[margoaroyo]

Hello everyone

I am new to this site, i have been interested in Buddhism for years but have never managed to have a steady practice....

i just can't get myself to meditate! i know how beneficial it is but I have strong resistance to it (i'm the same with exercise)

I have been wondering lately whether i should push myself to mediate or just wait until my understanding creates the motivation?

i would love to hear peoples opinions

thanks in advance

[jurnalkduo]

Hi NakedSalmon,

Don't worry, mediation is not my strength also but, nowadays, I am practicing with Mindfulness of Breathing which I have found really suitable.

IMO, meditation has to be done as a need. As you say, until the understanding creates the motivation.

Don't rush yourself. Doing that is really frustrating and hinders the aim to meditate.

Mindfulness of Breathing is just about to sit for a few minutes and be mindful of breathing.

Watching it carefully and not trying to control it. Just to watch if it is slow, or deep or shallow or long or short.

This guide can be of some help:

"The Anapanasati Sutta"

You will find a thread on meditation in our Study Links forum

http://www.buddhismwithoutboundaries.com-Meditation

Also we recommend to watch the Ajahn Jayasaro Buddhist meditation video series which is linked in the thread.

[Snocioncilm]

Hi,

My advice is to start small... If you start off planning to meditate for an hour, it's a big change. If you begin sitting quietly and focusing on your breathing for a couple of minutes, that is a far more achievable goal.

Good luck with it!
Fee

[muBXvWIC]

Hi Grace,

Attempting just 10 mins practice morning and evening is fine to begin with.

[cl004]

I find that I get frustrated with myself, too much, when my thoughts are distracting me. The best advice I've received is just to recognize, I am thinking, and let it go. Do not have any recriminations. Recognize, and let go.

[slimsex]

I have been wondering lately whether i should push myself to mediate or just wait until my understanding creates the motivation?

hi friend

personally, i believe motivation is very important for meditation

however, buddhism is more than meditation as it offers many kinds of helpful advices and skilful means

i generally suggest visiting a buddhist centre is the best introduction to buddhism

for learning meditation, i.e., if we are motivated, doing an organised weekend or ten-day group retreat, which has a good mix of activities, is best, imo

warm regards

[t78VPkdO]

I'm much the same when it comes to a lot of things including meditation. What everyone has already said is good advice especially going to a Buddhist centre. That's what was the greatest motivation for me even if it was scary at first (I'm also terribly shy lol). If that's not possible for you though, reading a few books on the different kinds of meditation can help. Like everything, it becomes less of a chore if you enjoy it and it doesn't become boring or repetitive.

Training your body to it is also useful. Try to meditate at the same time every day. For me i find before I go to bed works best as it settles my mind and stops it racing, especially simple breathing meditations. I'm often tired and running late for work in the mornings but if I'm not I like to do it then too so I'm calm and in control and ready to face the day with an open and compassionate mind so analytical is best then. Sometimes even mini meditations on the train to work, practicing compassion for all the strangers around me for example, can be beneficial too; you don't have to just sit in the lotus position to meditate after all

Also it's useful not to set any kind of time limit. Just sit down and give it a go. If you manage to last fifteen minutes, that's great. If you only last three minutes that's great too, its still time spent practicing that you otherwise would not have done. Like everything we have good days and bad days but so long as we try it's always a good day really

Finally scent is a powerful sense and I found that just smelling something can trigger emotions and memories so I went and found a scent of incense I found soothing and started using it when I meditate at home. Now after about a month of doing that (nearly) daily if I catch just a hint of the smell I'm reminded of how good it feels to meditate and I want to do it again.

These are all just suggestions on what worked for me, they may not for you but you never know until you try. Just remember if you try to set up a schedule and miss a day here or there it's nothing to beat yourself up over. Sometimes the outside world and our ego does it's best to prevent us and other things happen that demands our full attention. That doesn't mean we're failing at it, it just means we're human and aren't perfect yet, and while we're not perfect and same for those around us we always have a goal

Edit: Oops that was a little longer than I thought it would be >.< Oh well, hopefully it helps rather than overwhelm

[Auzuigcx]

Also it's useful not to set any kind of time limit. Just sit down and give it a go. If you manage to last fifteen minutes, that's great. If you only last three minutes that's great too,

This is great advice. Even after many years of meditating, there are times when it's 'just not happening' and it can be like the road trip to hell (!) Not that I'm suggesting I have any attachments to the outcome of my meditation

My teacher says that we come to sit because the time is right - when we feel the need to move, we move, get up and make a cup of tea if necessary and carry on whilst endeavouring to take the quality of the meditative practice into our lives as that's where it's needed the most - in our interactions with others.