90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

[DeeBee]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

February 17, 2009
Tricycle's Daily Dharma

Where Does Compassion Come From?

Seeing the suffering in the world around us and in our own bodies and minds, we begin to understand suffering not only as an individual problem, but as a universal experience. It is one of the aspects of being alive. The question that then comes to mind is: If compassion arises from the awareness of suffering, why isn't the world a more compassionate place? The problem is that often our hearts are not open to feel the pain. We move away from it, close off, and become defended. By closing ourselves off from suffering, however, we also close ourselves to our own wellspring of compassion. We don't need to be particularly saintly in order to be compassionate. Compassion is the natural response of an open heart, but that wellspring of compassion remains capped as long as we turn away from or deny or resist the truth of what is there. When we deny our experience of suffering, we move away from what is genuine to what is fabricated, deceptive and confusing.
--Joseph Goldstein, Seeking the Heart of Wisdom

[DeeBee]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

And todays Daily Dharma.....


Following the Path
The Eightfold Path of Right Views, Right Thoughts, Right Speech, Right Conduct [Action], Right Livelihood, Right Effort or Lifestyle, Right Recollection [Mindfulness], and Right Meditation [Concentration] was preached by the Buddha to his first five disciples of Benares, and it remains for us the basic guide for our lives as Buddhists. It begins with Right Views and ends with Right Meditation, but each element of the path depends on all others, so really there is no first step and no last step. The key word is "right," from words in Sanskrit and Chinese that mean "upright, straight, right, correct." Finding what is upright in attitude, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and meditation, and then doing it--this is our life work.

[peacenik]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

thanks dee...i just ight try a naked sit...maybe outside when weather permits!

wip, as i posted before i listened to a guided meditation where alt of noises were happening in the class, and i liked it...sort of a challenge for my mind...lately i've been noticing i am able to sit through a noise alot...easier? i can notice it and move on instead of feeling startled or interrupted.

anyway folks, i'm going to be gone until next tuesday, and wip i know you will be traveling, and dee you at your coffee plantation (i can just imagine how beautiful that is!)...so it will be a challenge to sit more than 20 minutes a day i suppose. i will be staying at a frined's house in chicago, so maybe there will be noises i'm not used to anymore to challenge my practice!

peace to all and may the road rise with you!

[DeeBee]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

Hi Meditation Buddies,
I've had a disasterous morning, woke up very late and have now run out of time to sit. But I am going with the in-laws out to a game farm for the weekend so Mum-in-law and I can sit together (i've been sharing all the info here with her)
Have a great weekend.
See you Monday:-)

[A Work in Progress]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

Hey Deebs, Peace... yes we are all traveling the next few days! It's always difficult to keep up any kind of healthy routine while traveling (eating, exercise, meditation... ). DB, I love it that you are doing different stuff with your practice: sitting stark nekkid! That would definitely a good way to heighten awareness of our bodies, and practice acceptance/compassion of our bodies! And, next, sitting with mother-in-law! I am guessing that the two of you have a good relationship... and that is so wonderful. I hope you have a good time.

Peace, I hope you have a good, and safe, too! Interesting about the issue of "background noises," isn't it? When we let go of the idea or expectation that our surroundings must be silent so we "can meditate" then we are much farther along the road to being at peace with our lives, and everything that arises. Nothing is really a "distraction." It's all grist for the mill. Whatever arises (someone coughs, a trash truck makes crashing noises, we lose a job... ), it is a part of our life, and struggling against it is not helpful. This practice is very much about acceptance, and giving up the knee-jerk reaction that we all have, to try to "get rid of" whatever it is in life that we don't want, or don't like.

[A Work in Progress]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

Sitting at the airport, I'm here plenty early for my flight. Will be in the nearly-empty house in Florida until Thursday morning.... I'll be sitting meditation every morning, and checking in with MWO once in a while.

Here are some of the customary words and thoughts we use in metta (compassion) practice, and I'll be using them for all of us:

May we be happy.
May we be healthy.
May we be free from all that harms us.
May we be peaceful.

[Mags]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

Have a safe trip, WIP. A few days in a house alone sounds pretty good to me.

I always meditate in seisa (I don't even know how to spell it - you know what I mean) position. I can't do that anymore obviously due to my Lyme Disease and knee and joint problems. I find that it is very hard to get back my zen sort of emptiness state when not in that position. It's frustrating. I'm having to find new ways of doing this. This could be an interesting experience for me.

[A Work in Progress]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

Oh, Mags, damn. I am so sorry that this Lyme's thing is taking such a bite out of so many of the things that you enjoy (and the things you just plain NEED).

I sit in Burmese position, and would be unable to do that if I had any kind of serious mobility or bending problem with my knees. I would just have to shift to a chair, and it is hard to find chairs that work well for a good upright posture (I shopped for them when I was engaged in putting together a mindfulness and wellness program). There are actually special meditation chairs, made in very nice fabrics, that are built in such a way that you can easily sit without slumping or leaning back... they are really expensive. And, actually, they are sort of weird looking...

When I do sit in a chair (when traveling, usually), I use a pillow to keep my butt higher than my thighs/knees, and I keep my feet flat on the floor. It works fine, but it sure does feel different. Like you say, it feels different in our minds as well as in our bodies when we have to switch to a new posture... especially when we really, really don't want to.

I do so hope that you and your docs wind up finding something that effectively treats this awful disease, and soon.

[A Work in Progress]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

This morning while I sat meditation I recognized (again!) how harsh I can be in my own approach to the goals and tasks I set for myself. There is an overall sense of urgency that is familiar, but not very comfortable. Of course, this includes my meditation practice. Like doing the laundry, it is something else that "must be done" in order to gain the approval of my inner critic and taskmaster... and when I allow myself to be governed by this taskmaster, life will seem like drudgery! The task for me is... notice, and recognize, when that air of duty/obligation becomes too prominent, and then... I take a slightly deeper breath, I slow down whatever I am doing, and let go of the voice of the critic.... I choose to take a little time to experience, and focus my attention on, the truly wonderful physical sensations of: Just breathing. Just the simple feeling of being.

[DeeBee]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

I'm back! Had a wonderful weekend with the in-laws. I wouldn't say that I actually meditated with my Mum and Dad-in-law but the experience was peaceful, calm and helped us re-connect as we hadn't seen each other since Xmas.
We arrived at the lodge a lot earlier than the rest of the family so MIL, FIL and myself headed out to the hide-out and "sat" for 20 minutes just listening to the "bush". My FIL's theory is that you can sit in the bush for 20 minutes (always 20 min) and the bush will come alive. He was bang on! Just as I was beginning to fidget a huge female Impala (buck) came to the water's edge and just stared at us. We sat for a good 10 minutes whispering amongst us and watching her back. It is a honour when an animal from the wild connects with us and allows our worlds to touch.

I feel a lot "happier" today and know that the funk I was in these last couple of weeks is finally over.

I just know that meditating has played an important role in accepting my cravings and letting them go.... thanks again for getting me back on the right road Wip.

Here's a little joke I read.....
Meditation Student: If I'm open minded, won't my brains fall out?
Teacher: No, just keep your mouth shut at the same time.

[A Work in Progress]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

Deebs, I just LOVED the story about sitting quietly in the bush for 20 minutes. Fantastic!!!! That is really a very fine example of the essence of meditation: sit quietly, and pay attention. That is really all there is to it. And look what happened! An Impala appeared!

[DeeBee]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

Hiya Wip, Peace, Mags and all lurking,

Don't have anything exciting to report, still plodding away. Sat for 5 minutes this morning but I don't "feel" I actually accomplished anything. Felt very edgy and itching to get the session over. Felt more of a chore than a treat.
Tomorrow will be better.

[DeeBee]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

Living Right
There are two criteria for right livelihood. First, it should not be necessary to break the five precepts in one's work, since doing so obviously causes harm to others. But further, one should not do anything that encourages other people to break the precepts, since this will also cause harm. Neither directly nor indirectly should our means of livelihood involve injury to other beings. Thus any livelihood that requires killing, whether of human beings or of animals, is clearly not right livelihood.... Selling liquor or other drugs may be very profitable, but even if one abstains from them oneself, the act of selling encourages others to use intoxicants and thereby to harm themselves. Operating a gambling casino may be very lucrative, but all who come there to gamble cause themselves harm. Selling poisons or weapons--arms, ammunition, bombs, missiles--is good business, but it injures the peace and harmony of multitudes. None of these is right livelihood.
Even though a type of work may not actually harm others, if it is performed with the intention that others should be harmed, it is not right livelihood. The doctor who hopes for an epidemic and the trader who hopes for a famine are not practicing right livelihood

[peacenik]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

hello dee!
hi all...i'm back from my trip, had a wonderful time. meditated on the plane and once while there to try and ease a headache...didn't work, but it did help me focus on something else.
i did have a swallow of champagne at the shower...no worries.
am having major cravings today and am exercising and keeping busy trying to be mindful and aware that i cannot have that first drink and i will make it through...day 55 is a hard one for me!

will be back and in the flow moreso tomorrow.

peace!

[peacenik]

90-Day Meditation Practice Challenge!

A Work in Progress;553236 wrote: Hey Deebs, Peace... yes we are all traveling the next few days! It's always difficult to keep up any kind of healthy routine while traveling (eating, exercise, meditation... ). DB, I love it that you are doing different stuff with your practice: sitting stark nekkid! That would definitely a good way to heighten awareness of our bodies, and practice acceptance/compassion of our bodies! And, next, sitting with mother-in-law! I am guessing that the two of you have a good relationship... and that is so wonderful. I hope you have a good time.

Peace, I hope you have a good, and safe, too! Interesting about the issue of "background noises," isn't it? When we let go of the idea or expectation that our surroundings must be silent so we "can meditate" then we are much farther along the road to being at peace with our lives, and everything that arises. Nothing is really a "distraction." It's all grist for the mill. Whatever arises (someone coughs, a trash truck makes crashing noises, we lose a job... ), it is a part of our life, and struggling against it is not helpful. This practice is very much about acceptance, and giving up the knee-jerk reaction that we all have, to try to "get rid of" whatever it is in life that we don't want, or don't like.

in yoga as well, you don't expect quiet, you practice with it...the two practices are so complimentary!