How Long Do You Sit?

[Fugu]

I'm trying to restart my practice after a serious accident. A LOT of dumb questions are popping up. The first is: how long do most people on here sit? I used to sit one hour in the morning and another at night, but my body (and mind) isn't up to that yet. I'd be interested in what other are doing.



Fugu

[Bobman4671]

I try and sit for 20 minutes each night. It's difficult to sit for the same amount each night especially being with family for the weekend. I'd say sit at least 5 minutes then work your way up from there.

Gassho
Javier


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[Kyotai]

Sorry to hear of your accident, I agree with Javier.

Gassho

Shawn

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[Mp]

Sorry to hear at about your accident Fugu and I agree with Javier, start small and work your way along. But please remember it is not about "doing" it for a long time ... if your zazen is going well, then get up and carry that on within your life. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Jundo]

Hi Javier,

I am sorry to hear about your accident too, but we sit ... or recline or stand or roll ... as life finds us.

Strange as this may sound, sitting is not a matter of "long" or "short" ... and we should sit putting aside all thought of time or seconds passed as if sitting were a taxi meter. Nonetheless, we sit for a certain time each day ... sometimes long and sometimes short.

Here is part of our Beginners (We're All Beginners) Series on time ... right on time ...

Sit-a-Long with Jundo: Zazen for Beginners (Part XXI)

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?9281-Sit-a-Long-with-Jundo-Zazen-for-Beginners-%28Part-XXI%29

Gassho, J

[Entai]

Sit until you stand up again.

Gassho,
Bill

[Nameless]

Metta to you Fugen. Hope you are recovering well from the accident. I tend to sit 20-30 minutes each session, but I don't use a timer anymore. Found that it distracts me more than anything, so I just let intuition tell me when to get up. Intuition can tell you when to rise too whether it's five minutes or 45 minutes, all's well.

Gassho, John

[Joyo]

Sorry to hear at about your accident Fugu and I agree with Javier, start small and work your way along. But please remember it is not about "doing" it for a long time ... if your zazen is going well, then get up and carry that on within your life. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Yes, as Shingen said, make zazen your life, at least this is what I try to do When I first started sitting, 15 min felt like an hr, so start slow and try to not worry about the min.

For me, I sit anywhere from 5 min to 1/2 an hr at a time. But doing dishes can become zazen, cooking, cleaning, walking the dog, etc. etc.

As for your accident, sending you much metta, I hope you are healing and back to health real soon.

Gassho,
Treena

[Bobman4671]

Hi Javier,

I am sorry to hear about your accident...

I do have to say that I'm not the originator of this topic. I hope you get well soon Fugu. Much metta to you. C:

Gassho
Javier


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[Heion]

A lot of wise words have been said! Generally, I sit around 15 minutes.

Off the cushion, I try to incorporate little moments of Zazen in very menial tasks, such as eating or cleaning. Besides this, I try to have a loose schedule in my day. Not as a rigid book of laws, but as a guide.

Like Jundo says, I am now not so much concerned with time. I think zazen must be felt, not counted with minute increments.

With metta,
Alex

[Emmet]

With my sangha, I sit as long as we all sit; usually 35 minute rounds plus kinhin. If I'm using an MP3 I made of inkin bells as a timer, either 20 or 30 minutes. If it's early morning kyoten zazen, as long as the incense burns; usually around 40-45 minutes (it would be inconsiderate to wake anyone with my bells). If I'm sitting a streetcorner vigil with the local peaceniks or anti-death-penalty people, an hour or so. If I'm sitting with my mate, I sit as long as she does. None of the above is particularly meaningful. As someone who's been stove in and busted up myself, I'd suggest listening deeply to your body; sit as you need to sit, walk as you need to walk, lie down as you need to lie down. There's nothing to gain, and nothing to prove. In all of your comings and goings, carry your zazen forward with you.

[Nengyo]

I sit from 5-30 minutes once or twice a day. My practice during this holiday is not quite as consistent as I would like it to be, however, that is really just a chance to work on dropping the attachment to wanting my practice to be a certain way. It is all good practice.

Some days I get one really long sit in during a nap time and other days I sit a few short periods as I get the chance. Like the others here I try to make all of my chores zazen, all of my meals an exercise in gratitude, and all of my interaction with others an exercise in compassion and kindness. So, I guess if I were you I would sit for as long as I could and not much longer

Wishing you have a speedy recovery!

Nengyo

[bayamo]

I sit 15 in the morning and twenty-twenty five at night. As time permits, I squeeze in 5 minutes here, 5 minutes there through out the day

[Joyo]

I really like the concept of sitting without timing how long. I think I will go try that right now, thx to those who posted this as a suggestion

Gassho,
Treena

[Daijo]

Daily I try to sit 20 minutes each morning and sometimes an additional 20 minutes at night if life allows. Twice a week I sit with a group of people and we generally follow the schedule of 30 minutes zazen/10 minutes kinhin/30 minutes zazen.