Zen Teacher Norman Fischer talks about starting a meditation practice at home.
Throughout the years, conventional wisdom that emphasized on going to Buddhist centers in order to meditate has changed. The practicality of meditating in one’s own place has become a common practice. Even prominent meditators do so. The privacy and comfort of one’s home can certainly add to the enjoyment and fulfilment of the meditation practice.
If you’re interested in meditating in your home-sweet-home, here are some ways to get started:
1. The practice begins the night before
The night before the starting day, set the alarm half an hour earlier than usual. Contemplate and make sure that you commit to the plan. If you decide to push through with it, condition your mind before going to sleep. Remind yourself that you want to do it and the reason why you want to do it. A little self-talk will make you more serious in achieving the task.
2. Do it before anything else
If you do wake up, only the basic forms of washing are allowed: splashing of water on your face and rinsing your mouth. Change into comfortable clothes. Do not look at your phone, open your computer, or even drink your coffee. You have to complete the session before you start making excuses of “not having time” to do what you have decided to do. Use an alarm or meditation timers to mark the duration of the practice.
Do this for two weeks while taking a day or two off. After doing so, reflect on the experience. Do you want to continue? If you do, you may gradually lengthen the duration of your exercise. Mornings are usually the best time to meditate. The quiet of the still-sleeping world and the renewed state of your mind are greatly beneficial to meditation.
3. Finding the “right” place
You only need to find enough space for a cushion on the floor to get the ball rolling. Just make sure that your meditation corner is clean and organized. A neat place will aid you in decluttering your mind.
Not a morning person?
Meditation is often in the morning because your mind is still in its blank state. In the middle of the day, having some of the things you have to accomplish nagging at the back of your mind will keep you from unwinding. On the other hand, doing the exercise on evenings after experiencing the ups and down of each day is potentially stressful and tiring. In this case, you have to find the suitable time for you.
Struggling with having a calm and focused mind?
The greatest obstacle in starting meditation is the idea that you should have a calm and focused mind. Not having these would mean that there is something you’re not doing right. Depending on the meditation approach that you have, thoughts and emotions that distract the mind can be used as objects of meditation.
The key to a successful meditation exercise is the commitment and willingness to contemplate and let go. Meditation may take precious time from your busy schedule but the benefits that it brings are certainly worth the sacrifice.
