maintaining practice when life gets busy

[Kaisho]

So as a grad student on summer break with a newly rekindled practice it is important to me to maintain my sitting and dharma studying over the next year. That being said school is important too. Outside of a routine (because I have been thinking about that) what suggestions does one have to keep up the drive toward practice even during busy times? Of course if emergencies happen I should acknowledge this but I don't want to let it fall by the wayside again. Is their any tips along this line?

Gassho
Kaisho
Satlah

[Huichan]

If you have days where you don't have a lot of time, still find 5-10 mins to sit. Also, finding some sort of short ritual to start your day like a brief chant, prostrations etc is always helpful.


慧禅
stlah

[Chikyou]

Set aside a time or a place in your schedule for practice - it got a lot easier for me once I started sitting first thing in the morning, between taking care of hygiene stuff and getting dressed. I sit in my PJs, then I get dressed and get breakfast. (Almost) every morning (sometimes life still gets in the way). After work I check in on Treeleaf while I wind down with some tea.

I also have worked some ritual reminders in, such as reciting the meal Gatha and (this is a weird one, I started doing it during Rohatsu retreat and just never stopped) bowing to the toilet and shower before I use them. Donating my change at the store is a welcome opportunity to practice LaH. Little stuff like that to keep my practice in my peripheral vision throughout the day, even when it can't be the focus.

Please excuse me for running long

Gassho,
SatLah
Chikyō

[Bion]

Hi, Kaisho. Great question, as we all deal with ups and downs, more drive or less drive.
I think, as you yourself already said, that a routine is pretty much the way to go. But, that aside, my feeling is that the crucial thing is how we view and define Practice. If we see it as separate from day to day life, and as something we need to make time for, but we can do without if we're very busy, then I think it'll be much more difficult to develop or maintain a drive for it. I don't see eating, sleeping, showering or drinking water as things separate from my life, and so they are just natural actions, which I might do in a hurry sometimes, or I might ignore for half a day or a day because of other things, but I usually just do those things as a natural response. I eat cause I am hungry and I need food to survive. I sleep cause the body needs it and I am sleepy. I shower cause I know it's healthy, it also helps with being in society. All natural responses. But, with zazen, sometimes we make a distinction, that puts it outside of us. I don't think "oh, I am so busy, but I won't eat even though I am starving, because I don't have time to cook a 3 course meal and then eat at a dinner table, so it won't be real eating if it is different". I simply go and grab something fast, if necessary, nourish the body and move on. With zazen, we do take the other route: "oh, I need to have exactly 30 minutes, and a cushion, and it needs to be quiet and calm, incense needs to be burning, before I can sit". I think if we were really "hungry" for zazen, we'd take a different route.

My apologies for making this so long!!! My point here is that, our work, most of the time, is that of discovering for ourselves the answer to the old question: "why practice at all"? Once we know that with our bones and flesh, it is much easier to respond naturally. When practice is not separate from my life, I don't just pick it up and put it down. The paradox here, is that in order to be able to answer that question, we need to practice, right now, right here. I think there is a saying regarding food, that goes something like "Appetite comes with eating". Like that!

Please take these words with a grain of salt. They are merely a reflection of my thinking, and this novice monk is barely scratching the surface of the dharma!

Gassho
sat and lah

[Houzan]

Practice 24/7, but take a break from practice everyday for just sitting

Gassho, Hōzan
Satlah

[Jundo]

I always recommend unlimited supplies of "Insta-Zazen."

Yes, we sit facing the wall, on the Zafu (or chair, etc.) ... 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 minutes or more ...

... but, if you ask me, TAKE IT TO THE STREETS too.!

Zazen for Beginners (13) - Anywhere, Anytime INSTA-ZAZEN!© (LINK)
https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/tre...eginners-(13)=

.

.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Tai Do]

It's difficult, but I try to at least follow the daily "Official Recommendation" that is presented on the Zazen for Beginners, episode 14 (https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/tre...4)=#post189091): at least 15 minutes of zazen.
Besides the sitting, I try to do the daily LAH, find some time to recite the Mettā Verses and some Gāthas — Meal Gātha and Bathroom Gāthas (you are not the only one, Chikyou ).
Recently I added also some quick recitations of the Three Refuges and a Gāthas based on the Non-Self Characteristic Sutta when I notice I too involved in mind made ego narratives ("This is not mine. This is not my Self. This is not who I am."). Perhaps you could use something in these lines.
You can also dedicate your daily activities like work and study as a Samu practice or use the time you have to walk to a quick "Insta-Kinhin" (and, of course, Jundo's Insta-Zazen when sitting or standing somewhere).
I'm sorry for the long post and hope to have been of some help.
Gassho,
Tai Do
Satlah

[Tai Shi]

So as a grad student on summer break with a newly rekindled practice it is important to me to maintain my sitting and dharma studying over the next year. That being said school is important too. Outside of a routine (because I have been thinking about that) what suggestions does one have to keep up the drive toward practice even during busy times? Of course if emergencies happen I should acknowledge this but I don't want to let it fall by the wayside again. Is their any tips along this line?

Gassho
Satlah

Kaisho, Tai Shi Here. I am older, 73 in September, (October Treeleaf Zendo 8 years, 37 years away from alcohol use, 24 years away from Tobacco). Substances are my struggle, much of graduate schol. In 2010, 2011 doctors began to deal with two illnesses. I love daily practice, Buddhist for 7 years when I began to study for Jukai my committment. Maybe key came from daily realization the importance of Precepts. I try to practice daily with a sitting group. Precepts are woven into my life.
Gassho
sat/lah

[Tom M]

Sometimes I'm busy all day, and rely on a brief guaranteed calm time: the minutes after my 2 year old falls asleep in the evening. If I haven't managed to sit at some other time, I'll sit then. Cross legged on his bed, while he settles into sleep. It's a bit magical really

Tom
Satlah

[Rich]

Because im so busy, it’s very important that i sit in the morning. The time doesn’t matter so much but usually 10 to 30 minutes. Thru out the day it’s always nice to do some just sitting or just driving or just walking or just eating or just working.

i try to stay awake and aware with a sense of wonder and questioning because I don’t know what this is or what’s going to happen

sat/lah

[Onsho]

I dont remember who said this:

Sit for 20 minutes everyday

unless you are busy

then you should sit an hour.

gassho
Onsho
satlah

[Bion]

I dont remember who said this:

Sit for 20 minutes everyday

unless you are busy

then you should sit an hour.

gassho
Onsho
satlah

Ha! Jundo says that all the time

Gassho
sat and lah

[Kaisho]

A big thank you to everyone who gave advice. With all of your support I'll put these skills to use to continue practice.

Gassho
Kaisho
Lah sat

[Jundo]

Ha! Jundo says that all the time

Gassho
sat and lah

No, actually, that does not sound like me.

I would say ... sit for 20 minutes ...

unless one is busy and can only sit for 10 minutes or 2 minutes ...

... but whether 2 minutes or 2 hours or 2 years ... forget about all measure of time while sitting, with each tick of the clock expressing all time and space.

That is more what I would say.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Bion]

No, actually, that does not sound like me.

I would say ... sit for 20 minutes ...

unless one is busy and can only sit for 10 minutes or 2 minutes ...

... but whether 2 minutes or 2 hours or 2 years ... forget about all measure of time while sitting, with each tick of the clock expressing all time and space.

That is more what I would say.

Gassho, J

stlah

Well, I was entirely sure it was you. Seems my brain is playing tricks on me

Gassho
sat and lah