I have so far managed to maintain my daily sittings 10 days after the completion of 10-day course. I applied some of the tips that was found in Bill Crelius's Vipassana meditators handbook. Some tips that I have found particularly useful and helpful:
1. Even if you found that your meditation is "not going well", with difficulty in concentrating, the handbook suggests that all that time is not wasted. We often want a productive result and feel like 1 hour sitting when our mind wanders is a waste of time, but it is not. I persevere through such sessions especially upon hitting 5 days post course. I regain my concentration so far, and even managed to do Vipassana practice last night. The meditation feeling is always unpredictable and nothing to expect.
2. Maintain a circle of dedicated meditators. I found it has been helpful to surround yourself with dedicated meditators who encouraged each other to maintain daily sittings. The 2 times daily sittings are so important and has become a pillar of my life.
3. Ensure a dedicated space to sit. Even with a cushion, shawl, and timer. Slowly the book suggests that the Dhamma vibration will be stronger and more supportive. In addition, I follow the advice of Poh Cheng, a fellow meditator, to orientate my cushion to east-west direction (primarily facing East) as a more supportive direction.
4. I also have re-arranged my daily routine to make this a priority. Setting a particular time is not necessary, but it is good to plan how the daily sitting hours will be placed amongst other routine. I try to always do morning sitting upon waking up before breakfast. Sometimes I would take a quick morning shower prior to morning sitting. I always do evening sitting prior to going to bed, but sometimes I sit at 5pm or even do a 40-mins meditation at the famous Buddhist temple nearbly.
Slowly, the vibration of Dhamma is felt less and less there further we are from the course at a center, both in terms of distance in time and space. However, ever since serving in a 10-day course, I have experienced how it felt like to go do meditation session, after working and socializing. It has worked for me to practice Anapana until my mind has settled down and my senses sharpened before commencing Vipassana. Sometimes, I persist in focuing on my breathing throughout 1 full hour if my mind has difficulties in concentrating.
Anapana helps to sharpen mind and senses, and sharp mind facilitates calm mind and equinimity.
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