0 votes
by (120 points)
Dear Bhante,

I have finally took the step to meditate daily, take precepts and live a more wholesome life in accordance with the Dhamma.

However, in the past 3 weeks as I am deepening my practice and understanding, it has been extremely difficult. I think they are withdrawal symptoms, because I have been staying away from entertainment and other unwholesome things. I am irritable, theres tremendous anger and frustration coming up that I didnt know i was capable of feeling. I am noting anger, anger, anger, sadness, sadness, but my realisation is that this will not eradicate those bad feelings! I am noticing how attached I was to results and having only pleasant feelings with practice. I know very well this is the best time to remain equanimous and not give into those feelings, but the craving gets stronger and stroger and I am starting to dispair...

I am writing not really to ask anything technical, I am looking for a little confirmation that everything is going well and i am not going down the wrong way.

Thank you so much. Love from Hungary.
by (18.8k points)
Are you skipping Metta meditation?
by (120 points)
Thank you for your feedback mhernandez! It is true about the teacher, lately I've been feeling like I need more guidance. Thanks for the tip on the online course too!
by (120 points)
Oh, that might be the problem? I am, actually...
by (18.8k points)
Try Metta meditation during day to day activities as you interact with people
by (120 points)
Thank you! I will do! :)
by (18.8k points)
You're welcome!

1 Answer

0 votes
by (8.5k points)
This sounds normal to me. It's part of the practice. But if you don't have a teacher who can guide you then it can be very difficult to do it on your own.

If you've read our "How to meditate" booklet and are practicing according to the instructions at least one hour per day the next step is to take an online meditation course with Bhante. You can read about the course here: https://meditation.sirimangalo.org/course
by (120 points)
Thank you for your feedback mhernandez! It is true about the teacher, lately I've been feeling like I need more guidance. Thanks for the tip on the online course too!
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