Does anyone have a daily meditation practice? Would anyone like one but needs motivation?

[mangolassi]

Ooh, I feel all shy

I am agnostic and generally confused about spiritual things, but after recovering from a bout of pnd found a great book - The Mindful Way Through Depression. It has a programme of daily meditation, and I've tried in the past, but it's soooo hard to stick to with no support.

The meditation style in the book is 'western insight' - basically vipassana with the Buddhism taken out - but it would be great to have a thread for anyone trying to get started with daily practice, whatever kind of meditation appeals. Even better if there's anyone who actually has a daily practice already

REALLY pleased for you Justabout - huge vibes full of positivity coming your way!

Wow great news rev

Un-mnetter hug of congratulations for you!

Very many congratulations and vibes and positive thoughts are winging their way to you. In fact just the other day I was thinking how much you do for everyone and how I'd send you a bunch of flowers if I knew you - but it seems like "someone else" had greater rewards for you. Manna from heaven???!
Take care.

I've read Buddhism for Mothers and thought it was v interesting. Can anyone recommend what to read next? ALso are there any nice books on BUddhism for young kids?
Finally what Buddhist groups have people tried, I've looked at some local ones on the web and I don't know quite where to start.
Thanks.

hi fluffy!
i would go for steve hagan's 'buddhism plain and simple', or anything by thich nhat hahn, as discussed on this thread previously. i also found 'buddhism for dummies'(!) really helpful 3-4 years ago.
so far my kids (a tough twosome who love nothing more than pretending to be martial arts warriors/lions and tigers engaged in fights to the death, etc etc) are a little dismissive of my buddhist tendencies i am afraid to say - i would also like to look out some books for them that present the subject in a different way from the mother they perceive as a bit soppy and hippy-dippy (sigh)!any suggestions from others welcome.
groups - no luck in my v rural area but i would google the friends of the western buddhist order (FWBO) as they seem a great resource and you can look up the group nearest to you.
must go and collapse - just back from camping in pembrokeshire... gorgeous and exhausting in about equal measure - usual appalling night's sleep under canvas, usual cursing from DH and threats to never, ever do this again. kids and i love it tho (despite the severe sleep dep. DS staged an attack of croup at 5am too - bonus! argh!

Hi PinkFluffy, I don't know how old your children are - and these are not budhist, but I bought'Relax Kids, The Wishing Star' (meditative visualisations) to read to my son when he was seven. At age 10 he still loves it. For a year or two he liked me to read one every single night at bedtime. I think that they help him to clear his mind, let go of negative thoughts and come to stillness. More recently I bought 'Relax Kids Aladdins cave' which is more fairytale based and appeals more to my younger daughter. Thank you to those of you who have mentioned useful books, I will investigate them on Amazon. Having had a very busy time recently - and absorbed in 'doing', I have become increasingly aware of a backdrop of dissatisfaction. Reading this thread has reminded me of the simple practices of finding peace through be-ing in the present moment (have started re-reading Ekhart Tolle's Power of Now' and 'A New Earth'). It is amazing how instantaneously lighter and clearer one can feel when remembering to 'be' and drop thoughts of past and future. Thanks again to everyone posting here for that reminder.

saffy, that is very helpful. thanks. i am going to go onto amazon next to have a look at the books you mention. i am glad you reminded me about eckhart tolle too (sp?) - someone else told me all about him recently but i had quite forgotten that i had meant to get 'the power of now' - i will do that tonight, methinks. must go recover from DD's 8th birthday party now X

Thank you Saffie and Katie for those book suggestions, I'll check them out on Amazon. Eckhart Tolle is even available reading his book on Youtube. Since posting the other day I found a book in a charity shop by Lama Surya Das - Awakening the buddhist heart. It's very readable. I've also started re- reading Buddhism for Mothers. Has anyone read any of Sarah Napathia's other books on Buddhism.? I do like her style and find what she says v relevant to my life.

As for kids books - I'll look out the Relax kids books as I've actually got one of their cd and dd likes it. (My dd is almost 5). IN case you're interested I googled and found the following: www.gakkaionline.net/kids/

www.buddhistchildrensbooks.com

I'm joining a meditation class next month which teaches both buddhism and meditation so I hope that will answer some of my questions.
Must go - lunch box to pack and school dress to find/ iron! Thank you again I find all your comments about meditation v useful especially as I suffer from monkey brain.

pinkfluffy. thanks for posting and for the web links, i've meanwhile ordered 'the power of now' and another thich nhat hanh 'peace is every step' - i didn't know sarah napthali had written any other books, actually - will check that out. i have just re-read her book while on holiday fluffy and i must say it's the book that speaks most directly to my heart so far. i keep it nearby in case of need! i recently lent it to my mother and became quite twitchy at its being out of the house for so long - a clear-cut case of 'unhealthy attachment', i do believe xxx

oooh Katie am envious of your camping trip - we haven't ventured out yet this year - though are hoping to have at least two trips before July...just need to get organised...the sites within easy driving distance of london tend to get mobbed in advance

I was thinking about getting this children's book by good old thich nhat hawn, as my DD1 is starting to get interested in what it is I am so interested in...not sure whether it'll be too much for her or not

I have introduced her to christine kerr's meditation cds which she likes (DD1 finds it VERY hard to wind downin the evening and I thought this might help - it did)

pinkfluffyslippers - my FWBO sangha leader recommended this book and it is quite good, sort of practical, I like it...must get it out again actually...

and I really like the FWBO, it might be just the group near me but they are a lovely lot, they seem open to questioning, are helpful with meditation guidelines etc...I also tried the shambhala order as the nights they meet suit me much better but just didn't feel I wanted to go back

Thich Nhat kind of took a bit of a nosedive in my opinion when I read the bit in his meditation guide book saying that everyone should have at least one totally mindful day a week, he suggests saturday, where you wake up mindfully, meditate, don't speak more that you need to, do quiet things etc etc etc which I just couldn't square with family life with small kids AT ALL. But maybe I was reading it too literally. Of course we can still be mindful with kids around (in fact it is the one thing that has saved me from going totally bonkers if I am honest) but not in such a (forgive me) "self-indugent" way...am I just being awkward - Katie - you've read that book, what did you think?

however am now booked for two retreats at taraloka so planning a full complement of self indulgent mindfullness - and I can't wait

I think it is "Buddha Day" next sunday - is anyone doing anything special? (not that this is a buddhist thread, or that we are all buddhists, but it does seem to have a certain flavour... )

love to you all XXX

Just a suggestion for Bhudda day - sometimes it can help to know that other people are medidating at the same time. How about a synchronised meditation at an agreed time on Sunday morning for any of us who are free to do so?

oops- apologies for poor spelling!

hi girls!
how about (selfishly) at 10.45 girls, sunday i mean, as i will be at quakers then (which is basically an hour of meditation!) - i won't manage any more meditation than that in one sunday morning let's face it - or an early morning one (EEK)??

peanut, hi! OBVIOUSLY i was also a bit cross with our guru TNH re his day of mindfulness suggestion, and ignored that bit of the book completely. nothing riles me more than these (male!) buddhist types making that sort of suggestion TBH, and it's the reason i always come back to the eminently sensible 'buddhism for mothers'. much more to say...surely we weren't really meant to take that bit of his book literally, as you suggest?..am so envious of your FWBO group peanut i wish sometimes that i didn't live quite so far from civilisation even tho i mostly love it!

back later xxx

(thinks...)...hmm... surely 10.45 is not going to be easy for most of you? if i didn't go to my quaker meeting i would be out with the kids by then on some expedition or other, after all, on a sunday. so any other suggestions welcome. i could just about cope with 6.oo or 6.30 am if we decide to really push the boat out and go for the early option!

TBH - I think I would struggle with 6.00/6.30 (and my DH would not be impressed with a 6.00 alarm on Sunday morning!). Sometimes our daughter is awake by then - but if she isn't, a sunday lie-in (well - till 7 if we're lucky) is too good an opportunity to miss. Our only plan for Sunday is having my Mum over for lunch (and PM) so I could easily do 10.45 or any other time between 8.00 - 11.30. Glad you like the idea KatieK.

yes i think it's a lovely idea. not getting out of bed until 7am is regarded as a luxurious lie-in in our house too so i am only too happy to drop the early morning idea! will wait and see what anyone else thinks x

Katie - I laughed out loud when you said you couldn't lend your Buddhism for MOthers without getting twitchy - I know the feeling. It's the only book that I've come across that seems grounded in the same world that I'm in. BTW I've found Sarah N's latest book Buddhism for Mothers with Lingering Questions on Waterstones website for £8. (It's £100 on Amazon - seriously!) I'm giving myself an early bday present and ordering it - once I've read it I'll report back.

Thank you PB for your book suggestions. Since everyone is recommending T.N.H's books I'll try them out - but will skip over the bit about having a mindful day / week. (Who's he kidding??) The FWBO book also sounds useful.

There aren't any FWBO's locally so I'm going to try out the meditation course run by the Shantideva Buddhists. (I wanted to go tomorrow night but have booked to go for a wine tasting - which isn't Buddhist but I will try and make it a "mindful" experience!!)

must away - RL is calling.....

pinkfluffy - thanks for the great waterstones website tip - why hadn't i thought of that? i keep getting into big difficulties with amazon as BFM has been out of stock for ages on it, (possibly due to the MN endorsement effect if we weren't such budding buddhists we'd be asking for a hefty tithe) and i have three friends who (in my view - call me an interfering old bag...) desperately need a copy. so i will look for the original there as well as the 'lingering questions' one. (yes sarah, i certainly do have lingering questions. such as, how much longer am i going to distract myself with this long list of books when i should really be getting down to this mindfulness business?!). must get back to RL too XXX

okay...done will now have to confess to DH am adding waterstones addiction to amazon one. at least it's not to designer bags and shoes X

ha ha ha Katie - I picked up a book by Jack Kornfield in my local oxfam today (the guy before me got TNH mindfullness/meditation one...not quite sure what is going on down there - the shop seems to have turned into a pit of [disenchanted] buddhist castoffs) and walked to the till with it only to reflect (mindfully) on the huge pile of other, very similar books by my bedside and the meditating that wasn't getting done as I plough through them...and do you know what...I walked back and replaced it on the shelf. I was astounded by myself and pretty much floated to the school for pick up on a cosmic cloud of righteousness. Of course would have been better giving my £1.99 to oxfam rather than spending oodles more in amazon next time once this crazy symptom of something or other wears off, but there you go!

yes, the FWBO sangha is one of the things that makes living in a big city very bearable for me right now. I don't see them often as I can't attend their sessions regularly as DH works the nights they are on (well, works one and plays footies the other - harrumpH!) but as of end of may he'll be finished teaching at night and I will be able to go over the summer. BUt I know they are there, and I get irregular emails with interesting links (like to the international film festival at the barbican etc. Am really looking forward to going more regularly.

Now, an apology...I got the date of Buddha Day wrong - it's on Saturday...shall we still try to do some joint meditating?...actually , am just off to check if anything happening in any of the centres around london, or online...will report back

well done that peanut!! you insightful little legume, you. i was re-reading BFM last night pre-meditating, and thinking, well, actually, the best thing i can possibly do right now is to keep coming back to the book that makes the most sense and has all the tools i need right now at my (not exactly advanced!) stage of neo-buddhism! so i think you did the right thing. and fate has lent me a helping hand on that front - waterstones now also inform me that they cannot obtain either of Guru Sarah's books. (WTF is going on there? no idea. maybe it really is a sign from fate/The Buddha: more meditation and mindfulness, less fannying around with reading-rather-than-doing )
saturday is going to be challenging on the group meditation front as DH off up a mountain somewhere with some mates, and solo mum here gets to combine swimming lessons with choir practice with entertaining the tykes all day... PLUS it's the day that my former true love GETS MARRIED TO SOMEONE ELSE which, as a sort-of-buddhist, i am of course completely at one with but any spare supportive vibes you might have floating around directionessly do please send my way girls

Am busy adding lots books you guys have mentioned to my amazon maybe-wish list and am very keen to buy a copy of the Sarah Napthali Buddhism for Mothers, as it seems to be so helpful. There are two similar titles selling for quite different prices on Amazon. I just wondered if someone could tell me which is 'the one'. 'Buddhism for Mothers: A calm appproach to caring for yourself and your children' (orange cover pub. 2003, RRP £8.99 but sellling on Amazon for £31!)or 'Buddhism for mothers of young children: Becoming a Mindful Parent' (pub 2008 pale yellow cover, price on amazon £6).

Sounds as though Saturday would be a less than ideal day for meditating Katie - sole charge of small children and period of unninterupted stillness is an unlikely combination unless resorting sedative effect of TV - which could lead to creeping thoughts of guilt and thereby defeat the object. Although maybe my copy of 'Buddhism for Mothers' will explain to me how such superhumen feats are possible! Will send supportive vibes into the ether for you on this potentialy troublesome day - my ex-H (and son's father) did likewise (marrying the 'friend' he left for), my DDS then 5, unwittingly enhanced my experience of the day by deciding, of his own accord, to boycott the wedding! (karma at work - thought I).

I could fit in a meditation slot on Saturday morning if anyone would like to join me?

Am interested to know more about your FWBO group Peanut, do they hold meditation sessions?

hi saffy! interesting karma-tic twist indeed - thanks in advance for the vibes. am glad to say that he sent me such a patronising and faux-wise email about it recently that i really do feel pretty calm cool and collected about it, but am upping the meditation ante this week a little just to be on the safe side i also draw comfort - often - from sarah n's helpful advice - that the difficult people in our life are our greatest spiritual teachers. this may sound trite to some ears but it really rings true to me. that, and the saying 'the whole world is medicine' are two things i often remind myself of at times of emotional difficulty.
re BFM - i think you will struggle to get either book from my recent experience unfortunately - for what it's worth mine is the orange one, and i have not seen the yellow one 'in the flesh' so to speak - i have assumed it is for parents of kids a bit younger than mine so went for the orange one, but am sure it makes little difference. do let me know if you manage to get hold of one won't you - thanks!

well I don't think I have ever been called an "insightful little legume" before...I LIKE it! katie sending you belated good vibes for a possibly tricky day, those former true loves can be the very devil to shake off (or do we believe in such things? well, figuratively at least)

I need some good vibes myself, on bahalf of a close friend of mine who texted last night to say his father had died - totally unexpectedly. I still haven't spoken to my pal, just got another choked up text today saying he can't speak. He was so close to his father this will really throw him and my buddy is sort of depressive so I worry this will send him into a total tailspin...so positive vibes for him too if there are any to spare...the thought of what he is going through is making my heart want to break

just goes to show though, their is something in this buddhism lark, everything is impermanent and being blinkered to that merely puts off the inevitable

I lost my mum 17 years ago, but at least we knew she was going and had time to say goodbye and so on. I think a death totally out of the blue must be truly awful.

anyway, saffycat - yes my fwbo group do meet to meditate, and it is lovely. They meet monday nights for beginners I think - I've never been to that one (although am pretty much total novice) as my DH is out that night, then they meet on thursdays for a one hour group meditation, tea break and then about an hour talk on some buddhist theme, from that book I linked to earlier...I don't go regularly on thursdays either but DH will be in on thursdays from end of May do will do so from then.

I've generally heard positive things about the fwbo, and my experience has been very positive so I would recommend their sessions - they seem very inclusive (although I just read about some sort of sexual misconduct scandal in the 80s recently about which I am still trying to establish my viewpoint...)

love to you all

(mango, louie hope you are well...and I hope justabout is enjoying a very well deserved holiday and NOT looking at the internet!)