Meditation Project: My "Bonus" Meditation

Night of Love by Rene Magritte

This meditation report covers a two-week period (May 26 through June 8) because I went on a short vacation. Unfortunately, I not only didn't write my weekly report due to that vacation, but I also missed a couple of days of meditating. I found it really challenging to find time and space to meditate when I was staying in a hotel room with another person (with whom I was celebrating my 40th wedding anniversary) and had a busy schedule of activities with long-time friends. For future trips away from home, I will have to figure out a way to make this work better. In the meantime, I was able to return to daily practice when I returned home, so at least I there is that.

As to my practice, well, there's not much interesting to report. I'm doing the same seated practice I have been doing for a while (using my mantra in a supported seated Hero pose), feeling more comfortable now that I'm able to more quickly let go of judgments about my performance ("Moving on!"). So I thought I'd mention that I've been doing something else regularly that really pleases me. After the final chime goes off for my meditation, I now always add on about a minute of "bonus" time. During this time, I usually mentally recite the last part of the Loving-Kindness meditation when you focus on "all beings." But recently there is someone I care about who is in hospice so instead I'm dedicating that last minute to them and just reciting "May you be peaceful." I don't actually think my wishes will have a direct effect on them, but it does my heart good to take this time to think of them on a daily basis and wish them peace.

Combining different techniques in this way allows me to work on strengthening my regular mantra practice at the same time as I can address my desire to think of others during my practice, as well as myself. Do you ever do anything like this?

by Nina Zolotow

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