Just 15 minutes a day is all it takes...

For about two weeks now I've been fairly consistent at meditating for 15 minutes every morning before going to work.  This morning I noticed the 15 minutes doesn't seem like 15 minutes any more, but less.  It's very encouraging. 

I have also been working with trying to figure out how to sit properly to relieve back pain.  A friend of mine recommended finding the "sitting bones" and putting my weight there so I am sitting on my sitting bones (what they are designed for) instead of using my back to sit up.  You know what?  It works!!!

Your sitting bones are the bony protrusion in your butt.  Just bend over, reach behind you, grab your butt and feel for the bones.  When sitting, find those bones by leaning forward until you have placed your weight on them.  I was focusing too much on "sitting up straight" and that was what contributed to my back pain.  So far, so good!  Give it a try if you are also struggling with back pain.

Something to ponder in meditation

Take away all your possessions.

Take away all your education.

Take away all your money.

What's left is all you are.

What are you all about?

Jealousy and Meditation

A couple of months ago we had a discussion about jealousy in our Buddhism class. As I reflected on this I thought, "Hmmm...I can't think of anyone or anything I'm jealous of."

This statement alone explains why meditation can be so very important to personal growth. I have a strained relationship in my life that I have been trying to figure out. I have been meditating on it, giving it my complete focus during meditation (or at least, as much as I can keep my mind focused - quite a challenge!).  During meditation this week, I have gained a great deal of insight into why I feel this strain in the relationship.  I'm jealous!

When I began my meditations with this focus, I found that it was even more difficult to keep my mind focused on my intention.  I thought remaining focused on the breath was a challenge!  Nope, try keeping focus on something you've hidden from yourself for so long!

When the first thought began to arise for examination as to why I feel the way I do, I was genuinely surprised as to what it was.  The first day, I got a glimpse that it had to do with a perception of lack of support.  Okay, that was good to ponder and I was able to fairly easily understand where this feeling came from.  On the second day, the jealousy thought began to bubble up.  When I thought it, I was even more surprised.  As I reached out to grab hold of the thought and began to expand upon it and examine it, there were suddenly a crowd of thoughts pushing in front of it, trying to grab my attention.  "No!  Me! Me! Look at me!  It's much more important that you think about this idea for the meditation group".  I felt as if I were being sucked into quick sand with my fingers slipping as I tried to hang onto that branch that would keep my head above ground.

I hung on, clinging, grabbing the thought while pushing the others aside.  I grabbed hold of it and pulled it up to my single point of awareness.  This thought appears to be the root of this perception.

Now that I understand better, what do I do about it?  I know that I will be continuing my examination of these realizations so I can come to a sound decision as to what I should do about these feelings and how to re-program them.  It will also mean rebuilding the relationship without the perceptions that have dirtied it to this point. 

This is just one example of the many where meditation can be so very important!  Have you had any such experiences during meditation?  Please share your experiences by commenting on this post.  (You can post anonymously if that makes you more comfortable.)

"The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves."
    -- William Penn, Some Fruits of Solitude, 1693

Vipassana Meditation Technique

Great guided video which explains and walks you through a brief meditation.

GREAT NEWS!!!

I have been accepted for the Vipassana Retreat in February!!! I got the email last night notifying me that I have been accepted. I AM SOOOOOO HAPPY!!!!!!

sufi whirling: another form of meditation

it's all in the mind

In The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buddhism, Gary Gach shares the following story.

Korean monk Wonhyo (617-686 C.E.) set out for China to study Buddhism.  On the road one night, he took shelter in a cave.  He found a gourd of pure water, which he drank.  Content, he then fell asleep.  At dawn, he awoke startled to discover he'd spent the night in a tomb and that he'd drunk putrid water from an old skull.  It came to him in a flash that "mind creates all things, all things are products of the mind alone."  Realizing this, he turned around, as there was no longer any need to study in China.  He studied his own mind instead and went on to become one of Korea's greatest Buddhist teachers and scholars.

In our Buddhism class on Sunday, Howard shared a story of a man and woman who were so very hungry that they finally decided to eat their infant child in order to sustain themselves and live.  Of course, anyone who reads or hears this is immediately repulsed and thinks, "How in the world could someone do that to a child?".  Yet, when we eat meat or eggs, aren't we eating someone else's children?  It's all about perspective in your own mind.

struggling with monkey mind?

My son is attending college with the goal of becoming a psychologist. We recently had a discussion regarding multi-tasking. He told me that recent studies have found those that multi-task often find it very difficult to focus their minds as they get older since they have trained their minds to do many things at once.

If you think about it, it makes sense. After all, isn't meditation about training the mind? As a culture, we multi-task constantly. Driving the car and talking on the phone (even if it's hands-free). Reading a book while listening to music. I'm sure you can think of many, many more examples; and if you can, then you, my friend are a multi-tasker.

Multi-tasking is difficult to avoid. Trying to cook a meal so that everything is ready at the same time and hot when it's placed on the table. However, when multi-tasking becomes such a strong habit, we are challenged with daily mindfulness.

As I practice mindfulness, I have found that it appears even harder, especially in meditation, than ever before. Is it because I am more aware now (the goal) or is it because a lifetime of multi-tasking has made it even more challenging to settle my mind into one point of awareness during meditation?

I've been rolling this around in my mind for a few days now since my son mentioned that to me. It has helped me to feel better about the monkey mind -- and it should you too.

Just keep reminding yourself that meditation is the practice of training the mind to be aware. Think of how old you are and how many years you have allowed your mind to roam freely. Just like gaining weight, it doesn't happen overnight -- and losing the weight doesn't happen overnight either.

Eventually, if you remain dedicated to your practice, you WILL attain the awareness during meditation that you seek. The ability to sit and bring awareness to your breath, to quiet the mind through awareness.

It will not happen overnight, in one week, one month, or even 10 years. This is why you must approach your meditation practice as a lifelong commitment. Otherwise, you will remain frustrated and discouraged with the monkey mind.

Great intro and web footage of Georgia Vipassana Center

This guy does a great, but honest, narrative about the course...

personal Vipassana retreat experiences

Someone after his first retreat....


This guy is humorous...but also has footage of the GA center that I will be attending...