How to meditate?

[MikeyJaii]

I don't know how to do it correctly, but here's how I do it.

I sit on my bed, crossed legs and I straighten my back. Close my eyes and take deep breaths and just relax. What do I do just clear my mind and relax? How long should I do it for?

[Anagogy]

Originally Posted by MikeyJaii

I don't know how to do it correctly, but here's how I do it.

I sit on my bed, crossed legs and I straighten my back. Close my eyes and take deep breaths and just relax. What do I do just clear my mind and relax? How long should I do it for?

As long as you like. I sometimes will meditate for hours at a time, though, I must admit that more than 1 hour is fairly rare for me.

When I first started meditating, I sat down on the floor next to my bed, cross legged and took a deep breath and just "let go" of everything in my mind. I just concentrated on pure awareness of awareness with no real structure to my thoughts. At first it was difficult, then it became easier, and then it became downright enjoyable. When you get to that point, it is extremely rejuvenating and easy to do it for long periods of time and not even really notice the passage of time.

But that is just one type of meditation. Clearing your mind is one way, another way is to pick an object and focus on it, or pick an imaginary object and visualize it till you can make it seem real to you visually. Or imagine a sound, or repeat a mantra or sacred syllable like "OM".

But play, have fun, mix it up, there is no right or wrong way, really. You can sit down, lie down, sit in a half or full lotus, stand up or lean against a wall. Do what makes you feel good. You are basically trying to learn to control your mind, or with different forms of meditation, free yourself of control altogether and experience a sublime level of unrestrained creativity.

What are you aiming to accomplish with your meditation? Your intent is critical to developing your own process for meditation.

[MiBeloved]

Originally Posted by MikeyJaii

I sit on my bed, crossed legs and I straighten my back. Close my eyes and take deep breaths and just relax. What do I do just clear my mind and relax? How long should I do it for?

This is a good procedure.

Do not straighten your back unless you can do so without any discomfort. If there is discomfort during the meditation then your mind will be drawn to that and you will not be able to meditate.

Sit down or lie down on the most comfortable surface to meditation. If you feel your back needs to be straighten practice yoga postures just before your sit to meditate.

After closing your eyes check to see if there is anything in your mind which causes stress of anxiety or which produced a series of thoughts. Do something to get rid of that and then try to stay in silence without thoughts.