How Does Mechanical Meditation Look Like?

[SimpleGuy]

Leo sometimes talks about that if you meditate mechanically, you will not get far much.

What are properties of mechanical meditation?

[tlowedajuicemayne]

I think leo may be pointing to a meditation practice that becomes more about routine than actual practice. For instance, Some people sit for 20 minutes a day but don't make any progress because their practice is more about sitting for 20 minutes a day than deepening practice.

I can only speak from my own practice when I say that ive have had periods where I was just struggling through 25 minute rounds or lost in thought the whole time but I have never found myself in a position where I was doing anything I could call mechanical. I don't think this is common. I spent some years living as a resident at a zen center and had a daily sitting schedule and never did it become mechanical or anything despite sitting at the same time each day. Just make sure that your primary focus while sitting is the practice itself. 

As long as you're sitting and doing your practice, you cannot go wrong. 

 

[Hojo]

I think that's what it means. When you force yourself to do it. It should happen naturally like you just find yourself doing it.

[SimpleGuy]

4 hours ago, tlowedajuicemayne said:

I think leo may be pointing to a meditation practice that becomes more about routine than actual practice. For instance, Some people sit for 20 minutes a day but don't make any progress because their practice is more about sitting for 20 minutes a day than deepening practice.

I can only speak from my own practice when I say that ive have had periods where I was just struggling through 25 minute rounds or lost in thought the whole time but I have never found myself in a position where I was doing anything I could call mechanical. I don't think this is common. I spent some years living as a resident at a zen center and had a daily sitting schedule and never did it become mechanical or anything despite sitting at the same time each day. Just make sure that your primary focus while sitting is the practice itself. 

As long as you're sitting and doing your practice, you cannot go wrong. 

 

Thx for elaborated question. Wondering, what a beautiful life it is being a resident at zen center, especially if that`s what you really want to do. Nice experience to have