Meditation

[pianoperformer]

I'd love to get back into meditation. I used to meditate when I was younger, but really got out of the practice. However, i really think I need it. I need to slow down at least once a day and just recognize the present. I think that'd do a lot of good for me.

So, do you meditate? What do you do? For how long do you do this?

i'd like to devote a little time each day to personal development and meditation, but I'm not sure how much, yet. I'm unfortunately not going to have much time next semester with classes and piano practice, but surely I can take out an hour or so for myself.

So, I'm just not sure how to get started. I made a lot of progress a few years ago, but then just got so involved in everything that I backslid.

[nightdiamond]

Hi pianoperformer, I have a quick suggestion for you;

One good way to get maximum benefit out of meditation is to have a specific goal- there are actually specific goals for certain meditations!

And then to find a way to bring the benefits of that meditation into your daily life when you are not meditating; while you meditate you may feel relaxed, and centrered, but then after the meditating... when you are back awake and alert and studying for a test; the sensation is missing.

Finding a way to automatically link the state you experienced when you meditated with the state you are in during your daily life, and at will, is what makes meditating worthwhile...

Take care....

[awakentransform]

What sort of meditation did you do before? There are so many ways, just find one that you really love. That way you will look forward to it every day, rather than it feeling like a burden.

For me, I prefer meditation without a goal. Making it goal-oriented seems to defeat the purpose. It becomes striving instead of just being.

Try making your life a meditation. Take one of the routine things you do every day and just be totally present and aware. For example, when you are doing the dishes. Feel the suds. Notice the colors and shapes of the dishes. Listen to the sound of the water splashing on dishes. You get the idea. Not only will it slow you down and increase your awareness, it will make a chore enjoyable.

[Lea]

I agee awakentransform. Music too, such as his piano practice can be a good way to open spiritually. Just let yourself flow with the music. Feel it, be it! Listening to music makes me soar spiritually and meditation afterward is great.

Lea
Ocean Of Perspectives

[PerDev]

Originally Posted by Lea

I agee awakentransform. Music too, such as his piano practice can be a good way to open spiritually. Just let yourself flow with the music. Feel it, be it! Listening to music makes me soar spiritually and meditation afterward is great.

Lea
Ocean Of Perspectives

Yes I also believe

Music is Meditation and Meditation is Music

[nightdiamond]

Hi everyone...

I believe meditation can be used as a tool to achieve certain goals and experiences..

It all depends on what you want when you began meditating...if it's just to be "aware" or relax then this way is perfectly allright, meditators have an extra edge when it comes to that...

If it's about something like contacting a higher intelligence, discovering if there an existence beyond this one, exploring chakras, kundalini ect, then it may take more directed intention - a goal and concentration ...

I say this because I discovered myself at least, that the mind responds to statements from us when we are direct with it...

Goal direction takes you from point A to point B... And this can be used in meditation to achieve and experience the results one wants, depending on what they want..... in this case it would mean imagining already being or experiencing the result as one meditates...

But I like what everyone is saying and agree...if you want to get real maximum efffect out of meditation, you should bring it into your everyday life not just 20 minutes a day... or else your mind will usually associate the calming effects of meditation with "that special time" instead of your daily life....

And piano playing and meditation is original and a great way to enjoy yourself while meditating, good suggestion...

Take care everyone.....

[pianoperformer]

Thank you everyone for the replies.

nightdiamond,

I would say I want a bit of both.

I agree that playing the piano can be very meditative if I'm in the right mindset, but practice really isn't that time, or at least not for a long time at once. Mostly it's because of how much work it takes to actually master the dificult parts of a piece, and I find it hard to be meditative when I'm working on that. Maybe it is possible, though.

[wolfgang]

I was going to say the same thing - mediate while playing the piano.

However I can understand that while learning a piece that may not work. Although, isn't it already a meditation in a way? Or at least a focused mind state? I remember learning some piano and found it to be very focusing and once you get the fingering and can play the piece through - it really is a meditation to play it in that you can really focus on each note and the expression of the sound. I also found using a metronome to really bring about some sort of meditational feeling. Like listen for the metronome's beat to be so right on yours that you can't hear the metronome (as long as there is a note on the beat).

I can remember getting a feeling behind my head, a little up in the air as if I was watching from there instead of inside my body. Like once the piece was hardwired into my fingers, I could become the observer while the piece "got played" instead of me playing it.

I would think if you do any improvisation with other people you can get a kind of mediation out of that too. To be able to let go while playing some solo lines is really fun, as long as you can bring it back home and not blow it out.

But formally I'd say go for some regular 15-20 minute quiet meditations. I'm a irregular meditator and use binaural beat CDs. If you can be regular about it the mind starts to think you are more into it and will cooperate more such that it's easier to find the quiet space during meditation. At least I know when I've been more regular it gets that way. Irregular meditation works too but sometimes doesn't feel as deep or focused, in my experience.

The other thing is I always look for ways to bring the feeling of a mediation into activity. Like when jamming with guitar playing buddies or skiing or surfing or walking or exercise. I know it's a different brain state then sitting meditation, although sometimes I think I go pretty deep with the activities too. Although I can't imagine being able to be in theta brain wave (that's just a bit above delta) state and doing something that requires alertness, like skiing. Maybe the meditation I find out of skiing is more of a focused brain state instead of a lowering of brain waves, like a sitting meditation does.

[pianoperformer]

I agree that once I know a piece very well, that it doesn't require much focus to play it, and that I can really just observe.

What should I do during this 15-20 minute meditation? Just focus on breath like some suggest? I was thinking of doing a meditation that Erin suggests for communication with spirit guides. I also am interested in how I can begin to work on the chakras.

I just ordered the 30 paraliminal CD's on Sunday, so those should be coming on Friday I think. Those sound quite promising, though there are so many that I am not sure where to start.

[nightdiamond]

nightdiamond,

I would say I want a bit of both.

I agree that playing the piano can be very meditative if I'm in the right mindset, but practice really isn't that time, or at least not for a long time at once. Mostly it's because of how much work it takes to actually master the dificult parts of a piece, and I find it hard to be meditative when I'm working on that. Maybe it is possible, though

.

You're welcome pianoperformer...

I've read about people who have had special experiences while doing certain things they're absorbed in, like wolfgang's experience, this is worth considering..


I think there's a good solution for this problem, but first can you tell us want do you want from meditating? What result would you like to experience as a result from meditating?

I know we're getting back to the goal part, but answering this can good step towards giving you the motivation to meditate regularly, and find a good way for you to meditate while doing the things you like, like playing the piano....

[pianoperformer]

Originally Posted by nightdiamond

I think there's a good solution for this problem, but first can you tell us want do you want from meditating? What result would you like to experience as a result from meditating?

I know we're getting back to the goal part, but answering this can good step towards giving you the motivation to meditate regularly, and find a good way for you to meditate while doing the things you like, like playing the piano....

Well I'm trying to develop spiritually, and I think meditation is an excellent way to get in touch with that aspect, as well as to be more peaceful, and working on being in the present moment. There are a lot of negative emotions I am trying ot get over, and I think meditation will help with that.

I also want to start communicating with my spirit guides. I want to try to develop the ability to communicate with them, as well as to develop psychically. I was very attuned to such abilities when i was younger, even just a few years ago. But I had shut it off for a few years because I had gone back to Christianity for a while , and now I can't seem to open it as easily. I know they are there, but I don't know how to get them back to the level they were at before. I've even had experience communicating messages telepathically, even if the person wasn't aware of it and just acted on it instead, lol.

Really I'd just love to be more attuned to spirit and intuition, and work on raising my vibration.

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by pianoperformer

I agree that once I know a piece very well, that it doesn't require much focus to play it, and that I can really just observe.

well - the focus becomes something other than trying to play it right. I mean, you get to focus on expressing and feeling connected to the music or to the music of others you might be playing with. I'm sure you know what I'm saying. That's what most musicians look for - that moment when everyone is clicked in the groove.

What should I do during this 15-20 minute meditation? Just focus on breath like some suggest? I was thinking of doing a meditation that Erin suggests for communication with spirit guides. I also am interested in how I can begin to work on the chakras.

I guess that's my suggestion based on what can work for busy people - 20 mins/day. Although I haven't been that regular as I said. I'm irregular and probably meditate for a longer time, 1 or 2 times a week, not every day. Mostly with some CDs I have. Some have guided meditations. Others are just sound for brainwave entrainment. Then sometimes, I just do a session with just me, not CD. But usually my meditation sessions are 45 minutes or so. Your posting about this makes me think of being more regular.

I just ordered the 30 paraliminal CD's on Sunday, so those should be coming on Friday I think. Those sound quite promising, though there are so many that I am not sure where to start.

Haven't acquired those - have heard of them. They might be more like hypnosis, right? Which also gets you into relaxed and alert states, I'm sure.

[nightdiamond]

Ok I'm going to grill you for a minute pianoperformer, so hold on..

Being more specific, what about spirituality do you want develop more?
What exactly do you want to experience as a result of developing spiritualy?
How will you know you've develop it?

I think this is where being specific and goal oriented comes in, so you can know you're making progress and when you have achieve it or achieving it.

If you would like to communicate with spirit guides, for example, it may take a specific technique/meditation and way of directing your mind in order to do this;

Think of it this way with these analogies... you can take up wrestling (analogy- practicing awareness) to participate in sports but that will not neccessairly mean you will be good at playing basketball (analogy- raising kundalini) ... exercise, (analogy - meditation) is required for both sports, but just because you exercise for wrestling doesn't mean it will make you good at basketball, although more capable of playing it.

That's my view so far, if anyone else has view or idea too, let us know please...

[pianoperformer]

nightdiamond,

Gaining control over emotions, being more peaceful/loving.

I thought my goal of communication with spirit guides was rather specific, though.

[nightdiamond]

I can give you some advice based on experience, pianoperformer, for commmunicating with a higher intelligence, be it a guide, angel, ect, you can do altered state meditation- this is when you alter your mind state from active (beta waves) to more relaxed (alpha waves).

Alpha waves seem to serve as a gateway to things like psychic abilities, healing, meditating, manifesting and more. A fast way to get into that state is to use binaural beats- sounds you listen to through stereo headphones that will quickly alter your mind state from active to relaxed. As mentioned, headphones are required.

Another way is to practice right before you drift off to sleep..

This is where intention and goal orientation come in... I find that strongly stating your intention or desire to experience something- an out of body experience, a lucid dream, will prompt the mind to help you achieve it.

Do it at night right as you drift off to sleep and you have an even better chance of experiencing it. If this where you like to go, let us know and I can post more info and even my own experiences with this state.

As for control of emotions, more peaceful loving guess what? I'm going to ask you to be even more specific It's an important first step into getting there and knowing where you are going...

Good luck pianoperformer...

[pianoperformer]

I think I'm decent at getting into an alpha state, or at least I think so. When I get into that state, everything tends to become more dream-like, or rather I start picking up random thoughts (like voices but not totally audible, though sometimes it is).

Do you mean to state this intention while in that state, or simply while drifting off?

I want to experience both of those (lucid dreaming and astral projection). I've only had one lucid drema in my life. I'm trying to work on remembering my dreams first. I've been putting out the intention to remember my dreams.

How can I become anymore specific? I guess a few things are that I get angry/irritated way too easily.

[Nneka]

Hi PianoPerformer, I'm late to the thread, but I have a few suggestions. You can start off with 20 minutes of silent meditation watching your breath. That's the easiest way I've found to retrain myself after not meditating for a while. Your breath is always with you. If your thoughts drift off, return to your breath. You don't need any other paraphanelia. Just keep it simple.

Hope that helps.

Also, I recently wrote a post on my experiences with this breath meditation, I call it awareness meditation. After you've done it for some time, you can begin to have far out experiences.

[supertom]

TIME Magazine - How to Get Smarter, One Breath at a Time

jeezz there are so many benefits we would be stupid not to do it

[nightdiamond]

supertom: TIME Magazine - How to Get Smarter, One Breath at a Time

jeezz there are so many benefits we would be stupid not to do it

You can say that again, supertom. I think even though some posters wish they had more progress in things like this, they're way ahead of the game...

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by Nneka

Hi PianoPerformer, I'm late to the thread, but I have a few suggestions. You can start off with 20 minutes of silent meditation watching your breath. That's the easiest way I've found to retrain myself after not meditating for a while. Your breath is always with you. If your thoughts drift off, return to your breath. You don't need any other paraphanelia. Just keep it simple.

Hope that helps.

Also, I recently wrote a post on my experiences with this breath meditation, I call it awareness meditation. After you've done it for some time, you can begin to have far out experiences.

I think that is an awesome form of meditation. I came up with this meditation based on the Tibetan Buddhists. I called it the Mr. Big Stuff Meditation. It still needs some refining, but I've come back to this same idea over and over again.

[pianoperformer]

True, I should do that. Sometimes I feel so unproductive just sitting there though, lol.

[awakentransform]

I guess what I meant about not goal setting for meditation is that it shouldn't be about trying or making an effort. That defeats the general purpose of meditation which in my opinion is about being or allowing. Trying comes from the ego and being comes from the essence or divine or whatever you'd like to call it.

I do like the idea of having an intention, but then let go of attachment to the result. That is the best way to create anything. For instance, when I used to try to learn astral projection, I followed certain techniques. I would always get to the point where I was sort of halfway out. I later realized that I was trying too hard. I had several out of body experiences spontaneously while meditating but never when I purposely did the techniques.

Of course, this just may be me. I may simply be the type who makes too much effort when trying a technique. My other caution when meditating is that if you are goal-oriented, you may inadvertently find yourself comparing your meditations. When I first started meditation, if I had an amazing experience, the next time I would be thinking "I hope it's like last time." In that way, I got in my own way during meditation. I quickly learned to set my intention, let go of expectations and simply allow and be present to whatever occurred. This was a great lesson for how to approach life as well.