Have been practicing mindfulness meditation for a few months now and although it is not an extremely long amount of time, am wondering when the active monkey mind starts to settle down and the practice can deepen to another level. No frustration or hurry, more concern that progress is not being made or that am not doing something correctly.
Can someone kindly explain the differences between the types of meditation? Have just about completed a book on vipassana and it doesn't seem much different that just focusing on the breath as am already doing. Perhaps it is just this book. Understand that there is concentration and insight meditation, but the latter - what was told to be vipassana - was not explained beyond what have already mentioned. Am simply confused.
Suggestions on how to wean off of guided meditation sessions? Embarrassed to say, but much of what is practiced is done in this manner. It is getting annoying to a degree because a voice can sometimes break the concentration. Have ventured out to practice solo but this is where the monkey mind is most active. Can't seem to win either way though am still reaping benefit.
Finally, would it be better to find a sangha regardless of affiliation to learn meditation and then venture into being more selective or should time be taken at the onset to find an appropriate center? An app lists 5 centers in the area. Of the 2 that have researched because of being indicated as Theravadan, turns out that they were incorrectly labeled. Leaves 3 to go given time.
Thank-you for permitting these elementary queries. Coming from another tradition, this is a huge leap into something new yet exciting. Am enjoying the journey.