Some easy things I’ve been trying lately:
-Focusing on my breathing while driving, showering and other activities. Of course is not as intense as in Anapana when sitting in a quiet space, but I’m finding it a helpful practice to calm my mind.
-Bringing awareness over my body several times a day: am I relaxed or tense?
Am I using unnecessary muscles in the current posture? Can I feel my clothes over my skin?
-Trying to perceive my emotional states and feel how my breathing becomes deep or choppy, long or short, etc.
I’m also trying to do some walking meditation. I find it more difficult. I never had any serious instruction about it and while at the 10 days retreat I used to enjoy just walking, but now I’m trying to add a more meditative content to my walks, even when I go to get my car at the parking lot.
I think that all these things help, because the truth is that I cannot practice meditation five hours a day but PERHAPS I can bring the meditation into my activities for longer periods of time.
I wonder if other people do the same.
I chose the discrepancy between ‘our” practice and ” my” life purposely. I do feel that this is shared practice and when I sit I’m sure some of you are sitting at the same time!
after 3 10 days and 1 volunteer seva one does Satipatthana. During Sattipathana it describes kayanupasana / body, chitanupasana / mind, vednanupasana / sensation and dhammanupasana / 4 noble truths.
It helps you to do practise during any time along with day to day work. This should not be taken as excuse to not to seat 2 hours per day.
Once person seats 30 or 45 day course it becomes easy to be aware of sensation while doing day to day work.
See the Buddha’s explanation on how to integrate mindfulness into every moment: http://www.vridhamma.org/Discourses-on-Satipatthana-Sutta
I feel you progressing well on this path. More one is aware of the breath or sensations while doing his/her routine work, more one is getting established in dhamma.
The above link is the summary of Goenkaji discourses of satipattana sutta. The literal translation of the sutta can be found here: http://www.tipitaka.org/stp-pali-eng-parallel
There is never a time not to be in the moment – to be aware of your breath and where it comes from. Stillness then consciousness will follow