Are there any Vipassana mums??

[melany]

Hi, just wondering if there are any Vipassana mums out there as I need insiration and encouragement to meditate!!

[earth mother]

Oooh Ooh I ve been wanting to do this for years but alas didnt do it pre children, now Im going to be waiting a while before my two are old enough for me to have the time to do it, will be watching with interest.

[melany]

well, it doesnt look like there's much to watch for. I've done the 10 day silent retreat 3 times now and still cant get myself meditating everyday. When I do it everyday life is so much easier to deal with!! And so much more enjoyable!! : )

[jgv]

The longest retreat I have attended is 4 days at the Blue Mountains Insight Meditation Centre. It was noble silence therefore no speaking although whilst doing our chores and washing up there was a few words exchanged. I'm theravadin buddhist.

I've also done the weekend retreats at Nan Tien Temple Wollongong which I love because they are short even though the buddhist teachings are Mahayana, so a bit different to my perspective. I really enjoyed the tai chi retreat they have.

I normally attend a meditation centre on a Wednesday night in Chippendale Sydney but with a new baby I've been absent for a few months now.

There is a Vipassana retreat in Blackheath that just focuses on Vipassana but I prefer the retreats that are buddhist focused.

In the end any meditation form is great huh? It's hard work too. I put some links here to my fave meditation centres and some links to some really good dhamma talks in case anybody is interested.

http://www.bswa.org/modules/mydownloads/ Look for talks by Ajahn Brahm - the funniest monk around

http://www.meditation.asn.au/ My fave retreat centre

http://www.bodhikusuma.com/metta/ My usual centre

Hope this inspires somebody!

Janelle

[bodhisma]

Hi Melany and all,

I'm a vipassana mum, or try to be anyway. Currently either 20 or 14 days overdue with bub number two and just trying to be 'with reality as it is.'

Something I read about discipline has really helped me with my sitting practise - rather than going to it out of a sense of discipline which is very forceful I now go to it out of my enthusiasm for the practise.

Also I try to focus on whatever aspect of it I can - sometimes the best I can do is try and maintain sila with not much sitting, sometimes I can sit twice a day and sometimes as now and (I anticipate) in my labour just focusing on surrendering to this very moment.

Would love to chat with you more.

Best Wishes.