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Many Zen meditation teachers make this recommendation: 80 % of your attention is on the breath and 20% on anything else. Why this: because the breath is always available; because breath focus calms body, mind and spirit; because no experience is required to breathe.
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Meditation is just meditation. The labels attached to it simply indicate a way of meditating but, no matter how one does his or her meditation, the benefits are remarkably universal and include:
- increased self-awareness
- reduced stress
- a greater sense of calm
- increased self-compassion
- a more positive outlook
- spiritual connection to Higher Self (or God)
- inner peace
- deeper love for all beings
- healthier mind, body, spirit
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One’s attitude toward practice is very important. Is there adequate patience, equanimity, kindness, energy, and discipline? Do you understand the balance between having a goal in practice and at the same being present without being preoccupied with the goal. - Gil Fronsdal
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Work hard, work slowly, get results. With slow, hard work, eventually good results develop.
- Sheng Yen
- Sheng Yen
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Flies go after open wounds, bees after flowers, good people after good qualities, mean people after vices. - Canakya
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No matter what has happened to you in the past, you are singularly responsible for shaping your present and your future. Don't allow yourself to be imprisoned by your past. - Victor M. Parachin
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MNDFL, a chain of meditation studios based in New York City, announced on Wednesday that it is closing all of its locations. “It is with a heavy heart that we will be permanently closing the doors to our physical spaces,” MNDFL announced in an Instagram post. “We poured our hearts and souls into ensuring our studios would survive the effects of the global pandemic, but after careful consideration, we simply cannot safely open the doors to our tiny, special spaces at this time.” MNDFL opened in late 2015, and was likely the first for-profit meditation studio in New York.
(www.tricycle.com)
(www.tricycle.com)
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There are four types of people who practice meditation, according to the Buddha:
1. "One who is practicing neither for his own welfare nor the welfare of others." This person could be labeled the beginner, who is curious about meditation. They try it out to see "if it's a good fit."
2. "One who is practicing for the welfare of others but not his own welfare." This is the over idealistic individual who is dedicating his meditation entirely to others. "I'm doing this for you!" type of attitude.
3. "One who is practicing for his own welfare but not the welfare of others." Here are the people who come to meditation solely for their own benefit: those coming because they have too much stress in their lives, they're suffering from anxiety and need relief, or they suddenly find themselves with a life threatening diagnosis so they want to heal mind and body via mediation.
4. "One who is practicing both for his own welfare and fore the welfare of others." Here, the Buddha pauses in his teaching, to add this wisdom: "The person practicing for both his own welfare and for the welfare of others is the foremost, the best, the preeminent, the supreme, and the finest of these four persons."
1. "One who is practicing neither for his own welfare nor the welfare of others." This person could be labeled the beginner, who is curious about meditation. They try it out to see "if it's a good fit."
2. "One who is practicing for the welfare of others but not his own welfare." This is the over idealistic individual who is dedicating his meditation entirely to others. "I'm doing this for you!" type of attitude.
3. "One who is practicing for his own welfare but not the welfare of others." Here are the people who come to meditation solely for their own benefit: those coming because they have too much stress in their lives, they're suffering from anxiety and need relief, or they suddenly find themselves with a life threatening diagnosis so they want to heal mind and body via mediation.
4. "One who is practicing both for his own welfare and fore the welfare of others." Here, the Buddha pauses in his teaching, to add this wisdom: "The person practicing for both his own welfare and for the welfare of others is the foremost, the best, the preeminent, the supreme, and the finest of these four persons."
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When you have a problem, consult with people you know to be wise. - Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
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(public domain image from www.pexels.com)
A young man from the West visited Japan where he planned to be part a Zen monastery for a few months. Japanese Zen monasteries are very strict and disciplined about not moving during a sitting. Unaccustomed to sitting cross legged on the flow, the man had a lot of pain.
Finally, he felt the pain was too much so he gave up and told monastery authorities he was leaving. During his exit interview with the abbot, the young man asked: "If I were to say here another six months, would the pain go away?" The abbot replied, "No, but you wouldn't care anymore."
Meditation is an integral aspect of Buddhism and is essential for gaining wisdom. If, like the young man, you experience physical pain while meditating, don't rush to make yourself comfortable. Try sitting with the pain. Try analyzing it. Where specifically are you feeling it? Is it sharp or more like a throbbing pulse? What color could be assigned to the pain? This way, you actually make the pain your meditation focus. And, there's this bonus: you get to know it and you get to see if it eases and goes away. Of course, if the pain is sharp and unrelenting, you would be wise to make the necessary adjustment.