Meditation...

 My first meditative practice required a timer along side my semi lotus posture, with me checking the timer every few seconds to see how long I had been meditating and I had set the timer for 5 minutes.....sitting was never my thing! 

Zen Story: Becoming Buddha

Daily, the student sat out front his hut in lotus posture, meditating for a long time. His Zen Master watched and knew this student would become a very worthy person in time but thought right now, he’s stuck and could use some help.

The Zen Master approached the student and inquired as to what he was trying to get by sitting in meditation. The student replied with conviction that he was trying to become Buddha.

Hearing this, the Zen Master picked up a rough clay tile that had fallen from the temple roof and began rubbing it against a rock.

The student inquired as to what his Zen master was doing. His teacher replied “I am polishing this rough tile to make it a precious jewel.”

“How can a roof tile ever become a precious jewel?” asked the student.

“How can you become a Buddha through Zen meditation,”  his Zen master replied, “if you weren’t already a Buddha to begin with?

Walking, standing, lying down, sitting…who are you in each of these activities? Real (Zen) meditation is not confined to sitting. Live Buddhas are not just found in the lotus posture.”

Hearing this, I stood up completely refreshed and went for a long walk…no  longer would I need a timer for meditation!