All posts tagged “sitting”

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Shakuhachi — 12 years ago — permalink

This is one of the best treatments of all phases of meditation I haves seen but you have to search through all the highly technical stuff.  it is written by a neuroscientist. Maybe look in the index.
I could not cut and past the link but if you search "elibrary Zen Brain Reflections pdf" you will find it.
I have a hard copy of the older edition "Zen and the Brain".  It is a good resource.

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davidbhayes — 12 years ago — permalink

I'll check it out. Thanks!

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hanjini — 13 years ago — permalink

Briefly, my understanding of the standard teaching for this sort of experience is to note it, find a word to describe it, and then go back to the breath. That would be if you're doing a "concentration" meditation - i.e., when you have decided to focus on a single object, the breath.  Alternately, if you were doing a "mindfulness" session, you could just go with it, noticing everything about the experience, noticing your thinking about it, such as the thought that you're perfectly aware that you're also sitting quite still. Then you would be noticing the beginning of the feeling, the middle of the sensation, and its fading away.  Overall, I'd say the standard teaching is not to attach any significance to it, don't "get into it," and don't give it any more significance than just noticing it.
What you do with it beyond that, like after you meditate, is up to you. I mean, I'd be wondering what that metaphor's about - what else in my life is like a roller coaster? or explore the associations, like, am I making a tempest in a teacup out of something? But I'd say that's strictly outside of the sitting.

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meditateallday.com — 13 years ago — permalink

Hi!

All your sensations are coming from mind. Meditation is a state of no mind. The only way to meditate is to witness only what happens
, but never make any analysis. If you think about all what happened, you are again in mind games.

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fredclaymeyer — 14 years ago — permalink

That's interesting! I haven't had that meditating, although I have in other situations. (I also haven't sat with my eyes closed for a prolonged period very often.) I wonder if part of it is losing spatial orientation from having your eyes closed? 
As you say, it doesn't sound like a problem at all, and also not necessarily like a particularly helpful experience. If it happened to me, I'd probably place it in the "Huh" category unless it got more prominent or seemed to be connected to other experiences. (That's where most things in my meditation go, I'd say.)

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santoanasrullah — 6 years ago — permalink

It's good to relax in the body.

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davidbhayes — 14 years ago — permalink

I have "gomden" which is a firm foam rectangular block. I'm not a huge fan of it, but it still works for me. The concept behind it is that it's more firm and elevated then a something like "zafu", so you can sit in a more western posture. But for me it seems to go too far in the firm and elevated direction. I've been thinking I should get just get a traditional buckwheat zafu and see how I like it. But I haven't done it yet.

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Shakuhachi — 14 years ago — permalink

Either couch or easy chair but with pillows to provide more back support.  As long as my  back is straight and my legs are free so they don't get numb I am ready to go.

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danjunel — 14 years ago — permalink

I used to just sit on a pillow (or two) and thought that back pain was just a normal part of the meditation process. Then I invested in a Gomden/Zabuton combo set from www.samadhicushions.com and I no longer have any back pain when I sit. I did purchase a Zafu before the Gomden/Zabuton, but I still didn't get the back support that I needed.
Even though the price was considerably more than the mere pillow that I formerly used, I felt strongly that I wanted to make an investment in myself and in my practice. I'm really glad that I did!

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Lullabyehaze — 13 years ago — permalink

I usually sit cross-legged on a cushion-- just a cushion that I had at home, not a special meditation cushion for the time being. There are times when I sit in a chair if my back or knees hurt. And I really like to meditate outside when I can, so I might sit on a bench or a tree stump.

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davidbhayes — 13 years ago — permalink

A tree strump, that's one I've never tried.
I think it varies a lot across people and cushions, but for me buying a real actual meditation cushion that had properties it needed was a big help with respect to back strain and other discomfort. I do understand the hesitation to dive into one though: they aren't cheap and if what you has working there's really no reason.
Thanks for sharing!

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Lullabyehaze — 13 years ago — permalink

I'll want to get a real cushion at some point, but wow-- so pricey! For the time being, I added another pillow so that I'm sitting a little higher, nearer to the height of a zafu. This is more comfortable than just one pillow.

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NEBULABUFF — 6 years ago — permalink

A cushion (Zafu) on the floor.  I've tried using chairs but, for me, the position just didn't feel right.  Guess I've been using the cushion for too many years.  Right now, it's the only thing that feels right even with this 74 year old body.

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thejimigemini — 6 years ago — permalink

I bought a zafu ( = round meditation cushion) today, and just meditated, sitting on it for 20 minutes. It works very well, sitting on such a cushion, for me.

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