Buddhism Stack Exchange
Buddhism Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [meditation-practicalities]

The practical aspects of meditation including but not limited to timing sits, equipment, suitable location and scheduling practice.

232 questions
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How to determine the end of a meditation session without a clock?

I have a clock, it just is distracting having to look at it every few minutes.
MatthewMartin
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Can I practice Buddhism without meditating?

If it's possible to do it, how should such practice look like? Will it be inferior to the practice of those who meditate?
michau
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Is there any such thing as a bad meditation?

I've always been told that there is no such thing as a bad meditation. No matter what happens it is OK. In fact the meditator is a bad judge of the effectiveness and efficacy of any sit even if those concepts did have meaning. However I was reading…
Crab Bucket
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What is the recommended time of day for meditation?

Does Buddhism have any recommendation for particular time of day for meditation? Can I meditate before going to sleep at night if I don't feel drowsy before I go to bed? Is there any Sutra which talks about this?
Bharat
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Is it considered against standard Buddhist doctrine to meditate with music?

Two slightly related questions: Is it considered against standard Buddhist doctrine to meditate with music? In particular, "meditation music" - where it's calm, relaxing, peaceful, etc. I'm fairly new to all this; my meditation practice is hardly a…
Jeff Wright
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Limitations of meditation/mindfulness without Vinaya

Some teachers say that the meditation practice without the Vinaya is very limited on its achievments. That is equivalent of saying that lay meditators will have very limited results, even if he/she keeps the 5 precepts. Can anyone explain what is…
konrad01
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How to use a Tibetan singing bowl when meditating solo?

Tibetan singing bowls produce a binaural tone which is claimed to be conducive to deep meditation. However, if you are meditating you would need someone to play it for you or you'd need to listen to a recording. The former is not always available…
Synesso
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Will smoking cigarettes permanently hinder meditation?

The breath is such an important part of meditation. Will a decreased lung capacity decrease the depth I can achieve in meditation?
Yoda Bytes
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Is my Meditation Practice Too Busy?

I've been meditating fairly regularly for the past 5+ years, but have really only begun to follow Buddhism the past year or so. As such, my meditation practice has changed. I admit, I am not presently working with a teacher or monastery, though it…
KevinMartillo
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Will I know when it's time to meditate longer?

When I first started meditating I was very eager to progress. I started with five minutes and added another five with every week. I probably made it to 30 minutes or something when I just quit altogether. It was all quantity-over-quality. Towards…
inzenity
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When is the right time to meditate?

I was watching "how to meditate" in internet. In one video, a master said, not to meditate in the night in dark. If one meditates in dark, they should light candle or incense stick. The reason he gave was, one meditating in night will be possessed…
8CK8
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Sense of Accomplishment in Meditation

Regardless of a meditation's perceived quality, I feel that finishing a meditation provides some sense of accomplishment. Nowadays, I am experiencing great lack of motivation, and when I set the goal of meditation as '30 minutes', I stop half-way…
user7302
3
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4 answers

Automatic Habit of Meditation

In psychology, a habit is defined as a behaviour done automatically, requiring little conscious effort. I have meditated recently pretty much every second day, but I fail to see any automaticity; its incredibly effortful to sit and meditate for me…
user7302
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Controlling earworms during meditation

I've been practicing and managed to access first jhana, but I haven't found a solution to one obstacle that often frustrates my meditation: earworms. (Earworms are musical fragments that play repetitively in the head, and which I experience the…
Lysander
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How to Determine Meditation Object

I have practised previously with the breath, but I feel my eyes fall automatically when setting attention on the breath, and inversely, focusing on objects makes my mind alert. Is this sufficient to switch meditation object? Q1: What are the best…
user7302
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