Meditation While Driving?

[AdvaitaJ]

A question for all, but especially those with longer commutes.

It's a question that's been on my mind for months and I'll admit that I do so on an almost daily basis. I have a rather lengthy commute with over 30 miles of freeway. Since there are no "real" instructions, I've just tried to adapt those for walking mediation to driving. I.e., primarily focusing on the physical movements to operate the car but with equal attention to the mental factors observing the flow of traffic and the feelings and emotions that result from the various other driver's behaviors. I've found it a fascinating experience to observe "me" driving my body driving the car.

AdvaitaJ

[bodom]

I think mindfulness is a better term when used in this context.

[appicchato]

I would agree...

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

I agree with the above comments, and that mindfulness in a satipatthana sense whilst driving should always remain of secondary importance to mindfulness of not crashing!

Mindfulness of feelings or mindstates don't do you much good if you're mangled and wrapped around a telephone pole.

Metta,
Retro.

[RayfieldNeel]

I have been thinking about this as well; I drive 28'ish miles to work each way.
I've actually found that my awareness of the moment (when I can sustain it...still working on keeping my mind from waundering aimlessly, as it is used to doing whilst driving) is a benefit to my safety. But then, I think I may be doing it a bit differently than the OP; I'm practicing "open awareness", rather than "single-pointed" concentration on one particular facet of the experience. I feel the physical sensations on my hands, my feet..I feel myself breathe..I listen to the sounds..try to look deeply at my environment, which thankfully, includes the other cars.

[Fede]

M...indfulness of feelings or mindstates don't do you much good if you're mangled and wrapped around a telephone pole.

you still have those? We tend to use satellites and antennae....

I practise Mindfulness Meditation, as recommended by TNH.....(keeping completely focussed on the activity at hand, and concentrating from moment to moment on everything, without commentary, judgement or opinion.....)

[AdvaitaJ]

Mindfulness of feelings or mindstates don't do you much good if you're mangled and wrapped around a telephone pole.

Very true, but I was certainly much more likely to be involved in an accident whilst blinded by road rage (unfortunately, a not infrequent occurrence "before").

AdvaitaJ

P.S. 39 Accident-free years and counting!

[Chickpea]

I do it too just in a different way. I focus on the pedals im using and if im acclerating i note in my mind "accelerating accelarating" and if im decelerating etc.. and if i'm neither i say neutral neutral. These are my meditation objects and i always keep peripheral awareness open.

[SarathW]

We all concentrate when driving on something.
But it is not meditating.
In my opinion, you can't drive when you strictly follow Samatha (attention only one external object) or Satipathana (attention mainly internal body and mind)
However, Kayanupassana seems applicable but driving is not a concentrated effort.

[dharmacorps]

Driving (especially driving safely) involves mindfulness for everyone, even non-meditators. A meditator can just drive and continue their mindfulness practice.