meditation journal: why keep one?

[bayamo]

why should i keep one? do i keep it close by and jot down right after i sit? what should (and shouldnt) i keep track of?
thanks and gassho..

[Tobiishi]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

Don't. You'll just spend your sitting time trying to figure out what you will write down.

I have a journal of insights and thoughts, poetry, etc., closely tied in with my practice, but I don't write about sittings.

gassho
tobiishi

[bayamo]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

interesting point, thank you tobiishi..
gassho

[chicanobudista]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

I think some folks do, even making blogs around zazen. Personally. I don't. Zazen is zazen.

[Hoko]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

I used to keep one but I started adding up my hours like I was calculating payroll.
Sets up the wrong message, I think...
Gassho,
-K2

[SunnyP]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

I keep one but I only write in it when I am compelled to do so.

Gassho,
Paula

[Shugen]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

I used to keep one but I started adding up my hours like I was calculating payroll.
Sets up the wrong message, I think...
Gassho,
-K2

I started feeling the same way using the zenhall. I got it into my head I needed to have 10,000 hours of meditation to be an "expert" at it and while I was sitting, I noticed I was starting to tally up how many hours left I had to go - setting up another goal.

Ron

[Jundo]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

why should i keep one? do i keep it close by and jot down right after i sit? what should (and shouldnt) i keep track of?
thanks and gassho..

I would not. Zazen is zazen.

As was said

Don't. You'll just spend your sitting time trying to figure out what you will write down.

Zazen comes and goes (really, all of life when we stop thinking about it). We had best not think about and analyze too much our dropping of thinking and analysis.

[chicanobudista]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

Did the Buddha keep a meditation journal? :P :mrgreen:

[bayamo]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

Did the Buddha keep a meditation journal? :P :mrgreen:

WWBD
what would buddha do..
i like it..

[bayamo]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

why should i keep one? do i keep it close by and jot down right after i sit? what should (and shouldnt) i keep track of?
thanks and gassho..

I would not. Zazen is zazen.

As was said

Don't. You'll just spend your sitting time trying to figure out what you will write down.

Zazen comes and goes (really, all of life when we stop thinking about it). We had best not think about and analyze too much our dropping of thinking and analysis.

thank you and gassho..

[chicanobudista]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

Did the Buddha keep a meditation journal? :P :mrgreen:

WWBD
what would buddha do..
i like it..

:mrgreen:

[AlanLa]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

Zazen journal: No.
Personal Journal: Yes, and such a thing might occasionally include some zazen related items, at least that's what I do.

[bayamo]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

Zazen journal: No.
Personal Journal: Yes, and such a thing might occasionally include some zazen related items, at least that's what I do.

AlanLa
how do you do this? do you keep a small journal with you and jot away whenever the spirit moves you, or do you write at night before bed, or upon waking.. just curious..
gassho

[AlanLa]

Re: meditation journal: why keep one?

I've been journaling for at least 15 years or more, probably closer to 20 now that I think about it. Before I got into Buddhism my journal effort was pretty hit and miss, mostly miss, with weeks or maybe even months between entries. Then, once I got involved in Buddhism, I started writing in it more often, almost daily. I view my journal as an awareness exercise, sort of a zazen off the cushion thing, but it's not directly related to my Buddhist practice; it's more of an offshoot from it, if that makes any sense. Once in a while I'll journal some insight I gained from zazen, but mostly it's just a daily exercise in realizing where am I and where am I going. Sometimes I write in it in the morning, sometimes in the evening, sometimes at multiple times during the day. Sometimes I write "deep thoughts" in it and other times I write stupid stuff like yesterday's entry:

"Weekend! Woo-hoo! And not a big workload - yay! But I do have some work to do and I should/will do it. But there's not as much pressure, so let's see how that goes. It's also a wonderful opportunity to get some other things done."

The only thing that I try to be consistent about in my journal is that I try to be totally honest and personal with as little mundanity as possible. It's my outlet, my sounding board, my refuge, my road map chronicle of life. Once in a while I look at an old one and see how messed up I was then versus how differently messed up, yet better, I am now, so it's a big help for me on the Path in lots of different ways. As you can probably tell, I am a big fan of journaling. I encourage you, and others, to try it in such a way that it works for you like I believe it works for me.