Week 2
This week, we’re leaving much of the theory behind and diving deeper into practice. Throughout the week you will be trying out different meditation approaches and longer meditation practices. Think of this week as hard work to apply the theory you learned about last week.
Assignment 1. Introspection
Continue to observe how you suffer in every day life and pause whenever you become aware of it. Ask yourself: what part of this suffering is avoidable, what part is unavoidable? Note what you observe in this journal.
By “avoidable” suffering, I mean suffering that comes from our refusal to change strategy, give up, let go, reformulate our goals, say no or simply turn around and walk away. Another way to phrase this, if you’re fond of Stoic philosophy, “What exactly do I control here?” You always control your interpretation of an event, your engagement in it – and what else? Suffering that comes about from what you control is avoidable. If you, nonetheless, choose it, ask yourself: qui bono? What makes it so important?
Assignment 2. Meditation practice
Practice meditation at least once per day. If you want to challenge yourself, do it twice!
Alternate between the practices offered on the web site. If you decide to do two meditations per day (which is highly recommended as a preparation for next week), you may do one of the shorter Week 1 practices and one of the Week 2 practices.
It’s useful to do the longer one in the morning and then the shorter one (from Week 1) in the early afternoon.