It’s been a year now since I’ve been meaning to meditate, and I’m happy to report that I’ve made steady progress toward doing nothing more often. But it hasn’t happened quite like I thought it would.
I started by having a meditation cushion sewing party and eagerly embarked on a 30-minute daily regimen of sitting on my homemade, rice-filled seat. That was good, but then I deflated my cushion, moved cross-country, and began adapting to life on the East Coast.
8 months later, my cushion was still neatly folded and stowed away in the closet. Then one day in the shower (of course) it hit me: It’s not about finding the time to sit. Meditation is doing what you’re doing—showering, shaving, walking to work.
So I started paying attention in short little bursts throughout my days. It wasn’t an effortful doing; it was remembering to relax into whatever was happening in and around me. Pretty soon I refilled my meditation cushion (we all know rice isn't getting any cheaper). Then I started sitting again.
Now sitting is both a luxury and a practice. Meditation is a lifestyle.
I started by having a meditation cushion sewing party and eagerly embarked on a 30-minute daily regimen of sitting on my homemade, rice-filled seat. That was good, but then I deflated my cushion, moved cross-country, and began adapting to life on the East Coast.
8 months later, my cushion was still neatly folded and stowed away in the closet. Then one day in the shower (of course) it hit me: It’s not about finding the time to sit. Meditation is doing what you’re doing—showering, shaving, walking to work.
So I started paying attention in short little bursts throughout my days. It wasn’t an effortful doing; it was remembering to relax into whatever was happening in and around me. Pretty soon I refilled my meditation cushion (we all know rice isn't getting any cheaper). Then I started sitting again.
Now sitting is both a luxury and a practice. Meditation is a lifestyle.
1 comments:
Dear Melissa,
I've been meditating since I was 19, with a refreshingly different teacher, Maharaji, who has a humorous contemporary approach, as well as being inspiring.
What I like about the method he taught me is just what you describe: the sitting is part of it, but all day long I can remember my source, breathe into my center, call up the feeling of Home. Happy meditating,
jenn
aka musmother
ps thanks for your comment on preventing burn-out post
I will look for the book you suggested.
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