The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
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m0rl0ck
Posts: 1193
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:51 am

Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge

Post by m0rl0ck »

1.75 hours today.
“The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling.” ― Robert M. Pirsig
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m0rl0ck
Posts: 1193
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:51 am

Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge

Post by m0rl0ck »

.75 hours yesterday.
“The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling.” ― Robert M. Pirsig
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Sokehi
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Location: Germany
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Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge

Post by Sokehi »

my Adhitthana for the rest of february:
at least 30 min. of sitting meditation a day
at least 30 min. of walking meditation a day
Get the wanting out of waiting

What does womanhood matter at all, when the mind is concentrated well, when knowledge flows on steadily as one sees correctly into Dhamma. One to whom it might occur, ‘I am a woman’ or ‘I am a man’ or ‘I’m anything at all’ is fit for Mara to address. – SN 5.2

If they take what's yours, tell yourself that you're making it a gift.
Otherwise there will be no end to the animosity. - Ajahn Fuang Jotiko

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Spiny Norman
Posts: 10154
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:32 am
Location: Andromeda looks nice

Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge

Post by Spiny Norman »

m0rl0ck wrote:1.75 hours today.
That's quite impressive. I "peaked" at around 2 hours a day a couple of years ago and it's been down-hill ever since. ;)
Buddha save me from new-agers!
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Abs.truth
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Feb 04, 2014 7:05 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge

Post by Abs.truth »

To Weakfocus,

Thanks for the idea of maintaining the log.

I will now keep log for 3 things from tomorrow 20Feb2014:
1) Morning: (20 min) meditation
2) Afternoon: (20 min) alternate sitting & walking meditation for atleast 2.5 hours
3) Morning & Evening: Keeping mindfulness while working in kitchen
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m0rl0ck
Posts: 1193
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:51 am

Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge

Post by m0rl0ck »

30 mins yesterday 45 today.
That's quite impressive. I "peaked" at around 2 hours a day a couple of years ago and it's been down-hill ever since. ;)
I can usually only do that on weekend days. :)
“The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling.” ― Robert M. Pirsig
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Weakfocus
Posts: 77
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 3:07 pm

Month 8

Post by Weakfocus »

Seventh month is done.

This month started awful. Daily sittings were going 'wrong', virtually no mindfulness no matter how hard I tried. I simply could not stay aware of incoming and outgoing breath. For the few seconds I could keep the mind on breath, I would notice that my natural breath was like loud bellows and yet I could not feel its touch at all. Mental. I was coming to hate these sittings since I could not cope with the intense pain of the last 10 minutes. I came very near to quitting in frustration. I was also feeling very miserable and depressed in general for inexplicable reasons; I have not noticed such strong suicidal urges and feeling of hopelessness since the month I started this practice.

Anyway, I persisted with daily sittings and then had a breakthrough in March. One day before sitting I told myself that maybe I was trying too hard to stay aware of respiration. So I decided to quit fretting about slow progress, pain and all the rest and just sit with breath for as long as I could. And the instant I accepted that this practice was a marathon and not a sprint after all, my breath became light and refined and mindfulness improved dramatically. So much so that I was surprised when the alarm rang, unlike in the days past when I would be wishing for alarm to ring to end my torture.

So I get to experience the extremes in the same month, yet again. Mind is now wandering much less, and comes back to breath much sooner. Towards the end of the month I began to experience good mindfulness. I have a feeling that in future I will look back at this month as the turning point of my practice, and possibly life. I made big progress this month, something I would not have thought possible the way things started in Feburary.

Physical and mental hindrances are all either reducing or do not have as much power over me as they did until a couple weeks ago. I can maintain fairly good, stable posture for most of the sitting, I only have to straighten the back maybe once every five minutes or so. It is only the last ten minutes that are rather challenging on the lower back, and the sharp pain destroys my awareness of the breath. But that will also improve with time and persistent efforts.

And now onto the eighth month. This month I resolve to practice Anapanasati meditation every morning and evening for at least 60 minutes. I may not have internet access for upto two weeks this month, so some entries will be missing. But I will be sitting everyday. I am not going to quit after coming so far.


20140315
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140316
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140317
55 minute Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140318
55 minute Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140319
55 minute Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140320
55 minute Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140321
Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140322
Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140323
55 minute Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140324
55 minute Morning sitting.
45 minute Evening sitting.

20140325
Morning sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140326
55 minute Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140327
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140328
50 minute Morning sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

29 to 13:
Did my morning and evening sittings, although most were less than 60 minutes.

20140414
55 minute Morning sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.
Last edited by Weakfocus on Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:13 pm, edited 29 times in total.
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Ben
Posts: 18438
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Location: kanamaluka

Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge

Post by Ben »

Hi weakfocus,
Well done. When meditation becomes unpleasant there is a tendency for some of us to think we are going backwards. But one's experience of meditation is no indication of our progress. Keep that in mind the next time you are facing difficulties.
I wish you all the best with your resolve to meditate for two hours a day. It's the same length and frequency that I meditate. My advice to you is to treat yourself kindly. If you do not make a sit - so be it. It's more important that it becomes a regular part of your life and that it becomes am established part of your life. In my experience, that only happens when you are relaxed and comfortable.
I wish you every success.
With metta,
Ben.
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

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Weakfocus
Posts: 77
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 3:07 pm

Month 9

Post by Weakfocus »

For some time now I have been feeling the need/desire for a third sitting. So this month my resolve is to do three Anapanasati sittings a day: morning and evening sittings for 60 minutes, and an afternoon sitting of 30 minutes duration to begin with. Eventual aim is to have three equal length sittings per day, but that will have to be done gradually lest the mind rebel hard and upsets the usual two sittings.


20140415
50 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140416
50 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140417
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140418
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
<Failure>

20140419
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140420
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140421
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140422
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140423
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140424
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
40 minute Evening sitting.

20140425
50 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140426
55 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140427
55 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
40 minute Evening sitting.

20140428
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140429
35 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140430
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140501
<Failure>
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140502
55 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140503
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140504
55 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140505
45 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140506
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140507
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140508
55 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140509
50 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140510
50 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
45 minute Evening sitting.

20140511
40 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140512
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140513
55 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140514
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
<Failure>
Last edited by Weakfocus on Thu May 15, 2014 11:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Weakfocus
Posts: 77
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 3:07 pm

Month 10

Post by Weakfocus »

This month I resolve to do three Anapanasati sittings a day: morning and evening sittings for 60 minutes, and an afternoon sitting of 35 minutes duration.


20140515
30 minute Morning sitting.
25 minute Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140516
55 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140517
40 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
<Failure>

20140518
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140519
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140520
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140521
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140522
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140523
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
<Failure>

20140524
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140525
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
<Failure>

20140526
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
<Failure>

20140527
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140528
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140529
Morning sitting.
30 minute Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140530
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140531
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140601
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140602
55 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140603
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
30 minute Evening sitting.

20140604
45 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140605
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140606
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140607
55 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140608
55 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140609
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140610
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140611
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140612
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140613
55 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140614
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.
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Weakfocus
Posts: 77
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 3:07 pm

Month 11

Post by Weakfocus »

This month I resolve to do three Anapanasati sittings a day: morning and evening sittings for 60 minutes, and an afternoon sitting of 40 minutes duration.


20140615
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140616
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140617
Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140618
55 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
45 minute Evening sitting.

20140619
55 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140620
55 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140621
55 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140622
55 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140623
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140624
50 minute Morning sitting.
Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140625
40 minute Morning sitting.
30 minute Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140626
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140627
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140628
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140629
55 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140630
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140701
<Failure>
20 minute Afternoon sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140702
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140703
55 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140704
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140705
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
40 minute Evening sitting.

20140706
55 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140707
Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140708
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140709
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140710
45 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140711
55 minute Morning sitting.
35 minute Afternoon sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140712
45 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
45 minute Evening sitting.

20140713
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
45 minute Evening sitting.

20140714
50 minute Morning sitting.
<Failure>
Evening sitting.
User avatar
Weakfocus
Posts: 77
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 3:07 pm

Month 12

Post by Weakfocus »

This month I resolve to do at least two Anapanasati sittings a day: morning and evening sittings for 60 minutes. Motivation for a third sitting has evaporated, I'll just aim to maintain two sittings/day for now. If someday I sit in afternoon I'll just add that to daily record instead of setting expectations and then recording failure.


20140715
55 minute Morning sitting.
40 minute Evening sitting.

20140716
55 minute Morning sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140717
50 minute Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140718
40 minute Morning sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140719
40 minute Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140720
50 minute Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140721
50 minute Morning sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140722
55 minute Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140723
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140724
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140725
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140726
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140727
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140728
55 minute Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140729
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140730
Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140731
Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140801
Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140802
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140803
55 minute Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140804
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140805
55 minute Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140806
Morning sitting.
50 minute Evening sitting.

20140807
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140808
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140809
<Failure>
Evening sitting.

20140810
Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140811
55 minute Morning sitting.
55 minute Evening sitting.

20140812
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140813
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140814
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.
User avatar
Weakfocus
Posts: 77
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 3:07 pm

Month 13

Post by Weakfocus »

This month I resolve to do at least two Anapanasati sittings a day: morning and evening sittings for 60 minutes each.

20140815
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140816
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140817
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140818
Morning sitting.
Evening sitting.

20140819
Morning sitting.
philosopher
Posts: 151
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 3:48 pm

Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge

Post by philosopher »

My goal is to meditate at least one half hour a day. So far I've been pretty good about keeping up with it but don't do it at a set time each day which I feel is not optimal.

Is this a good thread to post other resolutions (such as abstaining from listening to music, which I find reduces my mindfulness in daily life) or is there some separate thread for that?

Each day or every few days I'll post some brief notes on the length and type of meditation done and what posture (I frequently use restorative poses from yoga as I find many of them enhance calm and concentration.) I also want to track how concentrated the mind is during each session.

10.22.14
16 mins guided lovingkindness (Ayya Khema)
15 mins mfulness of breath

inverted

concentration: 2/10

Thanks for your support, all.

:anjali:
philosopher
Posts: 151
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 3:48 pm

Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge

Post by philosopher »

10.23.14

am
10 mins
breath
inverted
2/10

pm
guided lovingkindness
15 mins
inverted
1/10 - dozed off

This seems like a pathetically short amount of daily meditation time... maybe posting will shame me into meditating more! ;)
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