Frederick Meyer:
Hi guys,
Morgan Taylor's post seems to sound a lot like what I sometimes go through. In part it's like, sitting is satisfying, but it's not the kind of satisfying that drives you to find it again tomorrow, like some really intensely pleasurable things are. At least, that's not been true for me yet.
So Simon, is your advice just sort of "handle the little things," like "first get up from your computer"? Does that work for you?
And C C C, I read your advice as, first, spend more time in nightclubs, and second, don't conceptualize pain as "bad" but investigate what it is. I'm inclined to try the second one since it's free. Does it work for you, in the sense of helping you get to and stay on the cushion?
I am all for a continous approach to mindfulness, from morning to evening. I consider cushion time just a period where I can really get deeper. The challenges somewhat change from one stage to another. During some stages, you feel the importance of the practice since your mind is such a mess. Sometimes you have high energy to face the pain, sometimes you don't. Still, tension is pain is always an issue and it's our inability to attend to it that make it so hard to sit.
So, instead of thinking "I should be meditating", simply cultivate awareness and work with that. Replace "I should sit" by "I should pay attention". Direct that will of paying attention to the task that you feel you should be doing. If you feel you should be doing the dishes, do the dishes mindfully. If you feel you should walk toward the cushion, walk toward the cushion. It's always about bringing your mind in that moment. You can feel your fingers on the keys when you type, pay attention to sounds, air, etc. Sitting time is just a moment you take to put 100% of your energy at paying attention.
Learn to make pause just to pay attention to whatever arises. Slow down instead of being caught in one activity after another. When you walk by a nice girl, pay attention to how it feel in your body instead of moving your eyes on her. Pay attention to your body when someone cut you on the road (well, keep the eyes on the road too).
I'm all for a "fake it until you make it" approach.