user6921: This question goes specifically to theravada insight practicioners - but everyone  can answer if they think they have something useful to add - even from other traditions
since my mahasi style practice is going slow and even though i tried in many ways  i cant maintain a steady practice - and my doubt increases - i want to freshen up my practice - maybe get some "results" wheter its improvement in concentration or metta or some "cool" results like seeing images or feeling strange stuff ect  
i wonder : 

whether some practices can ruin my main mahasi style practice (which i want to keep as my main path cause i have access to teachers in it) maybe kundalini and third eye and stuff like that can ruin my practice ? 
whether  some practice can aid in my practice - im pretty sure metta can be helpful but maybe pure concentration focus can distract me and do more harm than good to my practice ?  
i read that some food can be good for opening the third eye - can this food be helpful to the practice of insight meditation as well ?


user-1: The easiest thing to do to aid in your practice is to stop being so scattered!  Pick one technique and stick to it.  That you're all over the place exploring other systems and looking for results indicates to me that you are having a hard time staying focused on the cushion.  Trust, trust, trust in the process!  It's the only way you are going to make any progress. 

user-1: Theravada Buddhist answer, based in the tradition of Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw.
In the tradition of Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw, we observe and note everything that comes up, i.e. all mental and physical phenomena.
Now, you have pointed out your own hindrance and blockage right here: "Wanting to get results, seeing images or strange stuff". 
That is your road block. Unless you resolve this matter, it will continue to be a hindrance on your path. Sometimes a meditator may meet a hindrance, that is not immediately visible, so its very good that you know what blocks you.
Then what to do?
As a Mahasi-practitioner, one should note the phenomena of wanting as "wanting, wanting". It could perhaps also fall under the 5th hindrance, Doubt. Here the solution would be to also note the doubt as "doubting, doubting", and to go freshen up on your theory, i.e. the method of practice. A skilled meditator knows the theory that he or she practices. Theory and practice has to go hand in hand. One has to know what to do when hindrances arise, which they will sooner or later for all meditators. When one knows how to deal with them like the inside of ones own pocket, then one can use them to cultivate insights and thereby progress on the path.
For reading material, I would suggest the book How To Meditate: A Beginner's Guide to Peace, by Ven. Yuttadhammo. It covers all one needs to know regarding the burmese method. 
Wanting to get results is one of the greatest pitfalls on the path. Wanting something will ironically stir one further away from getting what one wants. By for example wanting to win Nibbana, one is actually moving further away from that goal, because the wanting itself becomes a road block on the path.
It might also be beneficial for you to read up on the 10 paramitas, namely the 8th paramita, i.e. the Adhitthana-paramita. Adhitthana means "Determination or  Resolution". It can be cultivated in the meditation practice, e.g. by choosing to meditate for one hour and not moving at all. This is just an example. There are many other ways to cultivate this paramita. 
Its very useful in the training of the mind, so that it will stray less. When the Buddha attained his enlightenment, Mara sent his beautiful daughters to the Buddha to tempt him and he sent an army of demons towards the Buddha but he did not move at all. That is an example of Addhitthana.

What practices can aid (or not ruin) the mahasi style meditation?

Regarding the augmentation of your practice, the burmese method is complete in itself. Wanting to augment the practice, should again be noted as "wanting, wanting". 
Mixing methods is called "Eclecticism" and its not recommended. Try to stay with one method of practice and if that does not work out, then choose another method of practice. Mixing methods will not give good results since methods are often not designed to be mixed. This will result in one having a halfway house and not a final vehicle.
If you have any questions to what I wrote, let me know. May you have a fruitful practice. 

6921: <p>This question goes specifically to theravada insight practicioners - but everyone  can answer if they think they have something useful to add - even from other traditions</p>

<p>since my mahasi style practice is going slow and even though i tried in many ways  i cant maintain a steady practice - and my doubt increases - i want to freshen up my practice - maybe get some "results" wheter its improvement in concentration or metta or some "cool" results like seeing images or feeling strange stuff ect  </p>

<p>i wonder : </p>

<ul>
<li>whether some practices can ruin my main mahasi style practice (which i want to keep as my main path cause i have access to teachers in it) maybe kundalini and third eye and stuff like that can ruin my practice ? </li>
<li>whether  some practice can aid in my practice - im pretty sure metta can be helpful but maybe pure concentration focus can distract me and do more harm than good to my practice ?  </li>
<li>i read that some food can be good for opening the third eye - can this food be helpful to the practice of insight meditation as well ?</li>
</ul>
 -1: <p>The easiest thing to do to aid in your practice is to stop being so scattered!  Pick one technique and stick to it.  That you're all over the place exploring other systems and looking for results indicates to me that you are having a hard time staying focused on the cushion.  Trust, trust, trust in the process!  It's the only way you are going to make any progress. </p>
 -1: <p><strong>Theravada Buddhist answer, based in the tradition of Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw</strong>.</p>

<p>In the tradition of Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw, we observe and note everything that comes up, i.e. all mental and physical phenomena.</p>

<p>Now, you have pointed out your own hindrance and blockage right here: <em>"Wanting to get results, seeing images or strange stuff"</em>. </p>

<p>That is your road block. Unless you resolve this matter, it will continue to be a hindrance on your path. Sometimes a meditator may meet a hindrance, that is not immediately visible, so its very good that you know what blocks you.</p>

<p>Then what to do?</p>

<p>As a Mahasi-practitioner, one should note the phenomena of wanting as <em>"wanting, wanting"</em>. It could perhaps also fall under the 5th hindrance, <em>Doubt</em>. Here the solution would be to also note the doubt as <em>"doubting, doubting"</em>, and to go freshen up on your theory, i.e. the method of practice. A skilled meditator knows the theory that he or she practices. Theory and practice has to go hand in hand. One has to know what to do when hindrances arise, which they will sooner or later for all meditators. When one knows how to deal with them like the inside of ones own pocket, then one can use them to cultivate insights and thereby progress on the path.</p>

<p>For reading material, I would suggest the book <a href="http://static.sirimangalo.org/howto/HTM.pdf" rel="nofollow"><em>How To Meditate: A Beginner's Guide to Peace</em></a>, by Ven. Yuttadhammo. It covers all one needs to know regarding the burmese method. </p>

<p>Wanting to get results is one of the greatest pitfalls on the path. Wanting something will ironically stir one further away from getting what one wants. By for example wanting to win Nibbana, one is actually moving further away from that goal, because the wanting itself becomes a road block on the path.</p>

<p>It might also be beneficial for you to read up on the <a href="http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=10_Paramitas" rel="nofollow">10 paramitas</a>, namely the 8th paramita, i.e. the Adhitthana-paramita. Adhitthana means <em>"Determination or  Resolution"</em>. It can be cultivated in the meditation practice, e.g. by choosing to meditate for one hour and not moving at all. This is just an example. There are many other ways to cultivate this paramita. </p>

<p>Its very useful in the training of the mind, so that it will stray less. When the Buddha attained his enlightenment, Mara sent his beautiful daughters to the Buddha to tempt him and he sent an army of demons towards the Buddha but he did not move at all. That is an example of Addhitthana.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>What practices can aid (or not ruin) the mahasi style meditation?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Regarding the augmentation of your practice, the burmese method is complete in itself. Wanting to augment the practice, should again be noted as <em>"wanting, wanting"</em>. </p>

<p>Mixing methods is called "Eclecticism" and its not recommended. Try to stay with one method of practice and if that does not work out, then choose another method of practice. Mixing methods will not give good results since methods are often not designed to be mixed. This will result in one having a halfway house and not a final vehicle.</p>

<p>If you have any questions to what I wrote, let me know. May you have a fruitful practice. </p>
