We are not our bodies

You should train yourself: Even though I may be sick in body, my mind will be free of sickness. That's how you should train yourself.... And how is one sick in body but not sick in mind? There is the case where an instructed noble disciple ... does not assume the body to be the self, or the self as possessing the body, or the body as in the self, or the self as in the body. He is not obsessed with the idea that "I am the body" or "The body is mine." As he is not obsessed with these ideas, his body changes and alters, but he does not fall into sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, or despair over its change and alteration. (Similarly with feeling, perception, mental processes, and consciousness.) This is how one is sick in body but not sick in mind.

Calendar Events for September 2009

Metta Meditation Group

Sundays

10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

Location: Monks Residence

We will practice Metta meditation about 40 minutes followed by Dhammapada studies. Dhammapada is a collection of verses delivered by Buddha which contains deep Dhamma teachings and lessons on the proper way of life.

Paramitha (perfection) Group

Sundays

4:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Location: Monks Residence

This is a committed group meet and studies how to apply and practice Dhamma with day to day life. We shire certain document via e-mail and reed before come to the meeting. You are welcome to be part of this group. Contact Bhante Sathi for more information.

Coming Events............

1) Meditation Retreat - August 29^th

Vipassana Meditation Retreat at Roseville, MN(for more Info click here....)

2) 3rd Annual Thank You Lunch

September 13th (please keep the day open)

3) October 4th- Robe Ceremony (Katina) 2009

keep the day open for this annual activity.

** Mankato Monks-Residence Wish List(Click here)

How to Deal with Distractions

In the age of cell phones and the Internet, many of us have become smitten with the distractions of choice— texting, instant messaging, twittering, listening to iPods, checking email, reading the news online. These distractions can be fun, and, when seen as multitasking, even necessary. The problem is that some distractions are more detrimental to our focus and happiness than others. Most distractions fall into one of two categories: those that draw us in multiple directions at once, resulting in confusion and an inability to complete a thought or action, and those that provide mental relaxation, offering small “breaks” that support intense focus and effort. Clearly, we want less of the former and more of the latter.

–Marc Lesser, from "Do Less Accomplish More: Distractions,"

What counts as meditation time?

With apologies to David Letterman and his Top Ten list: Here are the top ten reasons to start meditating, courtesy of the blog beliefnet.com. I would also expand this to include all those who have been meditating and have stopped, and those that don't meditate everyday. In other words, many of us.

What this list doesn't do is define what counts as meditation. Many of us think of it as sitting on a cushion in the lotus position with incense burning, but is that the only way? When we think of it as strictly a solitary practice earmarked for 30 plus minutes a day, then often we set ourselves up to failure.

Life's moments always throw us off the path: an injury or illness, working overtime, making too many commitments and on and on and on. Does following our breath when we take a short walk or eating mindfully at meal time count as meditating? Does meditating for five minutes at my desk or following my breath while stuck in traffic count? I say, why not?

Although it is great when formal time is put aside everyday, not being able to do that is not a call to be angry or disappointed in myself. That fosters self hatred.

If I'm pulled away from the cushion because a loved one is sick and needs constant attention than that is my meditation. Caring for someone while being in the present moment cultivates the wisdom of compassion through selflessness. Conversely, working more hours than I care to because I don't want to lose my job is a moment of selflessness to help my employer stay in business supports me and everyone else I work with who needs their paycheck to care for their family.

It's easy to forget that meditating is multi dimensional, it's not necessarily a fixed period of time once per day. It is about staying in the present moment all day, not just when I sit down with my eyes closed.