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Keeping track of time
This may sound like a really dumb question, but how do people keep track of time while they are meditating? Do you only meditate when you have an ample amount of time to dedicate to it? Do you set an alarm clock or have a clock that is somewhere you can see? I know that how long you sit is not a big deal, but I cannot sit for very long because I usually get anxious about possibly sitting for too long since I have other commitments that I cannot be late for. Just wondering what others do!
Thank you for your time!
Thank you for your time!
0
Comments
I'll admit to cheating and stealing a glimpse of the timer status at times. If I'm working with vipassana, I try to break down my desire to see the time, and then glimpse at the time slowly and mindfully. I'm a goofy meditator.
I use a kitchen timer. I usually position it so that I can't see the face, so that I don't get tempted to glance at it to see how much time is left.
I sometimes get antsy if I sit for than my usual time. It's all grist for the mill. :-)
Oh yeah, and incidentally, when burning incense this acts as a general elapsed time indicator (If I become distracted, and notice no more scent, I can be pretty sure I've passed 'bout a half hour or so... Keep going!).
I use a timer.
.
http://blackmoonzendo.com/zazen.shtml
I have a meditation timer on my mobile phone, other than that sometimes I will just sit and look at the clock.
Best wishes,
Abu
Thanks again!
I use a simple kitchen timer also. Costs very little. Make sure it is the electronic type and not the mechanical one. The latter is noisy - 'ticks'.
Well, I am lazy enough that my cellphone will probably be the timer. I go back and forth between school and home quite often and it is easier to use something that I will have with me regardless.
And I don't think I could deal with the ticking either. The only acceptable ticking object is a metronome...
So you're a musician, I take it......
Yup, I'm a music major.
If I'm on a strict time limit I generally don't sit, maybe I should, but I don't. I don't trust myself to get up when I should.
I know, what a rookie thing to say right? At least I'm honest
I like the idea of watching the stick of incense. That'll work when I'm home, but not so much at school (my school apparently thinks you can burn the dorm down with a stick of incense).
If I don't sit when I have a time limit, I feel like I'll never make a point of sitting, unfortunately. So maybe your situation sounds like less of a rookie thing than mine. At least you think you'll get around to sitting some other time.
For those of you who use Macs, OS X Dashboard has a built-in meditation timer with a nice ringing bowl 'alarm'
Peace
Mtns
Where do I get it? It didn't come with Dashboard on my Mac and I'm running OS X (10.6.2).
I just have a clock next to the shrine.
P
The meditation timer at treeleaf.org puts a virtual incense stick on the screen, that burns down in sync with whatever value you've put in the timer. I rather like the stick being there, rather than a numerical timer..seems less intrusive, somehow. I can see where people would use real incense for this purpose.
Glancing is good. I sometimes tend to clock-watch.
P
best of luck!
*namaste*
something like a "circadian clock" chemical bio reaction or something
google it.. and train it.
Of course, the fun challenge has been seeing how long I can go without discretely sneaking a peak to see how much time is left.
Brigid & Mountains-
It doesn't seem to be built into OS X (at least not 10.5), but you can download it for free from Apple here:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/meditationtimerwidget.html
I use my watch's timer feature and I set the watch behind me so that I won't feel the urge to glance at it during my sessions.
There are freeware timer applications for Windows (Cool Timer is one of them that I've used before) that could also be used in case you don't have a watch or a cellphone that can alert you when the end of the session is upon you.
That's great until you fall asleep.:o
P
Mike
Being a monk removes the problem some of you speak of about being careful because you have things to do.I guess the worst that could happen to me would be to miss a meal:eek:
i use a timer... that counts down and beeps automatically when the time is up...
sometimes, i meditate without timing.
If possible, bring mindfulness with you also into daily life and make meditation a part of every moment as often as we remember... that is most vital in the practice.
So yeah, if you have an android phone, the app is free.
I use this too. I would think there is probably an iphone version too, but I dunno.
For those with 'smart phones' there is also the 'Mindfulness Bell' application. It's not a meditation timer, it's an app that sounds a bell periodically during the day (it's customizable) as a reminder to return to mindfulness if not already in a mindful state.
I'm going to look at some of the online timers that people have posted here. The alarm on my timer is quite abrasive and I'd prefer something a little more gentle to let me know my session is at an end.