Hard Determination Sitting (if Leo Could Reply I Would Be Grateful)

[The Monk]

Hi guys, I've recently been doing a bit of hard determination sitting, as I've heard from actualized.org, as its the fastest way to get to enlightenment. But the problem is, I can't really sit still. I do a half lotus position, but later after 20 mins my legs usually begin to lose blood circulation, and I can't feel them and they become numb, so I end up moving into a new position e.g. by putting my legs straight out to improve blood circulation then going back into a half lotus. I however, do this 3 or 4 times every time I meditate, as the numbness and pins and needles becomes unbearable. Is this allowed, or should I simply just sit for 1 hour no matter how bad it is, as that is one of the main rules established by Leo, but the pain i can't avoid, however the itching and random pains that occur in my body are avoidable, and untouched, where as this is pretty hard, what do you suggest guys?

 

[WelcometoReality]

@Aamir King The point of SDS is the pain. You will want to move to relieve the pain and the stiffness in the muscles and mind will start to go wild. Just watch the thoughts and the pain and sit still.

[The Monk]

@WelcometoReality Ok, I'll give that a try.

[Prabhaker]

2 hours ago, Aamir King said:

what do you suggest guys?

Begin from where beginning is easy, otherwise you will begin to feel many things unnecessarily ¯ things that are not there. 
If you begin with sitting, you will feel much disturbance inside. The more you try to just sit, the more disturbance will be felt; you will become aware only of your insane mind and nothing else. It will create depression, you will feel frustrated. You will not feel blissful; rather, you will begin to feel that you are insane. And sometimes you may really go insane.

If you make a sincere effort to 'just sit,' you may really go insane. Only because people do not really try sincerely does insanity not happen more often.

[Flicker_boy]

are you hurting yourself? if so it's better to find another position. You can sit on a chair, or meditate in other positions such as standing, walking or reclining as these are as valuable as sitting if you apply the technique correctly

if it's just pain and discomfort stay with it. Try to notice how pain or ich is just a bunch o momentary vibrations/mind moments bunched together and notice how each "pixel" that composes it arises and passes away simultaneously, this should ease a bit of the discomfort. Have fun

 

[Leo Gura]

@Aamir King Why do you think SDS is so effective?

You should be smart enough to realize that it's because it's emotionally hard as fuck.

NO MOVEMENT AT ALL!

You sit there until your head explodes in agony. It's gonna feel like full on torture.

If you have circulation problems, just sit in a chair with legs uncrossed. Try sitting in a chair without moving for 2 hours. Your mind will come up with every excuse and fear in the book to get you to quit prematurely. Your job is to not get tricked by it.

If you don't like this, then switch to a less hardcore technique. There are many softer techniques.

SDS is really for masochists.

FYI, some Zen monks can sit like that for 5 DAYS STRAIGHT! So whatever problems you think you have during a 1 or 2 hour sit are laughable.

[George Paul]

14 hours ago, Aamir King said:

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2016 by George Paul

[Extreme Z7]

@Leo Gura True that. I once successfully did a Strong Determination Sit for 1 hour. Hellish Hellish experience. Yet I know that it wasn't even THAT awful because my life is just so comfy relative to the sit.

On the bright side, I experienced one of the most peaceful moments in my life after it. My surface-level anxieties and worries were temporarily abolished. . . temporarily.

I haven't done any SDS since because I just fear experiencing it again. Maybe I could get further than 1 hour another time.

[The Monk]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I appreciate them.