Welcome

Learning by doing. That's what we're up to here. And learning by NOT doing, too, I guess. If you're reading this, you either got an email telling you about it, or you bumped into this site randomly. In either case, welcome!

I am writing about a project that begins here, at this link, on New Year's  day. The idea for this blog and the experiment it chronicles originally came from another experiment run by a blogger named Dale, last year, on a blog called 100 Days.

There, a group of people aspired to sit "together" for 100 days. The only thing that connected most of them was intention and the Internet. They sat, posted comments and questions, and formed a small, virtual sangha that evaporated after the project was over. (Actually, I don't know whether it evaporated or not!)

The welcome message on that blog read like this:

We've committed to one hundred days of daily meditation. If you want to join us, welcome! It doesn't matter what sort of meditation you do, or what faith or tradition you hail from. All that matters is the willingness to commit to daily meditation, and a desire to help others keep their commitment to meditate. Join us at any time - you don't have to start at Day 1. We'd be delighted to have your company.

I don't know how that project unfolded, but I was inspired by the idea and I inquired with the teachers' council at the Buddhist center where I sit whether we might run a similar undertaking.

Our aim for this experiment, which officially begins on New Year's Day, January 1, 2007, is simple. We'd like to offer a new venue of support for people trying to establish a formal, daily spiritual practice of any kind. If anyone is interested, we'll also explore how to develop the habit of "carrying the practice," or "informal practice"--skillful actions done as we move through our day, working, eating, sleeping and playing.

You can post a comment here anytime you like by clicking on the "Comments" button at the bottom of each poste. You can reply to comments in the same way, and you can post questions and answers, too.

One important note: nobody here is designated as a guru, teacher or leader, so choose advice to follow as if you met us all in a local coffee shop and didn't know us from Adam.

See you soon. The first official poste will happen January 1st, right here, so save the link. You can check in before that to see if people are stopping by this blog in the meantime. Feel free to say hello, via a comment; or to ask questions before we begin.

Happy holidays. Hope you're having a little break.

Comments

[Anne S.]

Glad to be part of this

[dale]

Actually, "100 days" is still running strong, on its fourth -- or maybe fifth?
"hundred days" now :-)

Best of luck here! As a bit of advice -- the very best time to add a comment is when things are going terribly, practice is dry as dust, and you haven't actually sat for six days. That's when you'll least feel like speaking up, but it's the best gift you can give other people who are having a hard time, and it's what's most likely to get you the support you need.

[lekshe]

Dale and Anne, thanks for your update on the 100 days sangha. What Dale says about commenting is true. Gosh, you won't even meet most of the people on this blog face to face, so it's a great place to begin experimenting with being up-front about the things that keep you from sitting.

[310]

I already have a practice. Like most people (I believe) I'm not very good at it. I wouldn't mind a little extra support (OK, I have plenty already, but - you know). Good practice, everyone!

[Judy]

I'm glad this is here. I hope this support will help me reach the goal. Though I strive for daily formal practice, it's become more like 5 days out of 7. Maybe this will help me get to all seven.

Wishing the best for all,

Judy

[annie.m]

Hi, I'd welcome giving and receiving support for practice; having recently taken refuge and also moved into a new home, I'm seeking to get back into a steady routine. Glad you all will be here.

[lekshe]

Nice to see people wandering in... I've left the first official post at the top of the page, but the ones between now and January 1st will appear below it for now, just to keep the start info at the top for new commers. I hope your practice flourishes between now and New Years. And if not, well.. we're going to work together on that.

Many centers will do a New year's retreat (even a day or less) this time of year. Some will have a special ceremony or teaching of some kind. It's an easy way to be sure you sit on New year's Day :) and usually there's food, so you can be off the hook for grazing for a few hours, too. :)

[lekshe]

Annie, many warm wishes for your new home. :) Have you found a room, corner or rug that feels right for sitting yet?

[RickV]

This is a great idea! I have practiced meditation on a daily basis for many years but I have never attempted any sort of journal. This will be interesting. We'll see if I have the discipline or for that matter the content to post here regularly.
RickV

[lekshe]

Yes, Rick, it's an interesting experiment, isn't it? I maintain several blogs, but sometimes I start one and later see a reason to discontinue it. This one has sitting as its underlying motive so seems like it might last. But the proof is in the pudding.. :)

[tenzin]

This will be most helpful to me as I am far from my Dharma center. I must develop a regular practice. My wish for 2007 is for world peace and full, perfect awakening for all sentient beings in all realms and of the three times without a single exception.

[mary ganzon]

i knew you guys were out there. i knew that we're really just one big sangha. so glad to give and get support.
what a beautiful way to go into the new year!
xoxo

[lekshe]

Welcome all. Tenzin, I hope your wish comes true. I'll join my own wish to yours. Yes, Mary, we're out here, and in here and everywhere. It IS a great start to the New Year, I agree. And it can be a great start on Valentine's Day, and St. Patrick's Day and all the rest. :)

[Genko]

Last day of 2006. In many ways it's just another day. I got up, took a walk, sat zazen and then did a bunch of bowing practice -- that's not typical. That is, the number of bows I did isn't typical. I sometimes do 18 bows by myself in the morning. Today I did double that -- 36. It being a day for many bows. There will be many more tonight, both at the Fusatsu ceremony, and afterwards to the Founders Shrine. My legs are slightly rubbery, which often means that they will be sore tomorrow.

It's cold and clear this morning, and dry -- no frost on my car this morning as there was yesterday. Temps are in the 20s. I noticed on my walk this morning that I wanted both gloves and hat, and almost got out the ear-warmer that I sometimes wear under the hat when it's really cold. I sat zazen in the big zendo, where the temperature is set to 58 degrees, and the heat came on while I sat. I wrapped a blanket around myself, even though I'm bundled up with sweater and wool samue jacket plus other cotton layers. Still, in the morning it's common for me to get cold.

Sitting meditation felt good today. I went into it a little unsettled. It seems that sitting still for 45 minutes or more, focusing on the present moment, on the breath, letting go of past and future, watching thoughts and feelings rise and fall, does allow the mind to calm down. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I see that it does. There's just a different quality that I can access now that I couldn't see before sitting.

Sometimes I want to share things that are happening, but am too busy. Then when I get time to write, like today, nothing much is going on. So you get a snippet of an ordinary day. I try to remember some of those things that came into my mind to share, but the mind gets regularly emptied, so whatever those things were no longer seem important. It's all transient, I suppose. What really matters is the quality of light on the tree outside, the feel of the keyboard on my fingers, thinking of family and friends, and anticipation of a special evening coming up. And underneath all of that, an abiding peace and faith. And, yes, joy and gratitude.

[DeGaia (Stefanie V)]

Count me in! Thank you so much for providing this wonderful practice opportunity. I'm a KCC member, but I live way out and don't get in to practice with the sangha near as often as I'd like to. This is a nice way to feel connected with KCC and with all other fellow practitioners on this blog. Namaste.

[Yammie]

I'll throw my hat into this ring. I tried the 100 days of meditation before & fell down pretty hard--a bit embarrassing since I was the one who initially announced my intention publically.

To achieve more success, I'm redefining the term "practice" non-traditionally. I plan to do as much formal meditation practice as my hard head and time will allow. However, I recently switched careers to social services. I realize that every moment I work in this field and every moment I study and practice the skills I need for it, I am practicing the Dharma. I wish all of us success in our practices, whatever form they may take. --Yammie

[Miché]

Hi all,
thanks for this space. I'm from the Eugene, OR area and connected to KSC, Ashland center. I've been part of a practice commitment group for the past year and a half and it has been a varied path. Somtimes a help and support to push me to the cushion, sometimes a place to explore why it's so hard to get there. One of the things that has been helpful in the group has been the suggestion of our lamas of trying out different focuses besides watching the breath. Sometimes the instruction was to use sound - whatever sounds came and went naturally, or to gaze at an everyday object, or to gaze at a sacred object. Anyway - just trying these different focuses keeps a bit of freshness and curiousity to see how they feel different, if there are preferences, etc.
I look forward to mutual discovery and support here.
Namaste

[Choying Khandro]

I jsut want to chime in and say that this is a great way to connect with other practioners and share how we are doing etc. It will be interesting to both observe and participate in this way.

[Jeff]

I'm in! I managed a rocky session this morning that I might have skipped had I not planned to join the 108 day experiment. So it's already paying dividends--

[Lisa Mann]

I woke up this morning in a hotel room in Lincoln City, OR., having worked at a nightclub until 1am the night before. I could barely sleep, had awful nightmares (helpful hint: don't watch a cop show right before you go to bed) and woke up in a stupor.

I had some strong tea, read a few pages from a book about old Ch'an texts, set my cell phone alarm for 1/2 hour and sat on my zafu (I take it with me on hotel stays) in front of a defunct fireplace screen.

Lots of downward flowing motion (happens a lot) and a little sleep-deprived queasiness in the stomach. Wandering thoughts, kept going back to thoughts of work. Bring it back, bring it back.

Later walked on the beach, I felt distant and disconnected, very sleepy. I watched a couple surf, the woman was squealing with joy when she toppled over on her board. It warmed my heart, then I felt really sad and cried a tear. A friend is in a coma and dying. Another had a breast removed.

Such joy, such sorrow- what is this life? What is it?

[Lekshe]

Aren't those 180 degree turns on experience amazing.. one minute we're really joyful and then the next, sad. So whole!

Wish I could answer your other question.. Maybe someone else reading will have some thoughts..

[Lekshe]

Hey, Jeff, me, too. Knowing someone else is going to show up really gets me to do things. I don't mind disappointing myself, but geeze I hate to let other people down. I always think the benefit of hosting a sitting group in your house is that you have to be there and your house has to be clean--not bad. Of course, you are probably ALWAYS out of coffee, too. :) See you tomorrow.

[Monlam]

I loved what Lisa had to say because of the nowness of it and the honesty. I want to hear more! Sometimes i feel like I'm sitting in front of a defunct fireplace screen even when I don't have one.

Right now I've been practicing regularly, but I know that is not 'forever' and I need you guys, and also, I want to do this twice a day, and that's why I'm not signing my 'real world' name, so you won't know who I am when i crawl back into this site announcing that i have hit yet another defunct screen.

[Lekshe]

Monlam, when you crawl back, I will know your name for sure. Your name is "all of us, sooner or later, inlcuding me." Thanks for responding.

[Lisa Mann]

Monlam- LOL about the defunct screen! Is that what I'm looking for or trying to move away from? >8-0

I sat at the zendo tonight, unexpected precentor gig. Always feel intimidated when the Queen comes in to sit on her throne (Abbess). Will I hit the gong correctly when she bows? Do I do it AS she bows, or is my gong supposed to cue her to bow? What about after kinhin, when the jisha goes up to the altar, do I ting the bell when she bows there, or down in front, or to her cushion? Am I keeping the FORM?

Then, "Can she hear me squirming around over here? I'm precenting, I have an OBLIGATION to sit in an upright and sincere manner! I have a duty to this sangha!" Blah blah blah.

Also, "My left sinus is completely cleared out, my pipes are drying up. Will I be able to sing the vespers? What key should I start? What if I start too high, or too low?"

"My friend is swooshing his socks on the carpet in kinhin. Why doesn't he take off his socks?"

"What am I going to do with my life?"

HEY KIDS, THIS IS NOT SAMADHI.