3 Buddha Dharma - Fundamentals of Meditation by Ven Dr. Gunaratana

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana is the founding abbot of the Bhavana Society. Born in rural Sri Lanka, he has been a monk since age 12 and took full ordination at age 20 in 1947. He came to the United States in 1968. Bhante G (as he is fondly called by his students) has written a number of books, including the now-classic meditation manual Mindfulness In Plain English and its companion Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness. Bhante G regularly leads retreats on vipassana, mindfulness, metta (Loving-friendliness), concentration, and other topics both at the Bhavana Society and elsewhere.

Bhante Gunaratana is an internationally recognized author and meditation teacher. Prior to coming to the United States, he spent five years doing in missionary work with the Harijanas (Untouchables) of India and ten years in Malaysia. He has taught in a number of settings, including American University of Washington DC where he served as Buddhist chaplain and the Buddhist Vihara of Washington DC, where he served as president. Bhante G has a strong scholarly background and livelong commitment to dhamma.
http://www.bhavanasociety.org

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• Nibbana
• Nirvana
• Noble Truths
• Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
• Buddhism
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• sri lanka
• buddha
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• sanga
• eternal bliss
• suffering
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[hearts0ngs]

@LUVallova u r most welcome. I just came back here and saw my earlier replies to you, and I notice how our challenges change over time. Right now, my mind itself is giving me a hard time, ha! So I don't think there's ever a time we are totally trouble-free. I'm truly glad if I was of some assistance, it certainly does cheer this mind of mine!

[LUVallova]

I think I'm going to attend a retreat and get some precise instruction.

Maybe even some suggestions about clearing my nose issues.

Thanks for taking the time brother. :)

[hearts0ngs]

@LUVallova Oops maybe I should rephrase what I just said...I HEARD once that 'any simple and wholesome object' could be used as a subject for meditation practice, but this statement is not from any Buddhist text, it's just something I heard a fellow Buddhist say once...just to clarify. What I meant was that we are not limited to the breath, there are heaps of alternatives...

[hearts0ngs]

@LUVallova-->...and finally, I sincerely hope you don't get too disheartened by the obstacles. I know all about obstacles...my habitually worried and thoughtful mind itself provides many...and I remind you that meditation can be practised upon *any simple wholesome object*. Of course there are about 40 objects advised in Buddhist texts, so even there you can see that breath isnt the only suitable object. So you WILL find a way, somehow. I have even heard that the Moon, or blue sky, are suitable.

[hearts0ngs]

@LUVallova -->(continued) ...anyway, sometimes when my nose has been really blocked (happens) I have simply relaxed and let myself breathe through the mouth (got to breathe through something, hey!). This is when I consciously bring my attention to the movement of the abdomen, the rising and falling of the abdomen / chest etc is more soothing and pleasant than noticing how dry your mouth is gradually becoming (annoying, I know). This way the mind remains with the breathing process, just lower.

[hearts0ngs]

@LUVallova Hi, I can relate to a small extent, in so far as my nostrils are naturally narrow, and when I breathe only through them, I'm too loud for sitting amidst other people. This is why I just practice alone now (so as not to disturb others who are also trying to meditate!).

There is surgery available, apparently, to widen the nasal canal. If one of my nostrils were completely blocked, I would at least consider it (I'm not advising you, just saying what I would do...).

[LUVallova]

When I breath through my nose, I get a ridiculous whistle in my left nostril and my right nostril has been completely blocked since 1992 after the oil fires in Desert Storm.

I started to practice breathing and then I got a bloody nose because it was so dry in New England during the winter, so I bought a humidifier.

All of these obstacles have really just cracked me because I am very patient with myself, but how can I help improve my breathing through my nose, so I can progress?

[hearts0ngs]

Bhante G gives so much valuable advice about breath meditation, I feel like I've just been handed a treasure. We worry so much about material things, and yet teachers like Bhante G are freely giving away the real treasure, not asking anything in return! And so I *bow* to Bhante, with thanks and respect for all the help he gives us on the Path.

[hearts0ngs]

This is so awesome and deep, really. Anapanasati is so very simple, yet so profound!