I have been doing basically as you describe. It was fine with 10 minutes, but making the move from 10 to 20 or 30 was very hard.
I had stopped doing the counting, should I maybe get back to it? --- In [email protected], <billsm...@...> wrote: > > Dave, > > > > I don't know if the feeling of boredom will pass for you. It did for all > people I know of that sit. Of course maybe it didn't for those that tried > sitting but quit. > > > > How are you sitting? I suggest you find a competent teacher to instruct > you. Second best is find an instructional book or website. There's are > many good sites on the web, or check out JMJM's site. He's a frequent > poster on the Zen Forum and will probably respond to this. > > > > If all else fails, follow these instructions: > > > > 1. Sit in a comfortable position. It should be a position in which > the back is upright but not supported, and that opens up your hips so that > you can breathe well. Full-lotus is preferable. Half-lotus or cross-legged > is okay. Kneeling is okay. Sitting upright on the front of a > straight-backed chair is okay too. > > 2. When you first get into the position close your eyes and sway from > your hips like an inverted pendulum, first back and forth and then side to > side. Slowly decrease the angle of your swaying until you are upright. > This will help you find an upright position that puts the least amount of > strain on your back and legs. > > 3. Fold your hands one inside the other and rest them on your legs. > > 4. Open your eyes, lower your gaze to a point about 3 or 4 ft in front > of you. If you're facing a wall pick a point low on the wall as if you were > gazing about 3 or 4 ft in front of you. A solid-colored wall is best. > White or cream-colored is best. De-focus your eyes. > > 5. Take a deep inhale and exhale slowly. Do this 3 times. Your > breathing should be 'belly breathing' - your belly should be going out and > in with the breathes. It should NOT be 'chest breathing' - where your > shoulders go up and down with the breathes. These should not be so deep as > to strain you, but as deep as is comfortable. > > 6. Take a deep inhale and then count '1' (in your mind) while exhaling > slowly. > > 7. Count '2' while inhaling slowly. > > 8. Repeat until you've reached '10', and then start over. > > 9. If you lose count, or find your mind wandering, or find you're on a > number greater than 10, start over. > > 10. Count your exhales and inhales like this until you can do it > consistently without losing count. > > 11. Then change and count '1' on your exhale/inhale cycle, '2' on your > next exhale/inhale cycle. Do this until you can do it well. > > 12. Then change and drop the counting, and only 'follow the breathes', > just direct your attention to following the breath as you exhale and inhale. > Do this until you can do it well. > > 13. Then drop the 'following' the breathe and 'just sit'. This is shikan > taza (clear mind). This is zazen. > > > > I'd suggest you only sit as long as you feel comfortable. If that's 10 > minutes, then that's okay. Just sit 10 minutes at a time. Sit this way for > a couple days or a week and then jump it up to 15 minutes, then 20. I don't > think you ever need to go more than 20 minutes at home, but most zen centers > sit at least 30 minute or even 40 minute periods. > > > > Hope this helps.Bill! > > > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf > Of DP > Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 8:52 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Zen] Having trouble getting back into zazen > > > > > > I've tried to do the half-hour sitting in a chair, but I find myself getting > bored after 10 minutes. Will this pass? Will I be able to do longer in the > future if I keep it up? > > > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature > database 5394 (20100824) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
