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Writing a booklet on meditation...need your help!
Hello Everyone,
In another thread I decided it might be a good idea to write a booklet on meditation for beginners, then (if the admins/mods think it's a good idea and if they like the content) it can be posted on this site...well, I have decided to follow through with that threat!
If you could answer the following questions (as briefly or as detailed as you like) for inclusion (possibly after editing) it would be greatly appreciated:
1) What is meditation to you?
2) Why do you meditate?
3) How do you meditate?
4) In your opinion, what are the key ingredients of meditation?
5) When is the best time to meditate? Should we schedule it or "wing it"?
6) Where is the best place for meditation? Do we need a quiet environment or will anywhere do?
7) What are some practical tips for making meditation part of our "daily life"?
Also...Are you happy for me to use your username in the booklet or would you prefer the info to be (extra) anonymous?
Thanks in advance for your input, I look forward to reading your responses.
Metta,
Guy
0
Comments
If an issue seems to be divided roughly 50:50 (e.g. on Question 6 if roughly half say you can meditate anywhere and half say you need a quiet environment) then I will say that the issue is split 50:50 (at least on this forum) and that they should try both and see for themselves what the differences are in their experience.
Metta,
Guy
You do physical exercise to have a healthier body.
you do meditation for the mind.
You can use a still body(no movement) to still the mind.
2) To see how the mind works, how all things that arise also pass away, that all thoughts etc. arise due to causation and are not-self, to calm and focus the mind for insight.
3) Samatha-Vipassana, first calming the mind through observation of the breath and then observing all mental activity (using the breath as an "anchor").
4) Calm, mindfulness and concentration.
5) Individual preference. A set schedule can get interrupted, but at the same time you want to have a routine so you actually benefit from the practice (like exercising).
6) Quiet is helpful, you basically want the least amount of disturbances possible (if possible).
7) Don't make it more difficult than it has to be, or place special requirements on it that distance it from daily life! If you happen to be sitting in a chair, you could just stay in the chair and meditate for a few minutes if you have the time. It doesn't have to be a special time, sitting in a special "style" (like full lotus). If you feel like meditating, do it!
The first one will be primarily based on the feedback I receive in this thread.
The second will be a bit more ambitious in that I will try to introduce a wide-range of different interpretations of both the Anapanasati Sutta and the Maha-Satipatthana Sutta. The emphasis here will be to offer a menu of different ideas so that the reader can taste a few different interpretations and see what works for them.
Metta,
Guy
For example - last week was really busy and stressful for me. I was on a roll and not even stopping to breathe properly. In the mornings, instead of sitting, I'd roll out of bed and check my emails first thing(looking for more stress inducing material - and succeeding!) All the time I was saying to myself "I really should sit". And I even had time to do the sitting!!
So I ended up with a queasy stomach - probably stress induced. What an idiot. I knew what to do and I don't do it. In fact, I should probably go sit right now, but its just after midnight and I think I'll go to bed. Maybe instead of reading a murder mystery, though, I'll read some passages from Beginners' Mind......
I have my own ideas about what the reason is, but I am curious to hear what you think.
Metta,
Guy
But, yeah...could easily be the mind.
Metta,
Guy