Week One – A beginner’s beginning.

Home Forums Archive Taoist Meditation Circle Group Week One – A beginner’s beginning.

  • This topic is empty.
Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #128217

    Anonymous
    Guest

    I have very much enjoyed this first week’s practice and thought I would share my experience as a beginner. I have been practicing 20 minutes of sitting.

    The first time I sat for 20 minutes and was quiet inside, simply taking stock, I fell asleep. I guess I really needed the sleep because I woke up about half an hour later and moved to my bedroom where I slept for another couple of hours.
    The next day I tried again and felt a little drowsy, my eyes-lids became heavy toward the end but I managed the whole 20 minutes without falling asleep. Since then I’ve been okay and have actually been able to ‘take stock’ somewhat.

    I find that my mind wonders to whether I’m in the right environment first, then I begin to notice some aches in my upper back, then my thoughts drift between exercises to help open my back, or at the quietest times my mind sits within the weight of my arms or legs on the surface they’re resting on. About 10-15 minutes in I tend to get an actual quiet time where I don’t seem to have thought or taken stock of anything, but before the 20 minutes are up, my mind is back to whether there is somewhere else I should be doing my practice or the ache in my back. I’ve also noticed a feeling of tension in the front of my head, above my eyebrows, which seems to be there most of the day now I’ve noticed it; although it isn’t uncomfortable during the rest of the day.

    I’m looking forward to listening to week 2 and seeing where it progresses from here!

    #130703

    Anonymous
    Guest

    Thanks for writing about your experiences, David. I am really enjoying the format of this, and have been finding it useful to read about the experiences that other people are having. It’s funny – even at meditation workshops, we don’t always talk about our individual practice experiences very often. One’s spiritual practice and progress is a very personal thing, I sometimes feel funny asking people about it. Teachers also caution students about comparing one’s practice to someone else’s – everyone is so different, so I think teachers sometimes don’t want people to get discouraged because this or that didn’t happen to them…

    So I’m really looking forward to seeing how this develops. I just got the e-mail from Bruce that said 250 people had signed up! I am definitely looking forward to a year and a half of this…

    #130704

    Anonymous
    Guest

    Thanks for sharing that David. I consider myself a beginner too, and I’m interested in how you coped with the drowsiness, as I’m experiencing that too. Recognising that maybe one just does need a bit more sleep is so sensible!

    For me the biggest challenge will be investing the time in myself. I decided to start small and see if I could manage ten minutes a day. All my life I have found doing anything on a regular basis really difficult (eg music practice, tai chi practise, even taking pills daily). Little steps!

    #130705

    Anonymous
    Guest

    Hi Caroline, thanks for your reply. I still sometimes get sleepy during my practice, and I just go to sleep if I am. I work long hours so I’m not too surprised at my drowsiness, I’m grateful my body and mind are getting some well needed rest!
    I know what you mean about finding it hard to do things on a regular basis, but I think if you look more closely at your daily life you’ll see that there are probably quite a lot of things you do every day, or at least every other day. It’s just that when these things become simple habits, you barely notice that you do them any more.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

This is an archived forum (read only). Go to our active forum where you can post and discuss in real time.

Pin It on Pinterest