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What according to you is Meditation? Doyou meditate and How often? What techniques to you follow?
Posted by sindoo20 • 1/24/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: exercise mental health, health, meditation
Meditation for me is a relaxant. I do meditate once every fortnight. I also meditate if I feel or desperately need a relaxation or completely stressed out.
Have your say..
User Comments
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For me it's dissolving the world, it totally disintegrates and has for many years. When it first happened I found myself not knowing how long I had been sitting, 5 minutes was like 1 hour, and 1 hour was like 5 minutes, it was like dropping into nothing, not unlike a sleep state. I don't do that silly cross lehgged nonsense, that's all showmanship.
The next phase I found myself expanding out through the eyebrow region, this was not unlike going through a tiny hole and then as I went through it expanded out not unlike being in space (as in outer space). The two experiebces persisted for about 10 years, interchanging. Then about 20 years ago, I was introduced to a thing called the Sound current by a friend of mine. This entails listening to a very high pitched (above 22khz) sound that resonates in the the centre of the head but seems to come from the right hand side around the ear region. From there I attentively move the sound to round about the eye region. The sound in its initial stages, sounds like harps, flurries of notes that I have never heard in day to day life. The following of these sounds leads to dissolving of the personality into an empty spacious state. But note, this is note the same as the previous empty state, there is a very noticeable difference. There is a form of consciousness maintaied but I cannot adequately describe it. At various times there have be other experiences with sounds such as explosions and thunder. However, I consider any phenomena as irrelevant. Over the past so many years the sound of the harps has disappeared but it seems possible to reenter that experience with a slight effort. The technique can also be used to vacate the body and travel if required but as a rule not overly recommendable.
I do fel that there are times that we enter a meditative state while doing daily activity but are ften not aware of it.
I know there have been many people, famous and supposedly authourities but I'm prepared to disregard what they say and trust my own experience.
Some people consider meditation and the altered states and supposed Spiritual experiences achievable in meditation a worthwhile goal, in the end I don't consider to be of much use at all because being present in life is a much more valuable thing.
People can become addicted to meditation and can think they have reached great heights but it can often be a way of avoiding life.
A simple relaxion technique is extremely useful because of the high levels of stress.
Hopefully I haven't diverted too much from the original question-
Mr guitarst, i agree with you.
Among the meditation techniques, i'd suggest one to take the 10-days Vipassana retreat once in their life. -
I started doing meditation at age 15 just to have fun. One of my friend told looking at lamp will help me concentrate. Initially it was fun, but later I found how tough it was. But I was able to focus. That was when I first learnt Meditation is all about focus. So I stopped doing meditation on a daily sitting cross-legged. (But sitting cross-legged is good because the heat that is generated while meditating is passed down to the ground, when it is intense meditation when it is stretched for hours).
Later I learnt to meditate (stay focused) while at work. When I get distracted too much while at work, I look for a calm place to cleanse it out.
The intensity of meditation and the seriousness with which it is approached varies with the degree of adherence to the techniques depending on the Objective why you want to do it all.
Cheers -
DIVAS: Vipassana, is excellent and moany people that try it get reusults but it can only take a person to where the sound current starts, it's role is extremely different. And most people will no probably disagree. But the Sound Curent is mentioned in some of the old Mayahana texts.
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Sitting cross legged makes absolutely no difference on a persons ability to meditate. Sitting crossed legged enables a person to sit cross legged, not to meditate. However, the yoga crew for some reason think it will help, for a large percent of people it's conter productive because it's uncomfortable and unnatural. I heghly recommend forget the idea and sit in a chair, spine erect, feet flat on the floor. If it was important, we would have alll been born made from elastic.
The use of a candle is helpful for cincentration. Then when the eyes are closed cncentrate at the middle of the eyebrows, later, drop it into the heart. Then from there expand it to all areas of the body. Then gradually moved it up and out to the whole world. Very beneficial for health and well being of all. -
When you sit cross legged or in the lotus position. It opens up the Chakras and allows the breath (prana) to go up and down the Chakra.. that's why it is encouraged to sit cross legged.
But this is only a suggestion; not a firm rule. -
I like to burn incense and candles before I meditate. Helps me get into that mode.
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Dharma, there's lots of talk by people about chakras etc and the suggestion is fine but what if a person has no legs, what if a person is incapable of sitting that way? Are they then excluded from the ability to meditate and having a positive end result?
There is a lot of misinformation regarding things like this, which has possibly come about by people having some sort of minor satori and then making an assumption that because they were sitting a certain way, it impacted on the end result because of the way their legs were crossed or the way they cleared their nostrils every day. :-) As for the Chakras, it is possible to go into deep meditation without any awareness of anything happening to the Chakras. There are numerous Spiritual groups and people that keep passing on teachings throwing ideas around because it was said previously by a supposed authority. I wouldn't necessarily say the information is wrong but I will go as far as saying, it is not necessary at all and if it's not already your baggage, I wouldn't add to the bundle. With shabd (sound current) the whole process regarding Chakras becomes unnecessary. And I'm not trying to sell a technique, or practice, I'm just pointing out that there a numerous cases of people having results that neither cross their legs or have any awareness of Chakras.
I think creating an atmosphere is great. Unplug the phone, check the iron and oven are off, putting a sign on the door, pushing the worlds OFF button for a while.
There are many good simple techniques available and if we find one that makes us less stressed out, kinder to others and ourselves, then it's worthwhile. We don't need to change religions or take on any knew concepts at all. -
I was only giving a reason why some people who believe that the lotus or the half lotus position is a deeper way of reaching meditative state. I believe that anyone can meditate in any position. I use to meditate on the subway standing up in New York City and often meditate lying down too. But lying down is not recommended because you can actually fall asleep (it has happened to me couple of times
This is where yoga (or the asana) comes in.. the reason for the yoga practice (contrary to what most people think is to exercise) is to strengthen your back so you could hold that meditative pose for a bit longer and once you reach a state of dissolution.. the minor discomforts are suppose to disappear or not be part of your awareness. But I agree with you about meditating can be done in any way possible. I was just trying to explain why some people believe the lotus position to be the best posture to reach that blissful state. -
cheers
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What you are describing sounds more like trance.... I tend to relate meditation to focus and deep relaxation -
Does sound a bit like trance yes, but however after 30 years of meditating using different techniques I'm reasonably confident that it is a valid technique to achieve a state of equanimity comparable to what people define as meditation. From the outside based on the description, it could no doubt look that way, but it's not really trance, that definition is not quite right. It's one of those things that are quite awkward to explain because the whole thing is happening outside the framework of thought. I'm very comfortable with numerous techniques, this is my prefered version because for me it's by far the most benefial. But we are all very different and it works for me and that's what counts. There are a number of samadhi states but none equal to mangoes and ice-cream. :-)
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I meditate for focus. what works for me is to attend kathak class and practice my tatkar.-
I too do it to stay focused. My comment above should go well here too ..
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If you ever seen Happy Gilmore.. it's the happy place you go to
or I (Heart) Huckabee.. it's the place everything dissolves.
For me, it quiets my mind and I empty out my thoughts. I become one with the universe.
Sometimes I use guided meditation if I haven't meditated in awhile. My favorite place to meditate is at the Ocean and I just close my eyes and let everything be still.. The thing is when you are meditating.. you become aware of everything. People think meditation is a passive thing but I find it not so. Your being becomes wholly engaged in the environment around you.
I can honestly say that when I meditate on a consistent basis, I am a much better person.-
Yep, you are absolutely right. It rejuvenates your thought and soul. For me listening to wonderful piece of Indian classical music forgetting the whole world is a kind of meditation. I always feel rejuvenated when I listen to Indian classical music esp sung by KJ Jesudas, a renowned vocalist who has sung almost in every Indian languages, Russian and Arabic too.
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JesuDas has a brilliant voice...not everyone's taste. But I studied Indian mmusic. I like Shiva Kumar Sharma the Santoor player
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I meditate after work each night for about 30 minutes or so.
I use a rain CD and just empty my mind and completely relax my body while focusing on the sound of the rain. Works like a charm for me.-
Listening to a any kind of sound with nondeterred frequency really helps focusing. It really soothens.
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The Bible talks about meditating Scripture, so as a Christian, that's what I do.-
Can you pls explain what is this meditating scripture.. I have no idea about that.. thanks
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I was curious about thar too. But I remember as a kid being told to contemplate the lines of the scriptures.
Some of the Christian Mystics contemplate/repeat the name of Jesus the same as some Eastern faiths repeat other mantras -
My Dad does that kind of a meditation repeating slokas and mantras. He can sit for long hours even a day doing that way without water or any break. But why he wants to do so, I have never known, none in the family either. But we know he has got a great will power. He has not gone to the physician for even petty illnesses. He also follows a good diet plan but not restricted one!
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Interesting discussion, as a Buddhist I do practicing meditation and I agree with acoustic opinion about sitting cross legged, it doesn't have to be on that lotus position while doing the meditation.
In fact, in Buddhism we also have meditation technique while we're breathing, walking, doing daily works, while eating, simply we can do meditation in many ways.
Meditation in simple word is "focus" on one thing or object, our mind is actually not empty.-
I was not implying that the lotus position is the only way to meditate. I was only giving the reasoning why some people believe it to be the best position to meditate. I use all methods, sitting up, lying down, standing up; however personally when I am in the lotus position is when I reach the deepest state of my meditation
I do agree with you that everything can be a meditation from walking to cooking to painting to even watching a movie or nature.. it's all doing it with awareness
and I do believe the purpose of meditation is to empty our minds.. I have read many books including the Dalai Lama which states that this is the purpose of meditation. -
acousticguitarist
shearyadi
"it doesn't have to be on that lotus position while doing the meditation."
Absolutely true. It doesn't NEED to be.
But it has its own benefits. It is not a belief. It is a fact.
"""For those whose knee, hip or lower back flexibility is compromised by old injuries, arthritis or other persistent conditions, you may find that sitting on a chair is the solution to establishing a steady and comfortable posture that keeps the spine straight. However, the linear support it provides to the base of the body is not as stable or grounded as the triangular foundation created by sitting cross-legged on the floor. The cross-legged poses have the additional advantage of drawing the legs and feet in toward the torso, which collects our energy and directs it inward. In addition to helping straighten the spine, bending the knees and crossing the legs create "locks," which have subtle but profound effects in the pelvis and lower back. """
as quoted in "http://synergyyogastudio.com/yoga_postures.htm"
Sitting posture or lotus posture is more comfortable for people in the Asian countries. Even while at dining at home, the most preferred is to sit down and not on the dining table.
So if one is doing meditation just for mental relaxation, sitting posture is not a concern at all.
If one is doing meditation for mental and physical relaxtion, then sitting posture has its own benefits.
So the objective matters.
Cheers! -
dharmagypsy you're right, meditation is about awareness too and I also agree cross legged can be more help to reach the concentration and focus, I have difficulties myself when trying the walking meditation
But personally, I don't agree the purpose of meditation is to empty our minds, I don't think we can empty our minds, do you? Maybe what the dalai lama said about to empty our minds is to free our minds from other things, our daily routine and concentrate just in one object. Just my personal thought, sorry if I'm wrong but from what I have known and read, there's no anything about to empty the minds.
And by the way, just for information, I'm following the Theravada way of Buddhism tradition. -
Thanks Sindoo, seems like a nice quote and there's lots of great quotes on and off the Internet. I guess it maybe helpful for some, so if they get results and it works for them, well it must be a truth. Never tried it myself but I have no trouble meditating. If somebody I know who is flexible is having difficulty I'll pass it on. The more tools the better.
Over a long period, I've watched many people getting frustrated trying to get their bodies into positions that are not suitable for their body types. Often they've been to a yoga class where the teacher had been to India and had a preconceived unbending idea about what meditation is, based on what they saw there. The poor students because they don't know any different, end up spending most of their energy trying to deal with their body pain and it gets in the way of what they set out to do, which is relax. I highly recommend against associating meditation with gymnastic movements unless your body is extremely flexible. Then, if you have a suitable body type, as your quote says, it may very well be helpful. But contrary to popular belief, the two things, Yoga and meditation do not need to go together. Yoga means union, not body bending. In fact for some people, it could easily be counterproductive. And no doubt the benefits of yoga are well documented but I think it's important that people shouldn't be discouraged by thinking they need to do yoga posture to do such a simple thing as meditation.
And it's a very good point that in the East, people sit cross-legged. And as I have been to India numerous times, it's a great reminder of the many westerners that I have seen suffering trying to cross their legs,it's actually quite funny really and would be a great youTube. I guess my feelings on this topic are based from a westerners point of view that learnt meditation in a chair and had great results.
I do think your question is a very good one. And I'll try not to add any more comments.
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acousticguitarist:
Whatever you or I have expressed are only what you or I believe or may somebody like me or you believe. I am not here to discuss who is right or who is wrong.
When have you become so serious about a topic. Where are your jokes?
Cheers! -
i didn't reralise i was serious,
I'm not implying you are wrong and i am right, apologies if sounds like that
I said it was a nice quote
I said I'd pass it on to people that might find it helpful
I was happy that you pointed out that there is an east west difference
I did say that your question was a good one
Maybe i spent too long on the topic
I'll work on the jokes
Cheers X 2-
Thank you for the compliment. You really quoted some good and valuable points. Thank you for participating in the discussion.
Cheers! -
yup, this is not a serious one, and everyone is unique
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Dharma:
"the purpose of meditation is to empty our minds."
As shearyadi has quoted..
Meditation as I have understood is to empty our minds from troubles and worries and fill with pleasantness. -
For us it is capturing that slither of being right in the NOW! -
Meditation does not require to follow any rules - as then you are following rules not meditating - meditation happens only in the complete absence of any authority or any guidance
Meditation is observation - to be aware - as such it does not require any cross-legged or lotus sitting any incense or any music or a dark room or a candle or any absense or any presence...
It can happen in your work place, even in a crowded bus or at home - there is no fixed path to meditation - knowledge is never complete in any sphere - and as such anything which comes with guidance comes or authority... Any conscious effort to meditate defeats the very purpose and meaning of meditation - or if you are making an effort to meditate you are not mediating - one cannot learn it from any scriptures or guide or advice or any form of authority - you cannot be within a box and think beyond it ...
A mind which meditates is silent - this not the physical silence or anything - this is a silence of the thoughts which constantly bothers us and it can only happen when you are free of any rules or guides - so that without concentrating on driving - you actually seek the destination. -
Every time I try to meditate, I fall sleep or I found an idea to write for my next article.
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Cool.. Many meditate to get good sleep. You are blessed!
Cheers!
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For some pictures on meditation, check out my blog dhammadelights.blogspot.com/2008/01/buddhist-meditation.html-
That was interesting.
"why do people need to walk on water if he can travel comfortably and still keep himself dry if he travel in a boat?
That is a nice question.
Why somebody wants to climb Everest? Why somebody wants to go to Moon? Why somebody wants to walk in the space? Why somebody climbs the wall? Why people wants to Guinness records? (Almost everything are extraordinary and strange)
These people could have really rest at their own comfort at home? Why should they all do this?
Bcoz, they wanted to do something extraordinary and which may or may not be useful to others. It is just that they wanted to do. The interest. Meditation and the like also falls into that category. Only if they can want to do they can do it. Not everyone can do all.
Cheers!
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"Only if they can want to do they can do it"
- Yes its a journey but only there is no destination - no defined path no way - no isolation - its to aware about your own self with total freedom of mind and no one can help there.
www.writtenvoice.com/meditation-and-the-silent-mind/ -
meditate to find your place in the universe and cosmos, meditate to connect your body to the power of divinity, to open up your chakras and release your energy and feel it spread through our mortal bodies, to see our creator and be one with him this is why we meditate.
mediate to realize reality-
If you are meditating to achieve something then what you get is a conscious effort - u cannot free your mind while following any fixed path... there can be no guide to meditation or to be aware
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I meditate a few hours a day in prayer with the Lord. It feels like time just stops while he counsels, but when he's done and has released me two sometimes three hours will have gone by. In the meantime I'm thinking that I've only been there for a few minutes.
As to what it is for me it's getting away from myself and my worries and my ego and my this and my that and for once focusing on someone much more important than me. It's a state of rest and perfect peace "in the shadow of his wings". It's the time of the day and evening when I don't have to worry about handling (or mishandling) anything because in those moments I realize how small and insignificant I am compared to most valued life in all creation, the Son of God.-
The root of prayer is self-pity - so what you get when pray is an echo of that self pity only and remain locked in the same illusory self which you have built over the years.
Meditation is not isolation or running away from daily life - it is very much within life where u become aware of all your actions - and the complications of thought - What you mean is an escape into some imaginary world for a short while - you may as well buy a good dvd and enjoy it for three hours in a closed room.
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hw about Dynamic Meditation guys! it's excellent if u'r fit n healthy.
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Been practicing the Jose Silva school of meditation, every day, since 1972. That's right, 36 years. Works quite well.-
Jack - there cannot be any school or authority for meditation - meditation or becoming aware is a process which has to start with ones own mind - if you are following some authority then you are concentrating on how to drive instead of the journey. It becomes just a mind-play where you pursue some vision - an illusion ...
When you follow any authority or guidance then you are constantly trying consciously to remain within the conformity of such rules - how can you have a free and silent mind ?
Meditation demands intellect and a mature mind which can get rid from the knowledge as it constantly influences all our experiences - a mediating mind is a free mind which can touch on new horizons of thought. Knowledge can lend only new directions for new sensations for some seekers but that is not meditation. Meditation is not a way to seek happiness or pleasure -there are other ways to it - even you can simply buy it off the shelf… but again all pleasure come with sorrow and conflict.
Meditation is in effect a way to complete freedom - where there is no observer with his bag of knowledge and there is no center, no choice and so no conflict- also in absence of observer - there is nothing to be observed and we truly become integral part of everything and perceive it in a totally different way.
So it can happen anywhere, anytime, in any state and is a part of daily life - there is no fixed path to meditation - knowledge is never complete in any sphere - and as such anything which comes with guidance or authority… and tells us to make a conscious effort to meditate defeats the very purpose and meaning of meditation - or if you are making an effort to meditate you are not mediating - one cannot learn it from any scriptures or guide or advice or any form of authority or from the various institutions or individuals who make a living out of this - you cannot be within a box and think beyond it.
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I like walking meditation. I have to admit, I've fallen off the path recently and need to get back into the practice of living mindfully. -
I do several different types of meditation. Sometimes I meditate for relaxation sitting muscle tension and untension exercises, it keeps me relaxed. I also occassionally do memory meditation-- (method of eidos or memory castle) where you systematically memorize a room or a place in your mind from a particular surrounding until it becomes fixed in your mind. It helps concentration. -
Meditation is not an act to be done but it is a state of being. -
I used to meditate everyday, I have also fallen out of practice, but have meditated twice this week, so am getting back there.
For me its is a state of no-mind which can transcend into all-mind.
I usually sit, in the lotus position, as I learned from my Yoga master years ago, but I am double jointed so it doesn't bother me at all. I also used to do moving meditations, like when walking, but haven't done so in quite some time.
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