Trying to understand what mental level and constitution the meditator needs to be to make actual progress towards the higher levels of concentration meditations, as well as the external conditions needed. Obviously a person cannot realistically gain traction while living a mundane householder life. So any personal advice, or sources or books/teachings regarding the matter would be appreciated. I did find a quote here that someone mentioned it could take 3-8 years of serious practice to gain any real attainments. This is obviously a "how long is a piece of string" scenario though the ability to practice with that much daily dedication and the requisite location is what I am asking. What persons constitution and what location is required for serious practice. Is a genuine teacher who can help with the immediate issues/pitfalls needed? Does one have to be in complete solitude etc? I do remember reading that Buddha gave 10 locations that would need to be avoided in attaining concentration. Which generally meant places where other people congregate.

I have tried to meditate regularly, and closed my eyes. However, as I kept my eyes closed, not even a few minutes would pass until muscles of my eyelids and surrounding regions began to twitch/spasm. I guess it strains my muscles. How should I deal with this, as it makes concentration quite difficult?

I need some advices about unwanted intrusive thoughts. I have been living a totally normal and happy life until last week. I got random thoughts about sexual images and other unsanitary activites which are very disturbing. Those thoughts would involve around the Buddha, Bodhisattvas and other stuff that are related around the religion. Even typing this out makes me uncomfortable. Everything I do at everytime will activate my mind in some way to automatically redirects it to Buddhist-related, which is disturbing and I just want it to stop. My mind is always alerted because I'm terrified that new thoughts would pop up. There are advices that told me to ignore them thoughts and move on with my life, but then I would think about the consequences of my thoughts and stuff around it, which make my anxiety worse. I want my old life back, just living normally without any issues. I want Buddha to know that I am not disrespectful about the religion or anything, it is the random thoughts that I just cannot do anything about it. Will these thoughts lead to negative karma? I am a teenager and still live with both of my parents. They are both Buddhist and so as their relatives, so I am sure that they won't be happy listening to my problems add I can't really afford a therapy. Any help and advices would be appreciated.

I find myself building mental associations while someone is speaking to me. I might ask them a question and while they are talking, I’ve already left to form some mental map (prapanca I suppose) i.e. I don’t listen much (I think I am more visually-oriented). Is this really bad or just my imagination? It does appeared socially impolite and I do it often, so maybe there is a functional reason (like too much information to process). It would be rude to interrupt or not look and pay attention. So, the conversation might end up awkward or repetitive. Perhaps, it is a sign I don't really care about their response which is terrible especially since I asked the question. But the conversation can be lost in a split-second as a result of a visual que, a background sound or any distraction. What do you think? How can I progress to be a better listener?

Two days ago I rescued a wounded dove, it probably got bit by a cat or being shot by a gun. It laid on my front door and ants were eating it like hundreds of them, the eyes were still moving so I picked it up and cleaned it, the wound as well. I fed it for 2 days, gave it a shelter and everything. Looks like it's going well and it's going to recover eventhough I don't know if it's internally broken or not. But this morning my aunt told me it's a baby bird (which is not) I got confused so I tried to put it under the nests around my house and I went back to sleep, at the moment I started to realize the sun is going to come that way and in my mind I thought, it's ok I got my alarm at 10am which would probably not be too hot? and then I fell asleep. I woke up again and saw the sun is burning hot I ran out of my house to pick it up, it died, overheated. I have OCD for overthinking and I feel really guilty that I might really go to hell for this, I'm not entirely Buddhism but my parents are so I tend to believe in karma, especially for animals abuse. I understand that I had good intention to save it but I killed it in the end because of my laziness? careless? stupidity? I don't know what it was, I could've moved it when I realized it but I chose to sleep instead, thinking it would be ok. Am I right that I might just go to hell 50% for this?

Quick question. How do I deal with the kind of people who do not know THE first thing about a topic and they would pretend as if they are experts in it; and **impose** their opinions on the conversation while ignoring mine even when I am indeed an actual expert there. Eg: my father will assert things about physics (sometimes absurd and laughable), which is high school level at best. When I tell him calmly "the correct thing is actually not this because so and so... ", he refuse to believe/listen ( doesn't even inquire into it). This is even though I am a current PhD student, in physics no less. Similarly a cousin and some friends, not knowing a thing in that field try to be experts when I actually for a fact know those things. This kind of gets me mad and I become passive aggressive. What is a way to deal with these people and avoid bad karma simultaneously. In general we are supposed observe the feelings, but then physically, am I to always remain quiet? If I don't, there's no way I don't get subtly angry. Other option is to stop hanging out with people like that? But then isn't that coming from aversion - we are aiming for harmony and remaining undisturbed in the face of things rather than avoiding them? This is one of those things where I am quite unsure of the path. Please give insights and practical tips, other than 'just meditate more' - that I know. Any responses are appreciated, Thank you

Heello, I am not really Buddhist - although I do read sutras and have some general inkling - or anything at all. I like to do drugs, drink, and other discretionary acts, however I am considering taking a breather from these habits in order to take revenge on a community of people I more or less despise. I would prefer to drink, experiment, and be absorbed in my own creation, but it really screws me up physically, and then the people here like to exploit me - they enjoy seeing me miserable and groveling for mercy. My question is should I cultivate my revenge tactic?, since it is the only thing that is keeping me from enjoying myself via my vices? I guess the physical pain is not enough to keep me from stopping. I'm sure you understand... p.s. Just to be clear, the revenge is not giving the people a reason to be so proud and smug by being drug-free, and the only way I would be drug-free is by keeping up my hateful feelings towards them. I can't imagine doing it any other way.

I called All India Bhikkhu Sangha to know whether I can be trained as a monk… ? The person I called said that world has progressed a lot and it is not a wise thing to leave family behind. He said give up laziness and do your household chores. It is a sin to leave helpless family… This has created a doubt in my mind whether I should strive to follow Buddha’s path or should I give up the path and lead a layman’s life ? Is it ok become a monk ?

I am a lay person and I am from India. I wish to become a monk. Other option before me is to go in search of Truth and reinvent the wheel and find enlightenment myself. But there is no place to go. There are no forests which are not under government control. People are materialistic and they hardly give any value to me becoming a monk or to the state of affairs of the world. That leaves me with only one choice and that is to become a monk. How can I become a monk?

Science is not part of Buddhas teachings but the teachings of Buddha can be adapted into science. For example : sabbe sanskara annica can be adopted by science (physics especially) This will translate as : No experiment can be repeated forever. No system can function smoothly forever. How do you think my small attempt to bring Buddha and science together. holds ? Can I adapt Buddha’s teaching into science ?

What Buddhist advice can be given to a dying Buddhist/Christian in order to facilitate the letting go and acceptance many people experience on their deathbeds? The particular Buddhist/Christian I'm speaking of worries about eternal hell and all the bad karma in her life. Does worrying about Hell have something to do with samvega?