You don't get up when just any thought runs through your mind. I meant it only when you have an overwhelmingly uncomfortable feeling, either physically or mentally. In this case, the feeling probably is not going to go away, and sitting through it would just make matters worse, so it is best to get up. When you have the rambling feelings of hecticness and tiredness, you try to sit through it. But if it gets worse and worse, it might be better to get up.

STUDENT:

You said we should sit when we want to sit. If poets or writers only wrote when the muse moved them, they might only write one poem or story a year. Sometimes you have good days and sometimes you have bad days, but good results can come from either one. You just sit down and write and something might happen. Shouldn't it be the same with sitting? To say to sit whenever you feel like it must be explained better. There needs to be structure in one's practice. People might misinterpret what you say and think about practice in a very lackadaisical, la-de-da way. As you say, it is not an easy habit to cultivate. It takes a lot of effort and repetition.

SHIH-FU:

Again, we are talking about attitude. I am presupposing that you want and like to meditate. If you find on a particular day that you don't have the time to sit, or your mind is too preoccupied with something else that is important, then it's okay not to sit. But if you are lacking determination, and come up with an excuse every other day, then it is not okay. For example, if you have work that you must get done for the next day, then that is a good reason to forego sitting. But if you put off sitting in order to finish a crossword puzzle, that's not a good reason. Remember, you are only fooling yourself. You know inside when it is a good reason and when it isn't, so be honest with yourself, and be your own disciplinarian. You can't have a teacher watchinq over your shoulder everyday. It's up to you.