Skipped practice for the first time in 5 years

Pål R, modified 5 Years ago at 3/5/19 5:43 PM
Created 5 Years ago at 3/5/19 5:43 PM

Skipped practice for the first time in 5 years

Posts: 115 Join Date: 8/3/16 Recent Posts
Feels horrible... But I just can’t do my regular 45 min-hour concentration stuff. Too much anxious thoughts. What would you do as a minimum practice in times like these?
deleteaccountplease thereisnofacility, modified 5 Years ago at 3/5/19 6:18 PM
Created 5 Years ago at 3/5/19 6:18 PM

RE: Skipped practice for the first time in 5 years

Posts: 62 Join Date: 2/13/19 Recent Posts
Take a bath or do something that relaxes you....  go sit under a tree...  hug a tree..  walk barefoot on the earth.... go swim....  go spa..... the last thing you need when filled with anxiety is to be berating yourself for missing practice...  Youve done 5 years and thats awesome...  Switch to metta...  switch to awareness of the whole body...  or metta or tonglen just for yourself...  exercise....  

Just have a break - and be gentle with yourself - order pizza!  Watch a movie....  

Let yourself of the hook 
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Linda ”Polly Ester” Ö, modified 5 Years ago at 3/6/19 2:31 AM
Created 5 Years ago at 3/5/19 6:30 PM

RE: Skipped practice for the first time in 5 years

Posts: 7134 Join Date: 12/8/18 Recent Posts
What nickol said. But if you want, it could also be a good idea to just take some time to gently explore the anxiety phenomenologically. How does it manifest physically? You could start with just ten minutes of being with your feelings, if that feels doable. And if focusing on the feeling is impossible, then just notice that. One thing I really like about Vipassana is that it is so forgiving. Evrything that one notices is a success, even if it’s just noticing mind wandering or dullness.

Also - take care! I hope your situation will be better soon.
Nicolas G, modified 5 Years ago at 3/5/19 6:39 PM
Created 5 Years ago at 3/5/19 6:37 PM

RE: Skipped practice for the first time in 5 years

Posts: 27 Join Date: 1/4/18 Recent Posts
Have you tried body exercise before meditation?:

1st) running 20-30 min, 2nd) 20-30 yoga/qigong rutine, then meditate.
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Ward Law, modified 5 Years ago at 3/5/19 9:14 PM
Created 5 Years ago at 3/5/19 9:14 PM

RE: Skipped practice for the first time in 5 years

Posts: 123 Join Date: 9/7/15 Recent Posts
Yardwork and chores: raking, digging, chopping, sweeping, sanding, etc.
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streamsurfer, modified 5 Years ago at 3/6/19 2:30 AM
Created 5 Years ago at 3/6/19 2:30 AM

RE: Skipped practice for the first time in 5 years

Posts: 101 Join Date: 1/19/16 Recent Posts
+1 to the previous answers emoticon

Clinging to sitting practice is still clinging...
When I had that I did something "unbuddhist" - getting a massage just for the sensory pleasure, gaming for hours, ...
also nature: water! the sea! playing .. spending time with loved ones.. watching children playing and laughing at this funny-stupid world.
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Laurel Carrington, modified 5 Years ago at 3/6/19 9:42 AM
Created 5 Years ago at 3/6/19 9:42 AM

RE: Skipped practice for the first time in 5 years

Posts: 439 Join Date: 4/7/14 Recent Posts
Lots of good advice here. I’ll add walking meditation. You can set your insight timer and feel soothed that you’re doing real meditation, in case that helps, and believe me, I understand.

Kind of hard to enjoy nature in the upper Midwest lately. Most people are okay with it, but if you’re older and/or have health problems (me: can’t afford to risk falling on all the ice around here) then it’s pretty limited. Tai chi is great, though. 
Pål R, modified 5 Years ago at 3/7/19 1:27 PM
Created 5 Years ago at 3/7/19 1:27 PM

RE: Skipped practice for the first time in 5 years

Posts: 115 Join Date: 8/3/16 Recent Posts
Thanks to everyone, feeling much better now.
Meditated at a mass instead of in solitude. There is something to collective devotion.

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