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anataman

Whatever distractions are going on. I have found that it is important that my meditation brings my mind back to the present. I have gone days being distracted by thoughts and sensations and today I came back home with a loud thump.

Tomorrow I may be flying aloft with my thoughts again as is my want but the ground of my life and being awaits me.

What brings you home?

Hamsaka

My breath

Simonthepilgrim

There is a technique that I learned to use many years ago and which still serves me well when my mind turns "monkey". I stop and look at a growing plant or leaf. I describe it to myself in great detail, taking care to notice its various colours, scents, shapes, movement, etc. Within moments, mind is stilled, being filled with the plant or leaf - no room for the monkey. Then I can get back to what I was supposed to be doing.

Of course, if monkey strikes when I am sitting in meditation, I simply come back to my breath, as @Hamsaka says.

Vastmind

my step

Nirvana

My duty to be a responsible, caring being essentially non separate from others. In other words, my breathing.

how

Part of a successful practice depends on being open to discovering the plethora of possible reminders that each of our daily lives presents.
Some of mine are...

Walking (which I do a lot of) reminds me of kinhin so it becomes my walking meditation,

climbing stairs (which is part of job) triggers an attention to observe my breathing,

driving restrictions (another part of my job) reminds me to let go of my expectations,

arriving and leaving a clients front path is a wake up call to be present because of how different it often feels compared to my face to face interactions with them inside,
(it need not be different but is often my failing)

any arising body tension is usually a flag saying that I am doing a poor job of accepting something and it is time to relax and explore what that is,

awakening in the morning and drifting off to sleep at night are habitually accompanied with the mental reciting of the three refuges to pattern an intent for my day as well as my sleep at night,

finding myself having taking a step or an action without a clear idea of why is often my wake up call to be more mindful of the present,

saying a short gatha before eating to remind myself to be cognascent of what life was ended so that I might live another day,

lobster

Remembrance is a dervish practice, adapted to dharma practice it allows everyday experience to remind us of aware being, many different ways as our cyber sangria/sangha of Buddha addicts have mentioned . . .

For example yoga nidra/body scan for tension/relaxation can be done any time we remember. How often can a mantra be used internally? How can present activity be slower and more mindful?

The breath as mentioned is a wonderful reminder. Is it being held in concentration or relaxed and free flowing?

Are we in the moment or stuck in past/future/monkey mind?
Attention, attention, attention . . . I seem to remember . . .
http://www.nyingma.com/dzogchen1.htm

:wave:

Jeffrey

Annoying things are my bells of awake. Like a computer taking forever to load something. Just on the spot breath into my body and feel the ebb and flow of energies as I am annoyed.

genkaku

"I wish..."

Bunks

Definitely the breath for me....it's amazing when I catch myself in the middle of anger, anxiety, fear, lust, whatever and realise I am holding my breath!!

Just had a crazy busy weekend organising and putting on a 4th birthday party for 50 people (25 kids) at my house......it's amazing how much I needed to sit this morning with the breath for a while after 3 days not meditating and feeling stressed!

No wonder Ajahn Brahm calls it "the beautiful breath".

lobster

OM MANI PEME HUM

http://www.kagyu-richmond.org/chenrezig.html

anataman

lobster

@anataman said:
Tomorrow I may be flying aloft with my thoughts again as is my want but the ground of my life and being awaits me.

What brings you home?

You have a monkey mind? Don't we all. Ritualised stillness (meditation to you and me) is a great reminder. Mantra too. Shrines. Whatever.
Bring everything to stillness . . . I think they call it, 'The Path' . . .

anataman

This is a nice song. However, when I first heard it I misheard the lyrics repeatedly. My kids laughed at me when I started singing 'I don't have Monkey on my mind' LOL

Buddhadragon

@Bunks said:
Definitely the breath for me....it's amazing when I catch myself in the middle of anger, anxiety, fear, lust, whatever and realise I am holding my breath!!

Holding your breath when in the midst of a strong feeling is part of the "fight or flight" response building in your body.

Also for me, breathing works to bring me back to the present from the intensity of a situation or simply when I lose myself in a brown study.

So beautiful the image of Chenrezig, @lobster!

I am a faithful devotee of Kuan Yin and Green Tara, so in my case, when I pray the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum," I conjure up their image.

Coming to think of it, in different moments of my day, I also stop to chant "Om Mani Padme Hum" as a way to center myself.

Buddhadragon

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