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Wednesday 5 October 2011

22/365 - On Meditation, With Persistence

"Student: Most of us have hectic lives and schedule.

When we try to meditate we are extremely scattered in the beginning.  You say we should tell ourselves to feel happy and relaxed about what we are going to do, but thoughts and feelings are two different things.  You can tell yourself to settle down, but that doesn't mean you are going to.

[...] Shih-Fu: As I've said, you have to cultivate this skill.  To use an analogy, if you are learning to play tennis, initially you may feel frustrated and discouraged because you are missing the ball or hitting it poorly.  But with practice you will improve.  With persistence, at some point it becomes natural and enjoyable, and you look forward with enthusiasm to playing.  The health benefits of tennis becomes a free bonus.

You have to turn sitting practice into a habit.  Give yourself a hint subconsciously.  Tell yourself sitting is a pleasure, a good time.  Create this attitude, this atmosphere, even though you know you will not really feel this way all the time. If you do it over and over, you will train yourself.  Tell yourself this kind of enjoyment is better than other kinds of enjoyment.  It is a precious, spiritual time.  Train yourself.  At first it will be difficult.  You might fail in the beginning.  But keep trying.  This too, is practice."   - Ch'an Master Sheng-Yen  (Zen Wisdom)


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