FAQs

[Gareth]

A topic kicking off the debate about frequently asked questions. When the list is finalised, we'll put it up on the site somewhere.

I'll kick it off:
1. What if I get physical discomfort/an itch during meditation. What do I do?
A little discomfort is not necessarily a bad thing. Learning how to be with it helps us in our day-to-day lives. If the discomfort is getting painful then allow the body to move - in meditation we are not trying to punish ourselves. If it's not painful, then try watching it for a while - maybe it will go away of it's own accord.

2. Do I need a teacher to learn about mindfulness or can I learn it from a book?
Each person is different. Some find they are able to learn mindfulness from a book or an app. Others need the structure of the 8-wk course and the experience of a teacher to get a grounding in the practice.

3. How do we handle persistent and repetitive thought patterns?
Answer needed.

4. If I start a mindfulness practice, is it necessary to meditate every day?
Answer needed.

Let me know if you agree with this as an FAQ. I'll keep editing this post as we go along to get towards a final list of 10 - 20 questions,

[Happy Buddha]

I think it is a good question and one I get asked quite often.

My response would be some thing like - it is the mind that fidgets and the body which moves. As we practice we get to know the difference between moving and fidgeting. If the discomfort is getting painful then allow the body to move, but a little discomfort is not a bad thing. If it is an itch then try staying still for three breaths before deciding what to do. A lot can happen in three breaths in meditation.

[JonW]

This is such a great idea and has hit the ground running with Happy's wise reply.
ONe suggestion for the FAQ is:
Do I need a teacher to learn about mindfulness or can I learn it from a book?
Cheers,
Jon

[Happyogababe]

I think that's a question that belongs in the FAQs as it's definitely something that new practitioners experience and puzzle about. I like Happy Buddha's reply and JonW's suggestion is good too

[Gareth]

OK. Edits made. Lets have more!

[Happyogababe]

One issue that hounded me (and still can do) was: what do you do about persistent thoughts/worries?

I'm liking this

[JonW]

Today, back in my tent, I read that there is a saying in India that, if you miss meditation just one day, it takes seven mornings to make it up.
Whatever 'make it up' means when it's at home...
Anyway, my suggestion for a FAQ question is: if I take up mindfulness practice, do I have to meditate every day?
Cheers,
Jon

[Peter]

Hi guys, I don't want to be a sour plum, but I feel this isn't the most accurate approach to create a FAQ. When I suggested the FAQ, I had something different in mind. Might be me being the technical guy, but my thinking was we already have a huge database of questions right here in the forums. In my opinion the questions aren't really up for debate; the logical approach, to me at least, would be statistically determine the questions that are asked most often.
Peter

[JonW]

Good point, Peter. Where do we go from here?
JW

[Happyogababe]

Hi guys, I don't want to be a sour plum, but I feel this isn't the most accurate approach to create a FAQ. When I suggested the FAQ, I had something different in mind. Might be me being the technical guy, but my thinking was we already have a huge database of questions right here in the forums. In my opinion the questions aren't really up for debate; the logical approach, to me at least, would be statistically determine the questions that are asked most often.
Peter

I don't think that anyone would see you as a sour plum I shall watch with interest, my strengths are not with statistics