vipassana

The other day i sat down to try a vipassana meditation, using the naming technique ("rising, falling", into "hearing, hearing" etc). As has happened a couple of times before, by the time i finished i found myself all wound up and emotionally and physically tense, and ended up having to do a spot of samatha to stop feeling so shite.

Now, i know vipassana isn't meant to be a tranquility meditation, but i'm sure it's not supposed to have that effect either. I figure it's a case of trying too hard, and winding myelf up with the excessive effort of concentration.

Whatever the cause, i'm going to leave that particular technique alone, opting instead for a more zen style method, quietly watching sensations and reactions without verbally naming them.