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What Is Your Favorite Position?

Balthazzar

Balthazzar

N. Germanic Descent
The Sum of Awe said:
Something tells me y'all never prayed doing a one arm handstand
Click to expand...

I watched this chick walk on her hands on the beach in a thong once. A thong is one of those underwear types that look like a string is going up the butt crack. She couldn't help but get noticed. Actually, I saw the image, but the same principal applies. I'm not sure why she was doing it, but she was labeled an attention @#$#$$. She was probably just having fun.

Anyway ...

When I go to a restaurant and want to get noticed, I'll stand up, tap my glass real loud to get everyone's attention, and then I'll make a prayer announcement before sitting down again to eat the meal. That's how you get noticed, otherwise let people be and let them pray how they like.

The piously critical crowd has necessitated a separation be made between types of prayers.
 
PureX

PureX

Veteran Member
On my back on a mat, or on a wood floor, facing upward. Not because of "God" or anything, but because I want to be perpendicular to the pull of gravity. I like being aware of myself being pulled close to the Earth. Also, daylight, not dark. So as to be aware of the Earth's dynamic relationship with the Sun. And little external noise is OK; the 'hum of humanity' to remind me that the Earth is alive with endless variation and activity.

This is the setting. It takes me a few minutes to settle into this simple essential 'reality', and to let everything else in my mind dissolve and dissipate into a quiet indistinct mental static.

Then I can listen to myself breathing. And to my heart beating. And just stay aware of being there, and of being alive, and of how amazing that is! That I AM. And that I AM ALIVE. And that I AM A COGNITIVE HUMAN BEING.

To me, this is the ultimate gift. So to take a few minutes to just be quiet, and to focus on being aware of this amazing gift of being here, makes me feel incredibly grateful, and fortunate, and blessed.
 
Balthazzar

Balthazzar

N. Germanic Descent
Estro Felino said:
It is.
It means that one prays by thinking.
No ostentatious forms of praying. Like in other faiths.
Click to expand...

You're probably right ... I must admit the offense I take at some who enjoy ridiculing others for their religious observance, but fake is fake and a show is a show, so for this reason I agree with you. I still find those who choose to pray aloud at a table to be just in doing so. Me? Probably not. I'd make a scene, which isn't what my grandfather would want, so I'll choose to make points about it when I feel compelled to do so. I would "thee and thou" people loudly into a slumber for as long as I could go on with it. My grandfather's old English prayer habit ... the thee's and thou's of saying grace that some types can't seem to stomach.
 
Balthazzar

Balthazzar

N. Germanic Descent
PureX said:
On my back on a mat, or on a wood floor, facing upward. Not because of "God" or anything, but because I want to be perpendicular to the pull of gravity. I like being aware of myself being pulled close to the Earth. Also, daylight, not dark. So as to be aware of the Earth's dynamic relationship with the Sun. And little external noise is OK; the 'hum of humanity' to remind me that the Earth is alive with endless variation and activity.

This is the setting. It takes me a few minutes to settle into this simple essential 'reality', and to let everything else in my mind dissolve and dissipate into a quiet indistinct mental static.

Then I can listen to myself breathing. And to my heart beating. And just stay aware of being there, and of being alive, and of how amazing that is! That I AM. And that I AM ALIVE. And that I AM A COGNITIVE HUMAN BEING.

To me, this is the ultimate gift. So to take a few minutes to just be quiet, and to focus on being aware of this amazing gift of being here, makes me feel incredibly grateful, and fortunate, and blessed.
Click to expand...

I see you favor being embraced by her. I understand the connection.
 
Secret Chief

Secret Chief

Veteran Member
SalixIncendium said:
No...this isn't Eros, so you fellas and fellettes just go ahead and get your minds out of the gutter...

Do you have a preferred position when praying or meditating such as sitting, kneeling, standing, prostrate, etc.?

If so, what is it?

Is it directional, i.e. facing north, south, east, or west?

Does this position or direction have any impact on the effectiveness of the practice? If so, how or why?
Click to expand...
Just sitting (shikantaza). Straight back, upright head, thighs horizontal (to avoid aches). Currently, this means sitting on a coffee table with a cushion underneath and with my feet on a large hardback book. Non-directional. Position is for maintenence of a still position, if that means "effectiveness", though the practice is a goalless objectless one.
 
Quintessence

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
Don't really have a favorite, just tradition to suit ritual purpose.

When drawing the Currents of Earth and Sky, standing pose whose posture changes as part of the ritual of drawing. Facing South, direction of Sun and Fire.

When doing a usual ritual opener in the altar room, bow before and invoke each of the four; starting East to Air, South to Fire, West to Earth, North to Water. The logistics of home are such the altar lies East so East I sit before it for additional workings. It is kinda the best facing for an altar, though at least for Moon Worship. It means you face Moonrise on Full Moon, no need to stay up super late to see Moon before you.
 
Twilight Hue

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
SalixIncendium said:
No...this isn't Eros, so you fellas and fellettes just go ahead and get your minds out of the gutter...

Do you have a preferred position when praying or meditating such as sitting, kneeling, standing, prostrate, etc.?

If so, what is it?

Is it directional, i.e. facing north, south, east, or west?

Does this position or direction have any impact on the effectiveness of the practice? If so, how or why?
Click to expand...
At my age it's usually flat on my back wondering where the hell I am!

Seriously though even though I can barely manage a lotus on a zafu , I actually prefer to sit indigenous style with just my legs comfortably crossed over each other with no direction aside from whatever the way the wind blows at the moment.

The rest of the time I'm just in a fetal position in the corner of the room as I contemplate my impending doom.
 
sun rise

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
For my practices any position which does not call attention to my physical body is my choice. Of course, that does not stop my body from demanding attention but it minimizes the number.
 
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