I was wondering if some more advanced meditation practitioners could give me some advice. I haven't started practicing meditation yet because I'm not sure where to begin, how long the duration of my first sessions should be, and so on. What are your recommendation for books about meditation if any? A little background on myself: I'm 19 and recently felt like there is apart of me that should be more exposed in my life. That part is my spiritual side of life, or lack there of. For the past few months I've been doing a lot of research in entheogens, unconscious states, and just recently religion. My religious views are leading very much towards Buddhism and Alchemy, for my recent curiosity/passion of enlightenment and a great deal of respect for nature and my surroundings. So by meditating its a goal of mine to reach a higher state of spirituality and many other things that go along with it. --- Also a big question on my mind is should I already have a spiritual side of me before I begin or will it help me on my journey? As I mentioned above I'll be doing a lot of reading to understand both Buddhism and Alchemy. --- In no way am I looking for a quick fix/instant results. What is your advice for beginners in meditation? I'm curious about the duration, how to build up? - Music or silence? Silence sounds like a more appropriate approach. - Techniques for a more spiritual meditating experience. - Whatever else you'd like to share. Sorry if this is all jumbled up. These are all questions that have been on my mind for quite some time, and I'm very new to this.
First you need to know your limitations and how to work within them. Do you have money to travel? If not then you must seek near where you are. Do you speak Chinese? Most alchemists are in Taoist faith and are Chinese. Maybe some couple can speak English. Scour the internet. Meditation is a skill, a developed skill which takes some devotion and practice everyday. Do you have a space which is clean and noise free? If not then there are ways to meditate within conditions which are soured. But lastly, besides settling into one practice I suggest you look at and go to classes from any group which interests you - maybe one per year, and give their teachings full practice, but for just one year. Keep a journal, then as part of your discipline change the next year until you have a sense of the range of spiritual practices, what they do, and what they don't do. I am speaking for you to become wise, not just meditated into one scheme. At some point you will thrill to some teaching and covet everything about it. That will be the teaching that you will love. Don't force love or other moods or emotions - feel what you feel first and foremost. Look at the sacred assembly at thiese various venues. Do you feel good with them or not. Do they act like normal people or a bunch of power crazed lunatics? Are they happy and fun and can they wear jeans? Do they make you dress in a certain way? Recite meaningless junk for hours? Do they try to remove your old persona before giving you a new language which only initiates can understand? You need to be on the watch for cults. Always consider what the meaning is behind what is being taught. Are they promising enlightenment. They are full of themselves. Learn meditation or alchemy, from the comfort of a classic space - your own. Feng Shui your home. Vastu correct it. Let in light. Talk to many people in many teachings. Again, do short retreats. The lighter touch on you during them the better. And I mean that mentally, but also nobody has the right to touch you.
I am planning a move to Florida soon so traveling anywhere else right now is a no-go, plus I'd rather not travel anywhere, especially to enter a meditation school, without doing it much myself. I will start searching the internet for places near me, but I do fear a bit of consumerist b.s. that comes with the modern day world in the states. The only other language besides English is a small bit of Spanish. There is a guest bedroom, being used right now, but in the new year it will be open and I can start my practice in there. Maybe my bedroom too. That's a fantastic idea about practicing different teachings. Now by that do you mean different types of Buddhism or a very different strain like Catholicism, Christianity, etc. I will watch out for the lunatics. This is incredible advice that will be put to great work from me, thank you very much. What do you think about entheogens and using them for there purpose on coming closer to a persons god? Also, what do you think about the "brainwave meditation"?
Read "A Series Of Lessons In Raja Yoga" by Yogi Ramacharaka eace: Of course I have to ask what path you wish to take with your meditation? By the sounds of it you want to pratice Raja Yoga which is the spiritual path, the path that leads to self-realisation of what you are and what you can accomplish from within. I have been studying Raja Yoga for almost a year now and it has changed my life in a big way, in a positive way. I myself am Hindu but I dont see hinduism as a religion as I am not obliged to worship any god or live by a certain set of rules, it is more a set of ideals that one can work towards. which in term would result in a more peaceful nature. I study Hinduism because I feel Hindu's have mastered the art of meditation, here are some paths you could choose to work on: Bhakti Yoga (the path of love and devotion) Karma Yoga (the path of right action) Rāja Yoga (the path of meditation) Jñāna Yoga (the path of wisdom) The book I listed above is great! I havent finished it yet as it is a guide to help you along your path of raja yoga, I have not completed that path and I am far from it, I will finish this book and still be far away from completing my journey, but this helps alot along the way.:2thumbsup: Hope I was alittle help and I also hope you get what you want out of meditation, which I'm sure you will. Much love from your brother in Canada!:daisy:
I will definitely check it out! Yes the path that I'm on is more of a spiritual one, but I'd also like to give them all a try. Especially the path of wisdom. The path is a very long one and these are my first steps. All of those links were very helpful, and will be read carefully in days to come. I have recently bought a few books by the Dalai and it goes over some teachings and help for meditation. You were a great help and I'm very happy to have finally posted that because of how caring you guys were. Good luck on your path as well! Canada seems like a lovely place, and I'd love to visit one day.
You need to first define yourself for the yoga and meditation retreats and then start the retreats I would suggest you to take guidance of yoga teacher training that would help you a lot and you would learn
Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries to your mind. Regular yoga is perfect health, perfect control over the mind and to perfect peace with oneself, the world, nature and God. Thanks.
Yes, meditation and yoga retreats are the best thing. Groups of like minds entrain one's own development. Do it until you 'run screaming.' (What happens to me after about two weeks of deep meditation and quietude.) Brain entrainment is bullshit. Whatever entrainment happens just from the sitting and relaxing while aware, same as would happen during meditation. One need not go anywhere, do anything but sit upright and close the eyes and do nothing. One need not adjust ones thoughts. Sitting upright straightens out the awareness channels. Closing the eyes puts the most energy depleting sense organ's energy back into awareness. Then one pours their awareness back into itself automatically. Best to set a time and to just sit and do nothing. Being new, innocent and free of expectations from meditation you are free to truely meditate, unlike people who are looking to satisfy some goal from meditation. Meditation is essentially goalless. If one wakes up in activity and feels free for a moment, or adjusted, or without limitation then one can begin to get a sense of what liberation means. But if you look for it or try to have it, then that's just one more thought and to the degree with which you place gravity or importance upon it to that degree it will become a huge rock to dash your dreams upon. Meditate for a time, then don't. Do not meditate during activity as some suggest. That is the way to weak activity and ineffective meditation.
If your predisposition is towards meditation, Raja yoga is a logical start, another book is “Raja Yoga” by Swami Vivekananda. Although ones predisposition or concentration may be towards a particular yogic path the other paths are not abandoned i.e. all in the world have action (Karma), all experience emotions such as love and compassion (Bhakti), all have intelligence and must examining and reflect (Jnana), all must scrutinize attractions/aversions of the mind and how the stillness influences perspective on awareness/consciousness/self (Raja). The first mention of yoga is the “Bhagavad-Gita” (5,000 years ago) and the second is the sage Patanjali’s eloquent outline of the eight limbs (rungs) “Yoga Sutras” (2,500 years ago) both are seen as standalone documents not belonging to any particular religion. There’s not a religion (Hinduism, Buddhism, Abrahamic, etc.) or philosophy on the planet not filled with dogma (beliefs, faith, acceptance, etc.) which simply feed the Maya machine (veils of illusion), whereas the yogic sciences suggest one rely on direct experience rather than borrowed knowledge in an effort towards clarity.
My suggestion would be to stick something simple to start. You can go here first and learn the basics first. The spiritual part will come as you start to find your voice or a voice of someone that resonates with you. I have found Pema Choron to be a great resource - just google her name. Hope this helps, AJ
Could anyone post a link to a site that will help me start my journey in the world of meditation? I am interested in raja yoga, and I would love if someone would send me to a site to help me begin.
