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

hello!
i have just been reading some of these entries and want to say hello... i have done a little meditation in past but family life now so busy yet would love to find time to sit, to rest, be still, deepen. so thankyou for some inspiring words and knowing that there are some busy mumsnetters out there carving out ten minutes to be with god/buddha/heart.
x

Lovely idea of a group meditation Pinkfluffyslippers. Thanks for all your kind welcoming words-I was enjoying my peaceful sitting/meditation whatever but feeling a bit of a fraud with my comfy beanbag and Jo Malone candle. Katiek123 so interesting to hear about your experience with your daughter, my older one is also 'highly strung' although apparently a dream at school and enjoys listening to audiobooks at night to help him drop off-maybe I will try one of the meditation audio CDs for kids on amazon although I have banned myself from buying any more books until we clear out our spare room which is piled high with boxes of books from when we moved a year ago....
Dillinger I hope thing are well with you. It can be quite scary to get out and face people at these things. I know groups are a wonderful thing but just can't seem to find time at the moment as DH gets home very late in the week and weekends are family time really as I also work 3 days/week. So I have accepted 'my time' is that short space once the kids are in bed and the chores done and am trying to read as much as I can during my commute and so on. Perhaps I will be able to join a group when the time is right for me. In the meantime this virtual community is really a great strength-(sounds odd I know as I have just posted but have been following thread for a while.)

Yesterday was such a better day! I took the children for a walk, we collected leaves, twigs and conkers! It was drizzling but very refreshing, and I didnt feel self conscious. Felt like a turning point.

So today Im prob sticking said leaves onto cardboard

I usually bathe with the children after dinner, and then dp dresses them for bed whilst I have a lie down on our bed for a few mins. I find that the best way for me, and despite the kids making noise etc Im getting better at zoning out a bit. Really lovely.

Hope you all have a wonderful day xx

Hi Mama Tilly - welcome to our happy little gathering.

LadyG - I'm often meditate on a beanbag but it does sound like you have a posh candle!!

Dillinger - excellent to hear that you had a lovely time out with the kids. HOpe today is another good day for you.

Good to hear everyone likes the idea of a group meditation - what sort of time suits everyone?

Mango since you started the thread you'll have to start the next one...it wouldn't seem right otherwise!

Have a good day everyone

XXX

thats fab jaa!

Justa, you know how Buddhists offer the merit an action to benefit all beings (after a meditation or whatever)? I think you're performing a valuable service in offering up your suffering for the entertainment of the mn masses. I particularly identify with this bit: "Accuse child. Find wooden spoon in drawer. Apologise to child. Wipe up child's tears. Agree that it is absolutely fine not to want to help with cookery any more."

I spent too long agonising over what to say, but have finally just done it and started a new thread here. Do come and write something underneath my attempt at a welcome post so that I don't look like a loon!

Oh and group meditation - lovely idea, pink!

And Jo Malone candles - actually, while obviously you don't need any props at all, I think it's nice to use posh stuff for your meditation if you can afford it. Kind of like, showing yourself how much you value the practice? Does that make sense or am I talking gibberish?

Justa - HILARIOUS! Brilliant! and so so familiar!

I too have a tweenager and a sangha buddy last night suggested her really really rotten behaviour over past four days or so might well be linked to full moon. {sinister tales of unexpected music} I dunno but at least it gives me some straw to grab hold of.

Am trying to plan my next retreat. Have decided I must always have one in my diary, it'll get me through the weeks/months in between.

I like the Jo Malone candle idea and know what you mean Mango about getting something nice to make sure you appreciate the importance of meditation in your life. I feel a bit like that about my meditation stool. And am considering putting in a request for a nice timer like Katies for Christmas

Welcome to the newbies - lovely to have some new faces (ahem) about

and thanks to Zazen for the candle prompt. I think these little ceremonies can have a great place in our lives. On the retreat I went on with Katie someone was talking about the guilt they were bringing forward from their past (about drinking too much just to keep up with her peers my sodden peerless past would give her a run for her money I tell ya] and the order member suggested writing the thing that she couldn't let go of down on a piece of paper and ceremonially burning it, as if to say it is now ok to move forward from that and not always carry it with her. I thought it was a great idea. Am compliling my list

Random interjection complete.

Metta all. X

Noooo peanut, don't write it here! Go over there so my post isn't all lonely

have written there too - but this post would have been out of context there as it referred to one here...no? anyway, won't write here anymore...I promise...off to gather falling coconuts now