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An hour of meditation?

naturelovernaturelover
edited October 2010 in Buddhism Basics
I'm going to visit a sanga for the first time Thurs. night. Their teaching is proceeded by an hour of silent meditation. I've never meditated that long and I'm wondering if I can do it.

Comments

  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    edited October 2010
    If you tell the people there about your concerns, they will very likely accommodate you.

    I do two to three hours a day, usually in stretches of an hour. It is definitely possible. I did work up to it gradually at the start, though, over the course of about 6 months to a year.
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Good luck, I am sure as long as you remain quiet and do not disturb people it wil not matter if you cannot go the full hour on your first attempt. I personally have never meditated longer than 15 minutes lol.. I think if you go there thinking it is possible, people have done it so why can't you, you may be surprised. The mind is a powerful tool
  • ZaylZayl Veteran
    edited October 2010
    pointer: if you go to a sangha, during the silent meditation try to withhold any flatulence. I debated on trying to muffle it in the cushion or quietly getting up and leaving.

    sadly neither choice was possible as I let loose (NOT of my own volition) and it turns out the hall can hold an echo quite well. Then everyone burst out laughing and a monk was even on the ground in tears from the laughter. So I just shrugged and laughed along and said "well what can you do?"
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Flatulence, like other things, happens...
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Eat a large bean burrito before you arrive :p
  • cazcaz Veteran United Kingdom Veteran
    edited October 2010
    You can do It just watch your mind during the meditation, Be mindfull of mental sinking, Wandering and excitment arising in your meditation and always return to the object of concentration and your Hour will seem like 10 mins :)
  • naturelovernaturelover
    edited October 2010
    caz namyaw wrote: »
    You can do It just watch your mind during the meditation, Be mindfull of mental sinking, Wandering and excitment arising in your meditation and always return to the object of concentration and your Hour will seem like 10 mins :)
    Suggestions on an object to meditate on? Should it be a mental object or something in the room?
  • cazcaz Veteran United Kingdom Veteran
    edited October 2010
    nature lover wrote: »
    Suggestions on an object to meditate on? Should it be a mental object or something in the room?


    Usually at Meditation the Guide usually gives you an Object to meditate upon.
    In General for good meditation a positive object must be apprehended. :)
  • exonesionexonesion
    edited October 2010
    nature lover wrote: »
    I'm going to visit a sanga for the first time Thurs. night. Their teaching is proceeded by an hour of silent meditation. I've never meditated that long and I'm wondering if I can do it.

    Yes you can do it. Do not judge yourself too critically.
    If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't.
    nature lover wrote: »
    Suggestions on an object to meditate on? Should it be a mental object or something in the room?

    It could be your breath, a bright and shiny crystall ball or a mantra or even a combination of them :D
  • ZaylZayl Veteran
    edited October 2010
    I forgot to mention, don't pay attention to the length of time that you are meditating. Time is irrelevant for the most part.
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