BUDDHIST PRACTICE: MEDITATION 4

My revised attitude

Despite overcoming my initial caution, meditation is rarely easy for me in the traditional form. Some days, I will find it beneficial to do sitting meditation. I will slip into that mode where my breathing moves my sleep-like body and relaxation claims me. However, on most occasions, I find it easier to do the contemplative insight meditation whilst doing simple chores about the house or yard, rather than sitting. Sitting meditation is fine for relaxing into the concentrated calm-abiding side of meditation, though.

I believe that the reason for this is my attitude of not wishing to use my think-mind in the way one is generally expected. If I am performing a chore such as sweeping the floors, making a bed, raking or mowing a lawn, that level of mind is well and truly blocked by the task at hand, and I 'run on auto' without using the think-mind level. This assists me to reach the deeper layers and so progress with more ease with the meditation form labeled insight meditation.

I can sometimes combine the two whilst sitting, but providing the chore I am performing is basic, my concentration is more likely to be focused internally whilst doing the activity. While not being strictly traditional, I have read that monks learn to carry their awareness and concentration from meditation into life, and I assume it works in a similar fashion for me. It is just easier to live it than sit with it.

This is one of the areas where I find it difficult as a Western Buddhist. I have found the methods used in the Thai Dhutanga practice easier than those reported in Western literature. For instance, taking the practice of Acariya Mun, one stops the think-mind interrupting or the citta running out by focusing on pieces of the body. If I am trying to perform a sitting meditation and I have any external interference or my think-mind is trying to speak, I can attain the correct concentration in this way.

I usually start on my big toe. I will internally focus on the actual toe, whilst speaking internally such as "Focus on the bone of the toe… Focus on the muscles of the toe… Focus on the blood inside the toe…" I will say these things very slowly on an inhaled breath, focusing fully on the matter to be focused on during the exhale. This method shuts out the outside noises very well, allowing for a deeper concentration.