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Everyday practice

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 11:38 pm
by zamotcr
Hello, my name is Michael Zamot and I'm from Costa Rica. We don't have any Theravada community nor temple here, just a few guys who meet over the internet.

I'm starting again with Buddhism and I want to understand better Theravada tradition (still undecided).

I'm not very good meditating, I tried with a cushion without luck and with a self-made meditation bench which almost work for my posture. Now the problem is my mind, I get bored too soon or I just feel relaxed, but what else should I expect, what should happen? I do some kind of meditation when I practice Tang Soo Do, trying to focus on my movement in the forms.

Also, I want to know which other practices may I do, because, apart from the difficulties, I don't always meditate, I tried as much two times per week. So I want to do something else too, because meditating is not enough.

Thanks so much! :anjali:

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 3:39 pm
by daverupa
What sort of meditation method(s) have you learned? What does your effort look like?

It's possible to have some satipatthana with the martial forms, as you say. This may be a good foundation - what sort of experience is this, for you?

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:26 pm
by zamotcr
daverupa wrote:What sort of meditation method(s) have you learned? What does your effort look like?

It's possible to have some satipatthana with the martial forms, as you say. This may be a good foundation - what sort of experience is this, for you?
I tried Anapanasati and after ten minutes I want to do something else, I start to feel bored. Sometimes I only feel relaxed, and just that.

For me, focusing on the movements in martial arts has helped me a lot, I do a lot of concentration (ADHD does not make things easier) and this is difficult but I try :)

Apart from meditation, is there any other practice to enhance my mind and my buddhism?

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 5:54 pm
by bodom
zamotcr wrote:Apart from meditation, is there any other practice to enhance my mind and my buddhism?
Practice the five precepts for your own benefit and the benefit of all beings:
"And how is one an individual who practices for his own benefit and for that of others? There is the case where a certain individual himself abstains from the taking of life and encourages others in undertaking abstinence from the taking of life. He himself abstains from stealing and encourages others in undertaking abstinence from stealing. He himself abstains from sexual misconduct and encourages others in undertaking abstinence from sexual misconduct. He himself abstains from lying and encourages others in undertaking abstinence from lying. He himself abstains from intoxicants that cause heedlessness and encourages others in undertaking abstinence from intoxicants that cause heedlessness. Such is the individual who practices for his own benefit and for that of others.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

:anjali:

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 6:22 pm
by daverupa
There are a lot of ways to make satipatthana work for you. Anapanasati is one of them, but there are any number of other approaches you might try.

You've probably read a Satipatthana Sutta such as MN 10, but there are a number of subteties about the practice that lets one refine it for their individual temperament.

Beyond the above, I would also recommend reading Analayo's Satipatthana book, which offers a very helpful overview as well as depth discussion of various points.

The precepts, as mentioned above, are indeed a necessary foundation for success here, so that is good advice. One should protect others & protect oneself.

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 7:57 pm
by Mkoll
zamotcr wrote:I tried Anapanasati and after ten minutes I want to do something else, I start to feel bored. Sometimes I only feel relaxed, and just that.
Examine your motivations for meditating: why are you doing it? If you have a higher goal that you firmly believe in, that might give you enough motivation to dispel the boredom.

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 8:16 pm
by Alobha
zamotcr wrote: I tried Anapanasati and after ten minutes I want to do something else, I start to feel bored. Sometimes I only feel relaxed, and just that.
Hi zamotcr :smile:
I'd suggest that you try sitting for more than 10 minutes. Most things in life need more time than that before one can see the value of it. 20-30 minutes is a more recommendable approach (at least as long as there is no physical pain involved when sitting).
zamotcr wrote:Also, I want to know which other practices may I do, because, apart from the difficulties, I don't always meditate, I tried as much two times per week. So I want to do something else too, because meditating is not enough.
Consider starting with a regular practice of walking meditation for at least a month. It's quite different from sitting as in that you, welll, walk. If you're very energized and prefer some more stimulation, than walking might suit you better.
Apart from that, I'd also recommend the books daverupa mentioned to get a better understanding of what to expect (or rather: not to expect) from meditation.

Best wishes,
Alobha

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:35 pm
by zamotcr
Thanks everyone for your comments :)

I got a copy of Analayo book.

I tried meditating 20 minutes in the past and was worse than 10 minutes :zzz: not to mention that I didn't everyday, but two days a week.

Apart from meditation and following the 5 precepts, are there other practices like chanting or give offerings, etc?


:namaste:

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 4:14 am
by Digity
Meditation is used to develop insight. Have you ever thought to sit through the boredom? Try being with it. It might reveal things about your mind. When things come up with your meditation that you don't like you need to learn to sit with it.

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 5:29 am
by Mkoll
zamotcr wrote:Apart from meditation and following the 5 precepts, are there other practices like chanting or give offerings, etc?
Read the suttas and apply your mind to them. Investigate what you do in daily life: is it for the long-term welfare and benefit of yourself and others?

Buddhist practice is a way of living and it should ideally continue after you get up from meditation.

:anjali:

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:04 am
by robertk

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 4:22 pm
by villkorkarma
You have to work with vipassana all your Life in your Daily Life to. not killing, not stealing, not missuse anyone sexually and nothingelse. I dont understand why heedlessness should be dangerous. anyone?

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 10:45 am
by villkorkarma
You dont feel so well if you drink alcohol. drinking alcohol is a scream for help.

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 7:10 am
by dhammapal
zamotcr wrote:I tried Anapanasati and after ten minutes I want to do something else, I start to feel bored. Sometimes I only feel relaxed, and just that.
I have a practice of noticing when it is ten minutes to the hour and doing anapanasati at the computer with my digital watch on the desk in front of me to discern the length of the breathing and decide on a rhythm.
zamotcr wrote:Apart from meditation, is there any other practice to enhance my mind and my buddhism?
I recommend the Buddha's Instructions to Rahula (also read aloud), reflecting before, during and after bodily, verbal and mental actions. And choose your favorite good deed from the past and keep recollecting it so it will be in your mind when you die.

With metta / dhammapal.

Re: Everyday practice

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:03 am
by Taijitu
Good karma lead me to getting a lift in a friend's car yesterday.

We talked about meditation and he told me that he had never felt the need to meditate.

We talked further and he pointed out a picture in a shop window that looked like one he had painted himself.

I asked him if he felt that painting was his meditation.

He answered that yes he felt it was.

He strikes me as a calm, loving and well rounded person that I am happy to call a friend (just because he has a car and I don't :lol:).