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Is sitting meditation necessary?
Hello everyone,
This is my first post on here so a big Hi to you all.
I'm a relative newcomer to the buddhist path but I understand a fair bit already.
I mainly struggle with finding time to actually do sitting meditation as I work full time and have an active toddler to look after.
Do you consider sitting meditation as vitally essential or is it possible to follow the path using minfulness when doing any activites, such as washing the dishes, ironing etc.
Look forward to communicating with you all at some point.
This is my first post on here so a big Hi to you all.
I'm a relative newcomer to the buddhist path but I understand a fair bit already.
I mainly struggle with finding time to actually do sitting meditation as I work full time and have an active toddler to look after.
Do you consider sitting meditation as vitally essential or is it possible to follow the path using minfulness when doing any activites, such as washing the dishes, ironing etc.
Look forward to communicating with you all at some point.
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Comments
Sitting is essential. It gives you that time for your mind to stop, and to be present. I was speaking with someone from my group session, and they had quoted Ram Dass; "For every ounce of doing, you should have a pound of sitting", or something to that effect :P
It is certainly possible to practice mindfulness while washing dishes, ironing, or even changing diapers. In fact, that's the aim of the practice, to get you to be awake during those activities. However, it needs to be coupled with sitting to really gain momentum.
Mediation doesn't need to be for hours a day. I'm sure that you can find 10-15 minutes in the morning where you can just sit, and be.
The mornings are out for me. As soon as my little girl wakes me I don't get a minute to sit. I suppose the evenings are better though after she has gone to bed.
I used to be able to meditate for an hour or so a few times per week before she came along but I'm out of practice.
I'll just have to make more time, starting with the 15 minutes. I really need to make it part of my daily routine.
Without meditation, you can learn about Buddhism, but it will be largely head-knowledge, which cannot transform you. You can try to practice mindfulness without meditation, but it will be more difficult and less effective.
Meditation is the touchstone of the spiritual path: it's how you connect with the intrinsic nobility within you, how you cleanse your mind of turmoil, how you fuel yourself for Right Thought and Right Action. There is a power to meditation that goes beyond merely "quieting the mind," and the more you meditate, the more you discover this power. Meditation is among the greatest gifts we have been given.
Time can always be found for meditation. I do it on the subway traveling to and from work, or at my desk for a few minutes during the workday, or in the bathroom, or in the shower. (I also attend a meditation center every evening, which I highly recommend if ever this becomes possible for you.)
Even if it's just for five minutes after putting your child to bed, don't fail to meditate every day--it is absolutely essential!
Good answers already. Just wanted to say, you may find this book useful as a supplement to "sitting meditation," which I too would suggest you do even if just for 5-15 minutes a day (what's most important is establishing routine). The link is to the Google Books page and much of it is available through there for free.
Sitting meditation is not necessary.
It is commendable.
it is advisable.
it is worthy.
but it is not Necessary.
Neither is it obligatory.
I meditate a lot.
But not sitting.
:crazy:
In fact, every great Buddhist in history practiced sitting meditation, and taught their followers to do the same.
I'm not saying you can't meditate on a pogo-stick (or whatever it is you have in mind), but sitting meditation is much more than "commendable," according to every great Buddhist teacher I've studied: it's a vital part of the practice.
That's my understanding of the practice (with no offense intended).
I think a lot of people, especially in the West, misconstrue the purpose of meditation as one of simple relaxation or present-moment awareness. This is certainly beneficial, but only the first step. The Pali word translated into English as "mindfulness" is "sati." Sati refers to observing the arising and passing away of conditioned things. The practice of sitting meditation is meant to be a way of gaining an experiential awareness of the phenomena of dukkha, anicca and anatta.
One can certainly practice Buddhism without this experience, but for me it is vital in really getting a handle on the why of the Buddhist path. Without awareness of the impermanence, the unsatisfactoriness and the not-self nature of the things we cling onto, we won't have the "fire under our ass" so-to-speak, to truly practice wholeheartedly.
The goal is to put this training into use in every moment of our lives.
I've also ordered myself a copy of The Miracle of Mindfulness, I'm looking forward to receiving it on Monday.