Sat this morning 20 mins, 10 mins chanting, 10 mins meditation ...
Devon: Ouch indeed! Take lots of care of yourself.
[[[MB]]]. We warthogs must stick together :-)
I have fallen back sometimes on Dale's 3-breath suggestion which has sometimes served to break the logjam of resistance. And for me just having a small commitment has kept me coming back when I wouldn't otherwise have done so ....
Maybe we could explore "resistance" a little as we begin another 100 days. For me it is not so much a question of resistance - because I LIKE meditating, most of the time - it is a question of finding (taking?) the time and space. When I am alone, I do it, and it feels natural and easy - in fact, I tend to be sorry to stop. But I am rarely alone, or without demands. Keeping to a smaller time commitment helps, and I find that often the 5 minutes I plan on stretches into a longer period. I do stop a number of times during the day and consciously return to my breath and a contemplative attitude, but for me that isn't the same as sitting down to meditate...
Devon, now you must sit and rest, and would love to hear what insights develop... & do hope the broken bone and bruising heal fast!
I'm reading a good summary of meditation, and the neuroscience of consciousness (though haven't got to that yet), a hundred page first chapter of a book, while at a temp reception job at a commercial insurance company (do ironies abound?).
The ultimate aim, as I understand it, is samtha and vipasyana, stability and clarity. It's all vastly more complex than that, of course. But there are two 'flaws': dullness (drowsiness, dullened object of meditation); and excitement (distraction, loss of focus).
The post-meditative effects are as important as the meditation. These can include a dream-like quality to perceptions, trait changes like anger or hostility transmuted into loving-kindness, mindfulness and awareness and the ability to focus intently and deeply, to concentrate. And, let's not forget happiness, lightness of being, joy. That often happens too, doesn't it.
Just some highlights, and thoughts for the day... sometimes it's good to be reminded of what we already know, huh. :)
I sat my requisite 5 minutes in *bed* last night...and right now I'm sitting my way through a lengthy backup, the first step toward trying to fix a software bug that's prevented me from saving documents (yikes!)
So even though life is busy right now, I'm finding time to meditate amongst the hubbub.
I'm not sure how I'd define my particular sort of resistance. I guess I'm habitually hesitant to sit still: I always feel there's something *else* I should be doing. So any difficulty I claim in finding time to sit is more likely my own temperamental resistance to sitting *still* and "doing nothing."
This, of course, is the beauty of 5 minute meditations: you're not "wasting" too much time...
At Queenswood yesterday we walked in the Mary Garden instead of the labyrinth. This seemed so appropriate for Easter Sunday because in the Christian faith, Mary is symbolic of compassion. Paths through the garden are rough. Feeling each stone and pebble beneath my feet, I felt a strong connection to the earth, grounded and totally present.
At tea time, one of the women talked about how she felt after attending a four-day meditation retreat last week. She said she felt a lightness of being and fullness of humour … that she was treating herself and others more lightly and with humour.
A good reminder for us warthogs who are beating ourselves up.
After a late sleep in and two cups of coffee (this is another holiday day for some of us in Canada), I go now to meditate and to be with all of you.
Mary, what kind of chanting do you do? Sometimes when I sit with the intention of 100 Days commitment, I chant the names of all my friends here and then:
May all beings find healing May all beings find peace May all beings be held in compassion
Mary, thank you. There are days... well, you know, I think.
Devon, I hope they are healing soon! It's better to have two working feet — I know.
Beth, thank you. I LIKE meditating, too. Once I get started, it usually feels like a good thing. It seems for me to be the getting started, the breaking away from other things, that I find difficult enough that it trips me up. So I try to remind myself frequently of the enjoyment I do get from meditating... but too often to little avail. That's why I spoke in terms of resistance though — surely if I weren't resisting in some form, I'd go ahead and do it? And yes, the smaller time commitment was what I decided to go for this 100, on precisely the theory that it might be easier to get started if I felt I'd be "losing" less time away from whatever else I'm doing that is so hard to break away from (much as Lorianne describes). We shall see! I also stop during the day several times for breaths, and frequently focus on the breath as I go to sleep, or when I wake in the night. And those things are helpful, but not the same as a "real sit," somehow. Sigh. I'll keep working at it.
8 Comments:
Sat this morning 20 mins, 10 mins chanting, 10 mins meditation ...
Devon: Ouch indeed! Take lots of care of yourself.
[[[MB]]]. We warthogs must stick together :-)
I have fallen back sometimes on Dale's 3-breath suggestion which has sometimes served to break the logjam of resistance. And for me just having a small commitment has kept me coming back when I wouldn't otherwise have done so ....
Udge, how good to see you're still here - and I DON'T just mean because you're an early riser...
Devon, sorry to hear about you foot, take care of yourself is your very busy life.
Starting a day of no routine with a few minutes of meditation is really a lifesaver and changes the tone quite a lot.
Yes, Udge, what Jean says .... I'm very glad indeed you're still here.
Maybe we could explore "resistance" a little as we begin another 100 days. For me it is not so much a question of resistance - because I LIKE meditating, most of the time - it is a question of finding (taking?) the time and space. When I am alone, I do it, and it feels natural and easy - in fact, I tend to be sorry to stop. But I am rarely alone, or without demands. Keeping to a smaller time commitment helps, and I find that often the 5 minutes I plan on stretches into a longer period. I do stop a number of times during the day and consciously return to my breath and a contemplative attitude, but for me that isn't the same as sitting down to meditate...
Devon - eowww! So sorry. Rest up as best you can!
Devon, now you must sit and rest, and would love to hear what insights develop... & do hope the broken bone and bruising heal fast!
I'm reading a good summary of meditation, and the neuroscience of consciousness (though haven't got to that yet), a hundred page first chapter of a book, while at a temp reception job at a commercial insurance company (do ironies abound?).
The ultimate aim, as I understand it, is samtha and vipasyana, stability and clarity. It's all vastly more complex than that, of course. But there are two 'flaws': dullness (drowsiness, dullened object of meditation); and excitement (distraction, loss of focus).
The post-meditative effects are as important as the meditation. These can include a dream-like quality to perceptions, trait changes like anger or hostility transmuted into loving-kindness, mindfulness and awareness and the ability to focus intently and deeply, to concentrate. And, let's not forget happiness, lightness of being, joy. That often happens too, doesn't it.
Just some highlights, and thoughts for the day... sometimes it's good to be reminded of what we already know, huh. :)
(((hugs))) thinking of you all
Hey there, everyone...
I sat my requisite 5 minutes in *bed* last night...and right now I'm sitting my way through a lengthy backup, the first step toward trying to fix a software bug that's prevented me from saving documents (yikes!)
So even though life is busy right now, I'm finding time to meditate amongst the hubbub.
I'm not sure how I'd define my particular sort of resistance. I guess I'm habitually hesitant to sit still: I always feel there's something *else* I should be doing. So any difficulty I claim in finding time to sit is more likely my own temperamental resistance to sitting *still* and "doing nothing."
This, of course, is the beauty of 5 minute meditations: you're not "wasting" too much time...
At Queenswood yesterday we walked in the Mary Garden instead of the labyrinth. This seemed so appropriate for Easter Sunday because in the Christian faith, Mary is symbolic of compassion. Paths through the garden are rough. Feeling each stone and pebble beneath my feet, I felt a strong connection to the earth, grounded and totally present.
At tea time, one of the women talked about how she felt after attending a four-day meditation retreat last week. She said she felt a lightness of being and fullness of humour … that she was treating herself and others more lightly and with humour.
A good reminder for us warthogs who are beating ourselves up.
After a late sleep in and two cups of coffee (this is another holiday day for some of us in Canada), I go now to meditate and to be with all of you.
Mary, what kind of chanting do you do? Sometimes when I sit with the intention of 100 Days commitment, I chant the names of all my friends here and then:
May all beings find healing
May all beings find peace
May all beings be held in compassion
Mary, thank you. There are days... well, you know, I think.
Devon, I hope they are healing soon! It's better to have two working feet — I know.
Beth, thank you. I LIKE meditating, too. Once I get started, it usually feels like a good thing. It seems for me to be the getting started, the breaking away from other things, that I find difficult enough that it trips me up. So I try to remind myself frequently of the enjoyment I do get from meditating... but too often to little avail. That's why I spoke in terms of resistance though — surely if I weren't resisting in some form, I'd go ahead and do it? And yes, the smaller time commitment was what I decided to go for this 100, on precisely the theory that it might be easier to get started if I felt I'd be "losing" less time away from whatever else I'm doing that is so hard to break away from (much as Lorianne describes). We shall see! I also stop during the day several times for breaths, and frequently focus on the breath as I go to sleep, or when I wake in the night. And those things are helpful, but not the same as a "real sit," somehow. Sigh. I'll keep working at it.
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