My First Date With Buddha
“Keep your heart clear and transparent, and you will never be bound. A single disturbed thought creates ten thousand distractions.” – Ryokan
I went with my sister to my first meditation class last night at a local Buddhist Temple. As I mentioned before, I have read about meditation but have never been able to do it on my own because my mind wanders. I figured a guided meditation might help. I was right.
First, I have to back-track a little. Almost every weekday, around 4-6pm, I become anxious. First I get a knot in my stomach that eventually gets worse and worse and then I get irritable. It took forever but I finally figured out where this was coming from. That knowledge didn’t stop it from happening. Yesterday at this time, I didn’t feel it. No anxiety. No irritability. Nothing. I was cool as a cucumber. Hmmmm….did the universe know I was going to meditation class later?
We started off in a standing position. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought meditation always involved being seated and still. Not so. The beginning meditations were a series of movements and sounds designed to cleanse different body parts or organs of toxins. I’m not sure if I believe that this actually works but it couldn’t hurt and it was relaxing.
The next part involved walking. There were two options, fast or slow. Not having a clue what was going on, I followed my sister in the fast lane. It was later explained that the walking meditation is to get your blood circulating so that you will sit more comfortably later. This was my least favorite part. While it did get the blood pumping, especially in the fast lane, I was not at all focused. I was looking at all the “stuff” in this foreign (to me) place. I figured out that you can switch from the fast lane to the slow lane anytime you like. I later found out that it’s a matter of personal choice to walk slow or fast. I did both. The fast lane was less distracting because you had to keep up the pace of the group. The sound of all those feet booking around was rhythmic.
After that we all sat on cushions with our shoes off and our legs crossed and began what I think of when I think of meditating. We closed our eyes and counted our breaths, breathing normally. We had to count 10 breaths and then start over at 1. Repeatedly. For what seemed like at least 45 minutes. I really have no clue how long this actually was but it felt like forever.
At first I got really into it. I was feeling pretty proud of myself. My mind wasn’t wandering. I wasn’t thinking about anything. In fact, I wasn’t feeling anything at all, except relaxed. Had I already reached Nirvana?! Nope. Someone sneezed and broke the spell. I had a difficult time getting back into it after that. I noticed that my entire right leg had fallen asleep but I was afraid to move! I ended up counting to 15 at one point and thought, “I’m doing it wrong”. Despite this and the discomfort of my now-dead right leg, this part of the class was extremely relaxing and beneficial.
After a short break and another round of walking, we were told a story about a Dharma who brought flowers to Buddha. Buddha kept telling him to “let it go”, even after the Dharma had already put the flowers down. The Dharma was confused. What Buddha meant was let all of it go, all of the stress, all of the problems, all of the anxiety. This was pretty amazing to me. Although I know enough about Buddhism to know that this is one of the principles of the religion, the exact phrase, “let it go”, is one I repeat to myself regularly. It’s the title of a song I love. It’s even the “greeting” I have on the screen of my cell phone.
I left the class feeling extremely relaxed. I loved it. I will be back every two weeks.
Thanks for stopping by!
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I have only tried meditation alone by myself but my mind wonders horribly. I find myself thinking about laundry, chore lists, etc. It is like everything I need to remember suddenly comes to forethought. I haven’t tried guided meditation but I think you may have inspired me to seek it out.
How did you sleep??????????
This is probably NOT what you hoped your readers would walk away with – but I’m just so happy to learn I’m not the only one who gets random bouts of anxiousness in the day. Mine usually comes later at night, before bed – when the day is “wrapping up.”
These past two posts of yours could not have come at a better time for me! My mind is wandering like crazy since my work hours have been cut back EVEN further.
This post is so perfectly timed (no surprise there!) Today is Buddhas birthday!!!
I love the title of this post!! And I’m so jealous.. I would love to try a meditation class. I’m sure it takes lots of work to reach that nirvana state. Keep on trying!:)
Wow. That sounds so awesome. I wish I lived near you guys.
I don’t know of any classes like that around here.
Great you enjoy the class. Wise move to go back every two weeks. Looking forward to your postings after. May you find what buddha found.
though i have been a christian for years, i recently started practicing christian meditation. it has been around for centuries but no church i have ever gone to has ever said much about it. it really is about the discipline of stilling your heart, mind and soul before God. i can’t tell you what a difference it has made in my life! just 10 minutes a day has taken the swirling anxiety and brought it to rest. i walk away peaceful, knowing that i am loved and looked after. not a bad use of 10 minutes eh?
yeah believe it or not, meditation is something encouraged in the bible. the psalms especially talks a lot about it. i think the difference between christian meditation and other forms of meditation is that christian meditation focuses on a person. you still your mind but don’t empty it. you sit in the presence of God with the aim of allowing his love to transform you. at least that is what i have learned so far. i didn’t get any of this from my church. ( actually i don’t go to a traditional church, i meet with several families in a home once a week to pray, eat and talk about God and the bible) i had to go back to people like madame guyon and other mystic saints to learn a bit how to walk and meditate from a christian perspective.
Wow – first time my words have been changed since my high school exit statement for the yearbook. I didn’t give a LAST name!
I have been a practicing buddhist for coming onto 35 years now….and my goodness it has been a great start! Walking meditation in the zen sect is called kinhin and is a great meditation practice..especially as one gets older and the limbs are not as forgiving as when they were young and supple! I have had Christian friends describe God as “that still quiet voice that guides “…This is the heart of meditation…to become still…..tranquil…unsullied by ego…..to cease living in the past and in the future…to live in this very exciting NOW we swim in like fish in a river…Any tradition can become a substitute for responsibility if we aren’t careful…
STAY AWAKE!!!
I slept fine, but I haven’t had any chronic sleeping problems in quite awhile. I didn’t sleep any deeper, that I noticed anyway. I do still feel pretty relaxed today though. Last night, I felt almost like I do immediately after a massage. But, the after-effects of a massage are very short-lived for me. So, to still feel the effects today is progress for me.
Nice, hope you enjoy it!
Oh boy, I’m sorry to hear about your work hours being cut. Believe me, I feel your pain in that department too. As far as what I hoped my readers would walk away with…I always hope that anyone reading will at least walk away with the knowledge that they are not the only ones feeling/doing/going through….whatever. So, I’m glad my recent posts have helped! I used to feel anxious late at night too, and had trouble sleeping. I hope you are able to figure out how to stop these unwanted random bouts of anxiety AND that your company’s business picks up.
I thought it was May 2nd?
I see that it depends. It’s today in Japan. The temple we were at said May 2nd so they must not be from Japan. Weird that I wrote this post on (one of) his b-days.
http://buddhism.about.com/od/buddhistholidays/tp/whenisbuddhasbirthday.htm
I’ve never heard of Christian meditation, you must have found a great church! No, not a bad use of 10 minutes at all, good for you.
Thank you!
I just removed her name. I changed it back to the way you originally wrote it.