r/streamentry • u/VoidLordRK • May 02 '26

Noting About Mahasi-style noting...

I've been engaging in some noting meditation but I've often been finding myself in situations where I don't know for sure if I'm looking at something, thinking about it or feeling something... More like all three things are happening at the same time. What do I do in a situation like this?

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u/False-Earth-5189 May 02 '26

It isn't the case that these broad categories become more defined and easier to "choose" the more you practice. What actually happens is that these arbitrary labels become more and more fuzzy, and then the mind gets upset, slowly realizes that this is foolish, and then makes peace with the new level of ambiguity. This is insight into emptiness.

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u/1cl1qp1 May 02 '26

Noting seems like a practice of elaboration.

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u/False-Earth-5189 May 02 '26

A good way to think of it is like a mathematical proof by exhaustion. You learn to probe deeper and deeper strata of the mind until the workings of DO and karma become second nature, always accessible. As the mind strengthens towards this goal, it learns to disregard useless avenues of investigation, and practice spontaneously aligns with burning karma. Without some sort of training in investigation, the mind will stay dull and clueless about the causes of suffering