How do you meditate??
- Thread starter Wisdom_Seeker
- Start date
peace
i dont think i have ever meditated, but to really relax i read and just loose myself in the story
There is no one correct form of meditation. There are several "established" techniques, and many of them involve sitting, lying, walking and all varieties of postures.
Also, there are different mindsets involved that vary according to your objective.
What is important is to develop the necessary mental discipline. I recommend that beginners start with mindfulness of breathing meditation, and then move on to loving kindness meditation before attempting tantric and transcendental methods.
Mindfulness of breathing is just that – concentrating on each breath and focusing on the lip of the nostril as each breath passes. Over time, you'll be able to focus in on a single hair and feel it move with each breath. The real objective, though, is to calm the "monkey mind," the part of your consciousness that wanders from thought to thought as each need vies for your attention.
Many beginners try to achieve a "blank mind," which is not effective. Instead, you want to acknowledge the thoughts and distractions (without mentally acting on them), but then return your focus to your breathing. It's harder than it sounds and takes much practice. After some time, though, you will master it.
Once you do, the next step I recommend is loving kindness meditation. This helps you draw your focus internally and learn to align your spiritual energies.
If you are truly serious about meditation, I would recommend seeking out a sangha in your area and finding a good teacher. Many people become quickly frustrated and give up when all they need is some guidance and support. Remember that you are undoing decades of mental conditioning, so it will take some time. But it will change your life in a profound and beneficial way.
Also, there are different mindsets involved that vary according to your objective.
What is important is to develop the necessary mental discipline. I recommend that beginners start with mindfulness of breathing meditation, and then move on to loving kindness meditation before attempting tantric and transcendental methods.
Mindfulness of breathing is just that – concentrating on each breath and focusing on the lip of the nostril as each breath passes. Over time, you'll be able to focus in on a single hair and feel it move with each breath. The real objective, though, is to calm the "monkey mind," the part of your consciousness that wanders from thought to thought as each need vies for your attention.
Many beginners try to achieve a "blank mind," which is not effective. Instead, you want to acknowledge the thoughts and distractions (without mentally acting on them), but then return your focus to your breathing. It's harder than it sounds and takes much practice. After some time, though, you will master it.
Once you do, the next step I recommend is loving kindness meditation. This helps you draw your focus internally and learn to align your spiritual energies.
If you are truly serious about meditation, I would recommend seeking out a sangha in your area and finding a good teacher. Many people become quickly frustrated and give up when all they need is some guidance and support. Remember that you are undoing decades of mental conditioning, so it will take some time. But it will change your life in a profound and beneficial way.
I need to mediate again... I've been so anxious...
But who can meditate with a todler constantly running around and screaming?
No wonder I'm anxious! LOL!
But who can meditate with a todler constantly running around and screaming?
No wonder I'm anxious! LOL!
Carcano
Valued Senior Member
The word meditation has really fallen on hard times.
If you were to enter a Buddhist temple anywhere in the orient, and explain to the master that meditation can mean anything you like...lying down, listening to music, thinking about math problems, having sex...he would problably just roll his eyes and show you the door.
Nowadays, when there is little respect for effort, strict rules and definitions, the word has been reduced to an amorphous puddle of meaningless.
The great Zen Master Hakuin Ekaku even wrote a little essay on this trend, which had started even in his time a few hundred years ago.
He called it: Reflections on Do- Nothing Zen.
If you were to enter a Buddhist temple anywhere in the orient, and explain to the master that meditation can mean anything you like...lying down, listening to music, thinking about math problems, having sex...he would problably just roll his eyes and show you the door.
Nowadays, when there is little respect for effort, strict rules and definitions, the word has been reduced to an amorphous puddle of meaningless.
The great Zen Master Hakuin Ekaku even wrote a little essay on this trend, which had started even in his time a few hundred years ago.
He called it: Reflections on Do- Nothing Zen.
So, if I just stretch my hamstrings will I eventually be able to get into a half-lotus? Or are there other muscle groups I need to stretch as well?
(by the way, just stretching my hams beforehand helps alot, I'm surprised at the difference it makes. So thanks!).
(by the way, just stretching my hams beforehand helps alot, I'm surprised at the difference it makes. So thanks!).
Well, truth is, meditation is not about how you do it. How do you "do nothing". It's technically impossible. And yet, the very center of Zen-Buddhism?
I think "wu wei" has a much deeper meaning that most of us are able to grasp....
...Sorry... it's 1:00am... I can feel what I want to say but the words are not getting in my brain... I'll sleep and get back to you tomorrow...
Oh yes! YES! Just got enlightned....
Consider this...
When I'm hungry, I eat.
When I'm thristy, I drink.
When I'm tired, I sleep.
Therefore, wherever the Tao leads you, there should you go.
Such is the nature of those who follow the Tao.
:itold:
That's wu wei.
Consider this...
When I'm hungry, I eat.
When I'm thristy, I drink.
When I'm tired, I sleep.
Therefore, wherever the Tao leads you, there should you go.
Such is the nature of those who follow the Tao.
:itold:
That's wu wei.
To me mediaition is complete immersion in the object of meditation via sustained concentration. The object can vary according to ones chosen religion or desired goals eg it could be; compassion, Buddha, Shiva, Jesus, Ohm, suffering, space, breath, the sun etc etc.
The highest meditation that can be acheived is when the immersion in the object of meditation is so complete that the sense of subject and object is completely lost. This is called samadhi. (not that I have ever acheived this :bawl: )
The highest meditation that can be acheived is when the immersion in the object of meditation is so complete that the sense of subject and object is completely lost. This is called samadhi. (not that I have ever acheived this :bawl: )
My take on this is that (as Raven says) the mind is not blank in meditation. The mind is fixed on its object and is therefore still.
The mind should be still but not blank…. There is a big difference.
My meditation is done either in half or full lotus. I started in half and worked up to full over a long period (yoga helps with this). I sit on a small cushion , eyes closed. I start by following breath. I then either stay with breath for the whole session or change to another subject. Meditations on space are a current favorite.
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I think I understand what you mean.
I know the mind always wants to keep thinking, its never still. I think we fall into that "still state" just before we fall asleep. I´m not talking about being totally sleeping, but the minute before you go into the "dream world". Isn´t that a still mind? That would mean we fall into that "still state" of the mind everyday, but not voluntarily.
I like using some sort of backround sounds to help, like a recorded rainstorm with very subtle musical notes.
Also, when I meditate just listening to some birds singing is kinda refreshing.
I also like thinking about becoming an object or animal. For instance, "becoming" the bird singing, try to see everything through his eyes. Or "becoming" a certain tree.
Do this kind of practices help?
I think it all depends on what the objective of your meditation is. If you're simply looking for relaxation, then anything that makes you feel more at ease is going to be beneficial.
If you're seeking enlightenment (in the Buddhist sense), you will eventually need to engage in practices that develop your mental discipline and allow you to achieve a quiet mind voluntarily. Also, that path has a more structured approach to meditation that does require practice. It's not for everyone.
The two are not mutually exclusive, though, by any means. And the former has great value for mental health and quality of life. Any practice that helps you to be present in the moment is wonderful thing, so do what works for you and pay no heed to anyone that tries to tell you that "you're doing it wrong."
.......
Eevn if there are different ways to meditate, there's something about all meditation that is always equal. Otherwise, it couldn't all be defined as "meditation", correct?
As far as I know, meditation is intimately connected with wu wei. Possibly, they are one and the same.
As I said...
"When I'm hungry, I eat.
When I'm thristy, I drink.
When I'm tired, I sleep.
Therefore, wherever the Tao leads you, there should you go.
Such is the nature of those who follow the Tao."
This is a way of life. Not just sitting and being quiet.
I remember when I used to meditate. It would be wonderful, but a drag. Because I would have to stop everything I was doing to sit down and still my mind. And I did that throughout my whole teen years, nearly every day. I got so good at it at some point that I would have weird experiences. A lot of times, I would feel pure love in my heart and start crying of happiness (cheesy, but true). Some times, I would feel an extreme heat coming from inside that would make my body so hot I would be sweating and creating a pool of sweat where I was sitting. That just by sitting still and concentrating with my mind totally empty.
But after that, I can see that the real challenge is to ALWAYS be in that "frame of mind". Not only when sitting still (which is easy), but when doing things - the whole day long. I think that is teh real goal.
Eevn if there are different ways to meditate, there's something about all meditation that is always equal. Otherwise, it couldn't all be defined as "meditation", correct?
As far as I know, meditation is intimately connected with wu wei. Possibly, they are one and the same.
As I said...
"When I'm hungry, I eat.
When I'm thristy, I drink.
When I'm tired, I sleep.
Therefore, wherever the Tao leads you, there should you go.
Such is the nature of those who follow the Tao."
This is a way of life. Not just sitting and being quiet.
I remember when I used to meditate. It would be wonderful, but a drag. Because I would have to stop everything I was doing to sit down and still my mind. And I did that throughout my whole teen years, nearly every day. I got so good at it at some point that I would have weird experiences. A lot of times, I would feel pure love in my heart and start crying of happiness (cheesy, but true). Some times, I would feel an extreme heat coming from inside that would make my body so hot I would be sweating and creating a pool of sweat where I was sitting. That just by sitting still and concentrating with my mind totally empty.
But after that, I can see that the real challenge is to ALWAYS be in that "frame of mind". Not only when sitting still (which is easy), but when doing things - the whole day long. I think that is teh real goal.
Carcano
Valued Senior Member
The ligaments around your knee joints have to be lengthened somewhat...but very slowly.
I ripped the menicus in my right knee years ago because I tried to progress too fast, and it has never completely healed.
When you have lengthened all the muscles at the back of your thighs, you will find yourself sitting up straighter even when at your desk, your standing posture will improve, and you will be able to sit effortlessly for longer periods in meditation.
If you ever get REALLY flexible like a dancer, you wont even need a cushion for elevation.
Carcano
Valued Senior Member
The founder of Aikido also mastered something like this internal heat generation, and used it to survived the winters in Hokkaido, the northern most Japanese island.
You should check his excellent biography: 'Invincible Warrior' by John Stevens.
Carcano
Valued Senior Member
The american mystic Dr. David R. Hawkins also suffers (?) from this little symptom of meditation.
He would spontaneously burst into tears whenever he met anyone manifesting any kind of positive loving energy.
When he was interviewed by Oprah, he would occaisionally get choked up so he couldnt speak for a moment or two.
Some great audio interviews here:
http://beyondtheordinary.net/drhawkins.shtml
Wow! He must had had it mastered! It requires quite a bit of concentration...!
I appreciate your words, I found them very cool.
You know it is weird how those feelings you talk about while meditating also have happened to me in the past. I think this is good though, to watch these emotional changes from an outtern perspective while meditating. I think it helps you understand yourself better, as well as your purpose in this life.
at the shaolin temple i attend thats not the case. maybe you have taken a single form of meditation and applied it to everything. the word meditation has no set form or use. i have studied under buddhist monks for years and we meditate in a number of ways. meditation does not mean "anything you like" but it does have many different forms to achieve different things. and yes you can meditate while listning to music. many buddhist prayer meditations are done while monks play instruments.
contact the temple i attend and ask our abbot shi yong xin personaly if you want a "masters" opinion.
contact the guy in the middle at the link below to confirm what i just said if you require an abbots opinion.
http://www.shaolintempleuk.org/stuk/index.html