Saturday all day meditation

[Guest guest]

 

I arrived at the Palolo Zen center at 8.45, but forgot my special wedge zafu that allows me to sit for a longer period of time without much pain. Then the Sri Lanka monk that was leading the group said he advises no cushions at all. When the Yogis come to his center in Thailand they have to do the retreat without the support of a zafu. No cushions allowed at his center.

 

I dont even know the monks name so will have to ask Dr Huynh, who is the sponsor along with his wife. We sit each Sunday at their home.

 

The reasoning he gave was that we have to get in touch with SUFFERING and pain as the Buddha said is our friend.

 

He impressed upon us the value of the walking meditation before sitting to enhance concentration. I almost never do walking meditation except at these daylong meditations, but now I will definitely include it in my practice. He wanted us to walk very slowly and focus using directive words 3 times each. Intention to lift, raising (of the heal) Lifting, moving, placing, pressing. The first few walking meditations, I said to myself that my concentration is better without repeating any words, but in the last one where I did it at a snails pace, my concentration was improved.

 

He also told us to do the metta thing before our sitting, first on ourselves and the all beings.

May I be healthy,may I be happy, may I be peaceful..etc and then at the end to dedicate any merit to all beings.

 

This morning I started my mediation dressed very warm as the temperature here was probably in the low 60's without any heat. Then one hour of sitting did not give me enough pain to meditate on. I used no cushion and following the Bhikkus directions about not moving, or at least not my arms and legs. I started to get too hot and usually I take off a hat or something, move my arms, but this time I experienced it.

 

This not moving and experiencing the pain and suffering is what develops the concentration, the bhikku said.

 

The first time we meditated was at an Arica retreat in Mexico. We sat for 1/2 hour and I have to tell you it was pure suffering which seemed to go on for hours. Now one hour is easy going.

 

He said that if his students report that they moved he will increase the sitting time to sometimes 3 hours.

 

I go for this stuff and now expect to made great progress in the ability to concentrate, that is if I dont blow away my body parts.

 

 

 

Aloha,

KK

[Guest guest]

beautiful and lovely. NamasteKomo Kasha <unbound wrote:

 

 

 

I arrived at the Palolo Zen center at 8.45, but forgot my special wedge zafu that allows me to sit for a longer period of time without much pain. Then the Sri Lanka monk that was leading the group said he advises no cushions at all. When the Yogis come to his center in Thailand they have to do the retreat without the support of a zafu. No cushions allowed at his center.

 

I dont even know the monks name so will have to ask Dr Huynh, who is the sponsor along with his wife. We sit each Sunday at their home.

 

The reasoning he gave was that we have to get in touch with SUFFERING and pain as the Buddha said is our friend.

 

He impressed upon us the value of the walking meditation before sitting to enhance concentration. I almost never do walking meditation except at these daylong meditations, but now I will definitely include it in my practice. He wanted us to walk very slowly and focus using directive words 3 times each. Intention to lift, raising (of the heal) Lifting, moving, placing, pressing. The first few walking meditations, I said to myself that my concentration is better without repeating any words, but in the last one where I did it at a snails pace, my concentration was improved.

 

He also told us to do the metta thing before our sitting, first on ourselves and the all beings.

May I be healthy,may I be happy, may I be peaceful..etc and then at the end to dedicate any merit to all beings.

 

This morning I started my mediation dressed very warm as the temperature here was probably in the low 60's without any heat. Then one hour of sitting did not give me enough pain to meditate on. I used no cushion and following the Bhikkus directions about not moving, or at least not my arms and legs. I started to get too hot and usually I take off a hat or something, move my arms, but this time I experienced it.

 

This not moving and experiencing the pain and suffering is what develops the concentration, the bhikku said.

 

The first time we meditated was at an Arica retreat in Mexico. We sat for 1/2 hour and I have to tell you it was pure suffering which seemed to go on for hours. Now one hour is easy going.

 

He said that if his students report that they moved he will increase the sitting time to sometimes 3 hours.

 

I go for this stuff and now expect to made great progress in the ability to concentrate, that is if I dont blow away my body parts.

 

 

 

Aloha,

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