'Formal' vs. 'Informal' meditation

[Gareth]

Increasingly for me this line is becoming blurred. In the couple of years since I started, my meditations have always been in a quiet place, sitting - formal if you like. Too much distraction made it difficult to keep thoughts out, and I didn't feel like the meditation was as beneficial without peace and quiet.

These days, I feel like I am getting much more skilled at keeping focussed on the present, and the situation in which I meditate doesn't seem to matter so much. I find myself sat somewhere thinking 'I've got half an hour spare, I'll meditate'. It doesn't matter so much what the situation around me is. If somebody talks to me for example, then I will answer them and just get on with the meditation. Yesterday I was travelling back from holiday, and I meditated by staring out of the plane window for an hour, looking at the world below. While I don't like to label my meditations, this was spectacular, and I held my attention near-perfectly.

Is this a 'formal' meditation or an 'informal' meditation, and does it matter?

[One Aware]

Hi Gareth:

By definition one tends to think of a formal meditation as a "sit" (at least I do anyways). However I really don't think it matters that much. Experiencing the present moment and all it has to offer is the goal and I think your situation certainly satisfies that.

[Gareth]

That's kind of what I think - it doesn't matter so much.

[riverman]

Hi guys, this is the first of what I hope will be many contributions to this forum. I facilitate a weekly, formal mindfulness session at my workplace. The conditions are not ideal but I stress the importance of working with what's there and building it into the practice, rather than longing for perfect conditions. I ask them to notice the 'interruptions' arising from outside the room and their thoughts about them, before returning to the breath. I'm hoping they'll see that it's the peace 'in here' rather than 'out there' that's the key to wise and affectionate attention. I hope they can cultivate that inner peace that enables them to practice wherever they are and whatever they are doing during the day. BTW, I'll be encouraging my students to sign up to contribute and learn from the discussions. Best wishes with this venture, Gareth.

[rara]

If you can put yourself into that bubble...then fine. If I'm on a bus, close my eyes and think to myself about compassion per se, then those distractions around just fade out...whether in a temple, a quiet room or a noisy environment, we can practice ANYWHERE :)

I still say I'm meditating when I do my Kung Fu forms...how can I not be?

[pranna]

Formal sitting meditation is great to build the habits of staying present and allowing experience to flow through you without clinging. Formal sitting allows you to inquire deeply into your own nature or observe some part of experience very very closely. This is a great gift, a wonderful opportunity.

Bringing more mindfulness into everyday living, though, is where the practice ultimately pays off. How we live our lives - and how much of our lives we are present for. How we interact with others. Whether we bother to smell the air, hear the sounds, feel the body's bones as we walk. Live!

Someone once said that at first, meditation is something you do in your life.. but eventually, life is something you do in your meditation. (or something like that).

Have a great day!

[Gareth]

Pranna, I just love that last paragraph. That will be an Everyday Mindfulness tweet very soon.

Gareth

[rara]

Well put Pranna!

[LoveBeforeAllElse]

Pranna, that was Shin Zen Young who said that!! It was something like "there's a point where you go from meditation being a part of your life to your life being a part of your meditation. You can only excel from there". His YouTube channel is expandandcontract.

I would say that whether you call it informal or not, you should find a time to completely let go of all thought. Mindfulness practice is amazing in every moment you practice it, but it's also very amazing and beneficial to clear your mind and just be.

[Medway Tai Chi]

To my mind, 'formal' meditation, as in dedicated sitting, is 'training',
whereas actually applying your meditation in the hustle and bustle of every day living is the 'practice'.

In 'training' you learn 'what' to do, and in practice, you 'do' what you've learnt.