Integration of Meditation in to Daily life

[Garrett81]

Hello everyone I hope you are all well.

Garrett here , iv been meditating for nearly four years. I have completed Vipassana, Loving Kindness and a 8 week MBSR program. I am a very slow learner and would to be in a position to attend retreats to deepen my practice, however not long after I first discovered meditation I had to small kids in my life, so I try to meditate as often as I can, mostly every morning in get up at 5am(hour before the kids rise ) and practice. I am very committed to my practice and look forward to the day where I can get a firm grasp from a teacher and retreats.

 But until then I am looking for guidance and support to help me intergrate my practice in to my daily life, I tend to meditate and then completely forgot about intergrating in to my daily life, I put so much effort in to my practice but I let myself down by not using these precious tools in my life but I do not feel like giving up. . I feel like a craftsman who goes to work every day without his toolbox.

Thank you for reading my post and I’m so happy to have discovered some like minded people. I will look forward to to guidance and support!!

Regards
Garrett

[Thanisaro85]

Hi Garrett,

From the moment one wake up, he acknowledged tbat he wake up, he know he arched forward to get up of the bed, he knew it when the legs touch the floor, he knew it when he is standing up, he know it when he is walking to the bath room, he know  the hand movement when he is brushing the tooth. At meal he know it when the spoon is delivering the food to the mouth....note that all these are acknowledged in close intermittent and naturely and Not in slow motion.

During all the activities, he know it when thoughts arises,  he let it go of it was not a important issue. He know it whenever emotion of irritation, sadness, boringness,  frustration arised..he know it and not interfere with them, simply watch them so that the mind stay at "present" . He know it when the mind is restless, he know it when he can't concentrate....This allow the " i"  to see that the mind is non-self, the body is non-self. It take times when real sati arised.
Like pulling the conscious into the air and watch this body(avatar) moved by itself.

During work, one can only intermittently "know",  example if one is writing a email that required to think and phrase properly, one can't keep staring at the own thoughts...the mind can only do one thing at a time. 
 

With wisdom, middle path.
When one is crossing the junction, watch out for traffic. When one is driving, pay attention to traffic, do not apply vipassana meditation during driving and crossing the road.

Hope the brief examples help.

[Dharmic Tui]

Use your newfound focus and calm to put yourself into a better place to live your life.