[vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″ el_class=”head-post”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
By Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche \u2022 5 min read[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”sharepost”]\n\t\t\t\t
SHARE:\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t<\/p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”TRY FOR FREE” style=”outline” color=”peacoc” align=”left” el_class=”btn-post” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fjoy.tergar.org%2Fjoy-of-living%2F||target:%20_blank|”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_column_text el_class=”subtittle-open-post”]<\/p>\n Some people get drowsy just thinking about spending time in seated meditation. Others find the concept of meditating in the middle of a rush-hour commute daunting, if not absurd. In truth, though, both formal (seated) and informal (active) meditation are equally important for a balanced, vibrant, and well-developed practice.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column lms_has_clearfix=”0″][vc_single_image image=”111345″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1677269505999{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}” el_class=”hidden-xs”][vc_single_image image=”111344″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1677269489816{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}” el_class=”visible-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_column_text el_class=”subtittle-open-post”]<\/p>\n You can meditate informally anywhere, in literally any situation. It doesn\u2019t matter how crowded your schedule is, because you can apply it in the middle of any task \u2014 at your workplace, running to catch a bus, chopping vegetables, presenting at a conference, even studying for an exam. Since awareness is the essence of meditation, you could be riding a unicycle across a tightrope and still be meditating! In fact, a practitioner get in the habit of bringing awareness to experiences that are \u201coff the cushion.\u201d Especially as a beginner, you\u2019ll only be able to do it for brief moments at a time, but gradually those moments will become more frequent, with a longer duration.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1677268047574{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 40px !important;}” el_class=”subtittle-open-post”]<\/p>\n But if it\u2019s so great to meditate in the midst of daily life, why is formal meditation important? In part, it\u2019s because it\u2019s a lot harder to develop and deepen your meditation practice if you never carve out any time to dedicate to it. And the stillness of formal meditation provides a space to first practice apart from the hustle and bustle of life.. It does require time, which admittedly is a precious resource for many folks, but it doesn\u2019t require a lot of it.\u00a0 Even a little bit of formal meditation, say fifteen or twenty minutes a day, is adequate. More is wonderful, of course, but it’s better to sit for a short period every day than it is to put off meditating for \u201cwhen you have more time.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″ lms_row_bk_offset_section_classes=”bk-qoute-full”][vc_column][vc_column_text]\u201cA disciplined mind invites true joy.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”autorquotepost”]\u2013 Mingyur Rinpoche \u2013[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1677270902689{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”subtittle-open-post”]<\/p>\n Since you have to interact with the world in order to survive, you need the skill of maintaining awareness in ordinary life situations. If your meditation only ever happens on the cushion (or chair or sofa), when a real-life problem arises, you won\u2019t know how to apply your practice. If your meditation is in one arena of your life, and the difficult situation is in another, and you won\u2019t know how to bridge that gap. For best results, then, alternate formal and informal meditation. Fifteen or twenty minutes of formal, seated meditation a day to anchor and develop your practice, and then \u2014 since you can\u2019t always be sitting on a cushion in a nice quiet room \u2014\u00a0 plenty of informal meditation throughout the day. Repeat as necessary. . . ideally, throughout your life![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″ lms_row_bk_offset_section_classes=”bk-gris-mailing”][vc_column lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]\n\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf you enjoyed reading our articles, please join our mailing list\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tand we'll send you our news and latest pieces.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t SHARE:\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t<\/p><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″ lms_row_bk_offset_section_classes=”bk-cielo-post”][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text el_class=”free-text-blog”]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”free-text-blog” css=”.vc_custom_1625157115208{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”free-text-blog” css=”.vc_custom_1625157098798{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Learn meditation under the skillful guidance of world-renowned teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche at your own pace.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”txt-link-landing btn-mb20″]LEARN MORE <\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”92705″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″ lms_row_bk_offset_section_classes=”bk-gris-post”][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n In his approach to teaching meditation, Mingyur Rinpoche integrates traditional Buddhist practice and philosophy with the current scientific understanding of the mind and mental health \u2013 making the practice of meditation relevant and accessible to students around the world. Mingyur Rinpoche is the author of the best-selling book The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness,<\/em> as well as Joyful Wisdom: Embracing Change and Finding Freedom, In Love with the World: A Monk\u2019s Journey Through the Bardos of Living and Dying,<\/em> and many others.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”10\/12″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cFifteen or twenty minutes of formal, seated meditation a day to anchor and develop your practice, and then \u2013 since you can\u2019t always be sitting on a cushion in a nice quiet room \u2014 plenty of informal meditation throughout the day. Repeat as necessary\u2026ideally, throughout your life!\u201d","protected":false},"featured_media":111344,"template":"","tags":[145,148,188],"blog":[157],"class_list":["post-111343","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-formal-meditation","tag-meditation","tag-mingyur-rinpoche","blogs-meditation-in-everyday-life"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOne Practice, Two Types of Meditation<\/b><\/h3>\n
Awareness is all it takes<\/b><\/h3>\n
Sit down and open up<\/b><\/h3>\n
Staying balanced<\/b><\/h3>\n
Join Our Mailing List<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Joy of Living Online Training<\/h2>\n
Theory and practice of meditation, step-by-step.<\/h4>\n
About the Author<\/h2>\n
By Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche<\/a><\/h3>\n