I have had problems with the sleepy, drowsy part. 20 or so years ago I was vigilant and when I'd catch myself drifting off I'd shake it off and begin again. I got so good at it that when it came time for me to actually sleep I would automatically catch myself and wake myself up. This would have been a minor nuisance if it weren't for the fact that I couldn't fall asleep and I had a job to go to the next day. This went on for 3 nights (72 hours of no sleep) before I was so exhausted that I fell asleep at work. This went on for several weeks. I was so anxious about not being able to fall asleep that this fed into my insomnia. I finally went to see a medical doctor who treated it as a Generalized Anxiety Disorder and prescribed Ativan and Sonata. I took the drugs and slept extremely well. I stopped meditating at that time since it seemed to be having a negative impact on the quality of my life and didn't pick it up again until 2 years ago. Since the whole insomnia thing was so traumatic now if I am drowsy, I take a nap and if I am in pain I move. Bill
Find what makes your heart sing…and do it! ________________________________ From: Chris Austin-Lane <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, August 21, 2012 10:14:57 AM Subject: Re: [Zen] "Greying of the Sangha..." Posture and a little bit of yoga is pretty standard teaching even in the Soto lineages via Japan that have taught me. I have noticed one characteristic flaw that the youngsters make which is easier to avoid in through oldsters, which is a fearful attitude towards fatigue. People will deliberately sit in painful leg positions to avoid feeling sleepy. and I certainly agree a painful period is preferable to a sleepy period, but learning how to stay awake in through midst of fatigue is very valuable training. Certainly as a parent or on call person, I have had great use for a more open and flowing awareness at all sorts of sleepy times. To train oneself to be awake in the face of pain but not in the face of drowsiness is curiously incomplete. On Aug 18, 2012 5:36 PM, "Joe" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Chris, > > Thanks! > > Yes, average-age varies with sanghas; right. And with geographic locales, > and >with teachers, too, I find. > > When I started formally I was 27, and most of the others in the sangha were >about the same age. It's because the teacher had JUST come from China, and >word >was spread about his presence in America (New York City) on college campuses >in >Religion departments, and through general announcement flyers posted on >campuses. I was lucky to see one of the flyers at Columbia, in the Physics >Department where I worked! > > The teacher was 50 when I started with him. He lived and taught for another > 29 >years. > > In various sanghas I stayed long in, usually the only thing "doing" or going >on, thankfully, was the Dharma: I'm glad I didn't meet with groups such as you >mention who were overly sanguine about environmental affairs or civil rights. > "Time-and- place!" I mean, surely there's a place for "Engaged Buddhism", >but >I never even liked the sound of that label. > > In general, though, I have nothing to say against Boomers, but nothing very >much to say "for" them, either. I know too many of them "too" closely, to >know >that they're/we're nothing special. And, if they ARE special in some area >(great artist, teacher, Yogi, or scientist), then they are ordinary in other >areas, or even deficient in some. Well, a bit like all of us, and like >everybody before us! You might say it's the human condition. ;-) > > I don't let myself off this same hook, either, mind you. > > California seems a "natural" place where sanghas will always be young, Chris. > Anyway, I hope it is always so. And I hope the old folks stick with it and >bring a good example for the young ones joining. > > Teachers say -- sometimes lamenting -- that "A teacher gets the students > he/she >DESERVES". We don't always get to choose. Maybe it's partly "karma". > > If I am to be a teacher, I think I'd much rather teach to quite young people: >the way I teach is pretty physical, and I think older people are usually not >ready for this. Younger people competently take it as more of a challenge >that >they can accept and work with, and can get results pretty soon with, to keep >them going. With older folk, some remedial building-up needs doing, if the >person is to take well to our sort of practice, and vice-versa. It's serious! > Health takes time to regain, if it's had a chance to slide. > > In our teaching, Posture is a big thing; Exercises; Self-massage; and some >special Yoga exercises. Plus, extended periods of slow Prostrations. > > This is *not* the Japanese way of teaching, but comes through my teacher from >China, Sheng Yen. It is wonderful, but not "merely"-wonderful: it is a >practical wonder, when a student can begin it and continue it. I hope I can >still teach this to young people well into my 90s... as well as to continue to >practice it myself. > > Chris, I think you are too old to start at age 44. It may be the >over-the-hill-gang for *YOU*, Old Man! ;-) > > No, we find really that it is all up to the practitioner. Sheng Yen had > people >with him who were always older than he was at any time, though they might not >have been newcomers. > > Ah, but you have a sangha and teacher. Already blessed! > > Strong practice, > > Thanks again, & Cheers, > > --Joe > > > Chris Austin-Lane <chris@...> wrote: > > > > In my Sangha in Maryland, I was one of the youngest. In California, about > > half are younger than I. > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are >reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links > > >
