New year resolutions

I have typically been a person who attempts some kind of new year resolution, mainly because I want to continue to grow as a person, to change and to add healty practices into my living experience. I expect that any new resolution is doomed to imperfection, meaning that I won’t actually do completely what my goal states, but that isn’t the point. The point is to move toward change, to work toward living this year different than last year.

So my goal for this year something that I have already been trying to add into my life and about which I have already been blogging. I am going to try to spend at least 15 minutes (hopefully more) doing breathig meditation each day this year. Additionally, I am going to seek out some instructive advice to help me grow in my technique. There are several Sangha’s in town and I hope to find one where I can experience a community of folks who are practicing this ancient art of mindfulness.

Additionally, I want to continue to incorporate some practice of Yoga into my year, but with school, work and family I seriously doubt it will be a daily occurance. But hopefully once or twice a week.

I have already experienced a difference when I practice these ancient disciplines. They have enriched me personally and practically. When I am consistent, I find that my patience and focus greatly increase and physically I feel better. That is a good enough reason for me to commit to a more serious practice of both.

Life and Death

In our world today there has been a lot of things occurring in the news that point at death. In Idaho a death row inmate was recently put to death. Christopher Hitchens and Henry Morgan, among other this year have died. People have been massacred in Syria and other places around the globe. Angry and deranged people have killed so many innocent people in Belgium, the U.S. and in Norway. We are confronted with death every day, thanks to the web and television.

This is one of the only things that we all will share with every other living being. Past, present and future, we all face death. I have been thinking about this because the only people who seem to have “answers” about death are the religious folk. But I am not contented with their answers. “If I believe in this” or “if I believe in that,” then my “eternity” is going to be good. If I don’t, it will be not so good, or even pure torture.

I have been thinking about the universality of death and the supposed universality of God. Why would God, to whom the creation of everything is attributed, Broad in his creativity…why would this God be so narrow when it relates to the death of things? We breath without being taught, our bodies work without lessons because of their magnificent structure. Why does our “eternity” depend upon various conceptual ideas? How could any human have certain knowledge about what comes next? We have or will all pass into something, or into nothing. Put broadly, those are the two possibilities. In each of the religious views, though there is some good advice. Live well now. Love now. Be kind now. Value what you have now. Give from what you have to others. I suppose that if we take these pieces of advice to heart, then what comes next, if anything, will work itself out.

These are my thoughts.

Still working at meditation

As I continue to attempt a daily time of meditation, I have discovered that it is extremely difficult to control one’s mind and thoughts, even when you quietly set time aside to cultivate this practice. Some days I am more successful than others but I do see a little improvement as I continue. I am told that it takes years, even decades to become proficient in cultivating mindfulness, and I believe it. But I still believe it to be a worthy and worthwhile practice in which I plan to persist.

I have found that it is harder to quiet oneself in the middle of a busy schedule. So maybe I need also to work on my broader living, reducing hurry, stress etc. I think I will try to do that and see if my meditation becomes easier too.

Meditation absence

I found that quiet moments are harder to find when my family is home all the time. Additionally, I had no school this last week and, therefore, was not rising at 4:00 a.m. to study. I need to make a conscious effort to return to this beginning tomorrow. The good thing is that there is a part of me that has missed my times of quiet times cultivating mindfulness.

Meditation in the morning

I have intended to rise early on several mornings, so that I might spend some time in meditation. Up until today, I had not been able to drag myself out of bed, however I got up 30 minutes early this morning and spent that time continuing to hone my skills at mindfulness. Once again I used the body meditation exercise in the book on Buddhist mediation. It was worth it, and hopefully this will motivate me to make this a daily practice. Most mornings I get up at 4:00 am to study, while it is quiet in my house. My wife gets up at six. So I think I will attempt to spend 30 minutes in the latter part of the morning. We’ll see how that goes.

Meditation 11/18

I spent about 10 minutes meditating this morning.  I wanted to lay in bed but then thought I’d be better off to spend these few minutes focusing my mind, cultivating mindfulness.  So I practiced body meditation, focusing my thought and awareness toward my body beginning at my feet and moving slowly to each area.  I found this meditation exercise in a book I bought a few months ago, but have only recently began to read:A Practical Guide to Buddhist Meditation by Paramananda. I think I will stick with this exercise for a while, it was very rich and probably a good beginning practice for this novice.

Challenges to meditation, cont.

Today I had hoped to rise early and meditate, but I was tired and chose not to get up at a time that provided for those quiet moments.  There is so much of our lives that challenge my attempts at mindfulness.  Being the novice that I am, I am acutely aware that continuity will be of great benefit.  I will try tomorrow, even if it is only for 10 minutes.  Like anything worth anything, this is going to take dedication and it will be work.

Meditation is not easy

Over the last few weeks I have resumed practicing (as best I understand it) meditation.  I have some books to help me and I have listened to some teachings about it.  Some might think it an easy practice to develop, but it is not easy to clear and focus your mind.  My mind has a restlessness that I never noticed until I began this practice.  However, I believe it will be a practice that will greatly benefit me; I should be present in my body, aware of my body and able to focus my mind.  I can understand why some have told me to expect it to take years and years to gain such control.  For now I plan on continuing and hopefully gaining more control as I regularly stop and practice mindfulness.

One thing I appreciate about meditation is that it is not merely a mental activity but one that is rooted in our body and present in the moment.  So much of my days are about what I just finished or what I am preparing to do.  It is a refreshing change to be present, to be aware of myself, my body, my feelings and my thoughts.  I try to do this at least 2 – 3 times a week, wishing that I could find more time.

A fantastic quote with truth to ponder

I am increasingly impressed with many concepts and ideas found in the Buddhist and other Eastern faiths. I was reading an article on the Huffington post and ran across a fantastic quote. I thought I’d share it with whomever might be reading.  It has stimulated some care in my thoughts, words and deeds.

“The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into the habit;
Habit hardens into the character;
Character gives birth to the destiny
So, watch your thoughts with care,
And let it spring from love
Born out of respect for all beings…”

Venerable Maha Ghosananda