Thanks for all the replies and ideas.
My Sen-sei calls this the "Centipede Syndrome."
Yeah, that example was given in the Wiki article. I've had that happen playing guitar. If I think about a strumming or finger pattern, it all goes to hell in a handbasket... just do it without thinking about it.
I think they are too long. You are risking burning out on them and then they will feel like a must instead of a spiritual blessing.
My own pujas which I do rarely are usually just a few minutes. Light, incence, sweets, flower petals and 3 AUMs is usually the extent of them.
Sometimes I chant a little, it depends on the mood.
But I'm not Bhakti so rituals are not my main focus, meditation is.
And I can meditate for over an hour if I have the time or 15-20 minutes if I don't. Oh I love to have the time for a 5 hour meditation like Sumit, but I never do.
Even though if you are Bhakti I don't think that you should feel that they are too long, if you do then it's too much.
If they are shorter you would enjoy the longer ones on occasion.
I went to temple yesterday and it was fantastic, but if I had done it at home every day I think I may have gotten antsy.
Maya
You are right. Sometimes I feel they are a "must". I've especially felt this way lately because I haven't been in control of my time. See, for well over a year I have been out 3-4 nights a week, lying on some chiropractor's or acupuncturist's or physical therapist's table, being stuck with pins, poked, prodded, massaged, twisted and had
TENS electrodes taped to me because of my shoulder and back. By the time I'd get home around 7:30-8:00 pm the last thing I wanted to do was sit for an hour reading prayers, doing japa and meditating.
So indeed it became burnout and a chore. It's made all the worse by my
OCPD and
GAD (for which I am on medication... I'm a mess
) which "demand" that I pray and pay homage to the deities I mentioned above, as well as make time to play some guitar and get to the gym. Selfish, huh?
However, there are the nights when I am fully fulfilled and peaceful after my ritual. Perhaps every night with the long version is too much. I've much desired to get up for Brahma Muhūrta to do my sadhana. However, not only will ringing bells (gotta have bells...
"more cowbell!") go down like a led zeppelin (pun intended) in the house, I'd be later for work than I usually am.
Today is Ekadashi (which I know I should probably not fast for because I am just getting over a respiratory infection and have been run down mentally and physically); I am going to wakefully meditate on this and ask Lord Vishnu what He thinks. I'm sure He will guide me.
Reading some of these have made me feel like I really need to pick up my sādhanā again. I always seem to stop doing it. :sad4:
I've gone weeks without even opening my shrine area (I have Japanese panels secluding it) to dust it.
Honestly, it depends on yourself, but my personal opinion for the average lay householder, then an hour's probably fine.
If you're getting sidetracked with thoughts then it's probably too long. ...
What do you think?
I'm getting sidetracked by worrying about it; not sidetracked while doing it. I cheat and use foam earplugs.
I'm thinking about breaking it up into chunks during the day... prayers during the day at various and multiple times. The short version in the evening: light, incense, some mantras to the deities (maybe their gayatris for wisdom, and one nama mantra to each), then some japa and meditation. Meditate on this I will. :yoda: