3

According to Lord Buddha teachings, How should a normal employee spend his/her day ?

How much time should one meditate? (annapanna or vipassana) ?

While sitting in office, how should i sit (sometimes i try to sit as straight as possible, but after 10 minutes i am back to ordinary state)

I want to know how to spend all my 24 hours in order to remain all time conscious (what exactly means conscious, suppose i am walking, should i remain aware about my hand and legs moving or my breath) ?

Kindly help

3 Answers 3

2

How much time should one meditate? (annapanna or vipassana) ?

2 session of 1 hour each sitting meditation generally works well for many, but this is not the true meditative practice.

According to Lord Buddha teachings, How should a normal employee spend his/her day ?

Real meditation is from awakening to sleep. Be aware of sensation arising and passing either due to posture, bodily sensations, mental activity and thoughts, sensory experiences, etc.

As an employee you should earn your living in the right way and ethically. Meditating or other activity in office which might interfere with your duties might not be ethical.

While sitting in office, how should i sit (sometimes i try to sit as straight as possible, but after 10 minutes i am back to ordinary state)

What every posture that works for you is fine. Over rigid postures may give undue attention of colleagues which might not help.

If you are referring to "crookedness of body" in (Pacetana) Ratha,kara Sutta, this is a figure of speech referring to lax morality.

I want to know how to spend all my 24 hours in order to remain all time conscious (what exactly means conscious, suppose i am walking, should i remain aware about my hand and legs moving or my breath) ?

In short the breath and arising and passing of sensations. Generally when you are waking moving parts have more sensations, but as you progress it is good to look throughout the body.

If the sensations are pleasant you get attached if not averse. This is one thing you have to understand and be aware of. Staying in a particular posure may be present for a little while but becomes painful and the urge to more arises. When you move the new posture becomes pleasant and cycle continues. Similarly for thoughts, memories, and other sensory experiences. Regarding sensory experiences and perceive it as positive or negative or neutral, if positive you experience a pleasant sensation and you get attached to the pleasant sensation triggered by the evaluation and similarly when the experience is negative.

7
  • Thanks for the answer sir, at this time in new delhi it is cold. and i take bath with hot water, i feel good, should i not take bath in hot water ? i am mean i am confused, am i supposed to be aware that water is hot ? or should i use cold water(so that i don't get attached with hot water bath)
    – Ritesh.mlk
    Jan 5, 2017 at 5:30
  • When you move the new posture becomes pleasant and cycle continues Why body asks for new postures, i am a programmer and have to sit all day
    – Ritesh.mlk
    Jan 5, 2017 at 6:03
  • Just to confirm Sir 2 session of 1 hour each sitting meditation generally works well for many, but this is not the true meditative practice. is the answer to this is in below line ? In short the breath and arising and passing of sensations. If the sensations are pleasant you get attached if not averse. This is one thing you have to understand and be aware of
    – Ritesh.mlk
    Jan 5, 2017 at 6:07
  • The1 hour sittings is to improve your mindfulness during the rest of the day. It is preparation. Actual mindfulness should be throughout the day. Jan 5, 2017 at 7:06
  • Thanks Sir, So i guess this is the essence of buddha's teaching
    – Ritesh.mlk
    Jan 5, 2017 at 9:15
1

The Buddha tends to give a different style of teaching for lay people and monastics. Meditation is rarely advised for lay people, they focus on developing merit for a good future rebirth. Lay people are frequently urged to follow the five precepts, to develop right livelihood, and to give dana.

So you are already going beyond what is suggested by the Buddha. You may find his teachings for monks to be more relevant for your practice but don't lose sight of the basics, precepts are an important practice to complement meditation.

0

You could work vipassana into the workday. It's designed to help us just see what is happening as it is happening, and to catch even our most subtle emotional reactions.

You can also practice meditation that supports the main vipassana practice: like Metta or loving-kindness if too much anger comes, or anapana (breath meditation) if you need to calm down quickly.

One of my favorite teachers, who specializes in teaching people for the working world, is Stephen Procter. These are videos with the method and the theory:

2
  • 1
    +1 For the Stephen Proctor. Thanks to you I am quite benefiting from his teachings. Best regards,
    – user20360
    Feb 7, 2021 at 14:48
  • I think relatively unknown Stephen Proctor has got to be one of the best beginning teachers that I have ever known. Glad you found benefit with him.
    – Lowbrow
    Mar 1, 2021 at 17:15

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .