Meditation is not My Focus

[8fold]

I'm basically looking for reassurance.

There was a short period around a year ago that I meditated once a day. Now, I probably meditate 10 times a month, three quarters of the time in a group setting at a local center. However, I read and think about buddhism a lot, focus for a few moments throughtout the day on "Now" and "being present" and recite favorite inspiring verses to myself often throughout the day.

I feel when the time is right for me, I will focus more effort on meditation. But now, what I'm doing is working for me. My problem is I semi feel like a fraud when I got to the group setting and sit with others who, I assume, meditate more regularly.

Any comments on my "sit"uation? <-----Hey, pretty unique pun there. I like it!

Thanks!

[Reductor]

Well, 'why' are you not meditating more? When will the time be right for you? What will be your critieria? Perhaps you are procrastinating.

If you feel like a fraud, and don't like it, then don't be a fraud. Or talk with those at the group and see how often they actually meditate, and if they are daily then ask even more about how they do it, what motivates them, what they struggle with, etc.

[Cittasanto]

I'm basically looking for reassurance.
I read and think about buddhism a lot, focus for a few moments through out the day on "Now" and "being present" and recite favorite inspiring verses to myself often throughout the day.

if it is working for you great!
not everyone can make the time every single day at the same time to meditate for an hour, it is better to spend 5 mins doing it every hour, than not doing it at all!

[Laurens]

Concentration (i.e: Mindfulness and meditation) is a big section of the eightfold path, whilst you can study Buddhism without it, I would say you can't really practice it so well without some kind of meditation or mindfulness going on.

To benefit from meditation it has to be an ongoing (daily) thing. If you don't practice meditation you should at the very least practice mindfulness as you go about your day.

Reading up on Buddhism is all very well, but words alone won't transform your actions unfortunately.

All the best.
Laurens

[jcsuperstar]

don't think that just formal sitting meditation is the only form of meditation. In our daily life whatever we are committed to, our postures could be summarized into four: standing, walking, sitting and sleeping. the Buddha admonished to be mindful on the action done while we are in these postures