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Meditation

Bomboclat

Bomboclat

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Messages
28,224
Location
San Francisco
Ive been getting really into meditation again lately.
I tried to meditate before bed for a while but I sorta got out of the habit, and since ive been taking this gentle yoga and meditation class ive been getting way more into actual meditation.

Ive turned my meditation into a ~1hr experience, by first smoking a good amount of sweet sensimilla, and then aligning my chakras via certain yoga poses held for long periods of time. Once I am aligned I begin the meditation by lighting a candle and gazing into it through slitted eyes. I then close my eyes, breathe deeply, and let out three ohms at a time on each next exhale (1 per exhale x3). My body is usually sat head above heart above buttocks, legs folded, and hands open palmed on my legs.

Its a really relaxing experience and takes away any stress im feeling.

So how/where/with who/when/why do you meditate?!

*~Namaste~*
 
Wow, you haven't gotten any replies yet? This makes me fear the worst! haha.

I meditate whenever I remember to. So when I'm walking, I'll meditate about being able to walk. When I'm doing monotonous things at work, I'll meditate about moving my arms and shifting my weight around.

As for a rigid practice, I don't have anything set up. Sometimes, I'll practice yoga for a half hour, holding relaxation and stretching poses. Other times, I'll sit and stare at a candle. I haven't had much luck with quiet, sitting meditations or mantra meditations yet (the family asks me questions if it sounds like I'm "moaning" from my room).

I personally meditate to relax this over-working mind I seem to possess. My mind's been racing as of late for various stress-related reasons and it's come to my attention that I now need to produce a rigid practice so that I can remain calm throughout the day.

How long have you been doing your most recent practice of meditation?
 
I haven't practised meditation for years - it's something i should probably do, given everything that is/will be going on this year. Actually, I lie - every Monday I have a yoga class and for 15 minutes at the end of the class our teacher takes us on a guided meditation. I used to practise staring at a candle a lot when I was younger, however as i said; any kind of self-motivated mediation has really gone by the wayside. Work out a number of times a week now, and spend about 15 minutes after each workout stretching, but i'm in a gym so there's not a huge opportunity to find myself in a state of deep relaxation.

I've always loved the idea of heading to a meditation retreat for a week - really immerse myself in the whole idea, so i can reset a routine. I could do it now, but it would be more difficult - but you'v put me in mind to try. :)
 
i usually lay in my bed and start of saying 'hail marys' and 'our fathers' over and over in cycles of three. than when i am getting comfortable i just let my muscles complete relax, focusing on my breath. than i envision my body getting soaked in colored light and the color cycles, finally ending up in a golden light and than white light that swims thru my cells. than sometimes i will expand that light outward, from my bed to my house to my city to my state, etc. letting the earth be soaked in white light. than i focus on anything specific i wanted to focus on lately it has been my g/f's mothers cancer cells getting destroyed.
 
Has anyone had any experience attending a meditation retreat? I don't really have a meditation practice right now, but I feel like a retreat would be helpful for me. I'm looking for a way to get unstuck, and I think this might be a way.
 
Alan Watts has been an excellent instructor in meditation for me, if only for his lucid explanations of esoteric concepts. Take a listen to one of his recordings for yourself. This is part 3 of 10, a good place to start:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g4xScH0Sdk

I have this one (Teachings on Meditation) in mp3 format if you're interested.
 
Ive downloaded a few You Tube meditation videos, some are good some should definitely be left alone. I like to do it just before sleep, I find I'm drifting off before it finishes and I get a great restful sleep.
 
arctica said:
Has anyone had any experience attending a meditation retreat? I don't really have a meditation practice right now, but I feel like a retreat would be helpful for me. I'm looking for a way to get unstuck, and I think this might be a way.
Click to expand...

Ive wanted to do this for a while. What I really want to do is Firewatch for a weekend or so and meditate the entire time. Id be a modern day Jack Kerouac, except not a depressed alcoholic.
 
I attend meditation retreats. I think I have been to about 12 total in my life. 4 or 5 of them were week-long (the others were weekend retreats).

It is a super effective way to get back in the groove. The spiritual company (satsaunga) is a major catalyst.

I haven't been for over a year, though, and am planning on this July.
 
There are many kinds of meditation I do:

1) Quieting the mind / breathing meditation
2) Being present and in this moment only (grounding meditation)
3) Positive visualization (creating and holding a complex image in your mind)
4) Walking meditation

The more I meditate the more I realize that anything can be a meditation. I became more open minded about this subject after the sitting down cross legged type really didn't work for me - and this was after living with Buddhists for 1.5 years.

Anything that quiets the overt mind I would consider to be meditative.
 
Bomboclat said:
Ive been getting really into meditation again lately.
I tried to meditate before bed for a while but I sorta got out of the habit, and since ive been taking this gentle yoga and meditation class ive been getting way more into actual meditation.

Ive turned my meditation into a ~1hr experience, by first smoking a good amount of sweet sensimilla, and then aligning my chakras via certain yoga poses held for long periods of time. Once I am aligned I begin the meditation by lighting a candle and gazing into it through slitted eyes. I then close my eyes, breathe deeply, and let out three ohms at a time on each next exhale (1 per exhale x3). My body is usually sat head above heart above buttocks, legs folded, and hands open palmed on my legs.

Its a really relaxing experience and takes away any stress im feeling.

So how/where/with who/when/why do you meditate?!

*~Namaste~*
Click to expand...
Interesting. I always enjoy hearing/reading about other kinds of meditation. I've been practicing zazen for over a year, and I do things a bit differently :)

I alternate between burmese and quarter lotus posture, with hands in the cosmic mudra.(Basically, your standard zen posture) Sitting full lotus is terribly uncomfortable for me at the moment, but I'm working on my flexibility. As a westerner, the majority of the time I've spent seated has been in a chair or couch or something similar. I quickly found out that my legs and lower back don't always want to cooperate.

I practice at a center not far from my home. My teachers are in the Kapleua lineage and use elements of both Soto and Rinzai Zen(that is to say, while we sit facing the wall, my teachers do assign koans as well). At the moment, I am working on counting my exhlalations(1-10)

I'll walk you through a typical zazen session at my center. Before entering the zendo, we put on a plain brown robe. This way, everyone is wearing the same thing and there is less chance of clothing being a distraction to the eye. As we enter the zendo, we bow once to the figure on the altar(at my center the figure is Manjushri). We then grab any support cushions we may need to put under the zafu to get a little more elevation, or for some under one or both knees so they may more easily touch the zabuton mat. We sit facing the wall and our sessions last anywhere from 25 minutes to 50 minutes depending on the day of the week. During the 50 minute rounds, a bell is rung at the 25 minute mark so we may change our posture if necessary. The monitor(the person responsible for keeping track of the time) walks around the zendo once during each round offering the kyosaku to those who wish to receive it. After the round ends there is a few minutes of kinhin(walking zazen), and on some days we also do chanting and other liturgy in the Buddha hall. Dokusan is also offered during every round of sitting although it's entirely optional.

When I sit at home there is little difference in routine. The only differences are that I sit facing the small altar I have set up and that I'm free to wear whatever I want.

If anyone is interested to know more, my inbox always has available space. :)
 
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There is some great stuff here! You all might consider a visit to TDS to post in the Mindfulness thread--it could be very helpful to people that are struggling with anxiety and depression as well as addiction to read some of these posts and to get some of these links.:)<3
 
I am surprised to see not many people relied to this thread. I have attended a 6 week Mindfulness seminar and have been a participant in group Angel meditations as well as my own practices that I do in my private time at home and while out in nature. I feel that finding others that share in these practices has helped expand my interest and motivate me to stay focussed.
 
Bomboclat said:
Ive been getting really into meditation again lately.
I tried to meditate before bed for a while but I sorta got out of the habit, and since ive been taking this gentle yoga and meditation class ive been getting way more into actual meditation.

Ive turned my meditation into a ~1hr experience, by first smoking a good amount of sweet sensimilla, and then aligning my chakras via certain yoga poses held for long periods of time. Once I am aligned I begin the meditation by lighting a candle and gazing into it through slitted eyes. I then close my eyes, breathe deeply, and let out three ohms at a time on each next exhale (1 per exhale x3). My body is usually sat head above heart above buttocks, legs folded, and hands open palmed on my legs.

Its a really relaxing experience and takes away any stress im feeling.

So how/where/with who/when/why do you meditate?!

*~Namaste~*
Click to expand...
best time to do any meditation is genrally as soon as you wake up straight after washing, before eating. Before bed is aight too - let good shit into your subconscious before bed , but morning is best time to work on yourself, mentally and spiritually.

Meditation ftw.

When? WHen I pause to think about how good it is for me.WHy? coz I know it's good for my mind and therefore my body and whole being.

How? First through yoga asana, but now I sometimes sit down to meditate and just let my thoughts dissipate to nothingness. OCCASIONALLY.Where? ANywhere. With who? Well the sitting? By myself, but maybe amongst society, and the yoga asana? either under the sun outside, at home, or at class. Anywhere for both really.
Surely this should not be is SO, but healthy living?


To be honest Zack - you shouldn't habitually do yoga or meditation stoned. It kinda defeats the object.
 
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Simply_Live said:
What is it to me?

Home.

How do I get my mind focused?

By returning home.
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Very well said.
The more I do this, the stronger my practice grows, the less there is to say about it.

"Something unknown is doing we don't know what."

I wake, every morning, and sit, for at least a few minutes. And three nights a week, I set aside an hour for meditation with a sangha.

It has changed my life. Shattered any ideas of reality I had, and continues to do so, allowing me to acquire new ideas.


Does it mean anything that it's all meaningless? And does it mean anything that it means (or doesn't mean) something that it's all meaningless?
 
B1tO'RoughJack said:
best time to do any meditation is genrally as soon as you wake up straight after washing, before eating. Before bed is aight too - let good shit into your subconscious before bed , but morning is best time to work on yourself, mentally and spiritually.
Click to expand...
Indeed. There are many reasons why it's best to sit in the morning. For starters, your mind is not going to be burdened with the thoughts and problems of the day, like it would be in the evening. Also, the morning is likely to be much quieter with less cars on the street(at least where I live), and you are not as likely to be interrupted by visitors. You are also going to be well rested and slightly hungry in the morning, which is ideal for seated meditation.
If you can only find time to sit once during the day-and you certainly should be sitting every day-then for these reasons morning is best.

B1tO'RoughJack said:
To be honest Zack - you shouldn't habitually do yoga or meditation stoned. It kinda defeats the object.
Click to expand...
Agreed, however in my opinion you should not be under the influence of any substances while meditating...at all, as this clouds the mind. I can't see how I would benefit in any way by getting stoned(or using anything else) before I sit, and I would never disrespect my teachers and my sangha by using any substances before I appear before them.
 
yup that's exactly what I mean - it's OK to do it occasionally - yoga + weed(or psychs) - hell I've done it a few times, but it's then just exercise on drugs, not proper meditation.

I have found the mornings when I get up at 4/5 am to be amazing. Always. I get so much work done, my thoughts don't buzz through my head but they just drift through like they're going on a stroll, and I don't confuse myself, which can happen in the afternoon if it's been a busy day.
 
delta_9 said:
Indeed. There are many reasons why it's best to sit in the morning. For starters, your mind is not going to be burdened with the thoughts and problems of the day, like it would be in the evening. Also, the morning is likely to be much quieter with less cars on the street(at least where I live), and you are not as likely to be interrupted by visitors. You are also going to be well rested and slightly hungry in the morning, which is ideal for seated meditation.
If you can only find time to sit once during the day-and you certainly should be sitting every day-then for these reasons morning is best.
Click to expand...

I like this idea of 'mediating' in the morning... though I don't know the right definition of that word. Normally I 'mediate' before bed. Basically just deep breathing, feeling the air flow up through the pineal gland, and out my mouth. Seems to put me to sleep and relax me. Never thought to do it in the morning though.
 
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