This week I have not been able to make it to the end of my 30' daily sitting meditation. Too much unpleasantness, and aversion to the experience. After a while, it gets to be too much, and I need to take a break.
Here is what U. Tejaniya has to say about aversion:
When you experience aversion, recognize it and then change to a neutral object like the breath or some physical sensation. Watch this for a while to calm the mind, then look at the aversion again for a while - just keep going back and forth. Many yogis find it too difficult to watch the mind continuously. As long as we don't have real wisdom, as long as we depend on bringing in wisdom intellectually, we will have to use a samatha practice to calm the mind.
Now remembering my interview with Ruth, and her advice to not linger on the aversion for too long. Going instead to the breath, or the hands.
Why one needs to hear the teachings over and over again. Otherwise the mind forgets . . .
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The later evening meditations are like that for me. With a sensitive lower back and restless legs, sometimes sitting for just a few minutes can be challenging. Being with the sensation lasts for about 30 seconds, then, its, "morning will be better." Maybe, remembering the teaching about walking when sitting doesn't work?
ReplyDeleteIn Peace,
John
How about lying down meditation? Although, there could be the danger of falling asleep that late at night . . . Mingyur Rinpoche would advise 'falling asleep' meditation. So many variations. In the end, it does not matter what posture the body is in :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting!
Much metta.
I don't pay so much attention to the clock. I go through a mind-calming cycle, and then just sit until...that's it. I also think there is some benefit to extending the time of the meditative state through mantra chanting, sutra recitation, sutra copying, etc.
ReplyDeleteThank you johnl for bringing up the possibility of open ended sitting. Of course there is the danger of 'slacking off'. But then, there is also something to be said for a more natural practice . . . I like to make room for both type of practices.
ReplyDeleteThere are also times, particularly when emotions are strong, when it is very hard to sit still, and other practices may be called for such as reflection for instance.