Lotus Heart Zen
  • Home
  • Membership
    • Membership >
      • Library (Members Only)
      • Resources (Members Only)
    • Retreats >
      • Winter Gyeolje 2022-23
    • Officers
  • Meditation
    • Meditation Teachings
    • Chanting Meditation
    • Bowing Practice
    • Guided Meditations
    • Meditation Podcasts (For Members)
    • Guided Meditations (For Members)
    • Meditation FAQ
  • Resources
    • Buddha-dharma >
      • Four Noble Truths >
        • The Higher Wisdom Trainings
        • The Higher Ethical Trainings
        • The Higher Concentration Trainings
      • Ahimsa >
        • Ahimsa Study Group (Members Only)
      • Special Events
    • Zen >
      • Zen Teachings
      • Women & Zen
    • Pure Land >
      • Pure Land Teachings >
        • The Medicine Buddha
    • Huayan
    • Sanghas
  • Sangha Sharing
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Home
  • Membership
    • Membership >
      • Library (Members Only)
      • Resources (Members Only)
    • Retreats >
      • Winter Gyeolje 2022-23
    • Officers
  • Meditation
    • Meditation Teachings
    • Chanting Meditation
    • Bowing Practice
    • Guided Meditations
    • Meditation Podcasts (For Members)
    • Guided Meditations (For Members)
    • Meditation FAQ
  • Resources
    • Buddha-dharma >
      • Four Noble Truths >
        • The Higher Wisdom Trainings
        • The Higher Ethical Trainings
        • The Higher Concentration Trainings
      • Ahimsa >
        • Ahimsa Study Group (Members Only)
      • Special Events
    • Zen >
      • Zen Teachings
      • Women & Zen
    • Pure Land >
      • Pure Land Teachings >
        • The Medicine Buddha
    • Huayan
    • Sanghas
  • Sangha Sharing
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ

Dealing with Resistance

12/21/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Whether we are new to meditation or have been practicing for years, we all come face to face with resistance. Sometimes, because it is a new experience, it is more difficult to "train" ourselves to sit down and meditate and resistance, often obvious, can be hard to overcome. However, those of us who are well practiced, are not immune. Society seems to actively work against taking time out to sit quietly and work with the mind and our emotions, in these cases, the resistance can be more subtle. 

Having an understanding of what kinds of resistance to practice there are can help us overcome them. Often these resistances have become such a part of our identity that we don't realize they have become habit energy. Fortunately, a lot habit energy is often quickly unraveled just by recognition. There are some forms of resistance that may have taken deeper root and we will find the need to recognize them repeatedly before they weaken enough for us to not be overtaken by them. 

So what are these resistances to practice?
There are five:
  1. Sensual Desire/ Chasing Pleasure
  2. Ill Will/ Aversion
  3. Inertia/Stupor
  4. Restlessness/Staying Busy/Worry
  5. Doubt/Seeking Approval

At some time or another, we are touched by each of these forms or resistance. They take place before and during our sitting practice. When they rise up before sitting we find it difficult to make time to sit and meditate. When they rise up during meditation, we find it difficult to stay focused and present. When we are able to recognize the particular resistance that is manifesting, the best way to address it, is simply label it. For example, if I find I am experiencing a lot of Restlessness and I am feeling pressured to check things off a daily "to do" list. I may think I don't have time to sit and meditate. Or if I do manage to sit down, my meditation time is spent running through my "check-list". The thing NOT to do is fight it. To resist a resistance is to give it more power. These resistances love energy. The more energy we give them, the more resistance they can give us. Instead, what we do is just take note. In the case of the example, in recognizing that I am caught up in Restlessness and Staying Busy, I simply notice that is what is happening. I might say, "Ah, Restlessness." or "Ah, this is Staying Busy." Be sure to keep the label impersonal. It is not about you. It is just something that is happening. Don't judge yourself or berate yourself. It is habit energy. The more we just notice it happening, and the less we resist, the weaker the resistance. 

You may want to keep a journal to simply jot down situations when particular kinds of resistance occur. Again, it should not be a journal to judge or berate one self, but simply to record instances of resistance so that you can recognize them when they arise. Over time, you will find, rather mysteriously, that the resistance occurs less and less. Sometimes they simply disappear!

In all of this, the key is compassion. Be kind to yourself. Being a task-master is just another kind of resistance. Soft, gentle noticing is all that needs to be done. Let the rest just happen.

photo credit: Tug O War via photopin (license)
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    A blog by the Lotus Heart Zen Meditation and Study Group members

    Practice Schedules

    Become a member of Lotus Heart Zen Meditation and Study Group

    Archives

    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    RSS Feed

Location

Temple: By Appointment Only, Oneida, NY

Lotus Heart Zen Location

Contact Us

Phone
email
Instagram