Meditation For Dummies-Speaking Only for Myself :)

[labguy22]

After reading more and more on Buddha and seeing that my husband swears by it as well, I have finally untaken the task of learning how to meditate. I never understood the need for it, and if asked my reason for wanting to learn, I would not be able to give an answer. This just felt like the right time. A feeling from the spirit that said to give it a shot.
I picked up a book and read it halfway through before trying anything. I began going through various positions and methods following some of the exercises in the book. My goal has been 10 minutes a day. Each time I quite after what I thought had been 10-15 minutes, only to find not even 5 minutes had passed.
Yesterday was different. I began, but his time I tried with my eyes closed. Instead of clearing my mind, I began to focus on sounds, then colors then being filled with white light. I focused on teachings of Buddha as well as Christ. I could feel me bursting with joy and sent that joy out to those that I knew were hurting. Then, it was over, as quickly as it had begun.
I opened my eyes to find them filled with tears. I uncrossed my legs to find my left foot was asleep. What I thought had been only 5 minutes had actually been 20. So this is what I have been missing...Wow!

I would like to hear from others who wish to share their meditation experiences. This feels like a door has been opened and a wonderful path lies ahead.

[scott snedeker]

My first experience was in a Reiki circle. Reiki is a revival of Japanese spiritually guided healing meditation. I was left with the sensation of having the most intense post-orgasmic afterglow I have ever had! And it lasted two days!

I have continued with Reiki and have explored Vipassan Mindful awareness meditation with Jack Kornfield, Tibetan monks, and some of my own I call Immolation.

I have taken refuge in the Buddha (see my study of the Dharma thread) which means to me that my inner being is loving, Kind Compassionate and trustworthy and deserving of compassion and forgiveness.

I have learned to focus my awareness on life's miracles and with practice, release attachments to what is in the moment. Attachments are distracting emotions such as judgement, anger, past memories humiliation, greed.

These are the causes of suffering in my person and in the world, because what's left when you let go of acquired or learned attachments like prejudice, ingnorance, jealousy, fear, betrayal, etc is......the Loving Heart.

Even though these pile on top of it so deeply that you may have no awareness of a Loving Heart at times, it is still there and has always been and allways will be there.

The purpose of meditation is through an ancient science of thinking, living, talking, one becomes deft at removing these layers and cultivate awareness of this part of the mind/brain. So like practicing a language or an instrument you practice thinking in such a way that you determine how your brain grows and develops.

After months you can feel rudimentary skills and progress. After years you can sense more sophisticated awareness and balance. I believe that there is no plateau as long as you practice. Just as a musician can accomplish creation of art capable of moving thousands with nothing more than practiced hand movements under the control of an emotional/conceptual ideas of the brain, meditation can end suffering and create joy, compassion in one's self and others.

[Zerbie]

Labguy,

I am posting this link for you and for anyone else interested in meditation, the 'why' of meditation, and what the practice might be like. It's a transcript of a television interview -- a very clear overview of what meditation is, why we might want to practice, and so on.

http://www.intuition.org/txt/shinzen.htm

[Jester25]

My explanation for meditation is nowhere near as spiritual as Scotty's, mainly because I'm not a Buddhist. I meditate more for relaxation and balance, as a way to clear the mind before I sleep or before I go to take a big test or something. It's sort of like floating on clouds to me, or floating on a big inflatable raft in an endless ocean. It's this profound feeling of tranquility that I haven't ever been able to find elsewhere. And when you come out of it, you just feel this overwhelming sense of peace and cleanliness, as if you've gotten out of a shower after not showering for a few days. I know, gross anology, but that's exactly what it feels like to me. :D

It's a great tool. When you find yourself feeling stressed and you have time between breaks, meditate. It's very helpful and your stress levels will thank you for it. :)

[scott snedeker]

Great imagery! I'm Gonna steal it! You can never have too many tools for focussing on miracles and releasing attachments.

[Daniel]

I learned about meditation and meditating about 20 years ago when I took a class called the Silva Method. It was good stuff- I have to say. Very altruistic.

Anyhoo....

What I learned in class and found to be true from documented research is this:

Mediation is all about- in scientific terms- lowering one's brain wave. There are 4 of them. Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta. We go through these states in sleep.

Light meditation takes one into an Alpha state. Deeper meditation takes one into Theta (Thanatos is the god of sleep!). And Tibetan monks have been recorded as going into Delta.

Cool, huh?

Two key points can start one towards going within, into lowering one's brainwave. And they are...

eye fixation and slow breathing.

Interestingly, this is what we do when we daydream! Our breathing gets very peacefull and our eyes are not moving around. And when this happens, we are in an Alpha brain wave state. So- everyone meditates- so to speak. We just don't think of it like that. It's natural to our species, you might say.

Formal meditation? It just like bowling. You practice over and over. Not to get good at it. But rather to let the practice itself teach you.

Strike! :rolleyes::lol:

Meditation and practices like Tonglen (I've written about this on other threads) have saved my ass this past year!

[tymejumper]

Ok, I cheat a little. I usually turn on my CD of Enigma and play it very softly. It helps me focus my mind a bit better, it's a very unquiet spot for me these days! I end up focusing on the sounds of the music and how it makes me feel calm and at peace. If I don't practice for awhile, it takes me time to get my mind quiet, but it does happen.

I am having a terrible time at work lately, new boss, with an ego problem whom thinks that she needs to yell at you all the time. I have decided to go out on my lunch break and meditate in my car......before I commit murder or something! :lol::lol::lol:

I did a demonstration for my Occupational Therapy class how to meditate. I took my blood pressure and then went in a tilt table, that pushed up my blood pressure. Then I meditated for 15 minutes, it dropped my BP lower that before I used the tilt table. By about 20 points or so. It is great for stress, which is why Jester was taught how to do it at a young age. I am glad she still uses this tool.

[marutidas]

I play soft music too, I also meditate with crystals lying down and place them on my Chakras, and just let my mind go. I have had many wonderful experiances while in an altered state.

You could also use a Mantra or Affirmation to focus your mind and to help place your attention on you breath.

There are a million and one different styles on how to do meditation.
Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Kundalini and Tantric Yoga, Zen, Karmic just to name a few. The main goal is to acheive an altered state of mind, and the experience is different for everyone. I encourage you to what ever you feels is best for you.

The best thing you can do to learn how to meditate is to meditate.

Meditation is not something one can learn from a book, nor can a person completely convey their experiences feelings while in meditation.
The last thing I want to say is no moment spent in meditation is a wasted moment, you cultivate mind and spirit.

This is where the pursuit for world peace truely beings, with yourself.

With closed palms I bow to the Divinty with in you.
Namaste~ Maruti Das~:flower:

[sarahbina]

I learned to meditate with the ProbableFuture tapes and then they went to CD which were much better. Incredible actually.

He does a fantastic job of teaching people how to meditate to delta, theta, and beta. It is amazing what the mind can do and you really can open up new perceptions.

Relaxation is just one of the benefits of these especially when you get both of them (RV and RI). You can listen to samples of the courses before buying them.

ProbableFuture.com