Meditation and your mobile phone

Discussion of meditation in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.
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mindyourmind
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Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by mindyourmind »

Oh come all ye sinners, confess ....


How many of you meditate while the old mobile is just next to you, a few centimetres away - for that all important call / text / bbm / whatever to be received.

"Just for the alarm, you see"

How many times does your mind stray away to the phone?

Be honest now :stirthepot:
Dualism is the real root of our suffering and all of our conflicts.

Namkhai Norbu
florin
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by florin »

mindyourmind wrote:Oh come all ye sinners, confess ....


How many of you meditate while the old mobile is just next to you, a few centimetres away - for that all important call / text / bbm / whatever to be received.

"Just for the alarm, you see"

How many times does your mind stray away to the phone?

Be honest now :stirthepot:

Guilty :techproblem:
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mindyourmind
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by mindyourmind »

I'm shocked. Who else?
Dualism is the real root of our suffering and all of our conflicts.

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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

Recently, someone saw me holding my flip-up style phone. they said, 'oh..I see you have one of the old fashioned kind!"
...which to me is funny, because i consider "old fashioned" any phone with a cord attached to it. For me, the cell phone is not anything I pay attention to unless i am actually using it at the moment. I do use the alarm feature during meditation, especially if I am away from home. I was recently informed that last year's "smart phone" models are very cheap to purchase now, and that I will be upgrading! So, we will see what happens...
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catmoon
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by catmoon »

I don't own a cell phone. When meditating I often unplug the landline. Usually it's not an issue though.
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Zealot
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by Zealot »

I try to remember to silence it because if I rings and I hear it, I tend to answer. Perhaps I should leave the volume on and get used to hearing and watching disappear.
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Roland
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by Roland »

Airplane mode

Timer is useful
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ZenOfNow
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by ZenOfNow »

There is an excellent iphone app called "Insight Timer" here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/insight ... 72899?mt=8

Description:
With beautiful Tibetan singing bowls and a vibrant worldwide meditation community, Insight Timer is the fun, modern way to support your meditation practice.
It has ending and interval bells which can be adjusted for time.


Blessings,
ZenOfNow
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Hickersonia
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by Hickersonia »

I have a cell phone that is disconnected from service for my meditation bell...

No service, no calls, no problems.
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Johnny Dangerous
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by Johnny Dangerous »

Happy to say I still don't own one, so not an issue! PC use is enough of a compulsion for me, don't need one I carry around with me.
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Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared

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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by Admin_PC »

I use Zazen Suite on my iPhone as my meditation timer.
I started using the free version and it quickly became my go-to timer, so I shelled out a couple bucks for the full suite.

As far as answering the phone if it rings... well I don't have that issue usually.
First, I don't get to meditate until my kid goes to bed (unless I somehow manage to wake up early).
Second, I very rarely answer calls in the first place. I can't bring my phone to work. I try not to bring it to the gym (hate it when my wife calls when I'm using the round timer on the phone for my workout).
Most people won't call very often when they're used to talking to a machine every time they call me.

Otherwise, the phone's been an invaluable tool for being able to read ebooks and some of the other Dharma apps when I am stuck in a waiting room (for example).
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Sara H
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by Sara H »

mindyourmind wrote:Oh come all ye sinners, confess ....


How many of you meditate while the old mobile is just next to you, a few centimetres away - for that all important call / text / bbm / whatever to be received.

"Just for the alarm, you see"

How many times does your mind stray away to the phone?

Be honest now :stirthepot:
I use a meditation timer Android app

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... tion&hl=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's very helpful. ; )

In Gassho,

Sara H.
Observing your mind is a good idea.
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Jainarayan
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by Jainarayan »

Very honestly, I give it no thought. That's what voice mail is for. Of course I cheat and use foam ear plugs too, to quiet background noise.
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Johnny Dangerous
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by Johnny Dangerous »

Still don't own one, and i'm glad. I find the idea of being able to to be reached any time abhorrent. Ditto to what Catmoon said, I unplug or turn off the ringer. No one wants to call a crotchety luddite anyway.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared

-Khunu Lama
corrine
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by corrine »

I know that cell phones are considered indispensable these days, but when I retired, back in the dark ages, I literally stomped my pager to death and promised myself that I would never allow an 'electronic leash' to govern my life again.

Yes, I know that cells are good for emergencies, but I lived for many years before they came into being, so I do not feel as though I must be perpetually connected to others in order to feel or be safe. And I like that there are times when no one can reach me. I have a land line, but turn the ringer off when I meditate, and at other times too. I think we have allowed our lives to be controlled by electronics. For me, the computer is enough. I need it for work, and I use it to keep in touch with overseas friends. And to study.

So, when I meditate, I meditate. Nothing electric or electronic on to get in the way. Meditation is challenging enough for me. I am so easily distracted. Having a cell phone sitting next to me would be very destructive.

corrine :smile:
joden008
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by joden008 »

hi i love to join this topic to know more about meditation ..//..
joden008
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by joden008 »

I also keeps my mobile switch off mode while meditation ..
bcoz it cat create some disturbance ...
Last edited by Grigoris on Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Removed link to commercial site
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mirco
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Re: Meditation and your mobile phone

Post by mirco »

ZenOfNow wrote:There is an excellent iphone app called "Insight Timer" here:...
Here's the android version.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... JsaXRlMiJd
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