Meditation anyone? 30 minutes a day for 8 weeks... you in?

Hope you had a wonderful time at the river ((((((((sanityseeker))))))))) So glad you spent some time in your garden and that you enjoyed taking some pictures. I love taking photos too (((((((Babba puppy)))))))))

Great to see you again (((((((((((lavie)))))))))))) I can relate to the feeling disconnected. I've also been having trouble with my brain feeling like it's on overload at the moment. Too many thoughts and feelings competing with one another for attention. I found it impossible to distance myself from my thoughts during my session last night so I just lay there with them. When I got into bed afterwards I was unable to go to sleep for hours. I was disappointed not to be able to tame my mind, but it was what it was.

Wishing everyone a peaceful day

I didn't make it to the river thus the walk around the garden instead.

We have been at it now for 17 or 18 days. This is often the point of time when I commit to something that I start to waver. The meditation is no exception. I find it more and more difficult to formally sit and follow any particular process. Not unlike how I tire of spiritual rituals. I get bored easily and things start to feel like work after a while.

At the same time I am benefiting from maintaining a more meditative mindset throughout the days and resting in its calming effects when anxiety gets the better of me.

I was spending some time with the zen picture last night but it seemed to stimulate me rather then relax me as I had expected. It was a fun journey but what I really needed was to untie the stress in my body. After a while I closed my eyes and focused on my breath long enough to feel the ache in my chest, lump in my throat, the pressure on my head go away. It took a long time but I staying there until every part of my body was relaxed. It helped to focus on relaxing my muscles from head to toe. I don't even realize I am clenching my teeth or just how tightly I am holding my shoulders, or how tense my stomache is etc etc until I start to focus on each of those areas and let the tension go.

I discovered a way to deal with disruptive thoughts. I imagined myself walking down a lane. Every now and then someone came out a door to say something to me. Instead of engaging them I said, 'sorry, can't stop now, catch up with you another time.' The people coming out the doors represented thoughts popping into my head trying to get my attention. By acknowledging them without being stopped by them and doing this with the aid of a graphic seemed to make it easier to stay focused on the path.

I love both of these paragraphs! Well done for staying with yourself long enough to un-tense. Wow! I tried to do that last night but it wasn't happening.

Love this visual about dealing with intrusive thoughts too. Thanks for that! ((((((((ss))))))))

I'm off to do my pre-bedtime session now. Wishing everyone a peaceful night

in the catagory of "better late than never" I just found this thread. I have to try, yet again, to meditate. I am not going to do it for 30 minutes. But I want to sit once or twice a day. Just to take in light. Quiet this monkey mind? Hummm. Well perhaps allow the heart. Thats more attainable for me. I think I will enjoy this thread. Well, I need the mediation. So hopefully I will be inspired by it. ((((Lavie)))) , I so hope that Sherman is feeling better soon. <3<3<3 for all

Nice to have you here sunset. We can inspire one another. I am not doing the 30 minutes in one sit either. I find myself having many meditative moments throughout the day so fewer formal sits.

Yay!!!!!! Great to see you here ((((((((((((sunsun))))))))))))) As sanityseeker says we can indeed encourage and inspire each other! I'm not doing 30 minutes at a stretch either. Though I would truly love to manage that. Some days at least.

My casual sits have been going longer and longer. Pushing past the 30 minutes by a long shot. I think I just need a place to escape the emotional over loaded that has me in a pretty fragile place these days. it takes a long time to just get my breathing anything close to level. Working from head to toe I visualize relaxing hands message away the tension. Eventually the choppy breathing becomes more steady and I can just rest with my breath.

I have cut out the Seroquel. It was my sleep aid but less and less was it working for me. I would be awake for hours and have a really hard time getting up because I was hung over from the meds. Meditation in bed doing the visualization of healing hands and then resting with my breath has meant the when I roll over to sleep it comes easier. And when it doesn't I am able to maintain the focus on my breath to stay in a calm and mindless state.

Nice picture sun. I really appreciate them. The sun is out again today. It is nice to spend tie in it even though the temperatures are below freezing. Very refreshing.

That's wonderful!!! Wow! Well done for coming off Seroquel and being able to sleep better through meditation alone. That's awesome ((((((ss)))))))) I'm so happy to hear how much benefit you are getting from your sits.

I managed a bit longer last night and this morning. My back is aching and it's interesting to focus on the pain while I'm meditating. It doesn't make the pain go away, but it does change the quality of the pain. It's hard to explain, but it does help to relax into the pain rather than tensing up and trying not to think about it.

Wishing everyone a peaceful Sunday

I think you have hit onto something there Sun. I have had some success getting rid of migrant headaches by not denying the pain but rather focusing on it. Isolating it and mindfully removing it. It sounds like you are having some of the same success. May you enjoy a painfree sit soon.

thank you for the well wishes. another sunny but cold day but no wind so it is pleasant outside.

Take good care.

Great Sangha. Thanks !!! I read on page 2 something Sundog posted about walking meditation. I attended 10 days "retreat" with the Zen Buddhist master,Thich Nhat Hanh, when he was in the USA. Hes amazing. As are his nuns and monks. Obviously a lot of medition and walking meditation was done. It was very powerful being in his presence and the presence of those around him. Was quite orchestrated for the healing and progression of all who attended ( from different places around the world).

Having said that, my lack of grounding prevailed. I have almost nothing in my chart for grounding. Just one teeny tiny thing. The rest is air. But nothing happens by accident. And it is becoming easier ( to not be a frequent flier) as the years progress and the vibration of this planet is changing. Makes it much easier. Anyway, I am going to take this thread as my personal mandate to to get up, and sit. (Bows)

Thanks ((((((((sanityseeker)))))))))

How amazing to do a retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh. Wow!! And a 10 day retreat at that! What an awesome experience that must have been ((((((((sunsun))))))). It's wonderful that you are now finding it easier to remain grounded

yayyyy thank you everyone. Because of the inspiration of this Sangha, I actually sat for a bit today. I must say I do not do it in the Buddhist way. I do it in a very different tradition now. One that I spent 2 years learning. But none the less, I did it. yay. and yay again. Beautiful picture you posted (((((( Sundog !!!))))) you all rock !!! or should I say, you all bow reverently. And meditate

Hehe!!! You are funny!! I also feel that my somewhat over-enthusiastic responses in this thread are very un-Zen!!! Then again, joy is very Zen so perhaps I'm not so off track after all!!

I'm really happy that you were able to sit today ((((((((sunssun))))) That's great.

I also want to say that I am very thankful for this thread. Thank you so much for starting it (((((((sanityseeker))))))). I really find this thread to be a very safe haven

Love to all

Perfect !!!

((((((Sun)))))) and ((((((Sun)))))) and ((((((SS)))))), so happy to see everyone carrying on, and reading about everyone's progress. Welcome Sunsetsunrise, and way cool about Thich Nat Hahn. I've only gotten as close as his books. I did sit this a.m., but still briefly, less than 10 minutes. However, I did remember through the day at various points, to be fully in the moment with whatever I was doing. It was enjoyable to stop in my tracks a few times while walking through a meadow with Sherman, and really notice my surroundings, the blue sky, sun and snow. So often, I don't do that, and it's such a beautiful place.

That sounds wonderful ((((((((lavie)))))))) I've been doing quite a bit of reading online. Mainly about mindfulness and meditation and some articles by and interviews with Thich Nhat Hanh. I found reading these things very uplifting!

That is where I have seen and felt the greatest benefit too Lavie. Formal sits are still a bit of a challenge.... I get bored.... but being mindful of my surroundings and my breath throughout the day helps me remember to take the time to find my centre again. It sounds like you had a really lovely time with Sherman enjoying your surroundings. We have snow coming down and I am so hoping we get enough to make some snow people.

My before bed meditation didn't go well. I know I am not suppose to judge but it wasn't pleasant. Everytime I closed my eyes I saw horrible images including mutilations.... fingers being cut off..... Too gross to share beyond that. It made me feel sick and it took a long long time before I could brave closing my eyes again. For a long time I just focused on my breath with my eyes opened staring at the ceiling. I didn't get much sleep and am really dragging myself today.

Hi Sun. I think I need to do some of that too. Reading isn't so easy for me right now. It doesn't sink in so I end up reading one sentence over and over because my mind wanders off too much. Same thing listening to the dharma talks. I keep having to go back to listen to what I missed because my mind wandered somewhere else.

Youtube is great too so maybe I will look around there for some new inspiriation. Its visual so it can be easier for me to stay focused.

I am going to try to do a 'proper' sit tonight. I really need it and I know I need to get some sleep tonight so here is hoping no distrubing visions will appear.

Anxiety is quite high right now even though I have been pampering myself through the day. I had a few errands to run this morning and I was wasted by the time I got home again an hour or so later. It took all I had to stay on my feet I was so drained. Other then a few loads of laundry and making dinner I have been staying in a quiet place doing a lot of focused breathing all day. I haven't been able to eat much so that doesn't help with my energy level either. My stomache is just too anxious to even think about food without gagging at the though of trying to get it down.

Anyways..... I carry on carrying on accepting what is without projecting beyond the now. Mindfullness is a good friend indeed.

I'm really sorry your meditation last night was distressing (((((((ss))))))) I get disturbing images flashing into my mind too. Not necessarily when I'm meditating, but randomly throughout the day. I'm sorry that happened and that you didn't get much sleep last night.

Really hope your session tonight is better and that you sleep well

Thanks Sun. Yea ugly images, flashing lights and unwelcomed sounds and voices can be major pests when sleep is the goal.

I did manage to actually sit for about 15 minutes or so followed up with a few minutes or so just sitting in the quiet. When distracting thoughts tried to interfer I would just say.... not now, get back to you later on that. It was kind of fun because in life I seldom will ask anyone to wait. I always feel compelled to stop whatever I am doing to oblige another. It felt good, even if only to put off my own thoughts to say 'Wait, I am busy right now, just let me finish what I am doing and I will help you.' I know this comes from a history of people pleasing. It felt good to put my needs first.

Sleep came easier after that. I was grateful when I woke up feeling refreshed. Good thing. A foot or so of snow landed on us over the night so shoveling is on the agenda any minute now before it turns to rain and weights a ton. My son is sick and so its all up to me. I can feel my back aching already. But the bonus will be that I can build some snow people once the shoveling is done. That will be fun.

Wishing everyone a day of peace and centerness. Be well.

So glad you had a good sit and slept well last night (((((((ss)))))))) And glad you got your snow this morning!!! Have fun making snow people!!!

I was rushing this morning and missed my sit. But I'm going to catch up at lunchtime. It's sunny here today so I'll be able to sit with my dogs in a pretty spot on our dog walk later.

Much love to all

Just found this thread... I've decided to start meditating too. So far it's just a few minutes at a time, but I'm hoping to meditate in the morning, then at night, and hopefully improve.

When I say just a few minutes at a time, I mean literally, only a few minutes. I sit cross legged, concentrate on my breathing, and ignore the voice in my head that won't shut up. It's surprising, but I've been able to ignore her reasonably well. I know a lot of it's the medication, but it's nice that I can ignore the internal chatter, to some extent. Meditation will help more.

My music instructor always starts our sessions with meditation, and she encourages me to focus on my breathing while I'm playing, and my playing has improved more rapidly under her instruction than ever before. When it goes well playing itself becomes a meditation. So I'm encouraged to continue.

Hi mgran! Welcome to the thread! Starting off with a few minutes at a time is perfect. Good going!!

Welcome mgran. Its nice to have you here. Its quality not quantity. That is really cool about your music teacher.