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When was the last time you meditated ?
PremaSagar
Veteran
It's been a long time for me. I wish I could build up a consistent practice but it seems lazy lazy me doesn't want to do anything excepting napping and watching programs on netflix. By staying up so late I've already eliminated my chances of wanting to meditate tomorrow so I'm going to post a goal on here and here it is: My goal is to do breathing meditation for at least twenty minutes during anytime before eight o'clock during the day after tomorrow. Let's see if I'm successful with that...
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Comments
You are lazy. True. You know it.
Can you build up sufficient loathing or are you reasonably miserably happy? :rarr:
Your job, should you choose to take it, is to inspire us. To help us overcome our sloth. Twenty minutes one day would not inspire a sack of potatoes. How about reporting in for ten days?
How about a bit of dharma pride and compassion for us dozy Dakas (speaking for myself of course). Hope you can help.
Am I being too tough on you?
Often it's our ideas of what meditation ought to be, that have us find no time to do it.
One full minute committed to meditation is 100% more than none..... and often you can then find a couple more minutes to spare once you're there.
I meditated regularly for more than 30 yrs. I'm at a phase in my life (retired) where I don't feel the need to make sure I have precisely set-aside time for mediation, etc. I can turn any chore, or any 15-20 consecutive minutes into a practice of thoughtfulness/mindfulness any time throughout the day.
I do have distractions, and things that need to get done, but my daily schedule is very flexible, and the distractions are rarely imperative.
However. Even though I did not sit on my cushion and meditate, I have used my meditation practice to much more calmly deal with the issues today and not let them ruin my mood or anything else. I did everything I needed to in order to deal with everything that was going on (there were other things too, not worth mentioning) and then just let it go. A couple of years ago, the bank account fiasco would have had me panicking, I'd be anxious and fearful and crabby and it would have ruined my entire day. Not so today. I thank my meditation practice for that.
It's ok, I will meditate again this afternoon - I hide in my work storeroom with a timer set for 20 mins. Most productive part of my day usually.
In metta,
Raven
I think one thing is to not judge yourself if you don't meditate. I haven't meditated in probably a week or so (maybe a little less) and I didn't judge myself harshly and say I SHOULD do it, I NEED to do it, and I need to stop being lazy and just do it. I just realized that I haven't meditated in a while and have just recently started doing it again. You shouldn't start with a very long meditation like 20+ minutes, or you'll wear yourself out really quickly. And if you stop earlier than you want, don't feel bad and try to go a little bit longer next time (but don't worry about how long you've been sitting).
One thing that REALLY helps me, is I found a really nice Buddhist statue picture on the internet and saved it to my Laptops wallpaper, so that every time I'm on there and doing something like watching movies or shows or something not very constructive, just something to pass the time, I'll see this picture and it'll bring to me that I need to meditate and keep practicing it. Of course this MIGHT not work for you because certain things help me and might not you.
Maybe you would like someone with you? Have you tried meditating with a group or having a friend/loved one with you?
is always
the last time I was willing to.
http://tinybuddha.com/blog/how-to-release-the-fear-of-failing-20-inspiring-definitions-for-failure/
This mornings meditation for me was in a recliner, with a back massager and chanting. Two reasons: running and gardening needed a bit of a softening. Chanting audibly, very quietly in this case includes breathing meditation for me. I noticed my breath had tightened and needed a retune. My failure is not being able to get back into a yoga routine, even though I am aware of the benefits. Should I post that as a goal?
I think I will match your goal, twenty minutes of yoga this morning, whatever the excuses . . .
Will let you know . . .
Hope it worked out for you . . .
I did the yoga. Really enjoyed it. Some of my favourite poses: dog, cat, dancer, child etc. Focussed very much on slowness and the breath . . .
[yes I am a nag]
:rant:
Is there any intended symbolism with multiple statues of Shakyamuni Buddha ?
Hmmmm....
thinking......thinking......thinking....... I'd guess about ....5 years ago?
As for etiquette . . . Ask the monks. Just be respectful. You can place your hands together and bow from the waist, if you think being Thai is cute . . .
Everything will be fine. The question is will you do any more than consider?
:wave:
Not every Buddhist meditates. And just like non-Buddhists who do meditate, not every Buddhist meditates with the same goals in mind, either.
But keep an open mind, you never know, one day you may try again and it 'works' for you just beautifully. Then again, maybe not. But either way, don't feel guilty about meditation not being right for you (now), and don't let anyone tell you that you should feel guilty and/or you're not really a Buddhist if you don't sit the cushion.
Watch others as they enter the shrine room/meditation hall ahead of you. They may do prostrations before the main shrine - 3 P's are customary. Copy their behavior if you are comfortable, otherwise, simply bow to the shrine It could be any number of things, even different Buddhas. In some traditions there would be representaions of Buddhas of the three times (past, present, future), or they may be Shakyamuni offering different mudras. In a Mahayana shrine room (and I know yours is Theravadin) there would be shrines to Bodhisattvas(Avalokiteshvara and Tara are common) or protectors and possibly yidams.
Remember you're going there to learn meditation, so don't sweat the protocol so much. It can be really interesting to learn about, but that will come with time.
Keep one thing in mind - be respectful - and everything else will fall into place.
https://insighttimer.com
I really like it.
I use that on my phone. It's great!
They have groups on it, I think we should make a NB one.