Is Meditation Boring?

"Enjoy your successes, but do not get too excited by them. Just keep meditating away." Rabbi Jonathan Omer-Man

Is meditation boring?

Rabbi Omer-Man writes: "There are many different kinds of meditation, but common to each is observing how the mind works. Ultimately, it is very important that we cultivate a sense of noble boredom, the ability to be present without needing something to happen. This is one of the most important things in meditation practice."

"For some people, meditation is the most natural thing in the world. They move directly into it. For most of us, it’s a struggle. For many people, the main difficulty of meditating is that it’s scary to open the closets of the mind. You just don’t know where you’re going and whether it’s worthwhile. Joining a group can help: it reinforces our desire to meditate. And if you belong to a meditation group, you may discover that everybody has the same remarkably banal and ordinary difficulties. But difficulties are the major part of the course for meditators. The obstacles themselves are points of transformation. Patience is key."

"My own spiritual practice became more formalized in my mid-thirties when I found some Buddhist meditation teachers. It later became integrated into a Jewish meditation practice. I have a strong regular practice but there are times when it just disappears. Sometimes I have periods of doubt, or my practice is boring. It’s just sitting, and yet an incredibly rich part of my life. I feel it has changed my path in the world."

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche adds: "The fear of boredom often keeps people from meditating. We're afraid there will be nothing to entertain us, nothing to hold our interest. And in truth, we will be bored at times. If we observe the boredom, and taste it completely, we'll begin to just settle in, and accept boredom as part of the landscape of peaceful abiding. That's progress."

"What we're really bored with (instead of meditation) is our repetitive, habitual thought patterns. We see the tricks we play on ourselves with thoughts, emotions and concepts. This boredom is not a problem. Instead, it inspires us."

Alan Watts adds: "The feeling of boredom can be very interesting if we simply watch the feeling, without attempting to change it or judget it in any way. That is the essential process of meditation."

Books Available from Amazon

Meditation from the Heart of Judaism, edited by Avram Davis ($12) In their own voices, 22 Jewish meditation teachers comment and instruct about meditation practice.

Turning the Mind into an Ally, by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche ($17) This book joins two streams of meditation teachings: Buddhism and Shambhala. Mipham Rinpoche offers detailed instructions for 'building a courageous mind through the practice of sitting meditation.'

Guided Meditations, Explorations and Healings, by Stephen Levine ($11) offers dozens of meditation techniques for developing compassion, confronting illness or grief, recovering from addictions or eating disorders, and working with pain.

Meditation for Dummies, by Stephen Bodian ($14) Bodian is a therapist and meditator who was also the editor of Yoga Journal magazine for ten years. His book provides detailed instructions for a handful of meditation techniques.

Still the Mind: An Introduction to Meditation, by Alan Watts, ($10) and also available on CD ($13). The book is a transcription of Zen meditation talks given during the mature years of his life. They are deep and revealing.

Zen Mind, Beginners Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki, ($10) and also on audio cassette ($30). One of the most popular meditation books of all time.

Links

Rabbi Jonathan Ober-Man has a Jewish meditation center in Los Angeles www.metivta.org

Rabbi Avram Davis founded Chochmat HaLev, a school and practice center for Jewish meditation in Berkeley. www.chochmat.org

Stephen Bodian has a site www.meditationsource.com which includes his biography and information about his meditation teaching, writings and therapy practice.

Shunryu Suzuki Roshi founded the San Francisco Zen Center, the Tassajara retreat center, and Green Gulch farm. All three accept overnight guests and offer a rich array of meditation training programs. www.sfzc.com

Alan Watts lived from 1915 to 1973. During the 1960's, he gave a weekly radio lecture on Zen Buddhism, taught, and is credited with introducing the 'Beat' poets to zen. He is one of the most popular writers about meditation, even today. His life and writings are detailed a www.alanwatts.com. Many of his lectures were recorded and are available on cassette, DVD, or CD though Amazon.


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Yoga Meditation Buddhist Meditation Shambhala Meditation Healing Meditation Jewish Meditation Christian Meditation Sufi/Islamic Meditation Creativity Meditation Meditation FAQs Meditation Centers Home	"Enjoy your successes, but do not get too excited by them. Just keep meditating away." Rabbi Jonathan Omer-Man Is meditation boring? Rabbi Omer-Man writes: "There are many different kinds of meditation, but common to each is observing how the mind works. Ultimately, it is very important that we cultivate a sense of noble boredom, the ability to be present without needing something to happen. This is one of the most important things in meditation practice." "For some people, meditation is the most natural thing in the world. They move directly into it. For most of us, it’s a struggle. For many people, the main difficulty of meditating is that it’s scary to open the closets of the mind. You just don’t know where you’re going and whether it’s worthwhile. Joining a group can help: it reinforces our desire to meditate. And if you belong to a meditation group, you may discover that everybody has the same remarkably banal and ordinary difficulties. But difficulties are the major part of the course for meditators. The obstacles themselves are points of transformation. Patience is key." "My own spiritual practice became more formalized in my mid-thirties when I found some Buddhist meditation teachers. It later became integrated into a Jewish meditation practice. I have a strong regular practice but there are times when it just disappears. Sometimes I have periods of doubt, or my practice is boring. It’s just sitting, and yet an incredibly rich part of my life. I feel it has changed my path in the world." Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche adds: "The fear of boredom often keeps people from meditating. We're afraid there will be nothing to entertain us, nothing to hold our interest. And in truth, we will be bored at times. If we observe the boredom, and taste it completely, we'll begin to just settle in, and accept boredom as part of the landscape of peaceful abiding. That's progress." "What we're really bored with (instead of meditation) is our repetitive, habitual thought patterns. We see the tricks we play on ourselves with thoughts, emotions and concepts. This boredom is not a problem. Instead, it inspires us." Alan Watts adds: "The feeling of boredom can be very interesting if we simply watch the feeling, without attempting to change it or judget it in any way. That is the essential process of meditation." Books Available from Amazon Meditation from the Heart of Judaism, edited by Avram Davis ($12) In their own voices, 22 Jewish meditation teachers comment and instruct about meditation practice. Turning the Mind into an Ally, by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche ($17) This book joins two streams of meditation teachings: Buddhism and Shambhala. Mipham Rinpoche offers detailed instructions for 'building a courageous mind through the practice of sitting meditation.' Guided Meditations, Explorations and Healings, by Stephen Levine ($11) offers dozens of meditation techniques for developing compassion, confronting illness or grief, recovering from addictions or eating disorders, and working with pain. Meditation for Dummies, by Stephen Bodian ($14) Bodian is a therapist and meditator who was also the editor of Yoga Journal magazine for ten years. His book provides detailed instructions for a handful of meditation techniques. Still the Mind: An Introduction to Meditation, by Alan Watts, ($10) and also available on CD ($13). The book is a transcription of Zen meditation talks given during the mature years of his life. They are deep and revealing. Zen Mind, Beginners Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki, ($10) and also on audio cassette ($30). One of the most popular meditation books of all time. Links Rabbi Jonathan Ober-Man has a Jewish meditation center in Los Angeles www.metivta.org Rabbi Avram Davis founded Chochmat HaLev, a school and practice center for Jewish meditation in Berkeley. www.chochmat.org Stephen Bodian has a site www.meditationsource.com which includes his biography and information about his meditation teaching, writings and therapy practice. Shunryu Suzuki Roshi founded the San Francisco Zen Center, the Tassajara retreat center, and Green Gulch farm. All three accept overnight guests and offer a rich array of meditation training programs. www.sfzc.com Alan Watts lived from 1915 to 1973. During the 1960's, he gave a weekly radio lecture on Zen Buddhism, taught, and is credited with introducing the 'Beat' poets to zen. He is one of the most popular writers about meditation, even today. His life and writings are detailed a www.alanwatts.com. Many of his lectures were recorded and are available on cassette, DVD, or CD though Amazon.