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

Phew bored - I'm going to meditate on that idea now in my bath (Buddabath ).

Hello all, I'm enjoying this thread as I'm struggling to fit meditation in with two small children and a midwifery degree. I try to do 10 mins as often as I can but it's surprising how often this isn't possible! I do find it makes a real difference to my day though if I can fit it in. I have found 'Nothing Special: Living Zen' by Charlotte Joko Beck really useful as a guide. She makes real sense to me.

Oh wow, this is so exciting- welcome, everyone

Jux - yep, the book I mentioned at the start is Jon Kabat-Zinn, with some other authors. He does the guided meditations on the CD. I'm also finding it useful - I'm doing the 10 minutes sitting meditation from the CD, and the next couple of tracks if I can, while I re-read the book. I tried to do the full 8-week program earlier this year but didn't make it through - maybe we can start together and help each other stick to it?

Thanks for the youtube tip - I found this which is a nice intro to him, I think. For me western insight meditation is the way to go for the moment, otherwise I get too caught up in the concepts - do I believe in reincarnation (don't think so)? What do i think about karma? (Varies from day to day) - and it becomes all thinking, no practice. (Cursed with a degree in philosophy )

justabout - what you say about guilt is very interesting, it's been suggested to me (re: depression) that guilt is a very strong part of my unconscious/ semi-conscious thought patterns, and that regular meditation may help with accepting things (including my 'unacceptable' feelings) as they are.

Zazen, jabber, scatty, reiki - and anyone else who's turned up while I've been twittering away - welcome all of you also

Morning All!

Well I managed to sit quietly by myself last night. I was still distracted but I was able to have a few moments of being focussed every now and again.

boredjustabout, you are right about the misunderstanding within the church, I guess it also didn't help that I went to a fundamentalist church either - they even thought that other denominations i.e Methodists, Anglicans etc were "wrong" let alone other faiths or religions. Lol thank God I am out of there!!

Mangolassi I also struggle with certain tenants of Buddhism - reincarnation (although that is growing on me) and karma, however I still think that I personally don't understand it enough and have to do some more reading.

Hi everyone - v happy to have found this thread, though I haven't had time to read the whole thing yet. Do you think I could join you?

I seem to be running on empty at the moment - colds, bugs, eye infections, unusually long periods, insomnia, mouth ulcers, gahhhh. One fliipin thing after another. DP's contract about to finish and I'm only working v part-time atm, two children under 4, so I suspect stress may be at the root of it all, and really need to find a way to find some space in my day to let my mind be still. It's odd, don't feel stressed, per se, but it seems to be manifesting itself physically.

Oh dear, feeling a bit teary just typing this down. Gosh.

Am off to try and sit quietly for 10 mins.

hey Louie - sounds like finding the right teacher would help you a lot in that case - books are great but you can't talk through your thoughts/ feelings with them, can you?

Have any of you read any Pema Chodron? She has a book called The Places That Scare You which is about cultivating loving-kindness and some other virtues that I forget just at the minute , first for yourself and your immediate family/ loved ones, and then widening the circle to include ultimately the whole universe. It's written in a very accessible, down-to-earth way, I like her a lot. Justabout, I thought you might like it.

Actually this thread is giving me a whole new reading list!

Hi Midnight, please join us! Have a good 10 minutes

Hi mangolassi - yes I think a teacher would be a good idea, I am working right up to Christmas and then we are going to India for a couple of weeks so after that I might make a visit to a temple to see if I can find someone.

I also have a new reading list after this thread - and I will have a look at Pema Chodrons books this weekend.

Welcome midnightexpress - I hope you are finding a few minutes of peace for yourself. I also find that being under a lot of stress causes physical ailments - I have been relatively stressed out recently and have had six colds and a three week cough in a very short period of time - so I know where you are going with that one. If you read further down the thread it talks about meditating when you have no time at all, just in case you can't get that 10 minutes.

Hi

Did my walk yesterday on beach but today is going crazy and had to do some Christmas shopping so while I was walking from car park I did some mindful breathing. Feeling very stressed today though - not sure if I could sit for 10 minutes, although I will try in a while. There is always so much to do. I am listening to a cd in the car (although I should sit down at home and really concentrate) by Ekole Tolle about the 'power of now' - which does seem to be along the same path of quietening your thoughts and 'being'. Am finding it interesting. My Mum lent it to me a while ago and need to return it shortly.

Midnightexpress - I know what you mean about stress causing illness. Since last January I have gone from one illness to another - flus, tummy bugs, vertigo, persistent 'smokers' (don't smoke though) cough. I decided to go part time in April because my health was suffering so badly, before the credit crunch really hit us, and I finally got my reduced hours last month. I am trying to start somewhere with regaining my health and quieten my racing mind and that is why I wanted to start meditation. I am hoping it a stepping stone to health and being able to deal better with stress. I hope that you will find some help from meditation too. A lot of the ideas on here have been amazing, so stick with us and hopefully we will all support each other.

My reading list has also got a lot of new additions!

Hi again.

Same problem here .

Tried to do a meditative bath yest but first DS popped in for a chat (and a wee), then dh brought a cuppa, then all I could focus on was Xmas lists, then dh was calling for me to go watch I'm a Celeb with him! Its impossible!.

I will keep trying.

That book sounds perfect - mango

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

The past couple of days have been a struggle for me in terms of quieting my thoughts. Sometimes my ego comes into play and I say to myself that I don't need to do this, that I am fine the way I am. Yesterday in particular was one of those days and I spent the day deep in millions of different thoughts which both distracted and disturbed me.

Today though is a bit better, I have been thinking about myself in thirty years time and that I want to spend the next thirty years cultivating compassion for myself (something I find terribly difficult to do), and for others, and in general living life in a very aware way.

Rather deep for a Saturday afternoon!

Louie, you'll love Pema Chodron, then

justabout - I wouldn't describe myself as a Buddhist. I think Louie has done more thinking in that direction than me. I just know that meditation helps get me through the day
About a place to meditate - ideally, of course we should be able to be open to all our moments, wherever they / we are. But for me anyway, finding somewhere quiet and cultivating a formal practice each day makes that much easier.

I had a good day on Saturday, tried out some walking meditation and found some time for sitting as well.

Then dp's brother had an accident at 2am Sunday (he's fine), so dp spent the night and all day Sunday with him in the hospital, and I played host to loads of in-laws I can't communicate with (the family is scattered in various villages and we live near the hospital).

Actually though, it was fine. I didn't feel as overwhelmed as I would normally.

Scatty - your bath made me laugh! Dd has no concept of privacy, she likes us to leave the door open so she can keep chattering while we shower. Fine until the in-laws arrive

I am finding it really hard to do this. I thought it would be quite straight forward. I have come to realise that I am almost never alone and now that I've noticed this I am bothered by it .

This morning I managed to nip back to bed with a cup of tea while DS watched ben10. I found focusing on the warmth of the mug in my hands helped to focus my mind a little.

Like you rev, I find that my mind races around whenever I am not busy, it looks for something to worry about!

That sounds lovely rev. I can't remember the last time I went to a gallery (or even looked' at a picture). I have completely stopped doing anything that isn't 'functional'.

How boring I have become .

I am embarrassed to say I have not taken the time yet to consciously be in the moment and meditate. Am going to read a bit of the thread for inspiration now...

Hi all, I am really enjoying your thread.

I have no problem at all finding a space to sit and chill and recenter myself or touch base with the Holy Spirit. Even if the place is just within my head.

I am lucky enough to work in a small hospital and my office is right next door to the "Faith" room, which is a gorgeous, quiet little space, that I make sure is kept unlocked!

I love my rituals, my candles and incense and sitting outside just feeling the wind and listening to the birds. I also download the Prayasyougo meditations and listen to them in the car.

It all helps me to combat the one source of stress in my life which weirdly enough comes from Church, and the bitchyness of others who really should know better, but tear each other apart.

Hi serin, welcome to this thread!

Last night I sat quietly for a while in my ds's room while he was asleep. I listened to his little breaths and it was a great thing for me to focus on - so rhythmic and lovely.

I also used a mantra, both in English and the "Om Mani Padme Hum" that was mentioned before, and I was able to feel my heartbeat and breathing slow down. The feeling of calm and peace was wonderful and it lasted until I went to bed - unfortunately it did not last until this morning - chaos as usual!!

Scatty, maybe you could try focusing on your breathing while you do other things? Breathe while you chat to ds, while you do the dishes? (Of course you'll be breathing while you do all these things anyway - it's just knowing what's happening as it happens, not doing anything extra).

Having said that, I did nothing yesterday - was more trying to numb out from all the people in the house than trying to become more aware. Will try to do better this evening [hopeful]