where can i go to get help with meditating, i think it would help a lot if i could have somebody to guide me! thanks!
meditation \Med`i*ta"tion\, n. [OE. meditacioun, F. m['e]ditation, fr. L. meditatio.] 1. The act of meditating; close or continued thought; the turning or revolving of a subject in the mind; serious contemplation; reflection; musing. I recently read a book about Zen, which is a state of mind brought on by meditating. I don't know if you are meditating to achieve zen, but meditation in this sense can be done anwhere including sitting at work, doing dishes or playing basketball. Meditation is simply clearing your mind. Many people might have a hard time meditating because they believe there is something to achieve or acomplish, in reality, there is no right or wrong way to do it. It can be standing or sitting, eyes closed or open, being still or moving. My first good experience meditating was when I was on the phone with a good friend, suprisingly. He just kept talking to me about the wonderful state of mind that someone could possibly put themselves into. Try to think of the way your brain works, your brain has control over you, right? WRONG! you have control over your brain. Some people can tell themselves that they want to see black and they do. Ofcourse this takes alot of time. Okay, back to my first experience, I had a "dot" on my cieling and I didn't know what it was, but i kept staring at it and it started moving. It was an amazing experience because I felt in control of myself. Now, I actually put a similar mark on my roof with a sharpie and I focus all of my attention on it. I try to make it look bigger or smaller and I practice focusing on it. After I put so much thought toward this dot, I feel relaxed about anything else around me. You can try a dot, but you certainly dont need help! Its a natural experience and anyone can do it if they get in the right state of mind and don't expect anything miraculous! Maybe some morning, get up early and watch the sun rise, alone and truly focus on the changing colors.. It will seem truly amazing. Tranquility lies in nature, so go to it when you want to find peace!
i am also curious... what exactly do you mean by proper breathing??? i know about postures and what not, and am also thinking of taking up meditating.
I am friends with a few very good yoga instructors who have taught me exactly how to meditate properly. I will try to tell you everything I know. If it helps, I certainly don't mind if you print this out and keep it to refer back to from time to time, because I have a few papers myself. 1. Find a quiet and calming place. I try to light a few candles or light some insence, or find a small secluded place outside. Make sure nothing/no one can interupt you. 2. Find a comfortable position, whether it is sitting in a chair, or sitting in half or full lotus (which is where you sit pretzel style with your legs crossed) or even lying down on your back with your palms facing up. 3. Close your eyes and sit up straight (if you are sitting). A straight back is important for "the Complete Breath". 4. Pranayama... Proper breathing technique: Inhale and exhale deeply through your nose. Never breathe through your mouth when practicing yoga or meditation. Inhale and try to open your throat (while your mouth is closed) and try to produce a sound like "wind through a tunnel"...you will know when you do it right. Now picture your breath in your head- the Complete Breath will have three parts. -Start with zero air in your lungs and your stomach firm. -Inhale. Fill the lower portion of your lungs and feel your abdomen expand. -Continue pulling the breath upward. Feel the rib cage expand into your back (but do not raise your shoulders while inhaling). -Feel the chest rise slowly as you pull the breath to the uppermost lobes of the lungs. Draw in the lower abdomen as you near the end of the inhale. -Retain the breath for as long as comfortable. -Exhale and retract your abdomen slightly. *Do this for the first few minutes, and when your senses are calm, breathe normally. 5. When I do this, I picture a line starting at my stomach and pulling up in the direction of my breath. This can be your meditation picture if you like. You should pick one image to focus on, whether it be a flower or a landscape or a flickering candle or something that works well with you. If you concentrate on this image, it will help illiminate other thoughts, because remember- the purpose of meditation is to "still your mind". Don't worry, this takes lots of practice and may be more difficult for people like myself who suffer from A.D.D. or other distractions. 6. Now, if you are having too much trouble concentrating, try using a mediation word like OM. Chant this softly for a minute or two to calm your senses. When your mind is still, knowledge will flow and mind expansion takes place. Everytime a random thought pops into your head, just open your eyes, and start again (and expect this a lot the first 10 times you meditate). If you have any more questions, be free to send me an email or a private message, or post a new thread- I will try to check often. Also, there are many books that are helpful as well. My favorite is Live Better MEDITATION by Bill Anderton, which I found at Barnes and Nobles. Good luck!
"Rise up nimbly and go on your strange journey to the ocean of meanings. The stream knows it can't stay on the mountain. Leave and don't look away from the sun as you go, in whose light you're sometimes crescent, sometimes full." Rumi p.g 24 from "The Illuminated Rumi" by Coleman Barks ... "Come Back, My Friend" pg. 114 This book is a beautiful guided journey into Self.
Have you heard of Mantra Yoga? Also called Japa. It is a simple and easy yet highly effective form of meditation, and can be practiced by anyone in pretty well any circumstance. There is no need to learn complicated postures or breathing exercises, just by the repition of Divine names, all the results of other forms of yoga can be had. Here are a couple of links http://www.webcom.com/~ara/col/books/YM/cbh/ http://www.dlshq.org/teachings/japayoga.htm#mantras I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
