You won't conquer your restlessness by giving in to it. You need to learn how to work with the hindrances and use them as an opportunity to develop concentration. Think of them as concentration hurdles. And be kind to yourself and yet exert more energy. Firstly, practce but have no expectations. Practice for the sake of practice. Secondly, No one in recent times became enlightened from meditating within ten minutes. Extend the length of time you can maintain unbroken awareness of the meditation object before lengthening your meditation sessions.
All the best
Ben
The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
“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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- 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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
According to the written log I keep, the meditation I just finished marks 6 years of practice without a single day of meditation missed.
In reading the scriptures, there are two kinds of mistakes:
One mistake is to cling to the literal text and miss the inner principles.
The second mistake is to recognize the principles but not apply them to your own mind, so that you waste time and just make them into causes of entanglement.
One mistake is to cling to the literal text and miss the inner principles.
The second mistake is to recognize the principles but not apply them to your own mind, so that you waste time and just make them into causes of entanglement.
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
- dhammadiscipline
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 3:46 am
Meditation Journal
Hey everyone, I'm going to record my practice here and -hopefully- keep myself motivated. Maybe it can help others, too.
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
All the best with your efforts Dhammawill!
I look forward to reading about them.
kind regards
Ben
I look forward to reading about them.
kind regards
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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- 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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- dhammadiscipline
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 3:46 am
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
Sat for half an hour this morning. Had a lot of trouble following the breath, held on to it a couple times but 99% of the time was being pushed around my mind. Going to sit again tomorrow morning.
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
My friend and I decided that we'd do a retreat right here in our own homes. Since we have five day left of summer vacation, the schedule ended up like this:
Weds-Sunday(10am-6pm/August 24-28)
*Meditation consists of 30 minutes sitting followed by 30 minutes of walking
10:00-11:00 - Meditation
11:00-12:00 - Meditation
12:00-1:00 - Lunch
1:00-2:00 - Meditation
2:00-3:00 - Meditation
3:00-4:00 - Tea
4:00-5:00 - Meditation
5:00-6:00 - Meditation
Saturday(12am-6am)
*Saturday will include the regular schedule, but will add an additional 6 hours at night, and then continue with the regular schedule Sunday morning.
12:00-1:00 - Meditation
1:00-2:00 - Meditation
2:00-3:00 - Meditation
3:00-4:00 - Meditation
4:00-5:00 - Meditation
5:00-6:00 - Meditation
8 precepts will be kept on all five days.
If anyone would like to join us who lives in the LA/SF Valley area please do! We will do two session in the woods, one in a house, and one at a local temple. We encourage everyone to make their own retreats as well, no reason why we have to go to a far away place to strive in meditation.
Metta
Weds-Sunday(10am-6pm/August 24-28)
*Meditation consists of 30 minutes sitting followed by 30 minutes of walking
10:00-11:00 - Meditation
11:00-12:00 - Meditation
12:00-1:00 - Lunch
1:00-2:00 - Meditation
2:00-3:00 - Meditation
3:00-4:00 - Tea
4:00-5:00 - Meditation
5:00-6:00 - Meditation
Saturday(12am-6am)
*Saturday will include the regular schedule, but will add an additional 6 hours at night, and then continue with the regular schedule Sunday morning.
12:00-1:00 - Meditation
1:00-2:00 - Meditation
2:00-3:00 - Meditation
3:00-4:00 - Meditation
4:00-5:00 - Meditation
5:00-6:00 - Meditation
8 precepts will be kept on all five days.
If anyone would like to join us who lives in the LA/SF Valley area please do! We will do two session in the woods, one in a house, and one at a local temple. We encourage everyone to make their own retreats as well, no reason why we have to go to a far away place to strive in meditation.
Metta
May you be happy. May you be a peace. May you be free from suffering.
http://www.everythingspirals.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.everythingspirals.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- FaceaceRAWR
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2011 2:49 am
- Location: Missouri, United States
- Contact:
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
Oooo! I really enjoy the idea behind this thread! I do my best to meditate, but I'm easily distracted and mildly [hehe] forgetful.[which is why I'm glad to have discovered concentration meditation to aid in that]. Here's my current schedule. Well, I really shouldn't say schedule because I don't chose when I want to meditate based on the hour, but on my mind.
Anywho, I hope for your support!
This is my goal for at LEAST the rest of August [my birthday month].
Ace's Meditation Goal:
15 minutes - 30 minutes of Vipassana as I awake.
10 minutes - 30 minutes of Concentration Meditation following that.
---
30 minutes - one hour of Vipassana during the day followed immediately by...
10 minutes - 20 minutes of Concentration Mediation.
---
15 minutes - 30 minutes of Vipassana before I lay down on my bed at night.
Concentration Meditation in the Corpse Pose as I fall asleep.
---BONUS POINTS FOR ME!
At least 10 minutes of Concentration Meditation by itself during the day.
At least 30 minutes of Vipassana by itself during the day.
Lately I've been forgetting my meditation during the day because I get caught up in activities [ie: wasting time on the internet, playing games on the Xbox 360, ect.].
Wish me luck!
Metta!
Sincerely,
Ace
Anywho, I hope for your support!
This is my goal for at LEAST the rest of August [my birthday month].
Ace's Meditation Goal:
15 minutes - 30 minutes of Vipassana as I awake.
10 minutes - 30 minutes of Concentration Meditation following that.
---
30 minutes - one hour of Vipassana during the day followed immediately by...
10 minutes - 20 minutes of Concentration Mediation.
---
15 minutes - 30 minutes of Vipassana before I lay down on my bed at night.
Concentration Meditation in the Corpse Pose as I fall asleep.
---BONUS POINTS FOR ME!
At least 10 minutes of Concentration Meditation by itself during the day.
At least 30 minutes of Vipassana by itself during the day.
Lately I've been forgetting my meditation during the day because I get caught up in activities [ie: wasting time on the internet, playing games on the Xbox 360, ect.].
Wish me luck!
Metta!
Sincerely,
Ace
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
Hi Dhammawill,
All the very best,
Ben
Its not an unusual experience. Certainly extend effort but also try and be relaxed about it and not have any expectations. When the mind wanders, gently return it to the object and try and keep it there for as long as possible.dhammawill wrote:Sat for half an hour this morning. Had a lot of trouble following the breath, held on to it a couple times but 99% of the time was being pushed around my mind. Going to sit again tomorrow morning.
All the very best,
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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- 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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
Hi Moth,
Anyway, I want to wish you the very best for your upcoming self-retreat. I wish you every success!
kind regards
Ben
I'm a little curious why you're not utilising the best time of day 4AM to 10AM, and the overnighter, which if you're not used to it, could be a recipe for disappointment.Moth wrote:My friend and I decided that we'd do a retreat right here in our own homes. Since we have five day left of summer vacation, the schedule ended up like this:
Weds-Sunday(10am-6pm/August 24-28)
*Meditation consists of 30 minutes sitting followed by 30 minutes of walking
10:00-11:00 - Meditation
11:00-12:00 - Meditation
...
...If anyone would like to join us who lives in the LA/SF Valley area please do! We will do two session in the woods, one in a house, and one at a local temple. We encourage everyone to make their own retreats as well, no reason why we have to go to a far away place to strive in meditation.
Metta
Anyway, I want to wish you the very best for your upcoming self-retreat. I wish you every success!
kind regards
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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- 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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
Hi Ace,
Wishing you every success!
Ben
All the very best with your ambition for August! If you're having difficulty with some distractions then it might be best to put them in a cupboard for a while. Also, be kind to yourself if you miss your daily routine. The important thing after a stumble is to return to your practice.FaceaceRAWR wrote:This is my goal for at LEAST the rest of August [my birthday month].
Ace's Meditation Goal:
15 minutes - 30 minutes of Vipassana as I awake...
...At least 30 minutes of Vipassana by itself during the day.
Lately I've been forgetting my meditation during the day because I get caught up in activities [ie: wasting time on the internet, playing games on the Xbox 360, ect.].
Wish me luck!
Metta!
Sincerely,
Ace
Wishing you every success!
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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- 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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- FaceaceRAWR
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2011 2:49 am
- Location: Missouri, United States
- Contact:
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
Mmm, that's very wise. I'm pretty hard on myself and I guess it may hinder more than help my progress. Thank you, Ben.Ben wrote:Hi Ace,
All the very best with your ambition for August! If you're having difficulty with some distractions then it might be best to put them in a cupboard for a while. Also, be kind to yourself if you miss your daily routine. The important thing after a stumble is to return to your practice.
Wishing you every success!
Ben
Sincerely,
Ace
- dhammadiscipline
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 3:46 am
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
Thanks for the suggestion Ben, you're right. I sat again yesterday, for a half hour, and had a similar experience. I'm going to sit again today.Ben wrote:Hi Dhammawill,Its not an unusual experience. Certainly extend effort but also try and be relaxed about it and not have any expectations. When the mind wanders, gently return it to the object and try and keep it there for as long as possible.dhammawill wrote:Sat for half an hour this morning. Had a lot of trouble following the breath, held on to it a couple times but 99% of the time was being pushed around my mind. Going to sit again tomorrow morning.
All the very best,
Ben
--edit
sat outside this afternoon for about an hour. Got some good following of the breath in and did some walking.
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
Well done, Dhammawill!
“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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- 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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
-
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:43 am
Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
hi all. ok having lapsed from any practice for several years the time feels right to 'start again'..like most men nearing the big '50' its a scary thought, so...in meantime (approx 18 months till half century :'() down to work. keep it simple, sit twice a day (started already), observe sila (last alcohol ten days ago was a heavy drinker prior) try stay mindfull, equanimous throughout day. may we all be successful !