Meditation (mystic, tradition, pray, confess, service)

[zenzero]

FRIENDS,
Most of us must be using some form of meditation or the other.
It is always helpful to use more than one way and by sharing the different methods as practised by our friends will surely be sharing in the right direction.
The method adopted here is ANAPANASATI or focus on the breath at all times [atleast try to] when awareness is maximum and breathing real slow one is a watcher of the self breathing. Watching the breath coming IN and going OUT in the body; on its own accord.
The other form of Meditation is WATCHING the MIND or the thoughts that it entertains and as soon as it is watched the mind STILLS.
Meditaion is a 24 hour activity except that though sleep starts in awreness but awareness diminises in the dream state [though a flickering lamp exists]
YOGA and TAI-CHIi are sometime practiced in the mornings The focus is ENERGY while using them. [very less nowadays]
Would very much appreciate if everyone or practionars of all religions write down their ways. Prayers too are forms of meditation, signing hyms/ bhajans etc.
Love & rgds

[Engyo]

Hola all -

My meditative practice is primarily mantra chanting, along with recitation of passages from the Lotus Sutra. We also utilize silent sitting, usually in conjunction with mantra chanting.

Prayers are generally offered during daily service, but are appropriate anytime.

We also practice copying the sutra and images of the Buddha as a meditative practice, and we perform wlaking meditation at times. These later two styles are generally used during retreats, at least for lay members.

[MysticSang'ha]

I do most of what Engyo practices as well. Mantra and prayer recitations make up the bulk of my daily practices. That's when it's really helpful to use the mala beads.

I prefer to practice vipassana, too, and to contemplate varying aspects of Dharma with my habits.

Of course, I'm very familiar with samatha meditation and counting the breaths as it was my first introduction as a young child to stilling and quieting the mind. I use it after my dedications in order to clear out all the mental clutter.

Prostrations with confession recitations are practiced, too, although I admit they're not my favorite. They have a tendency to hurt my knees.




Peace,
Mystic

[Master Vigil]

I practice zazen, kinhin, neh gong, chi gong, tang soo do (hyung: forms or moving meditation), pulsus, lectio divina, and the rosary.

Also, my favorite "meditation" is sweeping, or mopping my floor.

[koan]

Master Virgil, I believe Zazen, just means sitting meditation. It does not actually infer Which type of meditation.

[Master Vigil]

Originally Posted by koan

Master Virgil, I believe Zazen, just means sitting meditation. It does not actually infer Which type of meditation.

Ok then, I practice Zazen (just sitting meditation) in the Soto Zen tradition, and the Kwan Um Seon tradition.

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by koan

Master Virgil, I believe Zazen, just means sitting meditation. It does not actually infer Which type of meditation.

I remember reading in Taisen Deshimaru's book The Zen Way to the Martial Arts that Zazen mediation was a specific form in which a person used the Dhyana mudra with the spine straight and the head slightly tilted while kneeling.

But, I'm sure that's just a preferential style of Deshimaru's. It could be any form of sitting meditation. I myself practice a similar style.

[Ozzie]

I don't practice daily any more. I did have a fairly intense association with Vipassana at one stage which I hope gives me some insight to discuss it here. I prefer to observe Buddhism in my daily life nowdays as being a very useful and pragmatic philosophy.

[vandervalley]

reciting Buddha's name is also a way of meditation whereby the mind is focusing on one aspect only; much like focusing on the breathing. ( which again is an attachment as well.)