Meditation as a field report in a Buddhist monastery

There are now so many different definitions of meditation and ways to learn it. But what really suits you, you have to find out for yourself.

In addition to the articles published here, I can tell you my very personal meditation experience about a wonderful time I had in a Buddhist monastery. Maybe you can take some added value with you or imagine one or the other meditation exercise for yourself.
When I arrived at the monastery on my trip to Sri Lanka a few years ago, which was not exactly easy to find, I knew immediately that this place was something very special.
The smell of nature, the peace and space made my body relax. Located on a mountain, in the middle of nowhere. Not even Google Maps could help me
to find the right way up this mountain. Luckily I met on my way
another participant and the two of us, after a few detours on foot, found the right way.
What I embarked on there was ten days of silent meditation, not a word to anyone. Unless one had difficulties, then one was allowed to consult the master.
That doesn't sound like a long time, but the first few days seemed endless to me.
With every day that I spent meditating and that went by, the time became more beautiful and I could have imagined staying there and meditating much longer. But before I tell you how I felt during my time there and what I was able to take away from the experience, first get an idea of ​​what my daily routine with meditation looked like there:

The most beautiful thing for me was the meditations in motion. Just walk and perceive or practice asanas, breathe and feel.
For me, walking meditation was much easier than sitting and just concentrating on my breathing, for example. In the walking meditations I have felt every stone under my bare feet, perceived every sound, smelled every fragrance and seen every light and shadow.
Walking slowly and quietly, I have noticed so much of what we so often get lost in everyday life.

Another wonderful experience I'd like to share with you was being able to feel first hand how human relationships are formed without ever having spoken a word to each other.

In our group there was such a loving and heartfelt interaction without language that since then I have come to appreciate the silence that sometimes arises in conversations
pleasantly perceive and enjoy.
Just try to really take your time next time you eat. Eating in silence, even if you are doing it together.
Take in every bite, every sip, every smell and, despite everything, the connection to your counterpart if there are two of you at the table.
Because that too is meditation. Of course, mediation does not always have to be in silence,
Meditation can also be a conversation with someone you give your full attention to. Ultimately, this experience really showed me that meditation is all you do as long as you are fully there.

To the aalenaa meditation cushions

Our yoga mats

your Helene

Video My Meditation