I haven't been able to really meditate in over five years due to a brain injury. I guess we are in the same boat. I do walk the Noble Eightfold Path and I can say that it has truly benefited me and has made me into a much more wise and loving person. I do practice mindfulness in my daily activity and I even practice mindfulness of breathing as well just not in meditation and that has brought me a certain degree of peace. I guess the only path factor that doesn't come into play is right concentation but that's okay.
In my daily morning routine what I do is take refuge, recite the four immeasurables, then I recite Migtsema (Lama Tsongkhapa's mantra) and then the mantra of Avalokitshvara. The most important thing for me though is to take refuge thereby renewing my intention to follow the path.
Hi. I know that's an odd question. Allow me to explain.
Personally, I try to make life into a kind of living meditation. However, I don't do the "classic" techniques of meditation very well: sitting still and breathing, chanting, humming, etc. In fact, I get bored out of my mind very quickly doing that. So, I can work at the first 7 steps of the 8 fold path pretty well, but the 8th step is not only beyond me; it is beyond any interest of mine. I like Buddhism as a philosophy for life, but (for me) meditation will just have to naturally result from the first 7 steps.
So, can I even practice Buddhism as a religion? I like the social aspects of religion; I also like having rituals that express truths which language cannot fully convey, etc. Yet, it seems that meditation is the main activity at Buddhist gatherings. Maybe I am mistaken? But, it seems that meditation is to Buddhists what prayer / praise / worship are to Christians.
It can be pretty lonely as a solitary Buddhist, but what is there to *do* together as a group for Buddhists except meditate ?
I get the feeling that I haven't framed the question quite right, but I hope you get the gist and can reply. Thank you.
