Intensive Practice Begins Again

Last year, I started an online journal to sort of chart this journey that is my practice. Back in September of last year, I started to use my website as my Intensive Practice journal. Eventually, it became too difficult and time consuming to journal in hand-coded HTML, and that's how I arrived here.

Intensive Practice is a program at Still Point that is designed to support practitioners who want to engage in daily practice. I've written before about how I think moving towards daily practice is a process. I've been excited about today all week because I wanted to attend the Intensive Practice orientation for motivation... I thought I needed a boost to get back on the cushion. The time I spend sitting outside of temple has been at an all-time low this past month, so I thought I needed all the encouragement I could get.

Well, I didn't make it to the temple today. There wasn't even any really good reason why I didn't go.

So, I didn't get the adrenaline pumping about my practice. I didn't hear any encouraging words (if any were said at the meeting) because I wasn't there. What I'm left with is just a simple choice...

Either I'm going to do Intensive Practice or I'm not.

Moving from an occasional practitioner to a daily practitioner IS a process, but not because we need to figure out how to simplify our lives enough to make space for the practice. The process is moving from thinking about it and wanting to do it to actually doing it. Whether you are sort of half-heartedly doing it or "actually doing it" probably just depends on two things: choice and conviction.

So tomorrow, I start Intensive Practice again... Not because Still Point says it's September and this is when we start Intensive Practice, but because I really want to do it... and I really need to do it for myself.

Comments

[Eric]

Phew, I'm so relieved to hear you say that! My centre is starting the Fall Intensive as well and I'm struggling with what I feel my commitment should be. I'll blog it as well - but you have my support for your effort in any way it may manifest itself.
Gassho

[chalip]

Hey Eric...

Maybe a better question is "What do I want my commitment to be?" I stay away from should as much as I possibly can... Should assumes there is a right choice to make and a wrong choice to make. Maybe there's just your from-the-gut choice when you're not thinking about what you "should" be doing.

Be a lamp unto yourself. (Without the should)

You have my support, too!

A bow,
Chalip