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So how do I meditate?

Ellis

09:31 / 13.10.01

I agther there is more to it than sitting and, crossing my legs and closing my eyes.

What is the point of meditation?

Does it help you deal with life?

Does it get girls to like you?

09:31 / 13.10.01

In my experience, it's mostly breathing. I concentrate on my breathing -- not trying to control its rate or depth, just paying attention to it, and it will slow down on its own. When I start thinking about things that aren't related to my breathing, I note, "That's nice, now I will pay attention to my breathing." My running internal commentary continues to bring things up; I acknowledge them, set them aside, and return to breathing.

Eventually, the running commentary takes on the character of a TV in the next room: I am somewhat aware of it, but no longer paying attention to it -- I'm breathing. Forcefully ignoring it and rebuking myself for not having a zen-mind doesn't work; I just let it do its thing while I'm breathing, until it seems no longer important.

I am not a very regular meditator, but the recent effect on my life was to calm me down during a flight. I was very nervous about flying this time, since the last flight I'd been on was a white-knuckle landing in Denver through a pretty bad storm (including a sudden plummet of 100-200 feet, woo). Since I realized that there was nothing I could do about this landing, I figured I should just breathe. It was a huge help in dealing with the fear.

09:31 / 13.10.01

There is something more to it, and I don't really know how to describe it. I would suggest sitting for a period of time, say about a half hour or more, and try to play with your mind. Don't just think about things. Practise NOT thinking about things. If you discover that you can get into a state of mind you hadn't been in previously, go with that. I often get a feeling similar to a marijuana high.

09:31 / 13.10.01

quote: Originally posted by Ellis:
I gather there is more to it than sitting and, crossing my legs and closing my eyes.

There are a number of very good basic meditation texts on the web and in print. The traditional way, however, is to learn to meditate directly from someone who is a fairly advanced meditator.

quote: What is the point of meditation?

Meditative techniques are used to adjust the mental processes in various ways. Depending on your tradition, you may use meditation to calm yourself, to reflect, to enhance concentration, to alter perception, to speak with your deity, or for other purposes.

For example, classic buddhist meditation is meant to release the mind from illusion and the bonds of desire, or to erase the ego. Christian mystics use meditation to become closer to God. Wizard-types use it to focus their will or other assets toward changing the world in some way. Martial arts types use it to eliminate distraction during a fight.

quote: Does it help you deal with life?

Yes, or it can help you gain perspective apart from life.

quote: Does it get girls to like you?[/QB]
If they like people who meditate, then yes; otherwise, no.

09:31 / 13.10.01

Okay, meditation in and of itself is very good for re-centering oneself from the rigors of the day to day challenges that beset us all. But if I may make a helpful suggestion, meditating in a close, dark space, is much for beneficial to turning off the internal dialogue and rejuvenating the spirit.

09:31 / 13.10.01

Turn off your thoughts and just let everything... slide.

Unlike drugs which induce a similiar effect, meditation is affordable to everyone, perfectly legal in most countries and offers rare moments of crystal clarity as opposed to dusty numbness.

Mordant Carnival

14:02 / 13.10.01

quote:Originally posted by Lucianna Drake:
But if I may make a helpful suggestion, meditating in a close, dark space, is much for beneficial to turning off the internal dialogue and rejuvenating the spirit.

... Once you get good at it, tho', you could meditate in the middle of King's Cross Station at rush hour and still get a result.

14:23 / 13.10.01

Absolutely correct Mordant one.

16:01 / 13.10.01

I had to give it up. I heard it causes blindness.

Mordant Carnival

17:42 / 13.10.01

Looky here! It's our very own Antlerhead, with a primer... http://www.chaosmatrix.com/lib/chaos/rites/beyondwall.html

Worth having a butcher's.

22:29 / 13.10.01

You could try counting. Breath and think 1 as you exhale, then 2, then 3, then 4 and then back to 1. Possibly using `and` as you inhale. I find it helps to keep my mind clear and gets me there quicker.

13:29 / 15.10.01

Some people have some problem doing 'inhibitory' exercises like what most people call meditation.

I've always been able to get into a similar state through more ecstatic forms.

Also, some martial arts disciplines wait until you've progressed through many years of vigorous physical activity and discipline before introducing the more 'transcendental' meditative exercises.

Maybe PATricky has some input on this aspect?

Mordant Carnival

16:09 / 15.10.01

quote:Originally posted by Lothar Tuppan:
Some people have some problem doing 'inhibitory' exercises like what most people call meditation.

Good point. Some people find that the physical stillness and breath awareness actually make them panicky. Most ppl get over that but for some it's a problem.

As well as the ecstatic states mentioned above, 'walking meditation' can be useful. Simplicity itself to do: just keep pickin'em up and puttin'em down, as per usual, whilst focusing on your deep diaphragmatic (spelling?) breathing. You could also use colour visualizations (breathing in a 'good' colour, like blue, breathing out a 'bad' colour, like murky grey), or a mantra.

20:51 / 15.10.01

You put on your favorite fast music song/album/whatever you kids nowadays listen to and then you...dance until you collapse. Ever notice how when you collapse your mind becomes completly clear? Well, there. After you collapse from the dancing then your mind will also be completly clear because the body will be busy with itself. Badabingbaddaboombaddaow!myheart!

But don't do this if you have heart problems or high blood pressure.

..

09:04 / 16.10.01

I find that nurturing that falling/sinking feeling on the exhale works wonders. Some people say visualizing yourself sinking helps to bring it on, but I find it's enough just to feel it over your entire body-- each exhale is a new level of relaxation.

Rollo Kim, on location

09:04 / 16.10.01

Focus as much on your body as your brain. Try to keep your head clear. The purpose, or a purpose, is simply to retain that fleeting thing: self awareness.

You can do it when you pray. You can do it when you dance. But the less distractions the better.

It's damned hard to keep up but I know it's worth it. It makes you realize just how much time you spend drifting - not focused on yourself. And once you realize that it keeps popping up to remind you to wake up!

A million years of Zen, Sufi, Greys and golden eyed mofos can't be wrong!

Have some joy.

09:04 / 16.10.01

quote:Originally posted by doubting thomas:
Eventually, the running commentary takes on the character of a TV in the next room: I am somewhat aware of it, but no longer paying attention to it -- I'm breathing. Forcefully ignoring it and rebuking myself for not having a zen-mind doesn't work; I just let it do its thing while I'm breathing, until it seems no longer important.

I like this.

Since way back, I've developed the habit of forcefully smashing my running commentary over the head with the mental equivalent of a large shovel until it quits -- which, as we all know, it is rarely wont to do.

"I wonder if --" SPANG SPANG SPANG "... ah, I got it! I ... bugger --" SPANG SPANG SPANG

It's not the most effective (or relaxing) method in the world. I usually take about half an hour to get into a meditative state I'm vaguely comfortable with and even then I only have true silence for a few seconds at a time at best (not that I'm exactly a pro).

I like the idea of just letting my internal monologue chatter away to itself in a sort of background process whilst I nip away with my subconscious for a fling behind the bushes (combining analogy paradigms always seems wrong). It does get to the point where it's so utterly quiet and unintrusive that I'm hard-pressed to realize it's still there (SPANG), but I had somehow convinced myself that I have to completely eliminate the bugger rather than taking advantage of just having the volume down.

Which isn't to say that the few seconds of absolute silence aren't extremely cool.

I'll have to have a go at this.

00:56 / 19.10.01

Wyrd suggested I meditate on some of the names and symbols I picked up from the walk I mentioned in "Progress Report". That sounded like a great idea.

Several days later, I realized I didn't know how to meditate "on" something.

How's that work?

02:58 / 19.10.01

A million years of Zen, Sufi, Greys and golden eyed mofos can't be wrong!

Why not?

03:00 / 19.10.01

quote:Originally posted by Lionheart:
You put on your favorite fast music song/album/whatever you kids nowadays listen to and then you...dance until you collapse. Ever notice how when you collapse your mind becomes completly clear? Well, there. After you collapse from the dancing then your mind will also be completly clear because the body will be busy with itself. Badabingbaddaboombaddaow!myheart!

Or try dancing without music, nude, and in the dark. Then, put on several CD's at once (on in the computer, on ine the stereo, whatever you can manage. Try various things.

As far as meditating on something.... once you figure out how to reach a different state of mind, you should be able to push some concentrated thoughts through your mind while doing it. But to be perfectly honest, I've only ever been able to meditate on something when I wanted to change my state of mind after meditation as well. In the sense of "don't be so envious," or "prepare to release your happiness chemicals."

10:34 / 19.10.01

quote:Originally posted by doubting thomas:
Several days later, I realized I didn't know how to meditate "on" something. How's that work?

There are a couple of ways you can do it.

On way you could do it is to slide into a meditative state and try to clear your mind as much as possible (some people like to use a candle flame as a focus, for example).

When you are in a calm/contemplative state then introduce the image into your mind. Focus on it, examine it from lots of different angles (think of it as a 3-D shape if you can), and see what other images/ideas pop into your mind. Don't rush it, and don't be too concerned about getting something amazing from it. Just find out what is its nature - then it will speak to you.

Hope this helps!