Difficult Practice Conditions

Question: How does a university student continue his or her practice while living in residence, which rarely facilitates opportunities to meditate, and is often defined by alcohol, sex and over-consumption? Also, I am unable to light incense in my dorm (which is an important part of my daily meditation time) due to fire regulations.

Response: Good conditions need to be created. We do this through our practice. I understand this is especially difficult to accomplish when we live in circumstances that do not lend themselves to the quiet preferred for meditation.

Is there a quiet place you can find to do your meditation away from your dorm? It may not be the environment you prefer or one where you can light incense, but you could do a basic meditation. Doing so will help plant the seeds for better conditions in the future.

Also, when we think of "practice," we most often think of our formal meditation. But practice is following the teachings wherever we are, so being patient in difficult circumstances and being diligent when the environment is not ideal are also invaluable forms of practices.

Comments

[Felipe]

Dear Ven. Wuling,

Thank-you so much for the response to my question. Your insight is greatly appreciated. Although I know that I am to constantly live out patience and the virtues of Buddhism, I have often had a disconnect between practicing "the practice" and actually living "the practice". I have never before considered that living out what I believe is actually a part of my daily practice.

Also, I will seek out a place of solitude where perhaps I can begin even with just a basic meditation, as you pointed out, to sow the seeds of good karma so that perhaps I will one day have the ideal space to chant and meditate more peacefully.

Thank-you. Peace.
Amituofo