How to Meditate

Part 3: Sustaining a Practice

Here are a few helpful hints for sustaining your sitting practice:

Sit every day, even if it's for a short period. Intentionally dedicate this time of quieting—it is a gift to the soul!
A few times during each day, pause. Establish contact with your body and breath, feeling the aliveness that is Here.
Pause more and more—the space of a pause will allow you to come home to your heart and awareness.
Reflect regularly on your aspiration for spiritual awakening and freedom—your own and that of all beings.
Remember that, like yourself, everyone wants to be happy and nobody wants to suffer.
Practice regularly with a group or a friend.
Use inspiring resources such as books, CD’s or web-accessed dharma talks.
Study the Buddhist teachings (e.g., the 4 Noble Truths, the Noble 8-Fold Path).
Sign up for a retreat—one day, a weekend, or longer. The experience will deepen your practice and nourish spiritual awakening.
If you miss practice for a day, a week, or a month, simply begin again.
If you need guidance, ask for help from an experienced meditator or teacher.
Don’t judge your practice -- rather, accept what unfolds and trust your capacity to awaken and be free!
ive with a reverence for life—committed to non-harming, to seeing, honoring and serving the sacred in all beings.