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More on newbie meditation
Just looking for any help and input on this.
As I try to increase my practice another thing I run into is my sore back. I have an old but still painful disc issue in my L3 area. That, and resulting inflexibility, makes sitting cross legged hard. What I've been doing so far is this.
I divide the session into two. First I sit on sofa cushions, Burmese style, for about half the time. I'm so stiff I cannot do that unaided, so I sit with my back against the wall, looking out. As a result, I close my eyes rather than be distracted by the bookshelf opposite me. Gradually I sense I am gaining some flexibility in forcing myself to do this part.
Then I get about and try to do walking meditation for only a minute (once around my small study) mainly to keep meditating but allowing me to shake out the pins and needles. Finally I do the remaining time sitting on a simple chair. This I can do facing the wall so I try to keep my eyes part open, looking slightly down during this part.
Recently however I visited a zen store and got to try an actual zafu. That was brilliant. It allowed me to sit upright, Burmese, without leaning on the wall. Clearly even three sofa cushions are not a good idea. I also bought a seiza bench to try that out.
I'm also about to start doing yoga, mainly to help with flexibility to help my meditation practice.
Any pointers in any direction welcomed.
As I try to increase my practice another thing I run into is my sore back. I have an old but still painful disc issue in my L3 area. That, and resulting inflexibility, makes sitting cross legged hard. What I've been doing so far is this.
I divide the session into two. First I sit on sofa cushions, Burmese style, for about half the time. I'm so stiff I cannot do that unaided, so I sit with my back against the wall, looking out. As a result, I close my eyes rather than be distracted by the bookshelf opposite me. Gradually I sense I am gaining some flexibility in forcing myself to do this part.
Then I get about and try to do walking meditation for only a minute (once around my small study) mainly to keep meditating but allowing me to shake out the pins and needles. Finally I do the remaining time sitting on a simple chair. This I can do facing the wall so I try to keep my eyes part open, looking slightly down during this part.
Recently however I visited a zen store and got to try an actual zafu. That was brilliant. It allowed me to sit upright, Burmese, without leaning on the wall. Clearly even three sofa cushions are not a good idea. I also bought a seiza bench to try that out.
I'm also about to start doing yoga, mainly to help with flexibility to help my meditation practice.
Any pointers in any direction welcomed.
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Comments
http://viewonbuddhism.org/meditation_practice.html
you could also try lying down to meditate
http://www.wildmind.org/posture/lying-down
Metta to all sentient beings
when you say you sit on sofa cushions, that means your butt is on the cushions and your knees/feet are on the floor?
Yeah, the sofa cushion may have been too soft and/or the wrong height.
When you use a zafu, make sure you're using the front 1/2 or 1/3 of it.