Do we REALLY Have to "Sit" in Meditation?

When people nowadays think about Buddhism it is almost universally the practice of modern meditation that comes to mind.
The mental image that springs up is usually one of a relaxed person with eyes closed in a sitting posture of any kind but most of all in some kind of lotus posture.
While sitting is surely an integral part of the practice, the reason WHY it is essential and what role it really plays is often just repeated from other sources without giving it a second thought.
Sitting is often seen as essential.
it might be helpful to see it as a byproduct of non-craving instead.
It is a convenient posture to be in when there is nothing to do!
The posture is secondary for practice and at best a byproduct.
If you only have access to your peace while or after sitting, it might be good to reassess your practice.
Freedom STARTS when there is nothing left to ``do'' (crave).
#sittingMeditation #sitting
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[@wordscapes5690]

I have inherited my family’s rheumatoid arthritis. Crossing my legs or just getting up from sitting is sometimes impossible let alone painful. I meditate in whatever position allows me to meditate.

[@TheDhammaHub]

I almost exclusively meditate sitting on a chair and walking^^

[@kzantal]

​@@TheDhammaHubSitting on a chair like a peasant? What would master Dogen say to that? Have you considered that zazen is awakening and awakening is zazen? Yet, zazen is 99% about posture so you look like a Buddha from the outside. Can't believe I listened to your opinion so far! If you ever change your mind, you're welcome to come and sit in zazen with me. We'll use all kinds of yoga bricks and contraptions to manage the impossible and sit down cross legged. When we stand up again in agony, we'll talk about how the buddha voluntarily inflicted pain on his body while he was referred to as the "bodhisattva". Being a bodhisattva is our goal so we'll congratulate each other on our successful bout of practice/torture. May you get to your senses and realise that the practice isn't about craving but about seeing everything as empty while adhering to a strict posture and still drinking beer. Gassho to you! (LOL very useful vid by the way!)

[@Middleman265]

@@TheDhammaHub What kind of chair?

[@TheDhammaHub]

@@Middleman265 It does not really matter to be honest... I just like them without armrests so that I can sit semi-cross-legged. My legs tend to go numb quite quickly off-chair

[@Middleman265]

@@TheDhammaHub I see. What does semi cross-legged mean?

[@Middleman265]

Another great video! Lots of wisdom on this channel

[@lilbahr]

Years ago I had seriously bad problem with sleeping, so first, I got to a doctor who medicated me. After a brief supplation of chemicals I decided this can not be it and I figured a way to get to sleep anyway. I would combine my love of meditation and sleeping through contradiction. In meditation lessons they always warn you not to meditate on your back because you might sleep. Well that is then exactly what we would do. Either you will be super successfull (anyway) with your meditation or you just fall asleep. Nice!

[@MoCoyotes]

Today I’ll be in the lawnmower posture, watching my breath

[@skiplee5490]

Thank you. 🙏🙏🙏

[@chengkuoklee5734]

I remember learnt walking meditation before while participitating novitiate program.

[@johncraftenworth7847]

love your vids! I do most of my "clear mind/non-directed thought" style meditation (and that's the only kind I do bc mahayana chanting and repetitive actions seem bizarre and 'woooo wooo' to me), mostly laying on my back with no body parts uncomfortably weighing on one another, or on my side in a "reclining death's door buddha" position. On my back I can do for hours but usually fizzle out from some heavy pressure feeling in the head, too much sleepiness, or the need to use the restroom. I sleep on my side but probably move around enough while sleeping, if meditating it gets to be too much uncomfortable pressure on the right or left hip, have to get up and turn over. A sort of tiredness helps my meditation so side position is good for me, but then too much tiredness fizzles it out or else, I just fall asleep and that's the end of the waking meditation at any rate.

[@kzantal]

Thanks 🙏

[@edcooper1422]

Thanks so much for your channel - it has been so helpful to my practice. In MN2: the Buddha talks about taints that overcome by enduring. The sitting posture can quickly give rise to unpleasant sensations, aches, pains etc - enduring these, without breaking posture could be a path of purification. See shinzen young - easiest way to enlightenment (strong determination sitting) - Also you mentioned your pronounciation of cushion, if it helps - Monk is pronounced as Munk - like Monkey - Munkey. Please keep sharing your insights.

[@TheDhammaHub]

I will try to keep it in mind but I am afraid speech habits are quite deeply-ingrained and it will take a long time for them to change ;D Concerning the pain while sitting, there is surely _some_ benefit in enduring pain but I would say that the benefit is limited and if done wrongly, bordering asceticism. Greed, aversion, and delusion are ways we use to "actively" (but unknowingly) distract ourselves from the Dhamma that would otherwise be clearly visible in all of our experience. Enduring much pain and not switching postures will only help us to a limited extend with that as physical pain is quite deeply ingrained and only really stops affecting us consistently in the higher meditations. If we are strongly averse to pain, it might be good to sit a bit longer through it. If pain is not so bothersome, I would recommend to just switch postures if it gets too painful

[@wordscapes5690]

I must disagree with you very strongly here. Pain is never a good “purification”. It is a terrible and unbearable distraction, especially if you have injuries or illnesses involving cartilage or bone conditions. And regarding pronunciation, some people speak with an accent. My German, for example, sounds utterly horrendous to a Germans. The important thing is to be understood. That is all.

[@TheDhammaHub]

@@wordscapes5690 I would be very careful with the term "never" ^^ There are pains and aches in life that we cannot avoid. Towards those, we must cultivate an attitude of non-craving just as we have to do towards all the other kinds of taints. If we would not train our minds in regards to those, then our liberation would be "limited" in regards to exactly those things. There is a reason why the Buddha mentioned a group of taints in e.g. MN2 that must be overcome by "enduring", including cold, heat, hunger, thirst, flies, mosquitos, wind, sun, reptiles, criticism, physical pain - sharp, sever, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable and even life-threatening. That said, as with all things, we give up the "attitude" of aversion and do not actively seek out or create such situations. That would indeed be very wrong striving. Yet, sooner or later we _will_ encounter such situations if we want to or not and our mind are better prepared for them so that we _can_ endure without losing composure. Otherwise, we _will_ fall away from concentration when unwanted and unavoidable circumstances present themselves. The fruit of our training only really shows when we are _challenged_

[@wordscapes5690]

@@TheDhammaHub Agree, “never” was not a good choice.

[@edcooper1422]

@@TheDhammaHub pain x resistance = suffering | pain x equanimity = purification that’s what shinzen teaches. However I take your point and no need seek out dukkha - plenty to work with off the cushion. Don’t worry - the meaning of your talks comes across fine and that’s the main point.

[@ishowinertia]

But doesn’t focussing on the breath help one erode the mass of craving inside? By calming the mind so it can more clearly see where the craving is originating?

[@noonespecial4171]

Yes. This is why practising Dhamma from the teachings of the Buddha are the way to the direct path - the Buddha said to investigate yourself, which you have, and doubt is the 5th fetter - don't doubt.

[@TheDhammaHub]

It is not so much about the breathing itself. Craving is not "in there" - craving is in your attitude of liking/disliking, wanting and wanting to avoid etc. Focusing on the breath dos you little good there. If you do decide to focus on the breath, it is all about what you _also_ do and especially _not do_ at that time. The breath in that sense is more akin to an accidental activity that you also do^^

[@ishowinertia]

But isn’t it a lot easier to untangle the craving and its causes once the monkey mind has been deliberately calmed?

[@TheDhammaHub]

@@ishowinertia That depends on the "kind" of calm for sure. If the calm is the _result_ of non-craving, then very much so - I would say that it is even essential then. But if the calm is a "result" of a calming breath exercise, then I would disagree. That kind of calm is more akin to a short cushion-bound "holiday" from craving whereas the calm of -non-craving affects your entire life as you have simply "stopped" all those actions of greed, aversion, and delusion that fuel your non-calm! The breath-exercise calm sadly has no real connection to the overall weakening of craving and as such, I would not really see it as beneficial. Remember, the agitated state of the mind is something that we actively fuel/do through our actions and that has to stop. Then, calm will naturally set in without any need for exercises/techniques.

[@ishowinertia]

Ah, thank you for that explanation.

[@MountainDharma]

I’m not sure why you disagree with me so often in the server when it seems to me we agree on everything 🤷🏽‍♂️ 13:44

[@TheDhammaHub]

I do not criticise the _result_ - I criticise the _training_ that gets you there and sometimes the way of phrasing it xD In this specific case, there is still _withdrawal_ involved like with any other "addiction" and as such, you have to overcome a lot of resistance that the mind throws at you. It will kick and scream like a wild animal that is hungering and that is what you have to deal with at _some_ point xD The training/way to get to a goal is absolutely essential^^

[@sherryleeis]

I searched for something about the satipatthana sutta connected with your channel but i couldn't find anything -- am i missing it? Have you discussed it? It would be nice to hear your thoughts.

[@TheDhammaHub]

Hey Sherry! I usually talk about the topic under the term "foundations of mindfulness" but I am also not sure if I have a dedicated video on that topic. I will add it to the list!