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When is the right time to meditate?

By Wakeupnow, on 14th July, 2010

So I just came back from Italy, home of the Roman Catholics, conducting a meditation retreat for a Jewish family.  Meet Dan, an elderly 88 year old Italian Jew, who graciously welcomed me into his house to conduct the retreat for his grandson, himself and his family.

I told him that I am very moved and impressed by him and his family because in Singapore, while there are many who are Buddhists, there are not many who would put in time and effort to learn and practise meditation.

I told him that I’ve met many with different excuses:

Someone who is in their teens or early 20s may say that they cannot meditate because they have to study

Someone in their 20s may say that they are busy starting their career

Someone in their late 20s or 30s may say that they are busy starting their family

Someone in their 40s ~ 50s may say that they have to wait till they retire

Someone who has retired may say that they are too old to meditate!


The person who spend his life giving excuses not to meditate in his next life as a human being will possibly again feel inept to meditate, or is less able to meditate, precisely because he did not even try in this life.

There is only one time in our life that is suitable for meditation:


NOW


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  • BK

    Hi Ven,

    I’m interested to know how your Italian Jewish friends look at inviting a Buddhist Ven to their house and taught them meditation, knowing that they have a very different religion background. In my perception this is something very unlikely to happen for people from different religions, ‘cos while saying this, in my mind I have images of my friends from other religions who will never do that. I’m not sure if your case is a very exceptional case, or that you have already encountered many similar invites/requests?

    Would appreciate your precious time to enlighten us on this.

    With Metta
    BK

    • http://buddhavacana.net/ Wakeupnow

      Hi BK,

      Thanks for posting your comment; I’m sure many have the same thoughts or questions, but are too shy to ask. :)

      In a way, the meditation retreat is really a continuation of the Dharma classes with the grandson Gabriele, starting last December (’09) and lasted approx 4+ months. In reality, their family was really open to begin with.

      Through the retreat, I learnt more about him and his family and found that they were really open about their faith (Judaism) and at least they saw value in the Buddhist teachings and would like to see how it can be applied in their daily lives.

      Some may read this as hybridisation of both religions, but I see their openness and pragmatism in learning from others.

      From mindfulness meditation to the Shabbat (English: Sabbath), from teachings on Emptiness to sharing on the Israel state (during breakfast with grandpa (na-na or no-no … I keep mixing them up!), it was a very moving and inspiring retreat for everyone!

      I walk away from the retreat, knowing that if I as a Buddhist monk, were to try to share the teachings and practices of meditation to others, I may have to first understand their faith from their perspective and not assume any similarities or differences I think exist.

      The moment I assume that there are irreconcilable differences in between, then there would indeed exist irreconcilable differences.

      As the Buddha would speak to the members of the other faith in the terms that they understood and connected with, I hope I have likewise done service to the Buddha Dharma.

  • BK

    Hi Ven,

    Thanks for sharing more insights. Your experience had opened my mind somewhat, perhaps I’ve been making too many assumptions. :P

    阿弥陀佛!
    BK

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