Do you meditate?

Imperfect_Perfection: Endless benefits come from practicing meditation. What changes have you found after beginning practice? Do you have a regular routine? What advice would you offer one who is just starting?

Bytr: My advice for someone who is wants to meditate is to do it in the privacy of your own home and for guides, use recorded videos from online. Many universities have groups and you could join a group and practice in the park. However, many college groups have a lot of inner tension which sticks and invades your mediations for years once you leave a group, especially if the group is religion-based such as falun.

That happened to me and although I love falun, I never do it anymore because every time I start I feel like the group director is tuned in to me and knows I am doing it, and even though he and I are a thousand miles apart, he wants me out because I am not chinese, or married, or whatever it is that makes him hate on me.

tbulb: Yes... I have a daily practice.... Advice? Start small--don't turn yourself into a "project". His Holiness, the Dalai Lama wrote "once you've been practicing, ten or fifteen years, you may notice a change."

Wild__: Does sitting alone in a dimly lit room listening to Pink Floyd constitute meditation?

tbulb: LOL@wildmann.... *grin* nope--but listening to Moody Blues does...

Wild__: I also enjoy Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven.

tbulb: Recently went to see/listen? to The Magic Flute.... interesting take on it....not convinced it worked

Imperfect_Perfection: Music meditation works! It can be whatever music that you wish to choose!

Wild__: Oh I doubt heavy metal would be relaxing to anyone other than a meth addict.

tbulb: LOL @ wildmann.... in the tradition though we are taught we should be able to meditate in the midst of anything....including heavy metal... ) (PS I'm not always successful at this...)

jennebraska: Do naps count, I can sleep pretty much through anything.

near50ohoh: i'm not a traditionalist or that empty headed (i can't shut down enough to be all zen, you know?) so i use a song or poem or a spiritual show or book to get in the right frame of mind. works for prayer too.at least for me

diolover71: .
Do not try to make yourself into anything.
Do not try to become anything.
Do not become a meditator.
Do not become enlightened.
When you sit,let it be.
When you walk,let it be.
Resist nothing.
Grasp at nothing.

Ajahn Chah (had no formal teacher)

diolover71: .
Constantly relax yourself,paying special attention to the tension in(sorry)the anus.Keep relaxing it.

Paying attention to the breath is very very powerful.Don`t worry if you are letting the breath flow naturally or if you are controlling it;it doesn`t matter.

You don`t have to sit cross-legged,and you can lay in corpse pose if you want.Comfort is a must.Don`t force yourself to meditate for a specific length of time;if your body feels uncomfortable than stop(quality not quantity).

You will eventually encounter many unpleasant suppressed thoughts,and painful emotions that you haven`t allowed yourself to fully experience(even when you aren`t engaged in the meditation process).The more you relax and become calm;the more unpleasant thoughts and fear will surface.It is like a purge.

Do not try to force yourself not to think.

near50ohoh: i think i do a fake version. i read spiritual stuff or put on really relaxing music, that's too gorgeous not to focus on it or take a long bath in a dim room. of course there's always petting my cat, yes four legged beastie is what i mean. i have chronic pain issues so it's difficult to get past that to something deeper without something to focus on besides a crystal or candle flame. got any suggestions?

diolover71: I have tried concentration meditation too;focusing on a candle flame;and a silent one word mantra.I didn`t get the results that I wanted.

About a year and a half ago,I shifted to watching the breath;you can do it walking,sitting or laying down.In the last year and a half, I have wept hundreds of times.It is a very powerful method though and there are many pitfalls.

Crystals on the major chakras really work! Have you ever tried it?

I think that you should experiment with various methods until you find the right one.I don`t know what your physical pain is but you might want to look into a yoga routine.

In my opinion;as long as a person isn`t trying to entertain or distract themselves,they are meditating.

near50ohoh: i've got some stuff from carol tuttle (know her?).on chakra healing. seems to be guided imagery, affirmations and self hypnosis. yoga is way beyond me. it's hard enough to do my physiotherapy. i was thinking in terms of relaxation techniques. but thanks

Wild__: After a 12 hour shift I'm ready to hibernate, oh wait... this is the mediate thread?

seablue: They call every paranormal practices yoga. Everybody knows the best, what is the best for itselves. You know how you function. Everybody has a code. Wish all a strong mind abducted strong Aura.

diolover71: I don`t know Carol Tuttle.Athought I have only expermented a little with sound and imagery;I like it.I used to think meditation would relax me and yea it does produce states of calm but it also dredges up all suppressed and avoided feelings.

What I am talking about is very simple and effortless.You can google the location of the major chakras and also the corresponding gemstone or crystals for each one.There are many websites with info on what emotions or physical pain is associated with each chakra.You lay on your back and just place a crystal or stone on your chakra or on all the chakras.Most tumbled crystals and stones can be purchased for a few dollars each.

near50ohoh: would they have them at natural health store?

diolover71: I don`t think so,not sure.Try to google spirituality stores or crystal stores in your area.They are getting pretty popular these days,there must be one in your area.

Imperfect_Perfection: Metaphysical store... Google it and you should be able to find what you need. Depending where you live you might be able to find a store that exclusively sells stones. Or there are also gem fairs. You can also find pretty much any kind of rock you desire though the internet.

near50ohoh: my preface is that i live in a big town pretending to be a city. it's not that multicultural at all.

diolover71:
Meditation is not about going into a state of relaxation and then coming out feeling calmer.This is what I thought before I became engaged in the process.Calmness does come,slowly and surely;but everything else has to experienced in the process.

Meditation will dredge up every painful emotion,every memory,every feeling of guilt,shame,fear,anger hopelessness.

It is the way of initiating and accelerating the healing process.There are phases where you will hate humanity and there are phases where you will hate yourself.There are periods of delusion that are so powerful that you will walk the line between reality and insanity.There are long periods will you will crave death and stretches of time where not seeing another human being is a great comfort.You will weep uncontrollably day after day for years.Rage and anger will fill you to the point where it becomes physically painful to be angry.Physical pain too,right in the bones,the arms,legs,but mostly the hips and pelvic area.

Of course there are brief,very brief periods when you taste the bliss of kundalini and these moments are intoxicating.There are also times when you feel you are in the "void",a sense of freedom from thoughts and emotions.From time to time there are the few precious seconds where you become filled with a feeling of universal love and this is such a sweet,beautiful pain that words can not do it justice.