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Expert: - 7/14/2006


Question
I am a buddhist in the Theravada tradition aswel and i have started and stopped meditation numerous time but just can't seem to keep it up. Do have any suggestions on how i can start meditation up and stay intersted with it. It would also be great if you could recomend a online book i should read from the list on buddhanet about buddhist meditation.

Thanks from brian

Answer
Hi Brian,

Thank you for asking me.

If we need to be interested in order to meditate, then we got a problem.  The reason for meditation (Buddhist Meditation) is not to satisfy our interest.  The purpose of meditation is to tame the wandering mind and then to train it to listen to us.  If we have this mission in mind, then we will make extra effort to sit and still the mind.  It takes discipline and determination. That's why we can say that the very act of sitting and meditating is an achievement in itself.  Ordinary people without any knowledge of meditation cannot even sit still for 5 minutes.  Their minds are continuously wandering seeking sensual gratification.  The moment their minds are not being gratified they feel bored.  This is what we call the monkey mind.

The answer to your question is to view meditation in the right perspective and you will persevere in your effort whether you are "interested" in it or not. Treat it like cultivating good habits.  Bad habits are easy to follow but difficult to bear.  Good habits are difficult to follow but easy to bear.


May I strongly recommend this book by Ajahn Sumedho "Mindfulness: The Path to the Deathless" @

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/deathless.pdf

Ajahn Sumedho is the most senior American monk from the Ajahn Chah's lineage. He is now based in England. Ajahn Chah was one of the most respected "forest" monk in Thailand.

There is this site in Western Australia where Ajahn Brahmawamso resides. He is an English monk and is a very popular speaker. He is also the disciple of Ajahn Chah.  You can listen to his talk through this site:
Buddhist Society of Western Australia @
Web site: www.bswa.org


Smile from justinchoo :-)  

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Justin Choo

Expertise

When in doubt seek it out. All your questions will be answered, and you may not have to agree with the answers. Such is the beauty of Buddhism. You are free to decide. I follow the Theravada tradition, and have been studying Buddhism for more than 40 years. Please view my profile for more details. I have answered more than 1500 questions since joining this category. You may like to give me the honor to answer your question.

Experience

I was brought up in the 50's as a Buddhist. For the past 40 years I have read numerous books on Buddhism and listened to numerous talks on Buddhism by well-respected and learned monks and lay teachers. I conduct Buddhist classes for parents of Sunday School children in a Theravada Buddhist Temple. My teacher was the late Chief Reverend, The Ven. K Sri Dhammananda of The Brickfields Buddhist Mahavihara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You can view the relevent website in memory of my revered late teacher @ http://www.ksridhammananda.com

Organizations
I am a life member of the Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia.

Publications
YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT MY BLOG @ http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/ Published a book called "The Rainbow And The Treasure". It is a compilation of extracts from various sources to introduce Buddhism to beginners. (Currently out of print)

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Commerce And Administration, Victoria University Of Wellington, NZ.(1974)

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