How do you meditate? (tradition, church, Christianity, Christian, Christ)

[I Panicked! At the Disco]

I'm trying to teach myself how to meditate, and I was wondering how many people on RF do meditate, and how they go about it? I'm not meditating because of any particular religion, I just feel like it will help me be more relaxed and stuff...I've been very stressed out lately.

So how do you meditate? From what I understand, there are several differant ways you can do it. Are there any good web resources I could read? Thanks!

[mostly harmless]

I don't know how to meditate either....

[Shadow Wolf]

If it's deep meditation, I have a red and black light I use, incense, soft meditation music, and I sometimes. smoke Salvia.
For a "normal" meditation, simple calm yourself, and quiet the inner noises, and raise your energy levels. Sounds easy, but it takes practice.

[des]

I'm not a involved in meditation via any religious tradition (ok so there is a contemplative tradition in Christianity, though not a very active one), but I have practiced meditation.

Basically it isn't rocket science. You are controlling attention. And you can do that in various ways. All of them involve concentrating on one thing and allowing other thoughts to pass or ignoring them.

Dr. Howard Benson has developed a nonreligious form of meditation which he uses with heart patients and so on. I can't post websites in my current level (?). But you can google "relaxation response" and the first link will be how to do it. It is easy and free. :-)

You can use a mantra (which is a word), you might use "one" or a nonsense word even. You can pick out a word from sanscrit. You repeat the object an d just dismiss other thoughts. You don't fight them. Another form would be chosing an object, which might be flame of a candle, a mandala (circle form), etc. I have used a fiber optic flashlight. You just look at the object, and again dismiss other thoughts.

There is also active meditation, where your body is active. These include walking meditations (you might look for a church with a labyrinth, for instance) but a park or your street would be fine. I used to do this with karate forms (most of the martial arts have meditative elements).

Besides the "focus" (visual, word, music, action, etc.) you can try and pay attention to your breath. Breathe in saying the word, breathe out releasing random thoughts.

There is a neat slim book by Sylvia Boorstein "Don't Just Do Something, Sit there".

HTH,

--des

[I Panicked! At the Disco]

I've been trying Inner-Light Meditation for the past few weeks. http://www.meditationcenter.com/connect/inlight.html

Is that a good way to begin, ya think?

[ChrisP]

I think it's best to begin by learning to clear your mind, but that's just my opinion.

[I Panicked! At the Disco]

I think it's best to begin by learning to clear your mind, but that's just my opinion.

Ok. I'll work on it.

[YmirGF]

Granted I have only been meditating for almost 33 years, so I still have lots to learn. Here is a freebie though.


1. Turn off cell phone.
2. Make sure you will not be disturbed
3. Do light exercises to relax your body and release pent up strain for about 10 minutes. Stretching is good.
4. Sit down in a comfortable position
5. Close your eyes and begin to feel. Focus on your feelings. Take slow, deep, measured breaths. Try to breathe normally, but with slight control. In, out... In, out. Feel it!!!
6. As Des indicated using a mantra may be helpful, but as stated just make up a gibberish word that has no meaning. Use a short, one syllable word. "eng" or "ing" etc... are fine.
7. After you are relaxed, think of nothing in particular and start saying the mantra. When you find yourself thinking and not saying the mantra, simply go back to saying the mantra. Do NOT fight the thought process.
8. If you hear a slight "ringing" in your ears you are doing great. It sounds sort of like static or metallic effervescing (like a glass of soda pop... in a way).
9. Keep saying the word and focus on an imaginary pinpoint in the centre of your field of vision. Do not force this!!! It does take practice. When your attention wanders, and it will, just relocate your inner gaze directly "ahead" of you, as if you are peering at a distant tiny object.
10. Do this for about 20 minutes.
11. After this time, take a further 5-10 minutes to "come back". Do not just stand up real fast. You could pass out, if you do. You may even wish to do some more stretching. And now is a good time for some light music.

Bake for 20 minutes; serves one. Repeat as needed, although twice a day should do wonders.

Aside from this I have to admit I take a rather dim view of externally based mediations like using mandala's, candles, music etc. But, hey... whatever floats yer boat. If you are good, I might tell you about a great "listening to sound while walking meditation" I came up with several years ago.

[Hacker]

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/145/story_14571_1.html
http://www.beliefnet.com/index/index_207.html



Here's a link to meditation sessions on beliefnet.
The most challenging form of meditation for me is cultivating mindfulness... although I have improved greatly with practice.
And Ymig, excellent advice!