Starting meditation (cross)

[iaminterface]

I've started meditation, and im wondering whats the best way to go about it when first starting. I've read lots of things saying to focus on your breathing. Just curious what i should try to focus on right now.

[Melody]

Originally Posted by iaminterface

I've started meditation, and im wondering whats the best way to go about it when first starting. I've read lots of things saying to focus on your breathing. Just curious what i should try to focus on right now.

When I first started over 30 years ago, I found it much easier to focus on my heart beat. When I focused on my breathing, I'd get this visual in my head of breath going into my lungs and then coming out when what I was trying to do was eliminate the visuals in my head of anything.

But whatever works for you.

[Engyo]

My advice would be to focus on whatever works for you; and relax (rather than work) towards relinquishing focus at all. For silent sitting, the objective is more to BE than to DO; most of us from western cultures have a very hard time with this concept. We have been conditioned from childhood to always be DOing; it is very hard to break throught that into just BEing. Watch your thoughts as they arise, and pass. A noise outside? Your mind immediately says, "car door". Then "engine starting". Then "driving away". Notice these, but let them go. Don't force them out (in other words don't "work" at it) just let them pass.

Don't worry if this isn't particularly successful at first. Stressing over it will make it harder. Just do what you can, and it will become easier as you do it. In other words, it is much more valuable to meditate, than to worry about how WELL you are meditating.

Hope this helps.

[Master Vigil]

I agree with Engyo, alot of times (I know my students do this) they will focus too much on focusing. But meditation isn't just sitting down cross legged with incense burning, it is all the time. Take brushing your teeth for example... If when you brush your teeth you focus solely on brushing your teeth, and you allow other thoughts to arise, and just drop them. And then go back to just brushing your teeth... That is meditation. My advice is, don't worry so much. Just let things flow. And when your worriesome thoughts arise, just drop them. Like holding a brick, it takes more energy to hold it, than it does to drop it. So just drop it. Good luck, and may the spirits be with you.