Meditation

[Shakti]

Har Tzion:

"Meditation is to concentrate everything… what you where, are, and will be… in one single moment". .

Har-Tzion, an enlightened Jewish Master answer question and discusses on: Enlightenment, meditation, religion and religiousness, and much more, in his forum, at:
www.har-tzion.com

[Rafflesia]

Does any one here meditate on a regular basis? If so, which techniques have you adopted and what works best for you?

Apparently, what I grew up thinking was meditation, appears now to be more or a reflection practice, from an eastern perspective. The meditation experience I have had from yoga teachers focused on following the breath, but I know that there are many, many approaches to this practice. I have read about practices in Buddhism that entail clearign the mind, and those that encourage focusing on people with loving kindness, which seems in complete opposition to each other.

I some time feel meditative while listening to chants. I love the track "Lament" by Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, but the song is over so soon, and his other music does not move me in the same way (meaning help me focus on something in side of myself). It seems atypcial of other Suffi songs, whcih encourage movement. I know many find mediation in movement as well, btu I am seeking a still path.

I am interested in learnign what methods have worked best for other people.

[lvandok]

I'm new to all this so I can't really give you any tips about techniques but if you use Kazaa lite you can download all sorts of mantras, chants,meditations, nature sounds,self help and hypnosis tapes etc. Many of them are quite long some are up to a half hour.

[vavrek]

hello rafflesia!

i am a regular meditator and i've studied a number of forms.

the form of meditation that i am most familliar with is called "vipassana."

vipassana means "seeing things as they really are."

the most amazing thing about vipassana is that there are international centers which provide free ten-day meditation courses. these centers operate upon a donation base only. you can learn more at:

dhamma.org

in addition to vipassana, i've studied zazen (zen meditation) and done a lot of my own experimentation.

i say, experiment! keep discovering!

[Rafflesia]

Thanks vavrek. There seem to be so many different approach. For the longest time I thought all zen based meditations were versions of trying to clear the mind, by thinking "empty the mind;" that this was the pupose of and synonomous to the concept of what people meant by "sitting"

Then about a year ago I read an article or two by chance on what I think was called metta meditation; where you focus on thoughts of love and sending them to people or places inside you that need it. I really liked that idea and wanted to try to find out more about how it is related to the earlier concept. It almost soudned like a contradictory approach.

I've also practiced yoga for a while, and have heard that some types of Budhist- tradition oreinted meditations have similar beliefs to meditation practice rleated to yoga, in that the way the body, even just the hands are postured alters energy flows for different effects. Any books you could recommend on the topic?

[vavrek]

as far as zazen, the two books i recommend are 'zen mind beginner's mind' by shunryu suzuki and 'the three pillars of zen' by philip kapleau roshi.

both are excellent.

in regards to vipassana, i would simply recommend the traditional therevada buddist writings. if you're interested, i think it would be best to take a free course.

metta meditation is a part of vipassana, specifically practiced at the end of each sitting to share goodwill with all. it is actually the last of three stages, practiced after breath observation to calm the mind and then the balanced observation of changing sensations.

such meditation expands awareness and understanding of THIS.

i would emphasise the value of continuing actual practice as opposed to doing too much reading about it, although reading can be helpful.

by the way, i'm a musician. i'll send you a free cd if you like!

[Rafflesia]

Thank you so much for making that conection for me. I occasionally read issues of Shambhala Sun, when I find it. Some articles mention different aspects of a meditation practice, and many, many articles talk about .benfits of mediation, but the concept itself has so many forms and can be so elusive. I don't think there is one true path for everyone.

I imagine that practice is the best way to learn, but I don't have any meditation centers near me. I have tried to look at a book before but it was too theorectical; I was just looking for basic postures recommendations, and different pathways they encourage for managing thoughts, so it is easier to explore potential options and find what is right fo me, given any mood. thanks for the site.

[vavrek]

yes, i agree that there is no true path for everyone.

i adore meditation practice. within it i find resolution.

i wish you truth and peace.

[evelyn]

Hey everyone,

I am not really familiar with zen meditation or the other methods, but I religiously meditate every morning after I wake up, before anything else. Usually I will play a tape of ocean sounds and other times I will just sit in silence and clear out my mind. I focus on my breathing and listen to my heartbeat. I find that giving time to myself daily helps me deal with every other aspects I face throughout the day. I haven't really read books or looked into other methods- but I love to meditate and think everyone should try it.

Peace.

[billzant]

Dear Rafflesia,

How are you?

I believe all forms of meditation are helpful, and that if you practise daily you will always gain. However if you have reached an impasse and feel that you are not gaining then I would like to offer this perspective – maybe it will help.

Try considering meditation in two ways – the purpose of meditation and the techniques of meditation. Let me consider the useful technique of meditation tapes. At one stage I used one such tape as I was having trouble sleeping – stress from work. I would then go through the routine of the tape and usually fell asleep before the end of the tape. But it never dealt with the underlying problem, why was I stressed?

Taking that idea a bit further then ultimately you ask why am I meditating? In terms of macrobiotics I don’t know enough about their techniques of meditation but I understand it to mean trying to unite with the infinite. I am not trying to move you away from the purpose and techniques of meditation in macrobiotics, but I too follow Vipassana as Vavrek suggests because it worked. To use a phrase that one Buddhist teacher, Ajaan Buddhadhasa uses, the purpose is to know what is what – typical Buddhist vagueness. http://www.cybermacro.com/ubb/icons/icon7.gif
Smile As is THIS. But the great advantage to working with Buddhism and meditation is the Tradition. Buddhism has such a wealth of experience of centuries of meditators. Buddhist meditation does not require a conversion from another religion, you can treat it initially as a philosophy backing up the experience of meditation, then you let your studies take you where you want.

To summarise I apologise for what appears to be proselytising but I do feel strongly that meditation without an appropriate internal direction sometimes doesn’t go there. Sometimes the mind is asking you to find a direction once it has gained from the usefulness of the techniques. There are others but Vavrek’s links can help you begin. Vipassana can help you open your heart and the answers will lie there.

Hope you are keeping well,

All the Best

Bill Z

[cakefiend]

I'm just starting to learn about meditation, but I usually take a moment out of the day to just chill and sit in the grass and it really helps me out.

[layla17]

I'm with you cakefiend... I definitely prefer sitting outside and relaxing my mind. It's what makes life good.

[veebee]

Hi, i have been meditating for 11yrs now, for 20-30 mins, twice, everyday. I would'nt be without it!i used to have panic attacks every day but after doing these techniques for a month, they went! I have'nt had one since!Thats why i became a meditation teacher to help my fellow man,to give something back.Everyone is so stressed in this day and age i wanted to help get people on a spiritual path.I learn't under Gururaj Ananda Yogi's teachings.You can read more about this type of meditation and download satsangs etc at - www.fisu.org.Meditation gives you the inner strength to turn the adversitities of life into opportunities, and as you reach deeper levels within ,your perception & understanding increases, fears and inhibitions brought about by insecurity slowly disappear, you attain a sense of freedom which allows you to act rather than react,to enjoy rather than need, to love rather than cling & to understand rather than reject. In short, rather than being dictated to by life, one becomes its Master!

[veebee]

Hi, i have been meditating for 11yrs now, for 20-30 mins everyday. I would'nt be without it.I used to get panic attacks every day and with in 1 month of doing these techniques, they had gone! I have'nt had one since!Thats why i became a meditation teacher to help my fellow man,to give something back.Everyone is so stressed in this day and age i wanted to help get people on a spiritual path.I learn't under Gururaj Ananda Yogi's teachings.You can read more about this type of meditation and download satsangs etc at - www.fisu.org.Meditation gives you the inner strength to turn the adversitities of life into opportunities, and as you reach deeper levels within ,your perception & understanding increases, fears and inhibitions brought about by insecurity slowly disappear, you attain a sense of freedom which allows you to act rather than react,to enjoy rather than need, to love rather than cling & to understand rather than reject. In short, rather than being dictated to by life, one becomes its Master!