Do you meditate?
- Thread starter bizousoft
- Start date
Don't try to shut it up, accept everything that comes to mind.
By resisting, you're reinforcing.
I love meditating,
I believe in buddhism about 95% (i dont believe in rebirth, or afterlife)
I try to go to meditation classes once a week
but trust me in no pro. most of the times its a half hearted effort to be honest. I try to meditate daily in the morning, just after i brushed my teeth. Apparantly this is the best way to do it.
first I go to: 20 Minute Meditation Timer | iThou.org
they have a 20 minute meditation timer on their, and it plays a really soothing bell sound at the start, then at the 10 minute mark, and finally again at the 20 minute mark, so to me it is the best meditation timer around.
then
I just sit down on my chair, keep my back straight, close my eyes, and breath in deep, and breath out deep, on every exhale I count. I count up to 10, and then repeat.
I HOPE SOME OF YOU READ THIS, RATHER THEN SKIM THROUGH IT, BECAUSE FROM MY EXPERIENCE, HERE IS WHAT HELPED ME THE MOST...
1.MEDITATION
2. WATCHING AJAHN BRAHM (please for the sake of your happiness, watch atleast a couple of minutes before switching it off - basically he does buddhist talks at his monastary every friday, and they get uploaded to youtube, they are about an hour long, their are over 100 videos on his channel, and I personally promise you that each one of his videos will open your mind, and really inspire you to be a better person.)
3. reading buddhist books. personally reccomend "the monk who sold his ferrari" excellent book, not necessarily about buddhism, but the lessons are inbedded in that book. also "the peaceful warrior" really helped me too - both books sold millions, and are life changing.
4.finally in the morning when you wake, and brush your teeth, think about all the things you are greatful for.
peace out
I believe in buddhism about 95% (i dont believe in rebirth, or afterlife)
I try to go to meditation classes once a week
but trust me in no pro. most of the times its a half hearted effort to be honest. I try to meditate daily in the morning, just after i brushed my teeth. Apparantly this is the best way to do it.
first I go to: 20 Minute Meditation Timer | iThou.org
they have a 20 minute meditation timer on their, and it plays a really soothing bell sound at the start, then at the 10 minute mark, and finally again at the 20 minute mark, so to me it is the best meditation timer around.
then
I just sit down on my chair, keep my back straight, close my eyes, and breath in deep, and breath out deep, on every exhale I count. I count up to 10, and then repeat.
I HOPE SOME OF YOU READ THIS, RATHER THEN SKIM THROUGH IT, BECAUSE FROM MY EXPERIENCE, HERE IS WHAT HELPED ME THE MOST...
1.MEDITATION
2. WATCHING AJAHN BRAHM (please for the sake of your happiness, watch atleast a couple of minutes before switching it off - basically he does buddhist talks at his monastary every friday, and they get uploaded to youtube, they are about an hour long, their are over 100 videos on his channel, and I personally promise you that each one of his videos will open your mind, and really inspire you to be a better person.)
3. reading buddhist books. personally reccomend "the monk who sold his ferrari" excellent book, not necessarily about buddhism, but the lessons are inbedded in that book. also "the peaceful warrior" really helped me too - both books sold millions, and are life changing.
4.finally in the morning when you wake, and brush your teeth, think about all the things you are greatful for.
peace out
I've been using this app on my iPhone that tracks my meditation sessions.
Equanimity Project: iPhone Meditation Timer & Tracker
It's cool seeing a chart of your progress. Definitely helped get me into a consistent routine to meditate everyday, I recommend getting it if you have an iPhone.
And read this Mindfulness In Plain English - it will answer all your questions about meditation.
Equanimity Project: iPhone Meditation Timer & Tracker
It's cool seeing a chart of your progress. Definitely helped get me into a consistent routine to meditate everyday, I recommend getting it if you have an iPhone.
And read this Mindfulness In Plain English - it will answer all your questions about meditation.
+1 for Vipassana. There's lot of Vipassana centres all over the world where you can learn. It takes 10 days to learn the technique. That's 10 days of complete silence, about 14 hours a day of meditation, the only things you do are eat, shit, shower, sleep. It's free (accom, veg food supplied) with an optional donation at the end.
I came away from the course with a completely different outlook, a few profound insights, the newfound ability to tolerate children and massively increased resistance to physical pain.
Snowball effect is exactly how i describe it to some of my friends.
Especially the compassion meditation.
Where you think and MEAN the following:
While repeating: concentrate on the feeling you get when you wish someone happiness.
With every repetition, the feelings grows and produces a real snowball effect. The more you wish yourself and others happiness the more of that feeling you get with every repetition.
I attended a 10-day Vipassana in Northfork Cali. in 2008. It was one of the toughest and yet most rewarding experiences ever. :thumbsup:
The first couple days back in the real world were awful! Everyone and everything around me seemed loud and out-of-control. Girls were very much drawn to me, probably because I had become very calm on the inside. At the time, I lived close to a freeway and had to move, because I could hear *everything*. I eventually came back to my "normal self", but with a very different perspective on a lot of things.
Vipassana is definitely not for everybody (10 days), but for anyone that's serious and willing to work, it gives a taste of the real thing.
I remember that, actually when I did it I'd just returned to Australia from 6 months living in rural Japan. So on top of that I was reeling from how fat, ugly, obnoxious my fellow australians were in comparison. Though as much as I didn't like a lot of the 'real world' I found it couldn't rattle me. You could have set off a bomb right next to me and I wouldn't have batted an eyelid.
I must say this thread and the wikileaks poll has really highlighted how many incorrect preconceptions I had about the general population of this forum. Behind the obnoxious munny grubbing front there's a lot of folk who use their brains for nobler things things than slinging berries and MMO.
I actually plan on taking a vipassana retreat in a near future. If I like it, I might start doing a 2-3 week retreat every year.
Been doing it for 25 years first with martial arts then with TM one of the best things i've ever learnt. So many benefits to mention and now it is so effortless that i can pretty much do it anywhere anytime.Great when the worlds trying to fuck you!
This might sound a bit weird, but when I'm taking a shit, I'm in total Zen monk.
I'm sitting in the toilet in public, aware of my thoughts, anus, and intestines as it pushes the poop out into the toilet.
At that moment in time, nothing matters, where everything just floats, like lingering clouds on a sunny day.
Also, one time, this guy was taking a shit in the mall, and I knocked his stall's door and said: "SIR, CAN YOU PLEASE KEEP THE SMELL DOWN".
I'm sitting in the toilet in public, aware of my thoughts, anus, and intestines as it pushes the poop out into the toilet.
At that moment in time, nothing matters, where everything just floats, like lingering clouds on a sunny day.
Also, one time, this guy was taking a shit in the mall, and I knocked his stall's door and said: "SIR, CAN YOU PLEASE KEEP THE SMELL DOWN".
Been practicing zazen for about 15 or so years, off and on. Practice was sometimes strong, sometimes weak but as they say one minute of sitting is one minute of being buddha.
I think it is important to make a distinction between what most people think of as "meditation" and what practicing zazen entails. While I don't claim to know alot about other forms of meditation the big difference between those and zazen is not to focus on a certain thought or thought-image or good-feeling, you just sit.
Beginners start with counting breath or concentrating on keeping their spine straight. Thoughts come, let them come. Where did it come from? Where do they go? Give them plenty of space, don't make them any bigger in your mind, don't fight them, just let them take their course without clinging to them.
One thing about inconsistent meditation is that it has very limited affect - its just like working out - if you only do it a couple times a month you will not really see or feel results.
There is much better teaching out there than what I can offer(and some horrible teaching as well so be careful), if I come across something I'll post it here, but yeah, this world definitely needs more people "just sitting, doing nothing".
I think it is important to make a distinction between what most people think of as "meditation" and what practicing zazen entails. While I don't claim to know alot about other forms of meditation the big difference between those and zazen is not to focus on a certain thought or thought-image or good-feeling, you just sit.
Beginners start with counting breath or concentrating on keeping their spine straight. Thoughts come, let them come. Where did it come from? Where do they go? Give them plenty of space, don't make them any bigger in your mind, don't fight them, just let them take their course without clinging to them.
One thing about inconsistent meditation is that it has very limited affect - its just like working out - if you only do it a couple times a month you will not really see or feel results.
There is much better teaching out there than what I can offer(and some horrible teaching as well so be careful), if I come across something I'll post it here, but yeah, this world definitely needs more people "just sitting, doing nothing".
Great thread, Stellar video.. its nice to see more people are making better life choices.
Here's my 2 cents.
Mediation has done wonders many of my friends. It is the single most effective way to change the quality of ones life. Trust me I know from experience. Not only does it improve the mind, body connection but it brings a increased flow of creativity when practiced over time. Not to mention, all the other benefits of mediation.
I practice for at least an hour every morning and night. Also, I actively watch to every thought throughout the day to monitor what is going on in my mind. The popular quote, " We think about more than we forget" is exponentially true. I challenge you to listen to your thoughts every minute of everyday for 1 week. Sure, it will be challenging in the beginning but the long term rewards at great.
Some people forget that it takes time to be good at any skill. Mediation is like any other skill and requires practice to become good. Mediation is the gift that keeps on giving again and again. Of course, the more you practice the better your results. In the long run, at least 10 minutes a day, gradually adds up over the months. Thats approximately an 1 hour every week, which becomes at least 4 hour every month. Do the math guys, the more time you spend allowing your being to "be still" is the better life quality will be.
I could talk about this all day. At the end of the day, life is just a total sum of moments. Mediation builds awareness of thoughts, actions, and feelings during every moment. Everything is energy the more energy that saved is the more you have in the future. Energy creates all.
Here's my 2 cents.
Mediation has done wonders many of my friends. It is the single most effective way to change the quality of ones life. Trust me I know from experience. Not only does it improve the mind, body connection but it brings a increased flow of creativity when practiced over time. Not to mention, all the other benefits of mediation.
I practice for at least an hour every morning and night. Also, I actively watch to every thought throughout the day to monitor what is going on in my mind. The popular quote, " We think about more than we forget" is exponentially true. I challenge you to listen to your thoughts every minute of everyday for 1 week. Sure, it will be challenging in the beginning but the long term rewards at great.
Some people forget that it takes time to be good at any skill. Mediation is like any other skill and requires practice to become good. Mediation is the gift that keeps on giving again and again. Of course, the more you practice the better your results. In the long run, at least 10 minutes a day, gradually adds up over the months. Thats approximately an 1 hour every week, which becomes at least 4 hour every month. Do the math guys, the more time you spend allowing your being to "be still" is the better life quality will be.
I could talk about this all day. At the end of the day, life is just a total sum of moments. Mediation builds awareness of thoughts, actions, and feelings during every moment. Everything is energy the more energy that saved is the more you have in the future. Energy creates all.