informally or during the formal meditation practice.


   Thank you

It is good practice in self awareness to name what is present, when it is present. I am not familiar with the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition, so I can't offer anything in that regard.

I can say that naming what is present, when it is present is a method that I use quite rigorously. The important thing that I keep in mind when doing so is that I am only observing what was named, and letting it fall away. In the past, I have found being too cognitive in meditation to hinder the experience. So now, I can still name what is present, but I tend to surrender my mind all-together, and just be present. This includes both formal and informal practice.
 
Below I've linked something that may be of help.

C. the Third Cornerstone, Mind

"And how does an aspirant remain focused upon the mind? There is the case where an aspirant, when the mind has passion, discerns that the mind has passion. When the mind is without passion, one discerns that the mind is without passion. When the mind has aversion, one discerns that the mind has aversion. When the mind is without aversion, one discerns that the mind is without aversion. When the mind has delusion, one discerns that the mind has delusion. When the mind is without delusion, one discerns that the mind is without delusion.

"When the mind is restricted, one discerns that the mind is restricted. When the mind is scattered, one discerns that the mind is scattered. When the mind is enlarged, one discerns that the mind is enlarged. When the mind is not enlarged, one discerns that the mind is not enlarged. When the mind is surpassed, one discerns that the mind is surpassed. When the mind is unsurpassed, one discerns that the mind is unsurpassed. When the mind is absorbed (jhana), one discerns that the mind is absorbed. When the mind is not absorbed, one discerns that the mind is not absorbed. When the mind is released, one discerns that the mind is released. When the mind is not released, one discerns that the mind is not released.

"In this way one remains focused internally upon the mind, or externally upon the mind, or both internally and externally upon the mind. Or one remains focused upon the phenomenon of origination with regard to the mind, on the phenomenon of passing away with regard to the mind, or on the phenomenon of origination and passing away with regard to the mind. Or one's awareness that 'There is a mind' is maintained to the extent of knowledge and remembrance. And one abides independent, not clinging to anything in the world. This is how an aspirant remains focused upon the mind.

 

[Jhanananda]

While I value mindful self-awareness, I tend to reject the mental labeling/noting technique as taught by Sayadaw.  I can see it as a good starting point, but what we would want to see is one getting to the stilling of the mind, and learning to be present and mindfully self-aware in the moment.

[panegalli]

While I value mindful self-awareness, I tend to reject the mental labeling/noting technique as taught by Sayadaw.  I can see it as a good starting point, but what we would want to see is one getting to the stilling of the mind, and learning to be present and mindfully self-aware in the moment.

Thank-you for answering my question Jhananda. I wonder what should we do to maintain a still mind during the day? I mean when we're not doing formal practice. Should we focus on our thinking process during the day and try to let it flow without interfering?

[rougeleader115]

Greetings panegalli,

When I first began meditating, i found using the breath as a worthy object to keep my attention on throughout the day. I also found progressively deeper body scanning to be a very worthwhile adventure in itself even to this day. While it is good for relaxing the mind and body, and training the mind to remain focused on an object of meditation, it is the charisms/kundalini/holy spirit we are after here. So if during your meditations you are experiencing any of the charisms described here and on the website by Jhanananda, such as ringing in the ears, energy sensations throughout the body and chakras etc., you should turn your awareness towards those instead.

As your practice deepens, those sensations and sounds should follow you outside of meditation, which we call "saturation" in the charisms. It is these you will hold as your meditation object just as you would the breath or body. I find my cycle runs as follows:

1) If I am not experiencing any charisms and my thoughts are running along, I focus on the breath and body and on each exhale focus on releasing all the tensions in both my mind and body. I throw my thoughts to the universe and aim to let my mind relax into silence. Sometimes this is all there is to my meditation, bringing my mind back to my meditation object and silence over and over.

2) But once I can hear the ringing and blissful sensations dancing throughout my body, I continue to keep my mind in the silence and relaxation I found from the breath and body scanning. But now the object that I keep returning my awareness to, are the charisms that continues to increase in intensity the longer I am able to keep my attention on it.

3) That becomes the dance! Relaxing the tensions whether experienced in formal meditation or daily life, and returning your awareness to your meditation object until the charisms become your blissful and constant companion.

I hope my explanation is helpful to you at all. I dont know if you have read any of these articles, but they are all worth a read, and should help a lot more than I could.

http://www.greatwesternvehicle.org/magga.htm

http://www.greatwesternvehicle.org/phala.htm

Best Wishes
Rougeleader

[rougeleader115]

And using thoughts during the day is not a failure. It is just you would endeavor to keep your mind still most of the time, if not all. There is no need to be abusive about it, but you do have to have some discipline about it. I find my life most enjoyable though with the chatter turned waaay down, and only really engage my mind to the level it begins to cause me undue stress. It has become more natural to me now instead of having thoughts going pretty much 24/7.

Rougeleader

[Jhanananda]

Rougeleader, nailed it perfectly.

[Frederick]

This was pretty much what I was looking for in my latest post. Thanks for the help all. I'll try this today and report back later on my blog here.