Getting back to it. . .

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  • Gregor
    Member
    • Apr 2007
    • 638

    Getting back to it. . .

    It's been awhile since I practiced much. Any ideas/suggestions for starting back up?

    Thinking of sitting just 10-15 minutes at a time X3 a day, morning, when I get back from work, then before going to bed.

    does that sound like a good (re) beginner practice.

    Feel like a beginner again.

    Sort of drifted away due to a crisis of faith being the skeptic that I am, however feeling the practice and mind training would be a benefit to my life and those in it right now.
    Jukai '09 Dharma Name: Shinko 慎重(Prudent Calm)
  • Mp

    #2
    Hey Gregor,

    Simple answer, just sit. =) Try not to over complicate your practice and put too much emphasis on how much and how long ... when sitting, just sit. When engaged in the world, just be engaged.

    Sometimes life has its own plan and we can't sit for the time we would like, that is ok, just sit with the time you have.

    Make sense? =)

    Gassho
    Shingen

    s@today with no time of long or short


    Sent from my mobile, cause I am out & about! =)

    Comment

    • Myosha
      Member
      • Mar 2013
      • 2974

      #3
      Originally posted by Gregor
      It's been awhile since I practiced much. Any ideas/suggestions for starting back up?

      Thinking of sitting just 10-15 minutes at a time X3 a day, morning, when I get back from work, then before going to bed.

      does that sound like a good (re) beginner practice.

      Feel like a beginner again.

      Sort of drifted away due to a crisis of faith being the skeptic that I am, however feeling the practice and mind training would be a benefit to my life and those in it right now.
      Shinko,

      Be kind. It has nothing to do with "you". Sit this one out. Best of luck.


      Gassho
      Myosha
      sat today

      P.S. Don't post unless you've sat. Thank you.
      "Recognize suffering, remove suffering." - Shakyamuni Buddha when asked, "Uhm . . .what?"

      Comment

      • Gregor
        Member
        • Apr 2007
        • 638

        #4
        Originally posted by Shingen
        Hey Gregor,

        Simple answer, just sit. =) Try not to over complicate your practice and put too much emphasis on how much and how long ... when sitting, just sit. When engaged in the world, just be engaged.

        Sometimes life has its own plan and we can't sit for the time we would like, that is ok, just sit with the time you have.

        Make sense? =)

        Gassho
        Shingen

        s@today with no time of long or short


        Sent from my mobile, cause I am out & about! =)
        Yes, thank you. actually, a bit of a relief.
        Jukai '09 Dharma Name: Shinko 慎重(Prudent Calm)

        Comment

        • Kyonin
          Treeleaf Priest / Engineer
          • Oct 2010
          • 6749

          #5
          Hey G,

          We are always beginners and every single moment we start a new. I wouldn't put pressure on my shoulders and just enjoy sitting again.

          And of course, you are always welcome home!

          Gassho,

          Kyonin
          #SatToday
          Hondō Kyōnin
          奔道 協忍

          Comment

          • Risho
            Member
            • May 2010
            • 3179

            #6
            This is all great advice. I just wanted to add something; I recently felt a struggle with practice, and I just had to take some time off.

            Don't beat yourself up.

            Just do something easy at first -- 15 mins a day. That is the minimum recommended sitting time here, but hell if you can only do 5, do 5. Just don't overdo it and get overwhelmed and stop sitting. That is the key for me. Consistency is the most important thing for me.

            Gassho,

            Risho
            -sattoday
            Email: risho.treeleaf@gmail.com

            Comment

            • Rich
              Member
              • Apr 2009
              • 2614

              #7
              Have stopped and started many times on this journey. They don't keep Zen records. You just sit when you can. The willingness to sit with yourself is very powerful and grows by itself.

              SAT today
              _/_
              Rich
              MUHYO
              無 (MU, Emptiness) and 氷 (HYO, Ice) ... Emptiness Ice ...

              https://instagram.com/notmovingmind

              Comment

              • Jundo
                Treeleaf Founder and Priest
                • Apr 2006
                • 40341

                #8
                Hi Greg,

                Just as other have said. We are all always beginners, each moment is square one.

                Just sit for those minutes, beyond time measure ... leaving aside beginnings and progress and ends. Just this moment, and this and this moment ...

                Get back to the basics, for it is always fresh.

                Good to see you around.

                Gassho, J

                SatToday
                ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

                Comment

                • Joyo

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Shingen
                  Hey Gregor,

                  Simple answer, just sit. =) Try not to over complicate your practice and put too much emphasis on how much and how long ... when sitting, just sit. When engaged in the world, just be engaged.

                  Sometimes life has its own plan and we can't sit for the time we would like, that is ok, just sit with the time you have.

                  Make sense? =)

                  Gassho
                  Shingen

                  s@today with no time of long or short


                  Sent from my mobile, cause I am out & about! =)
                  I agree, this is a relief. Thank you for sharing, Shingen.

                  Gassho,
                  Joyo
                  sat today

                  Comment

                  • Jishin
                    Member
                    • Oct 2012
                    • 4821

                    #10
                    Getting back to it. . .

                    Hi Gregor,

                    It is not that you practice. You are practice. It is not that you Zazen. You are Zazen. However, you do not see this unless you sit and practice. This being so, just be yourself and then the space where you practice and the time you practice does not matter. Just be 15, 30 of Zazen.

                    Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_
                    Last edited by Jishin; 07-07-2016, 11:47 AM.

                    Comment

                    • Yugen

                      #11
                      Getting back to it. . .

                      Originally posted by Jishin
                      Hi Gregor,

                      It is not that you practice. You are practice. It is not that you Zazen. You are Zazen. However, you do not see this unless you sit and practice. This being so, just be yourself and then the space where you practice and the time you practice does not matter. Just be 15, 30 of Zazen.

                      Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_
                      Jishin, this is brilliant and to the core of the practice. Thank you.

                      Gregor, it's good to see you - thank you for the lesson. Thank you all.

                      Deep bows
                      Yugen


                      sat2day
                      Last edited by Guest; 07-07-2016, 07:52 PM.

                      Comment

                      • Kyosei
                        Member
                        • Feb 2012
                        • 356

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Jishin
                        Hi Gregor,

                        It is not that you practice. You are practice. It is not that you Zazen. You are Zazen. However, you do not see this unless you sit and practice. This being so, just be yourself and then the space where you practice and the time you practice does not matter. Just be 15, 30 of Zazen.

                        Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

                        Muito obrigado, Jishin.

                        _/\_
                        _/|\_

                        Kyōsei

                        強 Kyō
                        声 Sei

                        Namu kie Butsu, Namu kie Ho, Namu kie So.

                        Comment

                        • Jishin
                          Member
                          • Oct 2012
                          • 4821

                          #13


                          Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

                          Comment

                          • Heisoku
                            Member
                            • Jun 2010
                            • 1338

                            #14
                            Thanks for this thread. I have not been away just sorting life out. Trouble is when the zazen became less regular more stuff just kept happening that needed sorting and regular became sparse! Anyways I think the practice has helped create the equanimity of mind to get through the last few months and your comments have given me the enthusiasm to get back to sitting regularly. Grateful thanks.
                            Gassho Heisoku
                            Will sit now today!
                            Heisoku 平 息
                            Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home. (Basho)

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