Gaia: Meditation Encouragement and Sharing

Re: Group meditation or solo?

http://wanderingskydesert.gaia.com — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:29:53 GMT

Hey Will,

You know- I do tend to agree with you in my own experience, however I think ultimately, a group that has sat a lot together creates a much stronger field that can enhance practice even more. Scattered, intermittent, occasional, or multi-leveled groups with adepts and beginners tend to be much more diluted in strength, which makes me want to go back to my solo practice.

I think this really tells about the challenge of forging a strong, regular practice group out of a lay community. Short of doing that, individual practice seems to take on greater importance, however a lot of people find practicing easier with others because they're more easily able to show up and actually do the practice than by themselves.

I think the balance point is somewhere in between. When we can each hone our own practice in a way that is consistent enough to jive with others' (using a common form such as zazan, samatha/shine, a sadhana, vipassana, ngondro, or other) through dedicated self-discipline, and the flexibility to open up that practice to being able to do it in a group as well is the best. However, this can be challenging often.

I've found it is easiest to do group practice in low-form contexts, such as samatha, and zazen, rather than the highly ritualized, varied and distinct Vajrayana sadhanas. I tend to thrive on stability, and repitition and generate power through relying on a practice that goes the way I'm used to every time. So, this can be hard when practicing with a group that does the practice differently. That's where the flexibility aspect should enter in, and push one to broaden the scope of the efficacy of one's practice. How much one does that is of course best determined by individual preference.

Since many Western Buddhists have practiced in primarilty solo modes, with books or CDs or courses as their guides, rather than in a stable, communal fashion, we definitely tend to be much more solo and individualistic in our practices, and in our way of relating to our own spiritual paths, much more so than ethnically-contexted traditions, such as Thai or Sinhalese Theravada, Tibetan, or Zen communities.

These traditions have a lot to offer us Westerners in the ways of possible benefits from embracing a more group-centric practice mode, however we are challenged to integrate into that well.

Calling The Lama From Afar

http://monkglen.gaia.com — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 18:37:54 GMT

I am meditating more and more in a music-listening mode. I am really finding the chants of some of the TIbetans very helpful

I recommend the albums (on iTUNES) Jean-Philippe Rykiel & Lama Gyurme on the album THE LAMA'S CHANT. It is absolutely modern situated ancient chanting that to me is vibrantly alive and mystical.

Glen

Re: so long, and thanks for all the fish

http://yogagurl.gaia.com — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 03:14:42 GMT

You know i have been thinking the same thing for a while maybe everyone is too busy meditating to add to the pod (ha!)....i have posted thoughts... question... to no avail..i was hoping that for someone new to meditation(like me) this would be helpful but alas back to books for me
Caio
nyk

so long, and thanks for all the fish

http://grendels-song.gaia.com — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 14:16:38 GMT

Hi there,

I've finally realized that I'm alllllllllll alooooooone in here! Greetings to anyone else who wanders in, hope to see you somewhere else in zaadz.

I'm going to remove this pod from my list. It was a good theme though. I hope to find another pod like it, but with people :P

bows,
Tea

Sitting for Emily Keyes/ Bodhichitta

http://grendels-song.gaia.com — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 13:07:37 GMT

I have two daughters of my own, 11 and 9. The news of the hostage taking in Bailey, Colerado this week, and the death of Emily Keyes, have been very sad for me.

Thoughts about this event sneak into any opportunity I take to meditate. When I become aware of it, I let the thought pass, but I move into the place where it hurts, the ache of the heart, and I breathe through it, listen to it. Being close to those feelings is my way of reaching out to Emily and to all who are touched by what happened.

bows,
Tea

Re: Blessings to All Beings

http://grendels-song.gaia.com — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:45:40 GMT

Samadhi,

Thank you : ) And to you as well.

You know, every day, I wear a metta bracelet. It says:

May all beings be peaceful.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be safe.
May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature.
May all beings be free

bows,
Tea

Re: Group meditation or solo?

http://grendels-song.gaia.com — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:44:07 GMT

Hi Will,

I, too, have experimented with sitting alone and in a group. Like you, I prefer alone-sitting, and that's what I do most of the time. But I seek out opportunities to do it with a group as well, because it's just different, in ways that are valuable to me.

For several years, I frequented a local zen centre. What was most valuable for me, in meditating there, was the sharing of this special and intimate practice. We all brought our lives, silently, to that semi-circle of cushions and chairs. Around me were people experiencing disability, marriage, divorce, addiction, recovery, the joys of new parenthood and love, the grief of losing family or jobs, the pain and fear of injury or disease, the blessing of vibrant good health..... An array of evolving stories surrounded me, and showed me the tender humanity of this endeavour. I had spent years muttering to myself that when life was "just so" I would start meditating regularly. Sharing breathing space with these people taught me a great deal about how to "sit with" my not-just-so life. And I've been doing it ever since.

Being part of a sangha for so long helped me to see my own meditation practice as something which not only brought me deeper into truth and my own stillness, but also reached out and connected me to others.

On a more mundane level, having all these quiet, breathing, unmoving people around me while I meditated was strong motivation for me to sit still and stay put! Peer pressure! Especially in the early days, this was most helpful to me. I also found it reassuring to ocassionally hear others (some of them robed and shaved bald) talk about the challenges of meditation: physical pain, contageous yawns, a song stuck in the mind on perpetual Replay, feet falling asleep, the itch between the shoulder blades, the fly buzzing around your head!

Nowadays, I no longer live near that zen sangha, and have yet to connect with another community that I can meditate with and learn from. But from time to time, I have meditated with friends online. This seemingly improbable way of getting together actually does create some of the effect and energy of meditation in the physical presence of others.

My tendency is toward isolation. I prefer solitary sitting. But I am committed to continuing to reach past that and include group meditation in my practice. For me, it's worth getting out there.

bows,
Tea

Group meditation or solo?

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 02:11:07 GMT

I have always sat alone, but I had always been curious about meditating with a group. Recently I found out about a Zen group that meets once a week nearby, so I went one night for zazen. It was really a great experience. The dedication of these people is truly inspiring. We sat for 30 minutes, then did walking meditation, then sat for 30 more minutes. Afterwards there was a light dharma lesson and socializing. I felt very welcome and accepted by everyone, but I think I like sitting by myself better. I have developed my own style of practice over the years by trial and error, and have found what works for me, Many books and articles I've read cite the importance of joining a group. Although they are wonderful people. I just realized I really prefer to sit alone. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Blessings to All Beings

http://loving.gaia.com — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:30:31 GMT

May all of you be blessed with every positive quality
May you all have peace in your heart and joy in your mind
May you have every material necessity and all healthy abundance
May you be healthy and wise
May you live a long and happy life of service and purpose
May you contribute your love as well as your talents and energy to this world of beings
May you become enlightened
May you shine the light of lovingkindness from the depths of your heart essence onto this world of suffering and joy
May you die in peace and wisdom, completely free from all fear

Mind wandering.

http://litic.gaia.com — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 04:22:53 GMT

Good afternoon!

I have been telling myself I would start meditating for years now, and I finally started this morning. I would find that my mind had wandered and not even realize it had wandered - if that is even possible. I thought I was thinking about my breathing and then I found myself literally in mid-sentence of a thought. It was almost like I had wandered away from myself and came back to my mind but it kept right on going without me. It was a very eerie kind of sensation to know that my mind had been going on without me. It was only for a few seconds, but I still recall that sensation.

I am excited to have another session this evening! I used the AM and PM Meditation DVD offered by Gaiam and I have been told the book "Getting in the Gap" by Wayne Dyer. I currently have it on my Barnes and Noble Wish List (I have put myself on a budget to stop my waste and this will have to wait a bit longer) - I will let you know how it is once I do have it though. But the DVD is fantastic. It gets you into a sitting position and then you do some modified yoga from your sitting position and then it guides you into meditation and breathing. I loved the AM session and I can't wait to get to the PM session.

Namaste.
~ Shana

Re: Thank you!

http://dhigherpurpose.gaia.com — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 02:47:42 GMT

Shana,

I have been meditating on a daily basis since January. A daily meditation practice was one of my New Year's resolutions that I have actually stuck with. In the beginning I had great difficulty in quieting my mind, and struggled quite a bit. I found that using guided meditation CDs helped me get past the first hurdle. I purchased the CDs at a local bookstore. I also found great advice that was easy to understand in one of the idiot's books, I think it was Idiot's Guide to Meditation.
Enjoy your journey and if you find techniques that work for you, please share them.
Namaste,
Dena

Re: Learning How to Meditate

http://yogagurl.gaia.com — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 21:35:27 GMT

i am very interested in mantra meditation using a mala ...however i have heard that you need a guru to give you a mantra?
What if you don't have a guru handy ? any thoughts/ experiences with this or reasouces you can recommed!

Thank you!

http://litic.gaia.com — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 23:23:58 GMT

I have been wanting to begin meditation for a very long time now, but I never felt right - until now. I have joined Zaadz and have spoken with another member about beginning meditation and then I found this Pod. I am an extreme newbie to meditation and after reading through the previous posts I may have to get a meditation dictionary. There are so many words that are new to me - but I love it all.

I am so excited about my new journey and path in life and I look forward to sharing with everyone here!

~ Shana

Money as a subject of deep thinking and contemplation

http://seek2know.gaia.com — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 21:50:26 GMT

I explored Money as a subject of deep focus and contemplation, since so much of our lives and planetary health revolves around it. I encourage you to take that journey and hold the vision of conscious Money.

I just posted in Paradigm Shift on Money here at Radicalclarity POD

Namaste

Re: Wisdom and emptiness of Money

http://seek2know.gaia.com — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 21:42:48 GMT

I really contemplated on money and realized the emptiness in it, while the entire society and cilization do not question the pursuit of money.

I read that book and love the "Sacred path of a Warrior' book by Sakyong's Father.

Re: Learning How to Meditate

http://mountaindragon.gaia.com — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 15:13:00 GMT

Thanks for the link to Buddhanet! Seems to be a great resource for beginning Buddhists (like me) ;) Peace... Mike

Wisdom and emptiness

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 17:06:56 GMT

The following is an excerpt from "Turning the Mind Into An Ally," by Sakyong Miphan. The passage was read in my meditation group for contemplation and discussion. I offer it for others to read and contemplate while you meditate and deepen your practice. "There is always farther to go on the spiritual path. We think we've arrived at a place that is really "it," but then something pulls the rug out from under us, putting us beyond that view into deeper insight. It never quite works to build a comfort zone out of meditation. If we're meditation properly, our practice and understanding will always take us a little further than we might think we want to go. By resting in the true meaning of our contemplation, we're becoming familiar with our own wisdom. We're beginning to see reality as it is. Just as we open our perspective beyond what we ever thought it could be, our wisdom thrusts us into yet a vaster world. This is how we keep moving on the path. At each stage of contemplative meditation, we're encountering a deeper level of knowing." Peace! OM Shanti

Re: I Witness In Wonder

http://aphinya.gaia.com — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 06:19:17 GMT

“An inconvenient Truth” is an eyes opening, and reminding us about our impact on the earth. We take in from the earth every minute; have we ever asked ourselves what do we put out to our mature earth?

I do ask myself everyday now.

Re: Questions about meditation

http://loving.gaia.com — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:42:27 GMT

Hi Joe,

The "thinking" that is being referrenced in your practice is Discursive thoughts, not mindfulness or bodily awareness such as noticing what is going on inside you. Discursive thoughts are the ones that we become caught up in such as, " What am I going to eat for lunch later on, or That woman sure was rude to me at the bank today". Thoughts that take you away from the present moment. Any thoughts that pull your attention away from your investigation of THIS!!

When meditating we calm our minds first and then we begin to examine the contents of this Body-Mind-Self construct we have co-created with the rest of the universe. I have included a piece below about meditating on bodily sensations which are one of the recommended objects of investigation by the Buddha. To sum it all up: Observe the body IN the body, observe the breath IN the breath, observe all feelings IN the feelings, observe the mind IN the mind. Any thoughts, fantasies, memories, or dull mental sates that take you away from this investigation are to be abandoned gentley and then you simply return your attention to object of your meditation.

all blessings to you albert

Re: The practice of sitting

samadhi said Jun 14,

Thanks for the honest sharing and allowing us all to see into your practice. What a wonderful gift for everyone out there struggling with some of these issues in their meditation practice.

I have found that practicing what the Buddha taught in regards to Equanimity is very helpful in this issue of pain, discomfort, or bodily sensations. I too had a hard time sitting for longer than twenty minutes for a couple of years before I started to practice the Vipassana meditation method of deeply observing all bodily sensations without reacting to them. This practice is very helpful as it retrains our minds towards non-reaction not only in the body but in life outside and off the meditation cushion.

To begin this practice one first starts with mindful breathing (annapana sati) to concentrate the mind on one object and then starts to systematicly scan the body with your eyes closed. Very slowly going over every inch of the body inside and out, observing all the sensations as they arise, but without any reaction. Just remain equanimous and notice the changing nature of the sesations. They may increase or decrease in intensity, they may move around or stay in the same place, they may go away, or go away and come back. Notice whether the sensation is cool, warm, or hot, whether it is tingly, sharp, or dull. Does it spread or contract....etc..

This practice seems very simple but it is deeply profound. It has allowed me to go from sitting only twenty minutes to sitting regularly for forty-five minutes to over an hour.

I want to say that there are times when the sensations are intense and if you have to adjust your body, do so slowly and observe the phsyical processes within. Even a leg falling asleep can be a wonderful object of meditation and can reveal the empty and impermanant nature of all that is.

I hope this method is helpful to those who want to go deeper into the practice.

May all beings be free from suffering. May we all become fully liberated. May we all be happy, wise, and loving towards each other.

Questions about meditation

http://Starchase.gaia.com — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 00:25:55 GMT

I practice "Insight" meditation in the mahayana tradition and have never had formal instruction so I have a few questions.

When I sit the instructions I use are to label thinking as thinking. Focus on the outbreath but only marginally. What constitutes thinking -- is it anything subvocalized? If I am noticing my ass falling asleep does that constitute thinking? Some pointers would be great!