The following meditations can be arranged as a training program, which is how they have always been initially taught by the Children, and how we are presenting them for you here. In the blog archive, you will find a meditation chart checklist. It is designed to cover a month at a time. Photocopy it and use it without fail if you want to insure consistency and self-discipline. Using the chart is a vital key to not letting your separate self side-track you from being unwaveringly consistent in doing the training (which is important). If you want the meditations to be really effective, you must spend enough time doing each one. Try different lengths, and feel the differences. How long you do each meditation is up to you,and your schedule, although the full program will take you 3 to 6 hours a day to do traditionally, and most effectively. Of course, if you don’t have time, you can shorten them or cut what you wish. But first ask yourself what it’s worth to you, and examine what you are doing with the rest of your time, and what that’s worth.
We hear many people complain that they can’t possibly spend that much time doing it. They say they have jobs, and/or families, and they have to make a living and survive in the world, unlike having the “luxury” of being in a monastery like I did. So let’s look at the realities of that.
I can’t speak for all monasteries, but I don’t know of any “free ride” or “easy living” ones that just let you sit on your butt all day and meditate once in a while. In ours, I worked the equivalent of two full-time “outside world”, “real world”, “real life” type of jobs, PLUS did all the meds, yoga, group meds, courses, and spent time reading. I got very little sleep, and at that, it wasn’t daily sleep. But that’s how important to me it was. I would have done the same in the outside world. Now if it’s not as much of a priority in your life, or you really can’t make the time, that’s fine. Just be honest about it, and don’t envy others for having or making the time.But most people just don’t prioritize and realize how much they could do if they really, really want to, and what they could skip in their normal routines.
If you truly absolutely don’t have the time to do the full schedule as presented here, that’s OK. But have a constructive, positive attitude towards it, and create an alternative schedule. ANY amount of meditation is better than none. Even if it’s only one a day for five minutes - it’s better than nothing, and it is doing something. And maybe there are ways to make extra time that you haven’t thought about yet.
First and most obvious is, do you really need as much sleep as you take? Then think about other fruitless time you might be spending that might be able to go. The average person could do the entire schedule just by cutting out TV alone. If you really put your mind to it, you’ll come up with your own ideas for how to re-arrange what you spend your time on, and how to save time on what you must do. Here are a list of just a few areas you might be able to streamline or eliminate to make time for higher priorities (obviously they don’t apply to everyone): TV; Movies; Eating Out; Sports; Commuting/having someone else drive instead of you, so you could spend that time meditating. Arranging different situations to minimize commuting time. Carpooling; “Hanging out” or “shooting the breeze” chatting with people in person, on the phone, or email; Meals - can they be more simple for less cooking/cleaning time? Can someone else prepare your meals so you have more time to meditate? Could you do more “crock pot” meals of soups/rice, or make large bags of pre-made salads, etc.?; Parties; Reading books that are not helping improve your life or otherwise necessary; Shopping - like carpools, shop-ping can sometimes be shared/turns taken. Many cities even have on-line internet shopping and delivery available now;
Entertainment; Going to the bathroom - do a quick med while sitting on the pot!
Then if that isn’t enough, just customize a med schedule, and do what you can. Once you decide what you can do, and make a schedule, consistency is vital.