My top priority in life is daily meditation. It's a simple goal to attain and the fruit from attaining it daily is so sweet. Daily meditation brings inner peace, which in turn yields love for others, while providing energy to be fully present with others and to perform my daily tasks well(work, social, etc..) and in the spirit of service.
I've chosen to make a strong determination for one year to meditate daily , 2 hours a day, morning and evening. I made this decision for the benefit of myself and it has become a natural part of my life. I must admit that it is easier for me since I've also chosen to surround myself with other people with the same goal. I live with two other men that meditate daily and we also provide space for couchsurfers who meditate to come spend some time with us. I think that by being of service in this way also gives us residual energy and more of a love to meditate.
Life happens everyday and sometimes it's important to be flexible. If I can't meditate for a solid hour, I break it up into intervals when I can. If I am falling asleep because I"ve worked hard or ate too late at night, I just do my best. Sometimes it's sleepitation and that's okay too. The most important thing is to not be hard on yourself. I love myself and understand that I am human and bound for imperfection on a daily basis, and understanding this brings peace.
I was an addict to drugs and alcohol and I found that meditation brought me out of these cravings. However, because of the neurological pathways I've created from using drugs/alcohol so many times, the cravings were still there. I noticed that when I meditated twice a day, I gained enough equanimity to make it through the day, day by day, without giving in to cravings. When I compromise my priority and didn't meditate, the cravings would return. After compromising once, it became easy to compromise again and again until I wasn't meditating at all.
I started drinking again. Thankfully, because of my experiences with meditation in the past, I understood what I needed to do, which was go to the meditation center and sit a 10 day course in vipassana meditation. After I did this, I decided to volunteer at the center and serve others that were meditating for about 25 days. I built strength and gained an unstoppable momentum ( unstoppable if I continued to meditate at home). I came home with a strong determination that I would meditate daily for 2 hours. I also organized my personal life around this goal and serving my community. I've maintained this goal and I find wholeness and a peace so deep that I have to share with others.
On Aug 11, 2012 Jamie Chaney wrote :
I've chosen to make a strong determination for one year to meditate daily , 2 hours a day, morning and evening. I made this decision for the benefit of myself and it has become a natural part of my life. I must admit that it is easier for me since I've also chosen to surround myself with other people with the same goal. I live with two other men that meditate daily and we also provide space for couchsurfers who meditate to come spend some time with us. I think that by being of service in this way also gives us residual energy and more of a love to meditate.
Life happens everyday and sometimes it's important to be flexible. If I can't meditate for a solid hour, I break it up into intervals when I can. If I am falling asleep because I"ve worked hard or ate too late at night, I just do my best. Sometimes it's sleepitation and that's okay too. The most important thing is to not be hard on yourself. I love myself and understand that I am human and bound for imperfection on a daily basis, and understanding this brings peace.
I was an addict to drugs and alcohol and I found that meditation brought me out of these cravings. However, because of the neurological pathways I've created from using drugs/alcohol so many times, the cravings were still there. I noticed that when I meditated twice a day, I gained enough equanimity to make it through the day, day by day, without giving in to cravings. When I compromise my priority and didn't meditate, the cravings would return. After compromising once, it became easy to compromise again and again until I wasn't meditating at all.
I started drinking again. Thankfully, because of my experiences with meditation in the past, I understood what I needed to do, which was go to the meditation center and sit a 10 day course in vipassana meditation. After I did this, I decided to volunteer at the center and serve others that were meditating for about 25 days. I built strength and gained an unstoppable momentum ( unstoppable if I continued to meditate at home). I came home with a strong determination that I would meditate daily for 2 hours. I also organized my personal life around this goal and serving my community. I've maintained this goal and I find wholeness and a peace so deep that I have to share with others.
In service and compassion,
Jamie Chaney