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Motivation

shanyinshanyin Novice YoginSault Ontario Veteran
in Buddhism Basics

What can motivate us to practice?

Comments

  • ZenshinZenshin Veteran East Midlands UK Veteran

    Dukkha.....Plain and simple.

    shanyin
  • karastikarasti Breathing Minnesota Moderator

    Initially my motivation was the sense of peace and calm I got from meditation. It is what established a habitual practice for me (in regards to sitting and studying). I find great joy in practicing but it is a different type of joy from the "Oh I'm so happy" kind of joy we find in pleasurable things. It's more a joy in knowing I am taking care of things. Kind of like brushing my teeth. The joy is a motivation but at the same time it isn't really what keeps me coming back. The only thing that keeps me coming back is the results. The people I know who have practiced for many years, or even most of their lifetimes, exude it. As I read, a Dharmic person is obvious. You can tell when someone has trained themselves. I find that to be true, and that also motivates me. Not to be just like them, but to know it is possible.

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited March 2014

    Just do it every day for a month. It soon is a habit.

    I liked reading Adyashanti youtube because it inspired me since Adya meditated in his past so much.

    Another reason is that I believe in what Buddha teaches. My heart is in faith.

  • howhow Veteran Veteran

    The weariness of its alternative.

    lobsterHamsakashanyin
  • lobsterlobster Crusty Veteran

    Results.
    Subtle.
    Need time.
    Prostrations, metta bhavna or chanting if meditation too hard . . .

  • Aspiring_BuddhistAspiring_Buddhist Seeker of the Buddha Within WA Veteran

    I'm just starting out in meditation - the biggest problem I've had is trying to keep my mind from wondering. Sometimes I count my breath, other times I I think about why I feel a certain way about a subject.

    I've had best results with meditating a few minutes at a time, stopping, and then resuming once I've got my mind "back on task." That goal is to extend it to a full period of course, but easing in with baby steps is an excellent starting point. (At least for me, but I hope it helps everyone else too!)

    lobsterJeffrey
  • lobsterlobster Crusty Veteran

    I've had is trying to keep my mind from wondering.

    You have a mind? [lobster faints] Wish I could find 'one'.
    Gentle refocus. Turning back to practice. Again and again. Kindly. Patiently. Way to go . . . :)

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran

    That sounds exactly like some of my meditations after 13 years of practice.

  • shanyinshanyin Novice Yogin Sault Ontario Veteran

    @‌Jeffrey

    Have you practiced everyday for 13 years?

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran

    No, shanyin.. You mean meditate? I think I had refuge for the last 13 years though. But for awhile it was hard to break the skin to meditate. It had like a skin of dread to cut through.

    I have meditated every day for at least 30 minutes for the past two years. And I have been steadily going through a long distance (with lama) course since 2006. I finished the course and am studying Trungpa and Pema Chodron's teachings on lojong (tonglen) right now. When I finish I will take my Lama's second course.

    @shanyin don't feel discouraged if you aren't practicing for some period. There is a space. Always a space to practice. One day the penny will drop (with faith) and a person has less impediments to practice. IMHO YMMV TLDR

    lobsteranataman
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