Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

[Rehn]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

I’m meditating twice a day for 20 minutes each sitting. My problem is that muscle tension in my neck has over the last two months caused me a lot of pain while sitting. I’m going to a chiropractor and doing stretching, but it hasn’t helped much. Everything is impermanent; therefore, I know the pain will pass, however, at times experiencing this nagging pain makes me not want to continue meditating. Or even sit on the cushion at all. But I do it.

[Rich]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

I’m meditating twice a day for 20 minutes each sitting. My problem is that muscle tension in my neck has over the last two months caused me a lot of pain while sitting. I’m going to a chiropractor and doing stretching, but it hasn’t helped much. Everything is impermanent; therefore, I know the pain will pass, however, at times experiencing this nagging pain makes me not want to continue meditating. Or even sit on the cushion at all. But I do it.

I've recently had some posture 'problems' and I don't know if this will help but I do stretch my spine and neck upwards and back more and my head feels more balanced on my neck and spine. The other tendency I had was to turn into the leaning tower of pisa, which I think is from an unbalanced half lotus.

[Jinyu]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Take notice, again and again and again. Take notice that we've made a commitment to do this and not to do that. When it's time to eat we recall that it's time to recite the meal gatha. When the desire to do something we've vowed to give up arises, we take notice and dissolve our desires by seeing through them. It doesn't matter whether we've forgotten our commitments in the past or whether we think we'll be able to keep them in the future. What matters is that we call them to mind now. And in taking notice now, we wake up, our dreamy likes and dislikes vanish in an instant and just for that moment - no longer dwelling with demons - we dwell peacefully.

That's a big teaching you give us Bansho!
Thank you because it really fit (is it the right word?) with the last days I've got!
_/_

... can be the byproduct of our anxious mind ( as you know, we are pretty well equiped to really screw it up...) or real (it is so sometimes, a bit of misunderstanding and also the fear of the unknown).
It is OK, no need to be sad, disappointed or unadequate.

Thanks to you too Taigu, your teaching is very helpfull! (as they always are!) especially when I couple it with your monday Teaching on Suchness! In fact, for me it also "resonates" with what Bansho said!
Thanks to both of you!

Everything is impermanent; therefore, I know the pain will pass, however, at times experiencing this nagging pain makes me not want to continue meditating.

Take care Rehn! We are all human and our impermanent body is sometimes capricious, as you seem to experience it for the moment. But we must show respect to him! if it hurts too much maybe it's a bad idea to follow doing things the same way... I mean maybe you should try another position, or sit in a bench or even in a chair...
I know it isn't so easy to find how to faces these pain issues! And I hope you'll find something that work for you!


Gassho to all of you,

Luis

[Shonin]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

so far it seems, some days just have to be energy drink days : / . I was ready to fall asleep after a cappucino. Had an energy drink and still couldn't wake up. So will try to keep them to a minimum but some days it seems coffee won't cut it( I take vitamins daily).

[Shugen]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Sitting is going fine. I'm back to doing an occasional half lotus instead of always using the bench.

I don't seem to be able to make myself do the meal chant. (I think I'll have to come up with one of my own - if that is okay)

Doing better with the metta.

Broke down and had a latte on Monday (Starbucks is Evil! :evil: )

Trying to go meatless at least one day of the week.

Not pestering my wife as much - more Samu for me.

I've noticed that if I check the forum before I sit, I spend half the time thinking about what is posted, who posted it etc. etc. So it's better for me to sit first, then read.

I'm doing a pretty good job of staying off the internet - which makes for a long day at work.

I've got more bad habits than I thought.

Ron

[BrianW]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hello all,
Just wanted to let everyone know that to help integrate cushion and off cushion I added 5 "Insta-Zazens everyday. Seems to have some benefit. I remember reading in one of Tich Nat Han's books that one of the greatest enemies of practice is forgetfulness. The "Insta-Zazens©" seem to help combat this problem.
BrianW

http://blog.beliefnet.com/treeleafzen/2009/01/zazen-for-beginners-were-all-b-1.html

[Tobiishi]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Broke down and had a latte on Monday (Starbucks is Evil! :evil: )

Ron, if it helps any, I recently read that a large Starbucks latte has as much sugar as four scoops of ice cream. And you thought you were drinking coffee :roll:

My new favorite sandwich: (from the bottom up) toasted french bread, low-fat mayo/wasabi, tomato slices, avacado slices, mozarella cheese, basil leaf (fresh), toasted french bread... surprisingly filling and ultra-tasty.

I was an ass to my kids this evening. I started cleaning out my garage, and in the midst of picking up/dropping off/picking up again from football practices, I felt rushed and constricted, and took it out on an 11 yr old boy. And a 13 yr old boy. I tried to apologize to the older one, but he made an issue of it, and then I was an ass again. I have not upheld my vow to release anger before it hurts someone. So at this point, I vow to apologize sincerely before they go to bed.

gassho (and 3 penitent bows)
tobi

[Shugen]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Ron, if it helps any, I recently read that a large Starbucks latte has as much sugar as four scoops of ice cream. And you thought you were drinking coffee

I don't think that makes me feel any better .

Ron

[BrianP]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

I had the results from the local surgery on my cholesterol level yesterday. Seems it has crept up to 6 so I was sent in to see the doctor. He did not want to put me on medication yet but said I should watch my diet and exercise more. So now I am adding to my pledge and apart from a cholesterol lowering drink, I am going back to a full vegan diet.

Surprisingly, as I am in my 70th year, the doc advised me to take up cycling. My wife was not very happy about it. She says "The roads are too dangerous, you`ll get run over". "OK", I said, "I`ll cycle round the park." "No, you`ll get mugged". Sometimes it seems you just can`t win :cry: .

I like Ron`s idea about the cushion. I normally use a bench probably (no definitely) because I have been too lazy to persevere with a cushion ops: so I will try it again with more effort.

Brianw is right about forgetfulness,. That`s my biggest enemy.

Daiku

[Eika]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Surprisingly, as I am in my 70th year, the doc advised me to take up cycling. My wife was not very happy about it. She says "The roads are too dangerous, you`ll get run over". "OK", I said, "I`ll cycle round the park." "No, you`ll get mugged". Sometimes it seems you just can`t win .

:lol:

I bought a bike back in the summer and I love it. It is a great low-impact way to get my heart-rate up . . . plus I feel a bit like a kid again zipping around on it, great fun.

Peace,
Bill

[Eika]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

So far, so good.

I can see that remembering the meal gatha is going to be a tough one. The hardest one will be carving out room to make EVERY zazenkai. I've always been hit-and-miss with those because of my strange working hours on the weekends (for instance, today I have to drive over to the next city to pick up some sheet music for a rehearsal tomorrow). I may have to push the recorded zazenkais into the evenings on Sunday or Monday to find the hours for them. We'll see how that goes.

Gassho,
Eika

[Shonin]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Tobi, I know how ya feel about letting go of the anger. Work is burning me up ( nothing new there). Other than that Ango seems to be goin well. Been getting my excercise in ( not every day but keeping up with it in general which was the intention), no beer, staying veggie. Still forget my metta verse and meal chant most times. On the subject of the meal chant, I just wrote it on a small piece of paper to keep in my wallet. A lil reminder. : )

As for work, welll tommorrow I am going to write, "Let it go, it's all okay." on my hand as a reminder to just breathe when co-worker's drive me nuts. when I otherwise am stressed by workload I have been pretty good at taking a brewath, exhaling and saying " there is just me in this sandwhich, me and this pasta" or even "me and this (specfic ingredient for food item one at a time). That helps immensely.

Dave _/_

[Jinyu]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hi everyone!

Things are getting a bit difficult for the moment. I started a new "teacher formation" today, then I've got to get up earlier and my schedule is totally full because of the job I've got on the side... But I'll try to still sit 50min (2x 25) each morning!
I'll began another rakusu, because I've nothing to sew for the moment and it was a part of my commitments, I'll go for the fabric this week (if I can find some time for it :? ).
I smoked two cigarettes this morning :evil: I was totally scared about this new formation in a new private school... I'm so use to go to the university, now it's finished I'm a bit lost...

Hope you folks are Ok!

Gassho to everyone,

Luis

[Shohei]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

So far the experience has been much exactly the same as regular practice and daily life.

Im forgetting to chant (silently or out loud) the meal gathas. Im still angry and distracted by times. I do not sit 2x daily and about the only thing im doing okay on is giving. I give my time, money and what ever else i can. I do it with out expectation of anything good and its been the most balanced part of my practice as of late. Im still stage 1 hypertensive so im "working" at that to be honest.

Well every moment is a new start (of course no beginning and no end) so ill update again in a week. I wont bother saying im recommitting to anything until ive done so.
Deep bows to you all, participating or not - 3 deep bows.

One thing this has shown me is that im a much more angry person than i allow my self to express. Angry is not healthy when not expressed in a productive manner and released in a productive manner. This is just a life lesson not specific to practice, but again show me the separation of life and practice!

Gassho Shohei

Starting over again

[Dosho]

Re: Experiencing Ango - PLEASE SHARE YOUR ANGO EXPERIENCES HERE

Hi all,

I think I'm doing well, having kept myself away from sweets since the beginning and come away with an apparent benefit of cleared up acne! I suppose that's all right though since I wasn't seeking it (and something mothers everywhere knew already). I only remember to do metta about half the time, but after Taigu's talk today I think that rate will improve of its own accord. As for the meal chant, I've only remembered to do it once...and I coudn't find the post-it I'd written it down on! I've tried to give generously, mostly of my time since my day job doesn't pay real dollars, but still have given in that way too. Sitting has generaly gone well, but I hurt my back yesterday working outside, so that combined with some weakness from doubling my sit time has put me back a bit there. Any recommendations for stretching exercises are welcome.

However, it's all a chance to start over again in each day, hour, and moment. Even now, a moment to practice.

Gassho,
Dosho