Meditation

[JKrump]

I'm trying to get into the concept of meditation. i was wondering if you guys have any methods to go on about doing this. Thanks in advance

[PerDev]

I am also beginner on this path .. Just explored on it and come to know that its method through which subject and object both disapear, This can be achived through concentrating on single object which includes DHARNA, DHYAN and SAMATHI

[mercuryrising]

Here's mine:

1. Sit comfrotably, close your eyes and focus on your breath. Your breath brings you into this moment. The breath connects the body and mind, by focusing on it you will automatically become centered and calm. Just breathe normal. Allow your belly to relax and be mindful of it rising and falling with the breath.

2. Once you are in a relaxed state, visualize a full-body mirror before you. Instead of seeing a reflection of yourself as you are, you see the image of who you want be. How are you sitting? What does your body look like? What kind of facial expression do you have? What are you wearing? What kind of environment are you in? Be as detailed as you can. Assume anything is possible. Don't limit your vision because you don't know how you could become this way.

3. After you have as clear an image of yourself as you can, imagine stepping through the mirror and into the image you have just envisioned. How do you feel? What are you thinking about? Imagine yourself in different scenarios. How do you relate to people? What activities are you doing? Where do you live? What do you own? Again, be as detailed as possible. Allow your imagination to go wild. And at the same time, make this as real as possible. Use all your senses.


Open your eyes and go about your day.

[Nico Kempe]

That's some interesting advice Mercuryrising, I'll try that soon.

I've done a 30-day trial on meditation, meaning I meditated at least once every day for 30 days.
I didn't prepare much though. I read a few things about meditation online but that's about it.
It was pretty though for me. Sitting still concentrating on your breath and your body, with all those thoughts coming in and outside noises, for about 15 minutes, that's what I found pretty hard to deal with.

Still, it was rather nice to experience, even though it didn't go very well.

[nightdiamond]

I don't know what more to add than the advice the other posters have already given, which is good..

One piece of advice that I do have, based on my experience, is that it helps alot to have a specific goal or reason for meditating. That way it will give you energy and motivation when you meditate. It can make meditating more fun, interesting, and have you looking forward to it everyday.

For example, meditating to manifest something, remote healing, activating the kundalini or discovering the mysteries of the "other side" gives you a goal, purpose and enthusiasm to meditate, because you're getting something out of it.

The goal that you have is the focus point of the meditation.

The goal can also be something more closer to earth like creating a new screenplay, better health, mentaly practicing a skill you would like to have....

Good luck.....

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by Nico Kempe

That's some interesting advice Mercuryrising, I'll try that soon.

I've done a 30-day trial on meditation, meaning I meditated at least once every day for 30 days.
I didn't prepare much though. I read a few things about meditation online but that's about it.
It was pretty though for me. Sitting still concentrating on your breath and your body, with all those thoughts coming in and outside noises, for about 15 minutes, that's what I found pretty hard to deal with.

Still, it was rather nice to experience, even though it didn't go very well.

I know what you mean. I have been meditating for most of my life, but I am not very regular about it. I recently started a 30 day challenge myself to get back into it.

Have you considered doing some moving meditation, like yoga or T'ai Chi? Or guided meditation? I'm going to make a guided audio version of the above meditation this weekend. It will be up on my blog if you would like a copy. Silva Mind Control has a good one. They offer it for free if you sign up for their e-course.

There's nothing wrong with mindful breathing. It is actually one of the most powerful forms of meditation in the world. The process of focusing, being distracted and returning to focus is what it is all about. The distraction and discomfort you experience are not wrong or a failure. I know that's how I felt when I started to meditate. You are teaching yourself to stay calm and focused no matter what is going on around you. With that you can accomplish anything.

There are about a dozen books I could recommend to you. One of the best (and a timeless classic) is Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa. In fact, I might go re-read my copy now that I mentioned it.


Namaste.

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by nightdiamond

I don't know what more to add than the advice the other posters have already given, which is good..

One piece of advice that I do have, based on my experience, is that it helps alot to have a specific goal or reason for meditating. That way it will give you energy and motivation when you meditate. It can make meditating more fun, interesting, and have you looking forward to it everyday.

I agree with you nightdiamond. Some people say that meditation shouldn't have a goal, but I think it is necessary to entice the mind to take up the practice. At least that has been my experience.

We were talking about enlightenment somewhere else and it occurred to me at some point that 'enlightenment' was just a carrot to get the student to take up meditation. The monkey just won't sit down unless you have a banana for him.

[Mags]

JKrump, I'd suggest you have a look at Andrea Hess' video posts on meditation. They're a great resource for someone starting out with this practice (and even a great resource for those of us who have been meditating for a while!). Andrea's blog also has other articles relating to meditation that I'm sure you'll find helpful.

Empowered Soul Blog » A little something different
Empowered Soul Blog » Meditation - Part Two
Empowered Soul Blog » Meditation - how to get started

[dazzle]

Before meditating what I suggest is you practice deep breathing for at least five minutes. This helps the body to completely relax enabling you to overcome the next hurdle which is the mind.

Then breathe naturally (without controlling it) and focus on the sensation of your breathing. Sometimes focusing on the sound of your breathing might help. Eventually with practice this will lead to a very quiet mind and a loss of awareness of your body.

I have only recently included deep breathing in my meditation sessions and it has made such a big difference compared to my meditations several months ago. Before it took me 20-30 minutes to completely relax now it only takes just a few minutes of deep breathing.

I have also found that having a specific goal for meditating helps.

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by Mags

JKrump, I'd suggest you have a look at Andrea Hess' video posts on meditation. They're a great resource for someone starting out with this practice (and even a great resource for those of us who have been meditating for a while!). Andrea's blog also has other articles relating to meditation that I'm sure you'll find helpful.

Good call. I complimented her on these posts. I was expecting something airy-fairy, but it wasn't.

[nightdiamond]

Originally Posted by Mercuryrising:

Some people say that meditation shouldn't have a goal, but I think it is necessary to entice the mind to take up the practice. At least that has been my experience.

We were talking about enlightenment somewhere else and it occurred to me at some point that 'enlightenment' was just a carrot to get the student to take up meditation. The monkey just won't sit down unless you have a banana for him.

Very true mercury... remember we're talking about sitting still for maybe hours at a time ! Or staring into nothingness for a long time...

Like it or not our minds are most likely going to start saying "boring" louder and louder after awhile. But having an interesting goal- like receiving the answer to a problem, will usually have you looking forward to doing something that will produce a desired result you've been wanting.

I discovered that the mind or subconcious tends to try to respond to our requests or desires in various ways. Like having a dream for example;

Elias Howe invented the sewing machine, 1845, but in the beginning he was completely stumped with the design. He didn't know how to make the needle part work. He tried one idea with the needle having tips at both ends with the hole in the middle, but that didn't work at all.

One night he had a dream he was taken prisoner by natives. They were dancing around him and he noticed that the tips of their spears had holes near them! He realized that dream had given him the answer and he immediately tried it and it worked perfectly.

He must have thought about the problem constantly- and his subconcious (don't ask me how) returned with the answer and even incorporated it in an imaginative dream to make sure he would remember .

So we can imagine how our subconcious would respond when we want to seek "enlightment" or manifest something or even heal ourselves...

I had a similar experience myself a few years ago, concerning the idea of bliss and enlightment, among other things which leads me to think having a specific goal is one good way to work with meditation.

[LoveFreedom]

It was pretty though for me. Sitting still concentrating on your breath and your body, with all those thoughts coming in and outside noises, for about 15 minutes, that's what I found pretty hard to deal with.

Ouch! I had similar experiences as I tried to learn to meditate. Until I allowed myself to do it my way and not take it too seriously. For example, I find sitting distractive so I lie down. I used to fall asleep occasionally, but now I got quite proficient in controlling my states and staying awake and aware even though my mind slows down.

The secret was to make it comfortable, fun and enjoyable. I searched for tapes with guided meditations and tried different ones. Some were more fun than others. Instead of following choices of other meditators I followed my own taste. I could actually feel whether something was making me feel blissful or not. I prefer higher notes and female voices, and find certain instruments like flute more relaxing. There are sounds that bore me (most 'new age' music!) and these that I find somehow ‘grinding’ – and I know now that they are not in agreement with my vibrations/energy etc.

Try walking in the garden/park listening to birds, doing the dishes in a quiet house, listening to the same song over and over again? Maybe some relaxation cds. Maybe Celtic music? maybe yoga?

Do what pleases you to calm the inner chatter and you will love it. Then you will find meditation in all places.

And don't be too serious about it, it's meant to be fun! It's not about following some rules and worrying about doing it right. It's about feeling happy, calm and blissful!

Hope that helps