I had made mention in a old post I had once took ordination as a Buddhist monk. In Thailand it is often customary for a male to take ordination once in ones lifetime. It’s believed that by taking ordination you create merit for your parents especially ones mother. My mom was sick at the time, so it decided to do it in her honor.
Meditation Platform at Abhayagiri Monastery
I’ve grew up Buddhist, my father ordained after he retired from his medical practice and has been a monk for the past 13 years.
I now consider myself a “practicing” Buddhist. Since my ordination in February of 2006 I stopped drinking and doing drugs, in order to deepen my practice and mindfulness. It wasn’t all that hard to give up those things, as I wasn’t that big of a boozer to begin with. I do however miss it… It’s really nice to sit down and have a few beers with the boys sometimes.
Dharmachakra Buddha
This weekend I went to visit a Monastery which I support. Abhayagiri Monastery is a Traditional Thai Theravaden “Forest” Monastery. The Forest tradition is considered the most orthodox of the Theravaden tradition. I try to get up their at least once a month. It’s about a 3 hour drive from San Francisco to Ukiah.
Last Friday was “Wan Phra” or Buddhist observance day. The program for that evening is Buddhist Chanting, followed by meditation and a Dhamma talk. The Dhamma talk would end and we would do formal sitting and walking meditation from about 9pm to 3 am.
I’ve done a lot of physically demanding things in my life. I’ve done several marathons which I felt stretched and pushed me both physically and mentally. However I found this weekend that one of the most physically challenging things to do is to just sit still for a few hours.
Vippassana or Insight Mediation is the practicing of focusing your attention inwards. The goal is to fix your attention on your breathe… that’s it. If your mind wanders (which it will) just bring its focus back to your breathe. Sounds simple right?
I try to do sitting meditation almost every morning (except weekends) for about 30 min after I wake. The days that I can keep my mind still for 5 min, I consider it a small victory. A side benefit I found from doing Vippassana meditation is pain management.
When you’re sitting cross legged or in a Lotus position for any extended period of time your hips, knees and legs begin to feel a little cramped. It’s starts off as a dull pain then grows in its intensity. Your first reaction is to switch positions or to move your leg. Part of your meditation practice is to observe the external elements and to note how they affect your mind. You all know pain is distracting as hell. It’s difficult to focus when your muscled begin to fatigue; your lungs are burning etc. Your mind should remain still, calm, unmoved and focused. As it really begins to ache and throb you think “I can’t bear this any longer” You realize that you are in fact bearing it and you have been for the past several min.” If you just stop resisting and let the pain do it’s “thing”, its amazing but it is much less of an issue.
Meditation Hall
If you’re interested in learning more about Buddhism, meditation or mindfulness I suggest downloading some of the talks from the Abhayagiri website. I think a good place to start is a talk given by Bhante Rahula. Anyway I hope these talks can be of use to some of you.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Anonymous // Jul 6, 2007 at 12:27 am
the second link from the bottom is broken (2x http://)
2 ernesto // Jul 6, 2007 at 6:59 am
Good stuff brother. I will definitely take a look at this material as I know I am in serious need of change and meditation in my life. Thanks again..
3 SpydaMan // Jul 6, 2007 at 7:45 am
My mind wanders 24/7, it’s very hard for me to stay focused for an extended amount of time. I’m a very creative person and have a lotta of imagination (that’s what I blame it on.).
Anyway, I’m gonna try that meditation and see if it works for me. Thanx a lot man.
4 matt lucas // Jul 6, 2007 at 9:41 am
I suppose this is a little off topic, but have you ever been to the wat in LA? I heard they have these really huge yak there.
5 ernesto // Jul 6, 2007 at 9:53 am
im the same damn way as Spyda. My imagination gets the best of me at times.
6 Bunzy // Jul 6, 2007 at 10:10 am
I’ve been a monk three times in my life. First time for my fathers death, the second time for my mother’s death, and the third time when i turned wa a year later after my mother. I was raised a Bhuddist, but dont really consider myself in any religion. I love the teaching of Bhuddist but to be honest, I only follow it for the sake of my family’s beliefs. I guess it doesnt really take anything out of me to go to the temple and pray for them or with them. Just a little bit of my time but it makes them happy so in return it make me happy.
I was a monk twice in Wat Pra Tumachat in LA. (Beautiful Temple) and once in Fresno, Ca ( not as beautiful but very peaceful ).
As far as meditation is concern, I think ( think ) i did experience something wierd, i guess its hard to explain. It was only once but i was deep in a meditation or to rationalize it - or it couldve been that i fell asleep and started dreaming while meditating, but what ever it was, if i said it people would not believe me or just think i’m crazy. So its best to not say. Anyhow, real meditation ( as in really opening your mind to nothing ) is great.
7 Mrblackmagic // Jul 6, 2007 at 4:51 pm
I think there is somthing very essential to learning to handle dull pain. It opens up something in the mind.
I do not meditate myself, but I was stuck in a tea ceremony here in Tokyo for 3 and a half hours.
I was at this event mostly to translate for some visiting foreign guests and the hosts. Well I sat down in Seiza intially and immidiately realized what a bad Idea that was. the people I work for were watching to see how long I would stay like this as the other foreigners changed position within 10 minutes as they had no reason not too. I saw that my boss didnt change so I didnt. by 30 minutes I wanted to knaw my legs off and I dont know when but at some point I just became euphoric and had no pain and I felt like I was on drugs and it was all coming from my legs.
Interesting.
8 BOBBAY // Jul 6, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Thanks alot for this information
9 Meditation 101 // Jul 27, 2007 at 12:07 am
[...] I’ve heard some positive feedback about the posts I did on Meditation. Some of you have expressed interests, so here we [...]
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