HOW SHOULD ONE APPROACH DAILY MEDITATION PRACTICE?

SHIH-FU:

You know you want to benefit from daily practice, but you don't know how to go about doing it.

First, you should have a proper mental attitude towards practice. Second, you should know and use a method.

Before you practice your method, it is important that your body and mind be relaxed. But you might not know how to relax then. In trying you might even become more tense; or you might relax so much you fall asleep. Both extremes are wrong. That's why a proper mental attitude toward practice is important.

What is this attitude? Tell yourself that the time you spend every day in practice is the most enjoyable and comfortable and pleasant of times. Since we don't spend that much time each day sitting, the time we do spend is precious. If you have this attitude, you will not feel tense or sleepy when meditating.