I'm not meditating every day and know I should. After all, it's just for 5 minutes. I have a spot set up. I read somewhere not to have a set time because things can come up, but to do it after a task or event that occurs every day - like after a morning shower, or after doing dishes at night, etc. For me after doing the dishes would be a good time. So I'll start doing that tonight.
I've sent in a registration form for an introductory weekend retreat with meditation instruction and question and answer sessions. I'll have to drive for nearly 3 hours to get there. There is no charge for accommodation or food or anything, but they ask for anonymous donations as well as donations of food. Anyway, the retreat is in mid May.
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Hi! Just found your blog, while searching for the term "buddhism." I live in Egypt, not the most peaceful or mindful or "Buddhist" place in the world. ;-)
I don't have anything much to say, really, except to wish you luck on both the retreat and the ongoing meditation practice.
My advice is not to be hard on yourself at this stage, not to worry about discipline. Instead, think of your five minutes of meditation time as time for just you, a sanctuary where the outside world doesn't penetrate.
Some days you won't be able to get problems out of your head, and that's ok. Other days you might succeed in truly being one with the breath, and not getting bogged down in various threads of thought. Be gentle with yourself, and keep trying.
I think the books of Pema Chodron might be helpful to you. She talks a lot about how the difficult people in your life teach you the most. She also teaches how to have some success during meditation by simply acknowledging each thought by saying to yourself "thinking" as the thought appears and then passes away rather than getting mad that you are having thoughts during meditation and can't always focus.
Eventually (if you keep on applying a good effort) you will feel success in meditation, you may want to increase the time you spend, and you will feel the benefit in the rest of your life. Then it will become easier, in some ways. At least that's my perspective at this point.
Probably there are other Buddhists in your area, or at least in the monastery. It may strengthen your resolve to meet some of them, and realize that most of us struggle with the same problems and thoughts. Good luck!
Best wishes, Bob (Cairo, Egypt)
Thanks Bob. When thoughts come in while i'm meditating I like to gently put them in a bubble and let them float up and away.
I'll check out Pema Chodron on dealing with the tyrants.
Unfortunately my location makes it difficult to get together with other buddhists often, but occasionally is better than nothing!
hello, I went on my first weekend retreat last weeken, and it has changed my life. I cant tell you how powerful it was. I've been reading about buddhism and doing a couple of courses at my local buddhist centre, but the retreat made everything so clear. We meditated four times daily for forty minutes and did a couple of puja's (devotional stuff like chanting the sevenfold puja and making offerings to the shrine) this amde me more in touch with the Buddha ans made things seem more spiritual.
I cant encourage you enough, go on the retreat and have fun. Its a Darmha holiday!!!
Craig, I really can understand by being a group of like-minds who all want peace, etc, that the vibes would be so good in helping one focus.
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