essays-ccs/buddhism/meditation.md
2024-04-13 12:47:55 -04:00

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Meditation practice

Daily schedule

  • Pick at least 2 specific times every day, to meditate for 15-30m. Setting an alarm helps, for consistency. Find what works best for you.

What doesn't work

  • Doing 1-10m per day is pointless. Your mind is like a glass of water with sediments, it needs time for those sediments to settle to the bottom. This is why skilled meditators recommend longer sessions. Dipa Ma recommends 4h / day, 2h sit at dawn, 2h in the evening. 1-2h per day seems to be the recommended amount, but 20-40m / day is a good starting point.
  • Trying to start out too long / day will fail, because it requires a lot of motivation. We want to gradually build a habit, not rely on motivation.

Preparation before Meditating on your subject

  • Mindful breath that you will succeed, and are on the same path as the Buddha and other arahants.
  • Mindful breath of loving-kindness towards all beings.
  • Mindful breath of death, and the impurity of your body.