| | Thank you Bernd,
Yes I figured as much.. Still I am doubtful at times but this feels like the right thing to do for now.
As for doing it right……
A few years ago I was sidely introduced to vipassana in an experimental aikido course. Where we would do vipassana for an hour(sitting) Then Aikido for an hour and then Vipassana(walking)for an hour.
There was a budhist nun present that guided us through the vipassana portions of the course. At the time I maybe meditated for a few days/weeks irregularly afterwards.
So my “formal” instructions where just that. When I started meditating again 2 months ago I slowly got into sitting and watching the breath once a day for a few weeks at which point I realized I knew to little to continue confidently. My main focus was concentration in order to come to some siddhi’s especially seeing past lives, astral travel and mental absorpsion.
After reading the MCTB I have changed my practise to first trying to note during sits and only recently incorporated walking and sitting twice a day.
My practice at the moment looks a bit like this…..
I stand and take about a minute to focus and wish for this meditation to bring peace, happiness, love and the wisdom to attain it for myself, my family, my friends, colleagues, clients and every living being.
Then I note standing, standing, breathing in, breathing out, intending to walk, heel up, rolling front foot, toes, lifting, moving forward, lowering, touching, stepping, changing weight, heel up, rolling front foot, toes, lifting, moving forward, lowering, touching, stepping, changing weight etc etc. These are the sensations of my feet and body in the act of walking I try to be mindful of during the entire walking portion of the meditation. In addition I try to note whatever catches my attention during this process. Thinking, planning, restlessness, peace, thinking, itching etc etc. I try to note the intend to stop just before the wall is in my face and end with standing, breathing, intending to turn, turning, turning, lifting(foot), putting(foot). When turned I note standing and breathing in/out for maybe 2 breaths before intending to walk again.
I walk at a rate of about 24 paces including 2 turns before I am back at my starting point in about 5 minutes..
Some times I am more able to keep my attention at the feet. At other times I seem to forget or miss the cue’s..
When the bell rings I slowly walk to my sitting spot, trying to be mindful of all the movements I make in the process of picking up the cushion, putting it down and positioning myself. (I seem to miss a lot of small actions in this process) Once seated I gently focus on my breathing. Usually at the nostrils at it feels that’s the place where I can feel the breath most easily although during the meditation I may find myself watching the falling and rising of the abdomen for a while intermitted with the nostrils.
Sitting has a slightly more inward feel to it than walking. That said I find myself more inclined to wander with the mind than during the walking portion.
The last few days I think that I might be experiencing Piti? During sits. Where moving sensations of tingling across my shoulders and backside/ sides of the head come and go in surges for a few minutes.
Writing this down I think that’s pretty proper practise yes?
Or am I somewhere mistaken…
With Love
Eelco |