Question about practice

[Ivan Akhmatov]

Greetings, dear Treeleaf Sangha.

A member of my YouTube channel asked me the question: "My question is: what are some general recommendations for someone just starting to meditate?

I've been practicing for a year now. I'm more into objectless meditation. I know about observing all objects in the mind, including the observer. I have some experience with this.

I know about the mindset: let everything go as it is, I will witness.

I'm also able to practice meditation in my everyday life. I understand (on a conceptual level) that I need to understand that nothing needs to be changed. Just allow everything to be. I understand that this is just a concept that also needs to be let go.

I understand that it's important to continue simply sitting with basic mindsets.

Does it make sense to increase my sitting time to 5 hours a day?

What mindset should I have?

What should I be wary of?"

That's the question. I would be very grateful for your answer, dear Friends.

Gassho, Ivan

[Jundo]

Hello Ivan,

I am sorry that I was slow to write you.

First, let me mention that we usually say that Shikantaza is not really "meditation." Of, of course, it is meditation, but it is also different because Shikantaza must be truly goalless. Most meditation has a goal, and tries to achieve something. Shikantaza should be sat with the purpose being completed in the sitting. It must be sat with trust that sitting is complete, with nothing lacking and nothing more necessary to do.

However, by this goallessness, we rediscover something that is usually hidden and forgotten by us.

Second, the beginner should not start with "objectless" meditation at first. I recommend just "following the breath" as it enters and exits the body at the nose. Just place attention there, feeling it enter and exit. No need to think about it, no need to say "in" and "out." Just feel it. Breathe naturally, but nicely and deep from the belly. Do no count breaths, but only feel. Soon, the border of "inside" and "outside" may soften a little. The outside world is you outside. You are the outside world on the inside. Nothing to "witness," because nothing outside to be witnessed, and nobody separate who is inside to be a witnesser.

Sit in equanimity, without judgement. The only judgement is that sitting is good, whole, sacred and complete just by sitting.

Nothing needs to be changed while sitting. Allow everything to be while sitting. (Well, okay, if there is a spider, chase it away. If the legs hurt, move them. If there is a fire in the house put it out!) But, as much as possible, allow everything.

Of course, in life there is much work to do, many problems to fix. However, maybe after sitting, the feeling of "just allow" will remain in the heart, even as we must simultaneously fix many problems which we cannot allow.

I think that 5 hours a day is too much for most people. If you are a monk in a monastery, training hard, then maybe you can sit like that while training. However, it is just as good to sit 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or a little more BUT FORGET ABOUT TIME AND MEASURING WHILE DOING SO! Then, 1 minute = 1,000,000 years.

Talk to our friend who speaks Russian, and he will help you.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Ivan Akhmatov]

Many thanks for your reply, Master I appreciate it.

Gassho, Ivan

[Jundo]

Many thanks for your reply, Master I appreciate it.

Everybody is a master and nobody is a master. Just call me Jundo, that's fine.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Ivan Akhmatov]

Everybody is a master and nobody is a master. Just call me Jundo, that's fine.

Gassho, J
stlah

Thank you very much, Jundo. You know, my father is also 65 years old. Please forgive me for my impudence, You are something like a spiritual father for me, your advice on practice helps a lot.

Many thanks, Jundo

Gassho, Ivan