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practising in hard circumstaces

FenixFenix Veteran
edited May 2011 in Buddhism Basics
Im in the army now and its hard to practice here I think. Im so angry and afraid. There's no privacy no peace. always a hurry somewhere and someone on your ass if your doing something wrong or not doing something right. Listening all day everyday except weekend holidays to everybodies nonstop pouring of talking. I dont think I can manage it.


Comments

  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    Whose army are you in, Fenix? The US army has Buddhist chaplains (grand total of 3). How did you get yourself into this? how long are you in for? Are you in basic training, or are you deployed?

    Find time/place to meditate, if only for 5 minutes at a time. Breathe. Carve out time for yourself, if only in bits and snatches. Then focus on compassion for the talkers. It's the officers' job to bark at you, just view it all as a game. Detach. Easier said than done, but breathing (deep, slow) and creating moments of peace for yourself will help. Stay in touch. :)
  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    Go into the a men's room stall. Sit down. Take three very conscious breaths -- in and out. At the end of three breaths, smile. Do this three times. Then go back to work.
  • FenixFenix Veteran
    edited May 2011
    Whose army are you in, Fenix? The US army has Buddhist chaplains (grand total of 3). How did you get yourself into this? how long are you in for? Are you in basic training, or are you deployed?
    Im in finlands army, because it is compulsory. I have 240 mornings left as they say here. Im in the nco training after that about two months Ill maybe get into a civilian job, but working foe the army and staying here nights.
    It's the officers' job to bark at you, just view it all as a game. Detach. Easier said than done, but breathing (deep, slow) and creating moments of peace for yourself will help. Stay in touch. :)
    Its more often the peers who "bark". Some alpha male syndrome or something
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    Fenix, you're probably not the only one who is non-alpha. Give yourself time to find like-minded (and like-hearted) friends who don't bark. In a few months, you may have a civilian job, that will make it easier--you'll have an escape every day, and for most of the night, of course, you'll be asleep. You can do this, it's only 240 mornings more, at least it's not 2 years! Look for other thoughtful and gentle types like yourself. And discipline yourself to meditate whenever the opportunity arises. It really does help. It calms the nervous system, and thereby helps you handle stress.
  • LieselLiesel
    "Im so angry and afraid. There's no privacy no peace." When the stress is completely overwhelming, sometimes forgiveness practice works well. Also when anger arises you can use it as a sign post to remind you to send Metta and compassion to all who are angry, even if you have to do it 100 times a day. With Metta
  • ravkesravkes Veteran
    The army probably isn't for you.
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    edited May 2011
    The army probably isn't for you.
    Yes, but he has no choice, so we have to help him get through this.
    Go into the a men's room stall. Sit down. Take three very conscious breaths -- in and out. At the end of three breaths, smile. Do this three times. Then go back to work.
    Ah, the old men's room stall trick! I never would have thought of that! ;) Good one, genkaku! But it gives me hope that he might be able to get a civilian job to serve out the rest of his service, that would help make it tolerable. Please let us know how you're doing, Fenix. Have you managed a few mini-sessions of meditation yet? Do you know how to meditate? (The key is the breath.)

  • ravkesravkes Veteran
    edited May 2011
    If you have no choice about your external situation, you can still choose to see the situation clearly. The freedom of mind is up to you.

    See what you can gain from this experience..

    a stronger mind?
    fearlessness?
    more self-confidence?
    discipline?
    skill in dealing with difficult people?
    respect?

    Your practice doesn't need to be formal. Why not use this as an opportunity to see where your aversions lie. See why you create them, and then drop them altogether?

    Let us know how it goes.

    :)
  • FenixFenix Veteran
    @dakini yes, once. I do meditate after lights out normally and try to be mindful of my food.

    I'll let you know how its going,probably like it or not :D
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