MEDITATION ~ Mega Thread

[Trillian]

I use meditation during martial arts training. Its not a spiritual pursuit for me, just a method of aligning my body and focusing the mind.

Simply put, I enter meditation through the realisation that my body is just a tool. This allows a certain level of detachment that is beneficial to my training, as it allows me to induce a feeling of calm, negating panic reactions and providing an objective method of analysing and dealing with pain.

From there, it is possible to retain this state by focusing on your breathing (the mechanical functioning of the body), and returning to the initial realisation at any time.

I don't think you need to ritualise meditation through specific positions, music, chants etc. It should be a state of mind that is accessible to you at any time you may require it.

 

[Jimmy the Gun]

^I agree that cultivating a quite mind at all times is beneficial, but I wouldn't completely discount body position, ritual etc. Certain positions and practices can absolutely aid in the alignments of the mind and body.

When I sit in lotus, I can actually hear and feal my spine popping as it falls into it's proper position.

 

[mr_p]

I was kind of embarresed to bring up being interested in meditation to my friends because it sounds like some kind of hippy thing, but the other day one of my friends brought it up and I told her I was interested in it and she said she was too, then my gf brought it up yesterday and sounded interested in it. hmmm

well, now that the non-hippy's are into

its cool

 

[davidsq]

meditation

Hows it going all - not really sure where to post this but a little about myself:
ive been dealing with some depression over the past months, stuff that ive caused and i take all the blame for it - but it has really taken a toll on my life now (psychology and abstinence from drugs, have not helped) and ive been trying to seek some ways that could possibly help. i want to try meditation but honestly have no idea where to start or what to do and know nothing about the ideas/processes behind meditation. im very curious about meditation because ive read in multiple places that people have obtained forms of deep enlightenment through this practice (somewhat similar to the enlightenment people experience through psychedelics, or so i hear). If you guys would share your experiences with mediation and how it has helped you, or even link me to a place that focuses on meditation, it would be greatly appreciated.

-David

 

[mariacallas]

Merged threads.
I meditate every morning when I wake up...very sparse and simple really I just repeat a personal mantra I have for myself while I'm doing my breathing exercises prior to stretching (I adapted the moves I learned in Pilates / core strengthening classes.) If you do a bit of research and google (meditation, mantras, stillness, et al) you will come up with a lot of resources .

 

[SoLiDo]

I think that if you have to concentrate on calmness, relaxing your body, or on breathing techniques than you're off your mark. As I see it meditation is about removing yourself (conscious being) from your body. Most people who simply want to start meditating for the benefits will never really get it. There's no real way for someone just to pick the art of meditation up. I think that you just have to dedicate your calm time (whenever that may be) to relax and to allow your concious being to enter into a space within itself that does not exist. An ether-realm that really isn't feasible. Like when you zone out and then you're not really thinking about anything. (I'm sure that happens to everyone here) Meditation (truly) powers will be enabled unknowningly and you will be able to enter trance like meditative states at will (when relaxed) like me. It's something that is developed unnknowingly. It's not something you think about...

No yoga, no candles, no music, no breathing techniques.

There's alot of people in this world.... some people can meditate, some people think they can, some people can relax and some people can reflect and some people can achieve very calm state. I think that all people have the ability to learn and meditate within themselves though I do not think that it can be taught only guided.


[note: I breathe a certain way when I meditate. But it's not something I think about. It's innate.]

 

[mariacallas]

I think that if you have to concentrate on calmness, relaxing your body, or on breathing techniques than you're off your mark.

Man everything you just said just contradicts the very basics of meditation. Lol. 8)
One CAN'T just sit down and immediately be in a "meditative state"......no way! With all the hustle and bustle in the world and with our minds always processing several things at once it is IMPERATIVE that a person must first relax and calm the mind, filtering everything that comes in, until he/she reaches a state of "stillness" and clarity. Breathing correctly is very important when one wants to meditate properly.....in fact ALL of my friends/acquaintances who meditate regularly (some who teach ashtanga yoga, some monks, even Master Choa Kok Sui himself who has published several books on the subject) tell me that by emptying one's mind and relaxing the senses, the person allows the light from within to work it's way out , therefore gaining inner peace, new poise, improved intelligence /creativity, proper use of the energies, improved physical and mental condition, etc.
Meditation is a journey not just merely a destination. Do you understand where I'm coming from?

To achieve perfect stillness (one pointedness) and effectiveness during a person's individual meditation, the basic steps are always the following:

1. Self restraint , i.e. live a clean normal life , practice non-attachment
2. Self Discipline , i.e. Purification of mind, clean thought and deeds, proper diet, enough sleep, etc
3. Good posture , i.e. Always with a straight spinal column and if possible a lotus position
4. Control of VITAL ENERGY , i.e. Pranayama ; Observe proper breathing before and during meditation -- very important.

Only thus can we have...
5. Withdrawal from the Senses , i.e. Focusing attention inwards with complete awareness.

Surroundings such as music, ambience, is merely there to help the person attain the state of full relaxation but it is not necessary. And like I always say everybody is different....if music may work for one person it may not work for another, but it doesn't mean it is the "wrong way". Of course not. The bottom line is proper breathing and proper posture are imperative.

 

[SoLiDo]

What I meant was if you're telling yourself in your mind that you have to relax and calm your body than you're missing it. Your mind has to become completely docile. Meditation after all is removing your mind from your body. You're trying to clear your mind and henceforth think as little as possible about EVERYTHING including calming your body and relaxing your mind. It's one thing to be relaxed and another to meditate. And yes you do think about going into a state of a stillness as prerequsite but if you cant clear this too from your mind than you won't be able to meditate. Let's agree that there's different prerequisitions for everybody but only one way to enter the meditative state which is removing mind from body; essentially. And thats what Im talking about not about relaxing or feeling a calmness which is easy enough)

It's tougher for most people then they think to think about absolutely nothing.

(I think that clears things up.)

 

[PaxTX]

If you can't sit lotus (I can't) then there is another way to sit..

straddle the zafu (cushion)like a horse..and center it between your thighs so you are balanced (you will probably need to turn the zafu on it's side to do it). Then sit back just enough to align your spine and fold your hands in a cup in front of you gently.

I am practice Soto Zen, and this is how we sit at our Zendo usually.

 

[mariacallas]

I heartily recommend books by Gary Kraftsow....specifically :Yoga for Wellness: Healing with the Timeless Teachings of Viniyoga

and his 2nd book Yoga for Transformation : Ancient Teachings and Practices for Healing the Body, Mind, and Heart.

 

[jlet19]

Any good forms of meditation you guys practice

Im looking for a form of medatition to help ease my paranoia, social axiety, and to help my ability to concentrate.

anyone know of one like this thats something free (like go to a website and learn how to do it) and easy to learn?

 

[nikki87]

i have social anxiety too.
iv found pilates helpful and i have a breathing technique i use when im having a panic attack. breathe in for 2 secs, hold for 1, exhale for 3secs - repeat this ten times a minute, which is the normal breathing rate of a person.
some websites may be helpful:

http://www.how-to-meditate.org/breathing-meditations.htm

http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/meditation_practice.html

http://www.learningmeditation.com/room.htm

some self help books and stuff at book shops may also be helpful.

meditation can also be in the form of something relaxing - reading, listening to chilld out music, exercising like yoga, pilates and walking or massage.

there's also a professor in the usa called Jon Kabat-Zinn - google it and u may find something as well.

good luck! and hope this helps

 

[jlet19]

hell yeah thanks alot. tae-kwon-do helps but wasnt enought, so i think this will thanks alot.

 

[nikki87]

no worries
if tae-kwon-do helps, id suggest keeping it up as well as doing other forms of exercise/meditation. if ur finding sumthin helping dont give it up, just add other things to it, u know what i mean? cos then ul have a whole bunch of things u can fall back on u and that can help.

 

[jlet19]

exactly. i know what you mean. my mine has become such a mess i cant even enjoy drugs. so hopefully adding these beneficial task will allow me to live clearer, happier, and have more fun getting fucked up

 

[swilow]

^^Lol. Good attitude! Hey Ive got chronic aqnxiety too, it sucks. The best treatment IMHO is exercise, vigourous contrinuous exercise- a few hours a day, everyday, and intense! It may seem like a drag, but I know when I'm freaking out I need to move, and it feels good to release that dreadful tension.

Think of anxiety like a build up of psychic energy, that translates itself physically. Conveniently, strees hormones are negated by exercise, beacuse they are realesed when the body assumes it is in a situation where a massive physical response is neccesary- ie. flight or flight. Respond to your bodies needs. Adrenaline cause the liver to relaese glucose stores, which increaes your perceived energy. Let it out...

Therfore movement based mediataion could really help you.

 

[uacvax]

i've been interested in vipassana meditation. supposedly the lead singer of weezer experienced a turning point in his life right after learning it. it's all about recognizing negative thought processes in order to abolish them

 

[cire113]

Benefits from your meditation experiences

You know my head is so crazy that im going to start meditating everyday or atleast try to...

i think i am either going to gain serenity or become crazy...

Im talking just a couple mins in morning afternoon and night... maybe 10 minutes 3x a day just to start...

Im wondering about what people thing about meditation and how it effect healthy well being for the mind and body

i can read alot of dam books on mediation but it doesnt mean anything until i actually do it and experience it..

 

[33-33]

I've only just started, but I've found benefits already. Calmness being the main one. I bought a mind modulation machine that uses light and sound to change your brainwaves, which, theoretically at least, can change your mindset.

I've tried it three times and it's worked so far. Anyone else have any experience with this sort of thing?

 

[MDPVagrant]

I've definitely had good luck with 'brainwave' techniques such as binaural beats. Always wanted one of those visual/light devices, but could never afford one. I've had euphoria on par with codeine / Vicodin using brainwave altering sound effects.