I have spent the last few weeks adding a little extra time to my meditations. Nothing drastic - I don't think it's ever a good idea to make drastic changes to meditation.
I've crept my normal daily practise to between 40 and 45 minutes. To begin with it felt a little strange, but now I can feel the benefit. I'm feeling that I am finding that calm place more quickly and feel much more balanced and stable when I am there.
My very calm 'meditative mind' is staying with me most of the afternoon and into the early evening, even when I am in quite hectic places.
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Sunday, 5 October 2008
I'm back to the old favourites; alternating the Mindfulness of Breathing with Metta Bhavana.
These really are great complimentary meditations. Each one adds a great deal to the other.
The Metta Bhavana slowly shows you that you are indivisible from all other beings. Eventually you realise that there isn't a you, there isn't a them. Compassion is the inevitable outcome.
These really are great complimentary meditations. Each one adds a great deal to the other.
The Metta Bhavana slowly shows you that you are indivisible from all other beings. Eventually you realise that there isn't a you, there isn't a them. Compassion is the inevitable outcome.
Thursday, 4 September 2008
The coming year
It's been a lovely, slow, relaxed summer. I haven't posted on the blog for a couple of months.
Now with the new University academic year coming on fast I'm beginning to plan the new term for meditation classes. We are starting an extra class on a Friday evening from 7pm to 9pm. this will give everyone far more time and hopefully reduce the rushing about that has to be done for the Monday lunchtime class.
It would be nice to get a tea break in as well - a great opportunity to chat about how things are going - in meditation as well as in life, as well as buddhist topics.
Now with the new University academic year coming on fast I'm beginning to plan the new term for meditation classes. We are starting an extra class on a Friday evening from 7pm to 9pm. this will give everyone far more time and hopefully reduce the rushing about that has to be done for the Monday lunchtime class.
It would be nice to get a tea break in as well - a great opportunity to chat about how things are going - in meditation as well as in life, as well as buddhist topics.
Monday, 21 July 2008
Switch off the noise
It sometimes feels that we create as many distractions in our lives as we can to stop us having to really think. How many times have you thought "it's too quiet I must put some music on"? Or you come home, put the TV on and then go off into another room. I think the background noise is just there to stop us really thinking.
Try some silence and see what your mind brings up. If it's something disturbing then don't just block it out again - explore it as much as you feel safe doing and then by familiarity it becomes less of a disturbance. Maybe after a time you will be comfortable with some long periods of silence and be able to sit with no thoughts.
Try some silence and see what your mind brings up. If it's something disturbing then don't just block it out again - explore it as much as you feel safe doing and then by familiarity it becomes less of a disturbance. Maybe after a time you will be comfortable with some long periods of silence and be able to sit with no thoughts.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Be gentle
I've been practising with longer and longer single stage meditations recently.
After a untimed bodyscan, I'm using the third stage of a mindfulness of breathing and just allowing myself to 'feel' the physical sensation of each breath in a lightly, only just mentally 'touching the feel of the breath' sort of way. I'm not sure that explains the technique very well, but the important part is not trying too hard to fix oneself to the breath. It feels like a light touch.
This is working very well and I'm finding that I am settling into the meditation very much more quickly and feel that the meditation is very 'even' throughout. The more you struggle to focus on the breath the more you focus on the struggle, so drop the struggle and be very gentle with your guiding mind.
After a untimed bodyscan, I'm using the third stage of a mindfulness of breathing and just allowing myself to 'feel' the physical sensation of each breath in a lightly, only just mentally 'touching the feel of the breath' sort of way. I'm not sure that explains the technique very well, but the important part is not trying too hard to fix oneself to the breath. It feels like a light touch.
This is working very well and I'm finding that I am settling into the meditation very much more quickly and feel that the meditation is very 'even' throughout. The more you struggle to focus on the breath the more you focus on the struggle, so drop the struggle and be very gentle with your guiding mind.
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Going well
My meditation practice is going very well. I'm feeling calm when preparing my mat and cushion, lighting a candle on the shrine and choosing which incense to burn. Taking a few moments to prepare yourself is well worth it as it gives you some breathing space between the stuff of the day and your time within your meditation.
I'm taking every opportunity to read and listen to on-line lectures, both about Buddhism and meditation in particular. There is a lot of information available from all traditions if you look for it. I'll have to include a list on my website when I have a moment.
I'm taking every opportunity to read and listen to on-line lectures, both about Buddhism and meditation in particular. There is a lot of information available from all traditions if you look for it. I'll have to include a list on my website when I have a moment.
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Mindfullness and hay fever
I was due to lead the class on Friday lunchtime at the Colchester Buddhist Centre, but around an hour earlier I could feel an attack of hay fever starting to develop, so, although I almost never resort to tablets, I took one hay fever tablet. 'Well' I thought 'it would never do to start sneezing through a class. It's difficult to sneak out without disturbing people if you are leading the class!'
By the time that I arrived at the centre I found that I was feeling very disconnected. I was sitting with the group before we started, but felt that I was watching everything through a very long telescope. I didn't feel that I was there at all. The effects of the tablet must have been very strong as I was unused to taking them.
Luckily my co-leader for this class was there as well and he was kind enough to lead the class for me at short notice.
Even with the sense of detachment that the tablet was causing me I was surprised at how bad my meditation was. It might be thought that it would be improved, but my finding was that I was continuously distracted and had very little chance to reach any depth of meditation at all.
By the time that I arrived at the centre I found that I was feeling very disconnected. I was sitting with the group before we started, but felt that I was watching everything through a very long telescope. I didn't feel that I was there at all. The effects of the tablet must have been very strong as I was unused to taking them.
Luckily my co-leader for this class was there as well and he was kind enough to lead the class for me at short notice.
Even with the sense of detachment that the tablet was causing me I was surprised at how bad my meditation was. It might be thought that it would be improved, but my finding was that I was continuously distracted and had very little chance to reach any depth of meditation at all.
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