Mindful tricks or treats?

[adamposey]

Eh, halloween is tomorrow, so forgive the title.

Anywho, this is an advice question. I have really stepped back my expectations on my practice, even going as far as reducing the time I spend in meditation at a time so as to slowly work my way up rather than trying to start off at a sprint. This moderation, and slowness, has helped me develop more, I think, because it removes the desire to succeed so quickly. I even believe I may be able to attain brief periods of mindfulness, although I'm not sure my concentration is there yet and I don't know what mindfulness feels like so I have no comparison or way to say.

That said, are there small tricks (or treats!) that one can use to temporarily trick himself back into, or into, mindfulness?

[pegembara]

Try this

Manual of Self-Awareness

http://www.mahasati.org/manual--3.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOcIhTOJ ... r_embedded

[Jechbi]

Hi Adam,

My advice would be, try not to have expectations, or to bring any expectations to your sitting periods. Try to keep a consistent time commitment regardless of whether you perceive that you have been successful or not. And meanwhile, create the conditions in your life that are conducive to peace through the practice of sila (which I suspect you already are doing). Then smile, and don't worry about it.

Metta

[adamposey]

Hi Adam,

My advice would be, try not to have expectations, or to bring any expectations to your sitting periods. Try to keep a consistent time commitment regardless of whether you perceive that you have been successful or not. And meanwhile, create the conditions in your life that are conducive to peace through the practice of sila (which I suspect you already are doing). Then smile, and don't worry about it.

Metta

I gave up on my expectations and that's when I started seeing some progress which is cool. But if I'm experiencing moments of mindfulness, and the goal is to try to be mindful at all times, I would just like to learn how I can "snap back into it" if I were to lose it.

[catmoon]

Hi Adam,

My advice would be, try not to have expectations, or to bring any expectations to your sitting periods. Try to keep a consistent time commitment regardless of whether you perceive that you have been successful or not. And meanwhile, create the conditions in your life that are conducive to peace through the practice of sila (which I suspect you already are doing). Then smile, and don't worry about it.

Metta

I gave up on my expectations and that's when I started seeing some progress which is cool. But if I'm experiencing moments of mindfulness, and the goal is to try to be mindful at all times, I would just like to learn how I can "snap back into it" if I were to lose it.

I'm not sure it actually works that way. Out there in the world, mindfulness (personal experience mind you) pops up with a frequency closely tied to the amount of time spent in meditation. As practice advances, the "mindfulness alarm" goes off more frequently.

[adamposey]

That's what I was curious about. I thought I would ask you all if such a tactic did exist.

[Ben]

Hi Adam
no special tricks or treats. you just need to develop the habit of bringing your attention back to object.
What I have found is that with meditation this eventually becomes natural.
In the beginning you may want to focus your energies exclusively on developing sati during meditation periods and over time you may notice that you slowly extend your mindfulness during your day-to-day activities. A famous teacher within my tradition, Sayagi U Ba Khin, recommended this approach to students when he said "work while you work and play while you play".
All the best

Ben

[pink_trike]

What Ben says is good advice. Also, many teachers stress that when starting meditation five minutes of correct meditation at a time is better than going for quantity, then working up to 15 minutes morning and evening - always paying attention to correct technique. It really is helpful to attend at least one introduction to meditation retreat to learn the proper way of meditating, but Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana would help develop a good foundation on the path. There's no rush, slow down and settle into it.