[rionetrozasa]

I think that for some it is easier than for others. In my experience, it has not been easy

Yes, I find it quite difficult to still my mind at times. Maybe it depends on your temperament and personality how easily you can apply mindfulness to your daily activities. I suppose it can be done, but as you say, for some its a lot easier to achieve than for others.

I’d been having real problems with tension in my chest and back when I was trying to meditate, and I realized this was due to trying too hard, or focusing too hard on the breathing, instead of just letting it happen naturally. I thought I was supposed to be ‘doing’ something!

Andrea Fella, in one of her talks on Audio Dharma - ‘Comfortable Breath’ was saying exactly this. She said every time she moved her focus of attention to the breath, she became tense and everything would tighten up. That’s what happens with me. So I decided for a while to just sit and concentrate on feeling relaxed in body and mind and forget about focusing on the breathing altogether, but just tune into it from time to time, until I felt tension starting up again, and then go back to concentrating on feeling relaxed in my body and mind again. I found this helped a lot, because I’d stopped giving myself such a hard time! I had always thought it was about sitting yourself down on your cushion and saying, ‘right, I need to concentrate now on my breathing, one to ten and repeat…….’

So reading Ajahn Sumedho’s article is really refreshing and comforting, saying you don’t have to try to do anything!!

From "Compose your Minds"....

Gil Fronsdal has been an invaluable teacher.

Yes, his talks are excellent as well...