You don’t have to sit a certain way, use a certain cushion, or hit a tiny wood club on some exotic and rare crystal bowl—you just have to spend some time here and there doing your best. (Richard Daley)

 

By Richard Daley

In our achievement culture, there is always something to strive for.

With so many social media gurus trying to show you the way for $99 dollars a month, or inviting you to their 30-day silent retreat; we are hammered with information and offers constantly.

The truth is, whatever amount of meditation practice you can squeeze into your busy life, is good enough.

You don’t have to sit a certain way, use a certain cushion, or hit a tiny wood club on some exotic and rare crystal bowl—you just have to spend some time here and there doing your best. Nowhere in the teachings of the Buddha have I come across a calendar of days or required time to achieve the status of “good meditator.”

People are always trying to one-up others—how many days they have meditated, how many hours, how many years, what guru ordained them, or whatever it may be.

The only person who needs to show up for your practice is you.

It can be in your favorite lawn chair, laying down in bed, sitting cross-legged in your favorite park—whatever works for you is perfect. If you miss a day, a week, or a month; who cares? Just do your best, and strive to be a compassionate person. Be kind to your friends, family, and strangers. This may even prove to be the key to discovering a whole new aspect of your practice!

Meditate when you can, but don’t beat yourself up if you’d rather go to the movies.

 

Snapshots of meditation is a series where meditators submit photos of themselves meditating in daily life. Because we can’t all go down to a beach, scale a mountain or sit at sunrise in a forest to meditate. In fact, most of us will meditate on our couches, on our living room floors, or even in parked cars.

Want to submit a photo for Snapshots of Meditation? Send it here: editor@thetattooedbuddha.com!

 

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Richard Daley
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