Mike,
I think one needs to be able to distinguish between 'just pain' and pain that can damage one's lower back or knees, learning to tolerate the former and avoid the latter. --ED --- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@...> wrote: > Mike, Nice try but my attachment to my zafu is via my butt and not my discriminating mind. I don't contemplate the various attributes of my zafu while sitting. Like, 'What is it that keeps me off the floor?'. In sesshins (Japanese Zen Buddhist meditation retreats)I have sat as long as 40 mins periods, and even up to 60 mins occasionally when the time-keeper goes to sleep. I never try to 'sit through' pain in my legs or back. I will make some adjustments to try to alleviate the pain and continue sitting, but if that fails I'll just get up, walk around a little and then return to sitting. Usually pain in the legs or back is do to bad sitting posture so I make sure my posture is correct when I return to sitting. ...Bill! ...Bill! --- In [email protected] <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/post?postID=XfxajXbAf3XFqJjIt45\ aqCn-y-cv0kIavZRt7xuq5j7gpcOmCBalgIeHWITRP4iZVZaPjMdkVlWIhuznC5XwnTvf> , mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Bill!, > > So it's safe to say you have no attacments to where or how you sit, other than what is comfortable at that particular time? Same with the jhanas. They take you deeper into your meditation and help to make the session last longer (much like discovering a zafu that fits your bum correctly ;) But they are not essential. There are warnings aplenty in the literature I've read against becoming attached to them just like anything else (at the risk of becoming a 'bliss-bunny'). > > > I usually time my sittings between 40-60 mins depending on how busy I am. If I have time I'll do this twice a day, but at least once in the evening. I usually sit cross-legged, but will sometimes sit Burmese style. If I'm feeling that the session is going well (in a vipassana sense), but the pain is becoming too distracting, then I'll stay mindful of my movements, but change to a more comfortable position. However, the 40-60 min session is usually done with no movement or changing of position whatsoever (I wasn't kidding when I said vipassana is the SAS of meditation sessions!). > > Mike
