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Where do I start?
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Attend the Wednesday evening Orientation (offered weekly) or Sunday morning orientation
(offered once per month) You will receive basic instruction and an orientation manual.
Attend a weekly sitting.
Look over the Reading List in the Orientation Manual and also resources on RMI website.
Read and study to supplement your understanding and practice of the Path.
Take an Introduction class, followed by a Four Noble Truths class.
Intro classes tend to be offered three or four times a year. Four Noble Truths classes
tend to be offered twice a year.
Establish a daily practice of meditation. Organize your life around your meditation.
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How do I establish a daily practice?
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Begin with a 20 minute sitting period, focusing on ana pana sati. Mindfulness of
breathing. (If you are already sitting longer, stick with that). You may choose
to do a bit of yoga, stretching, movement, or walking meditation (either quickly
or slowly) prior to sitting. This helps to create and build energy to sustain your
sitting.
Experiment with finding your prime times for meditation. If first thing in the a.m.
is best you may need to insure this time by choosing to go to bed a half hour earlier.
Create an inviting space in which to meditate. You may choose to light a candle
and or a stick of incense to set the tone, and as an invitation to your meditation.
Creating a “sacred” place in your environment is supportive to helping you sustain
a daily meditation practice, but is not “required.”
After two or three months, shift to meditating for 30 minutes once or twice per
day. Add Sweeping Meditation to your practice. (See Dharma store for Sweeping Meditation)
At six months (if not before) shift to a 45 minute sitting practice.
Attend a weekly sitting. This is one of the best ways to establish your regular
practice. There is a palpable support that comes with sitting in a group.
Make a commitment and stick with it. Schedule your meditation in your day planner,
on the calendar.
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How do I proceed with my practice once I establish it?
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Work with the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, in successive order, i.e. starting
with the First Foundation. It may take you a year to work through the Four Foundations
on a practice level, as there are a number of components in the First Foundation,
Contemplation of the Body, and a number of components in the Fourth Foundation.
Maintain a meditation journal if you are so inclined. Journal your experiences.
Note insights, small medium and large.
Schedule monthly interviews with an RMI teacher. These interviews are offered on
a donation basis. Share your meditation experiences. Get your questions answered.
Come away with specific guidance tailored especially for you which not only addresses
where you are in your practice, but also provides next steps to take, to guide you
in your development. (You may also schedule interviews prior to this to help you
establish your practice!)
Attend further classes offered by RMI such as Four Divine Abidings is a great class
(and Friday bimonthly sitting to attend). Other classes as they are available such
as Abhidhamma, Dependent Origination, Five Skandhas.
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How do I deepen my practice and my commitment to awakening?
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Attend weekend and ten day Vipassana, as well as Vipassana and Jhana retreats.
Further study.
Consistent practice.
Continued interviews with teacher.
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