Time Dedicated to Worship/Prayer, Meditation, and/or Silent Contemplation

[Vinayaka]

I voted 4–6 hours in the poll.



Most of my spiritual practice, lately, is nāmajapa, the chanting or repetition of a divine name. I sit on a floor cushion reserved for the practice and chant the name Śiva (vocative case) with the aid of a mālā of 108 beads plus a Meru bead. Currently, my rule is a minimum of 10 rounds every solar day. I typically do one or two additional rounds after 10 have been completed.

10 rounds a day seems like a lot. Do you view it daily, or over a month, or longer?

 

[Jainarayan]

My little daily puja takes about 10-15 mins., so that's a little over an hour to an hour and a half per week. But I also spend random amounts of time random times during the day in contemplation. I don't do any kind of formal meditation, since I can't focus like that. So I can't assign an amount of time to that. I do a lot of WWKD? (What Would Krishna Do?).

 

[TransmutingSoul]

In the Baha'i Writings it offers that work done in the spirit of service, has been given the station of worship.

So if one does there job to the best of thier ability, in view of being of service to co-workers, family, friends and community, the workday is worship.

Then as with all Faith, there are our private prayers and Meditations outside of work hours.

It's not a numbers game, it is a way of life, trying to be part of the light and not the darkness that surrounds us.

Regards Tony

 

[sun rise]

I'm not going to say it 'didn't count' because I was driving as opposed to seated in the puja room

We were invited to chant God's name in some way or other specifically including driving when necessary. So for that practice I feel the same way.

Our second meditation is 15 minutes on an image of the Divine and that is in my room.

 

[mangalavara]

10 rounds a day seems like a lot. Do you view it daily, or over a month, or longer?

What I mean is that the nāma is chanted 108 times 10 with the help of the mālā. This is done every day and I would say that it is a moderate quantity.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I haven't had that opportunity, no.

They're savory donuts made from lentil. Most Indian grocers have Udupi brand in the freezer case. You might pick up a box and try them the next time you're there.

 

[Vinayaka]

They're savory donuts made from lentil. Most Indian grocers have Udupi brand in the freezer case. You might pick up a box and try them the next time you're there.

I will add that there are several kinds. Edited to add link: Vadas of India: 10 Different Types of Vadas From Across India You Must try

 

[sayak83]

How many hours in a typical week do you currently spend in dedicated worship/prayer, meditation, and/or silent contemplation outside of everyday secular activity? I'm not talking about a quick petition to your god to help you find your car keys or get a job or living in accordance with your religious or spiritual views, but dedicated practice.

If you would like to indicate which of the above practices you perform, feel free to do so below.

And preemptively, no, posting on RF doesn't count.

I have always meditated in a continuous fashion with a repeated rhythmic internal sound pattern and an image focus. The specific sound pattern has changed over time. When I started I did not know anything about how meditation went (I was 11 and self taught) and used the beat of the pulse and an internal visualization of a light column to do it.
So and internal counter like "tap, tap, tap tap.." and and white unwavering mental image of a light. Over time I was good enough to be able to do it in the background continuously while doing regular work. And I have added other things like breath focus, sensation focus, flame focus, white point focus on forehead etc. All of it goes on continuously and I add, integrate and subtract more or else automatically as per intuition as I go about daily business.
So nothing dedicated I guess. This practice is more like breathing or blinking to me now.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I have always meditated in a continuous fashion with a repeated rhythmic internal sound pattern and an image focus. The specific sound pattern has changed over time. When I started I did not know anything about how meditation went (I was 11 and self taught) and used the beat of the pulse and an internal visualization of a light column to do it.
So and internal counter like "tap, tap, tap tap.." and and white unwavering mental image of a light. Over time I was good enough to be able to do it in the background continuously while doing regular work. And I have added other things like breath focus, sensation focus, flame focus, white point focus on forehead etc. All of it goes on continuously and I add, integrate and subtract more or else automatically as per intuition as I go about daily business.
So nothing dedicated I guess. This practice is more like breathing or blinking to me now.

I like this. Mine was never anything so detailed.

For me, it was just complete stillness and a visualization of white light. As I said earlier in the thread, my engagement in the world varies from moment to moment, and the intensity of the stillness is probably inversely proportional to my level of engagement, but it is always present in the background (sort of like my tinnitus ). I dial it up or back as needed (the level of engagement, not the tinnitus).

I stay with my twice daily dedicated meditation because I enjoy the complete disengagement from the world, not because I need to practice being me.

 

[Vinayaka]

The thing about specific dedicated concentrated meditation in an alone, quiet, dedicated space, sitting in lotus, spine erect, diaphragmatically breathing, is that more 'stuff' is likely to happen. By 'stuff' I mean mystical - insights into how to improve, exploration of mind, communication with devas, visions, etc. When you get to the state of awareness only being aware of itself, that's a good start.

To me, that's what meditation is, with the ultimate goal of nirvikalpa samadhi.

 

[☆Dreamwind☆]

Far less then I should

 

[RestlessSoul]

I have a morning routine which I’m quite disciplined about (I’m an early riser). So 20 minutes meditation, with a mantra, about 5 minutes tai chi, some readings of a spiritual nature, and a prayer for guidance and support. Then if I have time, a swim outdoors.

I’m a lot less disciplined (usually knackered) at day’s end, but always offer a prayer of thanks for another sober day.

 

[ChristineM]

I voted for silent contemplation if you can call sitting listening to the sounds of the forest silent

 

[Sun of Lugh]

I haven't gotten to the point where I have a regular practice of prayer and meditation that is the same every week, so it fluctuates from one week or one month to the next. If I sit down or stand to meditate that takes about 25 minutes to half an hour for a session, and will do that once per day sometimes. That feels like enough. Ritual may take 10 - 20-something minutes when I do so, and prayer takes a few minutes per session. If I commune with Nature I may also count that, and that's usually one hour at at time.

Ultimately I'd like to reach a point at which the whole day contains spiritual practice, however.

 

[JustGeorge]

I haven't gotten to the point where I have a regular practice of prayer and meditation that is the same every week, so it fluctuates from one week or one month to the next. If I sit down or stand to meditate that takes about 25 minutes to half an hour for a session, and will do that once per day sometimes. That feels like enough. Ritual may take 10 - 20-something minutes when I do so, and prayer takes a few minutes per session. If I commune with Nature I may also count that, and that's usually one hour at at time.

Ultimately I'd like to reach a point at which the whole day contains spiritual practice, however.

That's my goal, too. I'm practicing, with each breath...

 

[River Sea]

I have always meditated in a continuous fashion with a repeated rhythmic internal sound pattern and an image focus. The specific sound pattern has changed over time. When I started I did not know anything about how meditation went (I was 11 and self taught) and used the beat of the pulse and an internal visualization of a light column to do it.
So and internal counter like "tap, tap, tap tap.." and and white unwavering mental image of a light. Over time I was good enough to be able to do it in the background continuously while doing regular work. And I have added other things like breath focus, sensation focus, flame focus, white point focus on forehead etc. All of it goes on continuously and I add, integrate and subtract more or else automatically as per intuition as I go about daily business.
So nothing dedicated I guess. This practice is more like breathing or blinking to me now.

I like this. Mine was never anything so detailed.

For me, it was just complete stillness and a visualization of white light. As I said earlier in the thread, my engagement in the world varies from moment to moment, and the intensity of the stillness is probably inversely proportional to my level of engagement, but it is always present in the background (sort of like my tinnitus ). I dial it up or back as needed (the level of engagement, not the tinnitus).

I stay with my twice daily dedicated meditation because I enjoy the complete disengagement from the world, not because I need to practice being me.

When I'm in meditation, I'm allowing white light to teach me in the midst of my thoughts and emotions. I don't have a set time. I'll allow white light to teach me as I'm doing other things, so that's why I write, Allow light to teach me in the midst of my situation, and I notice drinking from a light fire when allowing to be taught in the midst. I don't always do this, yet when I don't, then I'm hungry to feed from light, so I'm drawn to drink from light, so I allow, and there's times when I don't, I'll allow light to teach me how. One of my favorite ways is to listen to music and rock while drinking from the light. When I'm drinking from the light, I feel inner peace, fire, and flow when I share with the light. Also, my thoughts cycle with light thoughts.

 

[Bharat Jhunjhunwala]

For about 10 years I tried to sit still and focus my mind on the chakras in the spine. Like a broom I kept cleaning them till they were empty. Then one day suddenly I started hearing a sound. At first I wanted the sound to go away. It wouldn't. Gradually I realized it was the God, the Word that John 1.1 spoke of. Now I can connect with Word whenever I want. And some thoughts arise that I take to be message from Word, God or our Collective Unconsciousness.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Gradually I realized it was the God, the Word that John 1.1 spoke of.

Fascinating. What led you to the conclusion what you heard was that?

 

[Bharat Jhunjhunwala]

Fascinating. What led you to the conclusion what you heard was that?

At that point there is Only Humming Sound. No thoughts. Nothing exists and I feel connected with the Universe. Like drowning in an ocean. I also take inspiration from John. The same is also the OM of the hindus.

 

[SalixIncendium]

At that point there is Only Humming Sound. No thoughts. Nothing exists and I feel connected with the Universe. Like drowning in an ocean. I also take inspiration from John. The same is also the OM of the hindus.

Given your statement that you're a born Hindu, what influenced you to steer your experience in an Abahamic direction?