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 Kickle
A Growing Hope
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 Meditation!  2
#11938930 - 01/31/10 09:49 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Welcome!
This thread is a dedication to meditation and the exploration of meditation.
It is a landmark thread for me.
It serves to mark the temporal landscape. To travel through time with me.
I encourage any who are interested to use it similarly.
And for those interested in the Western perspective of mindfulness, there will be elements of a brand new type of therapy involved. What is referred to as a third generation therapy. Evidence suggests that this third generation therapy results in increased satisfaction with life, increased mindfulness, and a decrease in negative affect.These effects occur not only in ill individuals, but also in normal populations. Therefore it seems it will be beneficial to any who would like to participate. The therapy is referred to as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and gaining the benefits falls solely on the shoulders of the participant. It is your duty to do the homework, as it were. To meditate, and to record. This forum is the perfect place to record information and I would encourage those interested to do so. It is not only an easy place to record that we all visit, but it's also encouraging for others.
If you're confused as to what this really entitles, let the thread develop and jump in whenever you want.
Good luck. I hope I'm not going it alone 
Edited by Kickle (02/01/10 08:52 AM)
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11938993 - 01/31/10 10:00 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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The first piece of this is to get an idea of how mindful you currently are. The downside to this is that many here are versed in Buddhist thought already. According to the makers of this mindfulness measure, that can cause you to mislead yourself. Try to be as honest as possible. Pay attention to any desire to go with what you know is ideal. You're only judging yourself here.
The purpose of this inventory is to characterize your experience of mindfulness. Please use the last 30 days as the time-frame to consider each item. Provide an answer the for every statement as best you can. Please answer as honestly and spontaneously as possible. There are neither ‘right’ nor ‘wrong’ answers, nor ‘good’ or ‘bad’ responses. What is important to us is your own personal experience.
1 2 3 4
Rarely Occasionally Fairly often Almost always
I am open to the experience of the present moment.
1 2 3 4
I sense my body, whether eating, cooking, cleaning or talking.
1 2 3 4
When I notice an absence of mind, I gently return to the experience of the here and now.
1 2 3 4
I am able to appreciate myself.
1 2 3 4
I pay attention to what’s behind my actions.
1 2 3 4
I see my mistakes and difficulties without judging them.
1 2 3 4
I feel connected to my experience in the here-and-now.
1 2 3 4
I accept unpleasant experiences.
1 2 3 4
I am friendly to myself when things go wrong.
1 2 3 4
I watch my feelings without getting lost in them.
1 2 3 4
In difficult situations, I can pause without immediately reacting.
1 2 3 4
I experience moments of inner peace and ease, even when things get hectic and stressful.
1 2 3 4
I am impatient with myself and with others.
1 2 3 4
I am able to smile when I notice how I sometimes make life difficult.
1 2 3 4
Scoring Information:
Add up all items to get one summary score. When scoring, please observe that the item “I am impatient with myself and with others.” should be scored in reverse. 4 is 1, 3 is 2, 2 is 3, and 1 is 4.
This total is your self-reported mindfulness. There is no need to post this unless you want, but writing it down somewhere would be good. The reason behind this measure is to give a baseline. As this thread progresses, we will periodically check in on our mindfulness scores to see if meditation is in fact making us more mindful.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11939272 - 01/31/10 10:37 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Let's start simply enough.
For those just getting into meditation, try a guided audio. A body scan might be a good start.
Ambitious? Try the 45 minute version - 64MB
Just want to get your feet wet? Try the 20 minute version
If you've been meditating for a while and don't want to try the audios above, take this time to meditate in your preferred manner.
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ocarina
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11940027 - 02/01/10 01:21 AM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Fire, theres fire in my eyes, you liar, fucking fire you got that, you will never conquer me... 14, by the way, is it strange to miss the fear?
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ocarina
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Re: Meditation! [Re: ocarina]
#11940156 - 02/01/10 02:11 AM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Wow man, that was great. Being felt up by the voiced other in such a charming way, now I got to take a shit.
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 The Chronic
Registered: 05/08/04
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11941183 - 02/01/10 09:26 AM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Meditation is fun 
I rarely sit anymore, but meditation is all i am
Eating happens in meditation, sleeping happens in meditation, posting here, happens in meditation
I dont do any of those things, those things happen in meditation, in awareness
No moment when awareness is not
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c0sm0nautt
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But where do you find the time to stress and fear? 
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astralsun.blogspot.com
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant, and has forgotten the gift. - Albert Einstein
  
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The Chronic
Registered: 05/08/04
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Fear happens in meditation & stress happens in meditation 
If there's an opposite to meditation it would be losing self focus, not fear, stress, anger or anything like that
Granted, fear, anger & stress usually only can come when self focus is lost, but theres no rules, they can come in meditation & not be interpreted as a hinderance, they can even be welcomed, if stress comes up, trying to get rid ofit makes a stink, more stress, if you welcome it, nothing can take you over!
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Kickle
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Indeed. And since you mention eating, this is a good time to introduce the raisin meditation.
If you've never tried to eat mindfully, this is a great introduction.
Find a raisin.
Take it in your hand.
Really look at it. Look it over, notice its texture and color. See if you can find where it was once connected to a larger whole, its belly button as it were. As you turn it in your hand, taking in all angles and sides, notice the sensations on your hand. Maybe take a minute to run a finger over the surface of the raisin. Take note of the pressure you are applying and the effect that has on your sensation. Maybe try increasing and decreasing the pressure you apply when feeling the raisin. Carefully observe your fingers and how they effortlessly listen to your commands. Change the pressure? Ok, no problem. It's practically automatic... But don't let it be. Observe what happens when you tell your body to do something....
mind and body connected
Take the raisin to your ear if you want. Keep rolling it between your fingers. Can you hear it? How often do you listen to your food. It's not uncommon for food to make noise, whether it be a sizzle or the piercing sound of a fork. Have you ever listened to a raisin before? Is this the first time it has made a sound? Or was your attention elsewhere?
mind and body connected
Lift the raisin towards your mouth. Stop... don't put it in. We so often just shovel food into our mouths... we know what to expect. Does your mouth begin to water? Can you feel the salivation? Your body knows what to expect. Your mind knows what to expect. But the food is not yet in your mouth. Be aware of the separation between the food and these other sensations. We can create these sensations from expectation alone. Your mind is always connected to your body.
Finally, take the raisin into your mouth. Chew it and really take in the flavor. Keep chewing, and be aware of the urge to swallow. Keep chewing, and chewing, and chewing until all the flavor is gone. Feel the texture, how your mouth positions the food. Your urge to swallow. We do this on auto-pilot most times we eat. Bring awareness to the way you chew and swallow your food. And finally, swallow the remnants of the raisin. Be with the raisin for as long as you can, following it down your esophagus and into your belly. Perhaps even imagining the journey.
If you do try this exercise, let me know what the experience was like for you.
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Kickle
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Quote:
Chronic777 said:
Meditation is fun
I rarely sit anymore, but meditation is all i am
Eating happens in meditation, sleeping happens in meditation, posting here, happens in meditation
I dont do any of those things, those things happen in meditation, in awareness
No moment when awareness is not
I chuckle every time I see a study that is attempting to quantify time spent in meditative practice to mental health. For example I just recently read a study that was looking at reactivity to negative events in terms of thoughts. Naturally, those who do not have a meditation practice had the highest reactivity. Those who were in a mindfulness course were lower. Then they put in a third group of long-time practitioners. These folks were the lowest, but they didn't necessarily spend the most time in meditation.
Of course this is useless information for a scientist who relies on concrete links to draw a conclusion. So they simply say that no relationship between time spent in practice and reactivity could be found.
But how else do you look at it? What does a practitioner of mindfulness look like if they're not practicing? How do you know they are working on mindfulness? Are they doing anything observably different than the average person? And of course, without the behavior to back it up, we cannot simply take your word for it. That's so subjective and so unscientific.
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The Chronic
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11941606 - 02/01/10 10:53 AM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Kickle said:
I chuckle every time I see a study that is attempting to quantify time spent in meditative practice to mental health. For example I just recently read a study that was looking at reactivity to negative events in terms of thoughts. Naturally, those who do not have a meditation practice had the highest reactivity. Those who were in a mindfulness course were lower. Then they put in a third group of long-time practitioners. These folks were the lowest, but they didn't necessarily spend the most time in meditation.
Of course this is useless information for a scientist who relies on concrete links to draw a conclusion. So they simply say that no relationship between time spent in practice and reactivity could be found.
But how else do you look at it? What does a practitioner of mindfulness look like if they're not practicing? How do you know they are working on mindfulness? Are they doing anything observably different than the average person? And of course, without the behavior to back it up, we cannot simply take your word for it. That's so subjective and so unscientific.
At the end of the day how do you measure satisfaciton & happiness?
Whether chemical reactions in your brain are taking place? Or by how you feel?
Why rely on the measurable to realize the immeasurable?
(why use finite techniques to realize the infinte?)
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Kickle
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Most measures are required to predict something.
A measure of depression for example should predict how likely a person is to attempt suicide.
High scores on a depression measure should predict high suicidality
Low scores should predict low suicidality.
Happiness then should do the same thing.
Over time, we start using a measure that has been shown to be predictive to determine related concepts. So, if we have a depression measure that is very predictive of suicide, we would expect a scale on happiness/satisfaction to be negatively correlated with this measure. A -1.0 would be a perfect correlation, meaning that the two measures are looking at polar opposites of each other. I've never seen a perfect correlation in my life, but -.8 to -.9 is pretty common, indicating that the measures are getting at something very similar.
And on and on and on this goes. Each new test provides new information about a new concept which is then pinned against an older concept which then provides new information about what that older concept was really looking at. Measurements are constantly being refined in order to have greater certainty that what is being measured is really what we think is being measured.
All the same, we are limited to our experience, and that's what makes me laugh. I think that's what you're saying as well.
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The Chronic
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11941750 - 02/01/10 11:21 AM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Kickle said:
All the same, we are limited to our experience, and that's what makes me laugh. I think that's what you're saying as well.
Yep, who prefers measuring happiness over being & feeling happy?
Although i think measuring what we imagine we derive happiness from can be helpful, to understand what acually causes happiness.
I know im most happy when i have no reason to be happy, its just there shining by itself
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Kickle
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I use the measures so that I can have a western vocabulary for what has long been.
Some people just respond to such terminology better. I should broaden as I deepen.
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Tony
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle] 1
#11942011 - 02/01/10 12:13 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
When I notice an absence of mind, I gently return to the experience of the here and now.
What's the difference between having an absence of mind and experiencing the here and now?
I daydream a lot and I sort of feel like it's a bad thing, but I can't really put my finger on it, if you know what I mean. Like, even if I'm lost in some stupid fantasy or whatnot, I'm still AFAICS in the moment because that fantasy is arising in the moment just like everything else. The fantasy is just one more experience that can be focused on. Why is it any worse than, say, observing your bodily movements or visual experience or whatever? I guess this should be obvious as hell, but for some reason it's not 
Maybe I'm a daydream addict..
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The Chronic
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Tony]
#11942039 - 02/01/10 12:20 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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The whole 'be here now' philosophy...
It is seeking presence, but presence already is here, what we are really seeking is our own absence.
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Tony
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Oh, I get it. You have to look for what you're missing and discover that the answer is nothing, am I right? 
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The Chronic
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Tony]
#11942136 - 02/01/10 12:49 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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In a way yeah, the whole spiritual search is for something more, like somethings missing
But infinity is always whole, its not missing anything, so really you can't attain union with the infinite, you can only remove your imagined separation
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Tony]
#11942144 - 02/01/10 12:50 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Tony said:
Quote:
When I notice an absence of mind, I gently return to the experience of the here and now.
What's the difference between having an absence of mind and experiencing the here and now?
I daydream a lot and I sort of feel like it's a bad thing, but I can't really put my finger on it, if you know what I mean. Like, even if I'm lost in some stupid fantasy or whatnot, I'm still AFAICS in the moment because that fantasy is arising in the moment just like everything else. The fantasy is just one more experience that can be focused on. Why is it any worse than, say, observing your bodily movements or visual experience or whatever? I guess this should be obvious as hell, but for some reason it's not
Maybe I'm a daydream addict..
You daydream in the present, yep indeed.
But at the same time, your body keeps doing its thing.
It isn't "worse" to focus on daydreaming than your body, but your body does get neglected.
If you never pay it any attention, the small issues that arise can turn into large issues.
Paying your natural processes some attention can have drastic effects.
You don't have to wait until you are forced to pay attention, to pay attention.
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Tony
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11942342 - 02/01/10 01:24 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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So it's about getting away from repetitious patterns and focusing on things that normally escape your attention, so as to balance things out between different types of awareness and reach a more holistic appreciation of the self?
Actually I already do spend some time focusing on my body sensations, and I often feel a kind of electric sensation(for lack of a better word) in my upper back. Although it's not specifically unpleasant, I'm pretty sure it's indicative of poor posture and too much time spent at the terminal instead of exercising. I can see why many people would avoid this kind of practice, since it brings physiological problems into your awareness.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Tony] 1
#11942391 - 02/01/10 01:32 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Yeah, to me, that is the physical aspect. Practice allows us to pick up on subtle cues that our body sends us. Such as when stress sensations begin, when we are worn down and need extra rest, or the effects of eating/exercise habits. But at the same time, there is another important aspect. That whole mind/body connection. If you can feel stress at its beginnings, you can also see what causes it. And most often, it's linked directly to thoughts.
It isn't events that cause us problems, it is our interpretation of them. And that is what Chronic is describing. If you can remove your thoughts from the event, you can actually see the event, not what you think about it. But you first must see how you are interacting with and involving yourself with the event before you can begin to separate the two. And this requires mindful awareness.
Or rephrased, your mind must be full of awareness rather than thoughts.
Edited by Kickle (02/01/10 01:42 PM)
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c0sm0nautt
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11942611 - 02/01/10 02:08 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Great thread Kicky!  I am thoroughly interested in any more exercises you have have.
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astralsun.blogspot.com
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant, and has forgotten the gift. - Albert Einstein
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AmericanSpirit
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What's the difference between having an absence of mind and experiencing the here and now?
In addition to what has already been said, which I agreed with . , I think one of the hurtles being overcome is lack of control, impulsiveness in thought (& deed). Meditation helps focus the mind, so that the present is perceived free of running thoughts or obsessing day dreams.
This isn't to say the imagination should be defeated, but instead of a daydream, one could experiment with creating a video inside one's mind. Replacing impulsive imagination with intentional imagination.
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The Chronic
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I disagree (if your meditation is to realize reality) imagination is the only obstacle & it should be spat at with a tongue of fire!
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c0sm0nautt
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11943736 - 02/01/10 04:52 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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So I lay in bed listening to the 20 minute version. I was really tired for I was listening to it right before my afternoon nap (I know, I know - I should have waiting until I wasn't tired). My body relaxed very quickly and I focused on the words in order to stay awake, following the instructions to focus on specific areas of the body.
First of all, the "body scan" is identical to Robert Bruce's technique of "tactile imagining" to raise the body's energy while "feeling" out the energy body, and subsequently stimulating the energy body . I always love the correlations between meditative and astral projection technique. As I lay in bed, I feel the energy rise up my toes, feet, calves, knees and thighs as I draw my attention up the leg. Eventually I am completely in the trance state - body asleep, mind awake (barely!). I noticed I can perceive my entire room, with closed eyes! This is commonly referred to as "astral sight", the ability to intuitively perceive the "real time zone", that is the first non-physical energy dimension which nearly mirrors physical reality. This is what remote viewers pick up on when they enter their distance viewing trances.
Just thought someone might find that interesting. I intend to listen to the 45 minute version later, when I'm not so tired!
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astralsun.blogspot.com
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant, and has forgotten the gift. - Albert Einstein
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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sweet! thanks for the feedback 
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11944242 - 02/01/10 06:30 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Ok, for those interested in the therapy (MCBT) this is the homework assigned for the coming week.
1. Do the Body Scan audio 6 times before next Monday. Don't expect to feel anything in particular from listening to the tape. In fact, give up all expectations about it. Just let your experience be your experience. Don't judge it. Just keep doing it, and if you want, post aspects of the experience.
2. Make a list of the coming week (start from whatever day of the week it currently is for you) in which you can check off your practice and leave comments. Also, feel free to post any comments that you'd like.
For example:
Practice Comments
(yes/no)
__________________________________________________________________
Monday
__________________________________________________________________
Tuesday
__________________________________________________________________
Wednesday
__________________________________________________________________
Thursday
__________________________________________________________________
Friday
__________________________________________________________________
Saturday
__________________________________________________________________
Sunday
__________________________________________________________________
3. Choose one routine activity in your daily life and make a deliberate effort to bring moment-to-moment awareness to that activity each time you do it, just as in the raisin exercise. For those of you wanting to lucid dream, perhaps every time you turn on a light switch would be a good activity to bring awareness to. Other possibilities include: waking up in the morning, brushing your teeth, showering, getting dressed, eating, driving, or anything you can come up with. Simply zero in on knowing what you are doing as you are actually doing it.
4. Eat at least one meal "mindfully," in the way that you ate the raisin.
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AmericanSpirit
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11951523 - 02/02/10 09:42 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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I disagree (if your meditation is to realize reality) imagination is the only obstacle & it should be spat at with a tongue of fire!
Delusion, not imagination. They are not the same thing.
Imagination can enhance one's ability to process real world situations, and solve problems.
But I think meditation can be used to slice through delusion and lack of control, aka impulsiveness.
A mindfulness meditation not recorded above: mindfulness of one's emotional reaction. Being conscious of one's emotions from moment to moment, in what way they are triggered, and your ability to guide them.
Mindfulness that emotion is choice. This kind of meditation works because emotional reactions are identification based, so if you choose how you want to react, you react in that way. You identify the trigger as causing you to feel (say) inner peace, rather than emotional negativity. And it works.
Conflicting belief caused by a layered emotional experience - part of you accepts but part of you doubts - presents a reason to practice.
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Kickle
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Ok
2 days in on the body scan
2 naps under my belt
Anyone got tips on staying conscious?
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rebus_minus
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11952164 - 02/02/10 11:58 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Adjust your breathing gently to maybe an increase of 2O percent if you are tired. You can do this without forcing by using intention. I haven't listened to the tape, so not sure if this will be in line with those instructions, but it would give you more energy and help you stay conscious maybe?
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The Chronic
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11953353 - 02/03/10 09:10 AM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Kickle said:
Anyone got tips on staying conscious?
Sit rather than lie down?
If you fall sleep sitting you'll most likely fall back & knock your head on something, you won't do it again
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Kickle
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Hopefully I don't slide to the side and end up propped by my also sleeping girlfriend.
Staying awake is not our strong point.
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Kickle
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Quote:
rebus_minus said:
Adjust your breathing gently to maybe an increase of 2O percent if you are tired. You can do this without forcing by using intention. I haven't listened to the tape, so not sure if this will be in line with those instructions, but it would give you more energy and help you stay conscious maybe?
Care to explain 'intention' for me?
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rebus_minus
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11958084 - 02/03/10 08:53 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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i just mean that you can form an intention in your mind to let the breath expand and deepen without forcing it. it follows your will. maybe you could gently force it if this won't work? maybe the whole advice was a bad idea, i am not sure. you could give it a try and see if it helps.
i just know that for me it helps to do deeper breathing if i am low in energy. try deep, long, short, shallow. it serves different purposes.
and then when you feel in a focused yet awake state you can subtly drop any manipulation and intention and let it flow in and out by itself.
just a few thoughts on what works for me. you might have done all this a million times for all i know.
Edited by rebus_minus (02/03/10 08:58 PM)
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Kickle
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Thanks for elaborating.
What I do in normal meditation when I start to drift is increase my focus on the inhalation. This sometimes does lead to a more drawn out breath, but not always.
All the same, I'm 3 for 3 on naps now 
I always wake up feeling like a pile of shit, too. 
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c0sm0nautt
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11958886 - 02/03/10 10:48 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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We are conditioned to sleep in our beds from birth. Have a favorite comfy chair or zafu/zabuton?
I myself fell asleep twice when trying to do the body scan in bed.
--------------------
astralsun.blogspot.com
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant, and has forgotten the gift. - Albert Einstein
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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First 2 were in my bed
3rd was on my floor
I've still got 3 to go! I could end out at .50!
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11968541 - 02/05/10 10:56 AM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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First success, all the way through.
Stayed with traditional techniques, half-lotus
As I'm focusing on my leg, my lower back is begging for some attention. By the time the meditation finally got to the lower back, it was incredible. As though it was breathing for the first time. It billowed out in relaxation and the pain/tension just subsided. Pretty cool stuff.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11992126 - 02/08/10 09:20 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Ok! Week 2!
Straight to business.
Start out by doing the 20 minute version of the body scan.
Once that is finished, come back and read the rest of this post.
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Ok, now is the opportunity to bring up anything you want to address before moving on to the next weeks activities. Comments on any range of experiences are welcome. Whether it be how the 20 minute scan went, how practice over the last week was, any struggles, any new insights... we want to hear your experience! 
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#11992607 - 02/08/10 10:27 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Before you start this next weeks activities, please do post any comments you might have. The feedback is very much appreciated, and it may even help ease the process for other interested parties.
Moving along then...
I hope this past week has given everyone an opportunity to connect with their body and experience all the sensations that float into awareness. It is important to note that regardless of what happens during a body scan (e.g. you fell asleep like I did, lose concentration, keep drifting to a body part that isn't the focus of the scan, or feeling nothing at all) it's all fine. These are all your experience in the moment. Just be aware of them.
Now, we've been working a lot on shifting our focus from point to point to point, but what about holding it somewhere? To try this, find a location to sit where you can be comfortable but alert. Take a moment to get comfortable and then begin to track your breath. The way in which you track the breath can vary. Some like to feel it enter through their nose, noticing the sensations here. Some like to feel the belly rise and fall. Some their chest. Any way you want to experience breathing is just fine.
As you watch your breath, take note of anything that arises. Sensations, thoughts, emotions... be aware of them and then gently bring that awareness back to the breath. The point here is to develop a 'home base' as it were. Something that is always present, always producing sensation, regardless of what else is happening. When you are away from the breath and you begin to notice that you aren't with the breath, this too is important. Right then is the perfect opportunity to be present. To be aware of whatever is going on and then return to the breath. Noticing you're away from the breath is just as important as being with the breath.
Take the next 15 minutes to practice this. If you have a timer of some sort, set it. If not, be mindful of any decision you make to check the time during this practice.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12016197 - 02/12/10 01:31 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Week 2 Homework
1. Use the 45 minute Body Scan Tape for another 6 days and record your reactions. A sample record form can be found: here
2. At different times, practice 10-15 minutes of mindfulness breathing for 6 days. Being with your breath in this way each day provides an opportunity to become aware of what it feels like to be connected and present in the moment without having to do anything.
3. Complete the Pleasant Events Calendar (one entry per day). Use this as an opportunity to become really aware of the thoughts, feelings, and body sensations around one pleasant event each day. Notice and record, as soon as you can, in detail (e.g., use the actual words or images in which the thoughts came) the precise nature and location of bodily sensations.
4. Choose a new routine activity to be especially mindful of (e.g., brushing your teeth, washing dishes, taking a shower, taking out garbage, reading, shopping, eating...).
Handout 7.7 (1) and 7.7 (2)
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12016269 - 02/12/10 01:40 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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The Breath
Breath is life. You could think of the breath as being like a thread or a chain that links and connects all the events of your life from birth, the beginning, to death, the end. The breath is always there every moment, moving by itself like a river.
Have you ever noticed how the breath changes with our moods--short and shallow when we're tense or angry, faster when we're excited, slow and full when we're happy, and almost disappearing when we're afraid? It's there with us all the time. It can be used as a tool, like an anchor, to bring stability to the body and mind when we deliberately choose to become aware of it. We can tune into it at any moment during everyday life.
Mostly, we're not in touch with our breathing--it's just there, forgotten. So one of the first things we can do in mindfulness-based stress reduction is to get in touch with it. We notice how the breath changes with our moods, our thoughts, our body movements. We don't have to control the breath. Just notice it and get to know it, like a friend. All that is necessary is to observe, watch, and feel the breath with a sense of interest.
With practice, we become more aware of our breathing. We can use it to direct our awareness to different aspects of our lives. For example, to relax tense muscles or focus on a situation that requires attention. Breath can also be used to help deal with pain, anger, relationships or the stress of daily life.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12016358 - 02/12/10 01:52 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Mindfulness of the Breath
1. Settle into a comfortable sitting position, either on a straight-backed chair or on a soft surface on the floor, with your butt supported by cushions or a low stool. If you use a chair, it is very helpful to sit away from the back of the chair so that your spine is self supporting. If you sit on the floor, it is helpful if your knees actually touch the floor; experiment with the height of the cushions or stool until you feel comfortably and firmly supported.
2. Allow your back to adopt an erect, dignified, and comfortable posture. if sitting on a chair, place your feet flat on the floor, with your legs uncrossed. Gently close your eyes.
3. Bring your awareness to the level of physical sensations by focusing your attention on the sensations of touch and pressure in your body where it makes contact with the floor and whatever you're sitting on. Spend a minute or two exploring these sensations, just as in the body scan.
4. Now bring your awareness to the changing patterns of physical sensations in the lower abdomen as the breath moves in and out of your body.(When you first try this practice, it may be helpful to place your hand on your lower abdomen and become aware of the changing pattern of sensations where your hand makes contact with your abdomen. Having "tuned in" to the physical sensations in this area in this way, you can remove your hand and continue to focus on the sensations in the abdominal wall.)
5. Focus your awareness on the sensations of slight stretching as the abdominal wall rises with each inbreath, and of gentle deflation as it falls with each outbreath. As best you can, follow with your awareness the changing physical sensations in the lower abdomen all the way through as the breath enters your body on the outbreath, perhaps noticing the slight pauses between one inbreath and the following outbreath, and between one outbreath and the following inbreath.
6. There is no need to try to control the breathing in any way--simply let the breath breathe itself. As best you can, also bring this attitude of allowing to the rest of your experience. There is nothing to be fixed, no particular state to be achieved. As best you can, simply allow your experience to be your experience without needing it to be other than it is.
7. Sooner or later (usually sooner), your mind will wander away from the focus on the breath in the lower abdomen to thoughts, planning, daydreams, drifting along... whatever. This is perfectly OK. It's simply what minds do. It is not a mistake or a failure. When you notice that your awareness is no longer on the breath, gently congratulate yourself. You have come back and are once more aware of your experience! You may want to acknowledge briefly where the mind has been ("Ah, there's thinking"). Then, gently escort the awareness back to a focus on the changing pattern of physical sensations in the lower abdomen, renewing the intention to pay attention to the ongoing inbreath or outbreath, whichever you find.
8. However often you notice that the mind has wandered (and this will quite likely happen over and over and over again), as best you can, congratulate yourself each time on reconnecting with your experience in the moment, gently escorting the attention back to the breath, and simply resume following in awareness the changing pattern of physical sensations that come with eaach inbreath and outbreath.
9. As best you can, bring a quality of kindliness to your awareness, perhaps seeing the repeated wanderings of the mind as opportunities to bring patience and gentle curiosity to your experience.
10. Continue with the practice for 15 minutes, or longer if you wish, perhaps reminding yourself from time to time that the intention is simply to be aware of your experience in each moment, as best as you can, using the breath as an anchor to gently reconnect with the here and now each time you notice that your mind has wandered and is no longer down in the abdomen, following the breath.
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c0sm0nautt
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12016360 - 02/12/10 01:52 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Love the breath. I think breath awareness can be one of the best ways to stay aware throughout the day. Going to try mindful showers this week. Ever hear of mixing up cold and hot showers?
--------------------
astralsun.blogspot.com
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant, and has forgotten the gift. - Albert Einstein
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Kickle
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I haven't. What's the idea behind it?
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12016422 - 02/12/10 02:01 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Tips for the Body Scan
1. Regardless of what happens (e.g., if you fall asleep, lose concentration, keep thinking of other things or focusing on the wrong bit of the body) just do it! These are your experience in the moment, just be aware of them.
2. If your mind is wandering a lot, simply note the thoughts (as passing events) and then bring the mind gently back to the body scan.
3. Let go of ideas of "success," "failure," "doing it really well," or "trying to purify the body." This is not a competition. It is not a skill for which you need to strive. The only discipline involved is regular and frequent practice. Just do it with an attitude of openness and curiosity.
4. Let go of any expectations about what the body scan will do for you: Imagine it as a seed you have planted. The more you poke around and interfere, the less it will be able to develop. So with the body scan, just give it the right conditions--peace and quiet coupled with regular and frequent practice. That is all. The more you try to influence what it will do for you, the less it will do.
5. Try approaching your experience in each moment with the attitude: "Ok, that's just the way things are right now." If you try to fight off unpleasant thoughts, feelings, or body sensations, the upsetting feelings will only distract your from doing anything else. Be aware, be nonstriving, be in the moment, accept things as they are. Just do it.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12077166 - 02/22/10 12:03 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Practice is definitely having an impact on my posting.
This is what has surfaced from it in the past 5 days.
Attachment: http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/12073011
Attachment and duality: http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/12063598
Motivation: http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/12051129
Where is the focus: http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/12065580
There is a nice blend of my psychological terminology and meditative experiences in these posts
A diving into the thoughts, if you will.
Week 3 coming soon!
Edited by Kickle (02/22/10 09:40 PM)
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Tony
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 Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12077998 - 02/22/10 02:15 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Kickle said:
Tips for the Body Scan
4. Let go of any expectations about what the body scan will do for you: Imagine it as a seed you have planted.
Actually the first thing I started to notice doing the body scan is that I have all these expectations, though I don't like to admit it to myself. I want to feel something different as I lay there focusing on different body parts, like perceive what some refer to as the energy body, or just something out of the ordinary. It's like my frustrated/bored ego is desperately trying to justify the act of lying on the floor and doing nothing by trying to manifest something out of the ordinary in my consciousness. This is making it clear that I'm definitely not proficient at perceiving things as they are. I realize this is a blockage I have to transcend. It's there, this silly egoistic drive to manifest weirdness, but somehow it's been becoming more transparent lately. I guess this program of yours is already doing something good to me after only a few sessions.
So, thanks for uploading. I'll continue to use these techniques and see what else I can find out with their help.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Tony]
#12078250 - 02/22/10 02:47 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
This is making it clear that I'm definitely not proficient at perceiving things as they are
Oh but you are! You perceived quite clearly what arose. But as soon as it arose, it sounds as though you pushed it away, thinking it contrary to the goal. But the goal is doing exactly what you did, being with what arises. The tips are just places that awareness of contrary experience is easily found.
The hardest part is in not judging what arises.
Or if you do judge, bringing awareness to the judgment.
Sometimes just giving it a simple label can be helpful.
"Oh, here is judgement again"
That way when it comes up again, you recognize it for what it is.
I'm very glad to hear you're going to continue!
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12078574 - 02/22/10 03:37 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Week 3!
5 Minutes of Seeing
Let's start week 3 with a simple "seeing" or "hearing" exercise. If there is a window nearby, let's use that and look outside, paying attention to sights as best as we can. Letting go of the categories one usually uses to make sense of what they see. Rather than viewing elements of the scene as trees, or cars, or whatever, let's simply see them as patterns of color and shapes and movement. Being aware when we begin to think about what is being seen, taking note and genetly bringing the attention back to simply seeing.
If no window is available, substitute hearing. Listening to sounds in the room. Bringing attention to hearing, and as with seeing, letting go of the categories normally used to make sense of what is heard. Instead of hearing a refrigerator humming, a car outside, or a stomach growling, hearing the sounds as patterns of pitch, tone, and volume. Every time the mind wanders, bringing the attention gently back to just hearing.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12078651 - 02/22/10 03:52 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Moving straight into the next activity...
Sitting Meditation: Mindfulness of the Breath and Body
1. Practice mindfulness of the breath, as described earlier, for 10-15 minutes.
2. When you feel reasonably settled on awareness of the breath, intentionally allow the awareness to expand around the breath to include, as well, a sense of physical sensations throughout the whole body. While still aware, in the background, of the movements of the breath in the lower abdomen, change your primary focus so that you become aware of a sense of the body as a whole and of the changing patterns of sensation throughout the body. You may find that you get a sense of the movements of the breath throughout the body, as if the whole body were breathing.
3. If you choose, together with this wider sense of the body as a whole, and of the breath moving to and fro, include awareness of the more local, particular patterns of physical sensations that arise where the body makes contact with the floor, chair, cushion, or stool. The sensations of touch, pressure, or contact of the feet or knees with the floor; the buttocks with whatever supports them; the hands where they rest on the thighs, on on each other. As best you can, hold all these sensations, together with the sense of breath and of the body as a whole, in a wider space of awareness of physical sensations.
4. The mind will wander repeatedly away from the breath and body sensations -- this is natural, to be expected, and in no way a mistake or a failure. Whenever you notice that your awareness has drifted away from sensations in the body, you might want to congratulate yourself; you have "woken up." Gently note where your mind was, and kindly focus your attention back to your breathing and to a sense of your body as whole.
5. As best as you can, keep things simple, gently attending to the actuality of sensations throughout your body from one moment to the next.
6. As you sit, some sensations may be particularly intense, such as pain in the back or knees or shoulders, and you may find that awareness is repeatedly drawn to these sensations, and away from your intended focus on the breath or body as a whole. You may want to use these times to experiment with intentionally bringing the focus of awareness into the region of intensity and, as best you can, explore with gentle and wise attention the detailed pattern of sensations there: What, precisely, do the sensations feel like? Where exactly are they? Do they vary over time or from one part of the region of intensity to another? Not so much thinking about it, as just feeling it, you may want to use the breath as a vehicle to carry awareness into regions of intensity, breathing the experience in.
7. Whenever you find yourself "carried away" from awareness in the moment by the intensity of physical sensations, or in any other way, reconnect with the here and now by refocusing awareness on the movements of the breath or on a sense of the body as a whole. Once you have gathered yourself in this way, allow the awareness to expand once more, so it includes a sense of sensations throughout the body.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12078690 - 02/22/10 03:59 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Dealing With Thoughts by Trying to Control Them
Quote:
I don't know if anybody else has this problem. When my mind is completely going, I have been thinking of a thousand and one other things. It's very difficult to stop myself going into the future, thinking about things. I try to control it and maybe it works for 2 minutes but then I go off again.
Look again at what has been said. "It's very difficult to stop myself... I try to control it... maybe it works for 2 minutes but then..." This approach [mindfulness] is not about trying to suppress or control thoughts. If we were to try and push them away or squash them down, then they would be more likely to bounce back even more strongly. The practice involves developing a gentle, skillful way of simply becoming aware. Of being able to recognize that "Here is thinking," and as best as one can, letting go of the thinking and focusing back on the breath. It's not so much trying to control our thoughts as actually feeling comfortable with letting things be as they are.
Edited by Kickle (02/22/10 09:39 PM)
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12078865 - 02/22/10 04:25 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Generalizing the Practice: The 3-Minute Breathing Space
It is not unusual for people who are coping with the demands of developing a formal meditative practice to forget about the need to incorporate this practice into their daily lives. Some "generalization practice" is important to link what is being learned to a larger range of situations. Of course, we have already seen instructions on making mindfulness a routine activity (e.g. brushing teeth, feeding a pet, driving to work), but we need to go further and bring small parts of the formal practice into daily life. For this purpose, the 3-Minute Breathing Space was created as a "minimeditation."
The exercise is influenced by cognitive therapy in that it is very explicit and structured, in this case, in focusing on how to bring mindfulness into everyday life. There are 3 basic steps to the exercise. The first involves stepping out of automatic pilot to ask "Where am I?" "What's going on?" The aim here is to recognize and acknowledge one's experience at the moment. The second step involves bringing the attention to the breath, gathering the scattered mind to focus on this single object--the breath. The third step is to expand the attention to include a sense of the breath and the body as a whole (see post on Sitting Meditation: Mindfulness of the Breath and Body).
To use this program takes some scheduling. remember the 3 steps:
1. Step out of autopilot. Ask "where am I?" "what am I doing?"
2. Bring attention to the breath
3. Expand your attention to include a sense of the breath and the body as a whole
Upon waking in the morning, go through these 3 steps.
Upon eating lunch, do this again
and finally, as you lay down to sleep, do it one final time.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12078895 - 02/22/10 04:30 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Okay, woohoo! This is from a prior post, but I now finally have an additional resource for anyone interested. This is the raisin exercise as presented by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
Mindfulness Raisin 40.26MB
Before listening to it, make sure you have a raisin ready.
this is a great little audio and works great in group settings.
I encourage anyone who finds it interesting to share it with others.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12078996 - 02/22/10 04:51 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Mindful Walking
1. Find a place where you can walk up and down without feeling concerned about whether people can see you. It can be inside or outside.
2. Stand at one end of your walk, with your feet parallel to each other, about 4 to 6 inches apart, and your knees "unlocked," so that they can gently flex. Allow your arms to hang loosely by your sides, or hold your hands loosely together in front of your body. Direct your gaze, softly, straight ahead.
3. Bring the focus of your awareness to the bottoms of your feet, getting a direct sense of the physical sensations of the contact of th feet with the ground and the weight of your body transmitted through your legs and feet to the ground. You may find it helpful to flex your knees slightly a few times to get a clearer sense of the sensation in your feet and legs.
4. When you are ready, transfer the weight of the body into the right leg, noticing the changing pattern of physical sensations in the legs and feet as the left leg "empties" and the right leg takes over the support of the rest of the body.
5. With the left leg "empty," allow the left heel to rise slowly from the floor, noticing the sensations in the calf muscles as you do so, and continue, allowing the whole of the left foot to lift gently until only the toes are in contact with the floor. Aware of the physical sensations in the feet and legs, slowly lift the left foot, carefully move it forward, feeling the foot and leg as they move through the air, and place place the heel on the floor. Allow the rest of the bottom of the left foot to make contact with the floor as you transfer the weight of the body itno the left leg and foot, aware of the increasing physical sensations in the left leg and foot, and of the "emptying" of the right leg and the right heel leaving the floor.
6. With the weight fully transferred to the left leg, allow the rest of the right foot to lift, and move it slowly forward, aware of the changing patterns of physical sensations in the foot and leg as you do so. Focusing your attention on the right heel as it makes contact with the ground, transfer the weight of the body into the right foot as it is placed gently on the ground, aware of the shifting pattern of physical sensations in the two legs and feet.
7. In this way, slowly move from one end of your walk to the other, aware particularly of the sensations in the bottoms of the feet and heels as they make contact with the floor, and of the sensations in the muscles of the legs as they swing forward.
8. At the end of your walk, turn slowly around, aware of and appreciating the complex pattern of movements through which the body changes direction, and continue walking.
9. Walk up and down in this way, being aware, as best you can, of physical sensations in the feet and legs, and of the contact of the feet with the floor. Keep your gaze directed softly ahead.
10. When you notice that the mind has wandered away from awareness of the sensations of walking, gently escort the focus of attention back to the sensations in the feet and legs, using the sensations as the feet contact the floor, in particular, as an "anchor" to reconnect with the present moment, just as we used the breath in the sitting meditation.
11. Continue to walk for 10 to 15 minutes, or longer if you wish.
12. To begin with, walk at a pace that is slower than usual, to give yourself a better chance to be fully aware of the sensations of walking. Once you feel comfortable walking slowly with awareness, you can experiment as well with walking at faster speeds, up to and beyond normal walking speed. If you are feeling particularly agitated, it may be helpful to begin walking fast, with awareness, and to slow down naturally as you settle.
13. As often as you can, bring the same kind of awareness that you cultivate in walking meditation to your normal, everyday, experiences of walking.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12079330 - 02/22/10 05:54 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Week 3 Homework
1. On Days 1, 3, and 5, use this Breathing and Yoga Stretching Tape and record your reactions.
2. On days 2, 4, and 6, use this Yoga Tape and record your reactions.
The point of the stretches and yoga is to provide a direct way to connect with awareness of the body. The body is a place where emotions often get expressed, under the surface, and without our awareness. As such, it gives us an additional place from which to stand and look at our thoughts. If you have any back or other health difficulties that may cause problems, make your own decision as to which (if any) of these exercises you do.
3. Use the 3-Minute Breathing Space three times a day.
4. Complete the Unpleasant Events Calendar (one entry per day)--use this as an opportunity to become really aware of the thoughts, feelings, and body sensations in one unpleasant event each day, at the time that they are occurring. Notice and record, as soon as you can, in detail the events (e.g., put the actual words or images in which thoughts came, and the precise nature and location of bodily sensations).
What are the events that "pull you off center" or "get you down" (no matter how big or small)?
Calendar: part 1 part 2
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c0sm0nautt
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12080711 - 02/22/10 09:21 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Mindful walking! Very interesting. I'm trying to incorporate mindfulness into every aspect of my life and that is some great advise. I'm not sure if I will get around to doing all of this weeks homework, but I do enjoy the links and info!
--------------------
astralsun.blogspot.com
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant, and has forgotten the gift. - Albert Einstein
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Kickle
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Whew. Just got done doing the first yoga tape, and I'm pooped
When I came to lay on the floor, in what Kabat-Zinn calls the Corpse pose (heh?), my lower back erupted in pain. Sharp and stinging, like little needles coupled with an ache. Laying down is nothing strenuous, so I just stayed with it, trying to experience each moment of it as new. It eventually faded out into relaxation as he was introducing the next stretch.
Just one of the experiences I had during this practice.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12081233 - 02/22/10 11:13 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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c0sm0, I'm glad you brought up not getting to do all of the homework. The creators of this treatment discuss several stories from individuals who do not complete the work. The conclusion is that some is better than none.
In their study of the effects of this treatment though, participants who completed all of the homework saw the largest gains. Note, these results are probably predictive of their sample (depressed individuals) but may not be as predictive of other populations. There is evidence that, IMO, suggests that at some point a person does not get any more benefit from practice than they do from just living life as it is.
I'm glad this therapy includes some of the yoga stuff in it, so that there are benefits aside from just mindfulness. Flexibility not being the least of them
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12084129 - 02/23/10 02:49 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Whoops! I accidentally uploaded the wrong audio for this week.
If you have downloaded the audios for week 3, one is correct and one is not.
The audio that was "Yoga Stretching" is now "Yoga Tape"
The audio that was "Yoga Tape" has been removed
And the correct audio has been placed in as "Breathing and Yoga Stretching Tape"
Sorry about that, this should be a smoother progression.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12092010 - 02/24/10 08:40 PM (2 years, 3 months ago) |
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Something that may be notable from my experience.
After two days, going into the third of practice, I notice that I am nowhere as flexible nor strong as I thought I would be. This is important because there is a tendency to ignore this expectation to do more than I can, and instead turn it into a drive for more. Also, upon realizing it and feeling that urge not to listen, I realized how interlinked this was to my coming decisions.
Deciding in the now, rather than for what you expect. I expected to be stronger than I am (always have been fit and relatively flexible) but these yoga poses are a great workout. Instead, listening to my body, I am having to tone back how far I stretch tonight. Also, upon doing the yoga, I felt it best to also forgo my lifting routine. The exception being some light chest exercises.
Just listening to your body and watching your minds reactions to it can be quite telling.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12134356 - 03/03/10 11:43 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Another update:
I've got a ton of energy, and rather than directing it towards worrying about school (a source of great anxiety) I seem to be directing it towards healthy eating. I have never been the healthiest eater around, but I've become motivated (from where?) to start eating better. I have been cooking meals for my girlfriend and I, taking time to prepare properly and the whole experience is really very pleasant.
Guess that's what happens when you start seeing just how much strain your old priority list was giving, and how much energy that strain takes. The less strain, the more energy. The more energy, the more freedom you have to meet the needs of your body. The healthier your body become, once more, the more energy you have. I'm upbeat about the whole deal
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12134369 - 03/03/10 11:44 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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+++++++++++++++++++
Week 4 coming soon
+++++++++++++++++++
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shivas.wisdom
בּ וואלה
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12135593 - 03/03/10 02:54 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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About two weeks ago I started meditating daily-- at least once in the morning but often once or twice more throughout the day.
Before this, I've meditated super inconsistently for several years. Already I can feel the increased effects from daily practice, and also that a momentum is building. I don't plan to stop but keep this ball rolling.
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deff
just relax
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yeah it's really really amazing once you become persistent with it 
i'm just beginning a 10-year meditation 'dharma gar' involving 2 hours of meditation a day, guided by an amazing teacher - it's quite exciting
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roboto212
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Re: Meditation! [Re: deff]
#12136698 - 03/03/10 05:20 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
deff said:
yeah it's really really amazing once you become persistent with it
i'm just beginning a 10-year meditation 'dharma gar' involving 2 hours of meditation a day, guided by an amazing teacher - it's quite exciting
That sounds like an amazing opportunity. I am very passionate about meditation as well, and I hope one day I will have a teacher that is higher on the ladder than I.
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OM MANI PADME HUM! IM SO HAPPY
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deff
just relax
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very very amazing opportunity, i am extremely thankful to have found it
teachers are everywhere, it's best to find an authentic one as soon as possible imo
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roboto212
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Re: Meditation! [Re: deff]
#12136991 - 03/03/10 06:00 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Well I am joining a permaculture community in Hawaii soon, and there are neighboring communities and Im sure I will find many people around me that are more developed than I. Im excited to start this life though and begin concentrating on it more.
Good luck with your 10 year quest, im sure you learn so much truth
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OM MANI PADME HUM! IM SO HAPPY
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deff
just relax
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i imagine the 10 year program will be incredible assuming i don't die beforehand
it's a gradual unfoldment into more advanced tantric practices - which i think will be great - as well as being a great motivating factor for continual practice
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c0sm0nautt
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I plan to be Warlord of my own commune.
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astralsun.blogspot.com
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant, and has forgotten the gift. - Albert Einstein
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Kickle
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The Chronic
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Re: Meditation! [Re: deff]
#12140113 - 03/04/10 03:34 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
deff said:
very very amazing opportunity, i am extremely thankful to have found it
teachers are everywhere, it's best to find an authentic one as soon as possible imo
What i find beautiful is your humility to be with a teacher
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Kickle
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Week 4 no hajimeru (let us begin)
Once again let us start the week out with a “seeing” or “hearing” exercise so that we may arrive/gather into the present. Noticing just one feature in the field of sight or sound (such as a leaf on a tree or the sound of a car engine) and then spreading awareness outward from this single feature. If new thoughts arise, just let them gently go and bring the attention back to what we see or hear.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12140957 - 03/04/10 09:08 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Sitting Meditation: Mindfulness of Sounds and Thoughts
1.Practice mindfulness of breath and body, as described earlier, until you feel reasonably settled.
2.Allow the focus of your awareness to shift from sensations in the body t o hearing. Bring your attention to the ears and then allow the awareness to open and expand, so that there is a receptiveness to sounds as they arise, wherever they arise.
3.There is no need to go searching for sounds or listening for particular sounds. Instead, as best you can, simply open your mind so that it is receptive to awareness of sounds from all directions as they arise—sounds that are close, sounds that are far away, sounds that are in front, behind, to the side, above or below. Open to a whole space of sound around you. Be aware of obvious sounds and of more subtle sounds, aware of the space between sounds, aware of silence.
4.As best you can, be aware of sounds simply as sensations. When you find that you are thinking about the sounds, reconnect, as best you can, with direct awareness of their sensory qualities (patterns of pitch, timbre, loudness, and duration), rather than their meanings or implications.
5.Whenever you notice that your awareness is no longer focused on sounds in the moment, gently acknowledge where the mind had moved to, and then retune the awareness back to sounds as they arise and pass from moment to moment.
6.Mindfulness of sound can be a very valuable practice on its own, as a way of expanding awareness and giving it a more open, spacious quality, whether or not the practice is preceded by awareness of sensations or followed, as here, by awareness of thoughts.
7.When you are ready, let go of awareness of sounds and refocus your attention so that your objects of awareness are now thoughts as events in the mind. Just as you focused on awareness on sounds, whenever they arose-- noticing them arise, develop, and pass away. So now, as best you can, bring awareness to thoughts that arise in the mind in just the same way, noticing when thoughts arise, focusing awareness on them as they pass through the space of the mind and eventually disappear. There is no need to try to make thoughts come or go. Just let them arise naturally, in the same way that you related to sounds arising and passing away.
8.Some people find it helpful to bring awareness to thoughts in the mind in the same way that they might if the thoughts were projected on the screen at a cinema. You sit watching the screen, waiting for a thought or image to arise. When it does, you pay attention to it so long as it is there, “on the screen,” and then letting it go as it passes away.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12140964 - 03/04/10 09:08 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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“Wild Geese”
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clear blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12140995 - 03/04/10 09:16 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Honeymoons and Hard Work
For some people, by the fourth week, the “honeymoon” is over and the hard work is beginning. The following was expressed by someone who had begun to find it hard work because of attachment to the practice.
“I find I can really get into the practice now. When I'm sitting, I feel in another world. So much so that if anything interrupts, I get really angry. I feel like a child that has had his ice cream snatched out of his hand.”
Notice how a pleasant experience has become something to which this person is strongly attached. And the attachment is beginning to produce frustration. Now we are not against pleasant experiences, but it may be worth pausing a moment to explore whether the person was focusing on achieving a “special state” and to be very clear about the intention behind the practice.
First, it is very nice to hear that people are getting something out of practice. When we get such pleasant experiences, it can show us that something is happening. But it is important to mention a word of caution. Pleasant experiences may come and go, and while they last, they are wonderful. But the word of caution is this: Sometimes the pleasant experience will not come. Sometimes you may experience unpleasant feelings when you sit. But this won't mean that you are doing badly. It is still meditation, even when it feels bad or boring or frustrating. The task is the same at these times, too: As best you can, be aware of whatever you are feeling right now, and then return your attention to the breath. So although it's really nice when it seems to be going well, if we get hooked on making it always feel like that, our life is going to be a series of ups and downs. We'll have moments of great success, they'll pass, and then what will we do?
Having this practice gives us a chance to find something that is beyond the ups and downs, beyond the times when things do or don't work out so well for us.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12141136 - 03/04/10 09:50 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Homework for Week 4
1. Practice the Guided Sitting Meditation Tape for 6 out of the next 7 days and record your reactions. (Alternative option: Alternate days using Guided Sitting Meditation one day and Yoga the next)
2. 3-Minute Breathing Space. Practice three times a day, at the times that we have decided in advance.
3. 3-Minute Breathing Space - Coping. Practice a 3-minute breathing space whenever you notice unpleasant feelings. Note any comments/difficulties.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12182446 - 03/11/10 09:23 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Any comments thus far? We've officially passed the midway point of this therapy. 3 weeks remain. Perhaps now would be a good time to revisit the first page of this post, and re-do the mindfulness inventory. Check in and see if you've become more mindful or not.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12182507 - 03/11/10 09:39 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Despite my posts moving us forward, please do feel free to post any comments at any time.
The King
There is a story told of a king who had three sons. The first was handsome and very popular. When he was 21, his father built a palace in the city for him. The second son was intelligent and also very popular. When he became 21, his father built a palace in the city for him as well. The third son, neither handsome nor intelligent, was unfriendly and unpopular. When he was 21, the king's counselors said: “There is no further room in the city. Have a palace built outside the city for your son. You can have it built so it will be strong. You can send some of your guards to prevent it being attacked by the ruffians who live outside the city walls.” So the king built such a palace and sent some of his soldiers to protect it.
A year later, the son sent a message to his father. “I cannot live here. The ruffians are too strong.” So the counselors said, “Build another palace, bigger and stronger, and 20 miles away from the city and the ruffians. With more soldiers, it will easily be able to withstand attacks from the nomadic tribes that pass that way.” So the king built such a palace, and sent 100 of his soldiers to protect it.
A year later, a message came from the son: “I cannot live here. The tribes are too strong.” So the counselors said: “Build a castle, a large castle, 100 miles away. It will be big enough to house 500 soldiers, and strong enough to withstand attacks from peoples that live over the border.” So the king built such a castle, and sent 500 of his soldiers to protect it.
But a year later, the son sent another message to the king. “Father, the attacks of the neighboring peoples are too strong. They have attacked twice, and if they attack a third time, I fear for my life and the life of your soldiers.”
And the king said to his counselors, “Let him come home and he can live in the palace with me. For it is better that I learn to love my son than spend all the energy and resources in my kingdom keeping him at a distance.”
What do you make of this story? Is the king simply forced to tolerate his son, or is he making a fundamental shift in his relationship with his son to one of welcoming? Which one is likely to bring him more lasting peace? Who/what does the king represent for you?
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12182510 - 03/11/10 09:40 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Let's start the next week with a 40-minute sitting meditation. No tapes, just awareness—awareness of breath, body, sounds, thoughts. Noting how we relate to our experiences through the reactions we have to whatever thoughts, feelings, or bodily sensations arise. Take the time to bring a difficult experience to mind. Note its effects on the body and the reactions to this difficulty.
“The Guest House”
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorros,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door, laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12182553 - 03/11/10 09:52 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Summary of this weeks goals
The basic guideline in this practice is to become mindfully aware of whatever is most predominant in our moment-by-moment experience. So if the mind is being repeatedly drawn to a particular place, to particular thoughts, feelings, or bodily sensations, we deliberately and intentionally take a gentle and friendly awareness to that place. That is the first step.
The second step is to notice, as best we can, how we are relating to whatever arises in that place. Often, we can be with an arising thought, feeling, or bodily sensations, but in a nonaccepting, reactive way. If we like it, we tend to hold onto it; we become attached. If we do not like it, because it is painful, unpleasant, or uncomfortable in some way, we tend to contract, to push away out of fear, irritation, or annoyance. Each of these responses is the opposite of acceptance.
The easiest way to relax is, first, to stop trying to make things different. Accepting experience means simply allowing space for whatever is going on, rather than trying to create some other state. Through acceptance, we settle back into awareness of what is present. We let it be—we simply notice and observe whatever is already present. This is the way to relate to experiences that have a strong pull on our attention.
For example, if you notice that your awareness keeps being pulled away from the breath (or other focus of attention) to particular sensations in the body associate with physical discomfort, emotions, or feelings, the first step is to become mindfully aware of those physical sensations, to deliberately move your focus of awareness to the part of the body where those sensations are strongest. The breath provides a useful vehicle to do this—just as you practiced in the body scan, you can take a gentle and friendly awareness to that part of the body by “breathing into” that part on the inbreath, and “breathing out” from it on the outbreath.
Once your attention has moved to the bodily sensations and you have th item in the field of awareness, say to yourself, “It's OK. Whatever it is, it's OK. Let me feel it.” Then, just stay with the awareness of these bodily sensations and your relationship to them, breathing with them, accepting them, letting them be. It may be helpful to repeat, “It's OK. Whatever it is, it's OK. Let me feeling it,” using each outbreath to soften and open to the sensations of which you are aware.
Acceptance is not resignation: Acceptance, as a vital first step, allows us to become fully aware of difficulties, and then, if appropriate, to respond in a skillful way rather than to react in a knee-jerk fashion, by automatically running off some of our old (often unhelpful) strategies for dealing with difficulties.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12182569 - 03/11/10 09:58 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Using the Breathing Space--Extended Instructions
When you are troubled in thoughts or feelings:
1. Awareness
Observe--bring the focus of awareness to your inner experience and notice what is happening in your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.
Describe, acknowledge, identify--put experiences into words, for example, say in your mind, "A feeling of anger is arising" or "Self-critical thoughts are here."
2. Redirecting Attention
Gently Redirect your full attention to the breath
Follow the breath all the way in and all the way out.
Try noting "at the back of your mind," "Breathing in....breathing out..." or counting, "Inhaling, one.....exhaling, one; inhaling, two... etc."
3. Expanding Attention
Allow your attention to expand to the whole body--especially to any sense of discomfort, tension, or resistance. If these sensations are there, then take your awareness there by "breathing into them" on the inbreath. Then, breathe out from those sensations, softening and opening with the outbreath. Say to yourself on the outbreath, "It's OK. Whatever it is, it's OK. Let me feel it."
Become aware of and adjust your posture and facial expression.
As best you can, bring this expanded awareness to the next moments of your day.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12182595 - 03/11/10 10:03 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Homework for Week 5
1. Pratice Sitting Meditation daily (alternate days: Sitting Meditation Tape on even days, no tape (sitting with silence for 30-40 minutes) on odd days) and record your reactions.
2. 3-Minute Breathing Space: Practice three times a day at times that you have decided in advance. Record each time you do the practice, noting any comments/difficulties.
3. 3-Minute Breathing Space: Practice whenever you ntice unpleasant feelings. Record each time you need to use this practice
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12218016 - 03/17/10 10:09 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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When I think about a rose, I imagine an object that just exists.
While it exists, it is aware of the sun, of water, of the nutrients from the soil.
Those things that help it to be what it is.
To bloom and be beautiful...
Buddhism has been described as a rose.
As that which allows you to bloom and be beautiful.
Now, when I think about what a rose is aware of,
I have to wonder, what is a human aware of?
What is it that is natural for us, and can thus help us blossom?
I settle on three types of things:
The physical: sun, food, water... just as for the plant
The mental: thoughts, dreams, desires
The sensational: touch, smell, taste, sound, etc.
Ultimately, I don't understand an effort to remove thoughts.
Or a desire to write them off as useless and unreal.
They are, to me, a part of what makes us beautiful.
A part of human nature.
It's when we stop actually seeing what we think, that thought does not help us be beautiful.
It is only when we forget thoughts are there, that they cannot help us.
That's why I cultivate mindfulness -- that's why I pay attention to my thoughts.
Because I want to experience the nourishment of thought.
This is all tied together in the present.
Experiencing everything that is brought to you, right now.
If its a thought, let the thought nourish you.
If its the taste of food, let that taste and the food nourish you.
If its the feelings of pain, let that pain nourish you.
It is all temporary, and it is all helping you to become the most beautiful rose you can be.
Embrace it. Embrace yourself. Let your beauty shine out.
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/12205499
The rest of the thread is a nice read as well
/end journal entry
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12218190 - 03/17/10 10:43 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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++++++++ WEEK 6+++++++++
Since I bumped it, I may as well start the next week a bit early.
Are Thoughts, Facts?
Think briefly about the following situations, and their influence over our interpretation.
Situation 1: “You are feeling down because you've just had a quarrel with a colleague at work. Shortly afterward, you see another colleague in the General Office and he or she rushes off quickly, saying he or she couldn't stop. What do you think?”
Situation 2: You are feeling happy because you and a work colleague have just been praised for good work. Shortly afterward, you see another colleague in the General Office and he or she rushes off quickly, saying he or she couldn't stop. What do you think?”
For most, thoughts differ depending on their feelings/mood. It's important to note this. We bring to our thoughts of the world, our mood. It doesn't necessarily reflect the reality, either. In both of the above scenarios, the actual event is the same. But in thought, the event can unfold very differently depending on our mood.
Even if this situation was too contrived for you to get such an effect, look for this in your own life. Notice when you are feeling bad, take the time to step back and really see if your thoughts about what is occurring are justified by what is.
“When we lose ourselves in thought, thought sweeps up our mind and carries it away, and in a very short time we can be carried far indeed. We hop a train of association not knowing that we have hopped on, and certainly not knowing the destination. Somewhere down the line we may wake up and realize that we have been thinking, that we have been taken for a ride. And when we step down from the train, it may be in a very different state of mind from where we jumped aboard.” – Joseph Goldstein
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12218199 - 03/17/10 10:44 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Session 6 Summary
Our thoughts can have very powerful effects on how we feel and what we do. Often those thoughts are triggered and run off quite automatically. By becoming aware, over and over again, of the thoughts and images passing through the mind and letting go of them as we return our attention to the breath and the moment, it is possible to get some distance and perspective on them. This can allow us to see that there may be other ways to think about situations, freeing us from the tyranny of the old thought patterns that automatically “pop into mind.” Most importantly, we may eventually come to realize deep “in our bones” that all thoughts are only mental events (including the thoughts that say they are not!), that thoughts are not facts, and that we are not our thoughts.
Thoughts and images can often provide us with an indication of what is going on deeper in the mind; we can “get hold of them,” so that we can look them over from a number of different perspectives, and by becoming very familiar with our own “top ten” habitual, automatic, unhelpful thinking patterns, we can more easily become aware of (and change) the processes that may lead us into downward mood spirals.
It is particularly important to become aware of thoughts that may block or undermine practice, such as “There's no point in doing this” or “It's not going to work, so why bother?” Such pessimistic, hopeless thought patterns are one of the most characteristic features of depressed mood states, and one of the main factors that stop us taking actions that would help us. It follows that it is particularly important to recognize such thoughts as “negative thinking” and not automatically give up on efforts to apply skillful means to change the way we feel.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12218254 - 03/17/10 10:56 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Ways You Can See Your Thoughts Differently
Here are some of the things you can do with your thoughts:
1.Just watch them come in and leave, without feeling that you have to follow them.
2.View your thought as a mental event rather than a fact. It may be true that this event often occurs with other feelings. It is tempting to think of it as being true. But it is still up to you to decide whether it is true and how you want to deal with it.
3.Write your thoughts down on paper. This lets you see them in a way that is less emotional and overwhelming. Also, the pause between having the thought and writing it down can give you a moment to reflect on its meaning.
4.Ask yourself the following questions: Did this thought just pop into my head automatically? Does it fit with the facts of the situation? Is there something about it that I can question? How would I have thought about it in another time, in another mood? Are there alternatives?
5.For particularly difficult thoughts, it may be helpful to take another look at them intentionally, in a balanced, open state of mind, as part of your sitting practice: Let your “wise mind” give its perspective.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12218261 - 03/17/10 10:57 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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When You Become Aware of Negative Thoughts
When you become aware of negative thoughts and images in your mind, hold them in awareness, with an attitude of gentle interest and curiosity, perhaps expanding awareness to include one or more of the following (go back to the breath after each one):
Perhaps I am confusing a thought with a fact?
Perhaps I am jumping to conclusions?
Perhaps I am thinking in black-and-white terms?
Perhaps I am condemning myself totally because of one thing?
Perhaps I am concentrating on my weaknesses and forgetting my strengths?
Perhaps I am blaming myself for something that isn't my fault?
Perhaps I am judging myself?
Perhaps I am setting unrealistically high standards for myself, so that I will fall?
Perhaps I am mind reading/crystal ball gazing?
Perhaps I am expecting perfection?
Perhaps I am overestimating disaster?
The keynote attitude to take with your thoughts is a gentle interest and curiosity.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12218422 - 03/17/10 11:28 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Relating to Thoughts: Part I
It is remarkable how liberating it feels to be able to see that your thoughts are just thoughts and not “you” or “reality.” For instance, if you have the thought that you must get a certain number of things done today and you don't recognize it as a thought, but act as if it's “the truth,” then you have created in that moment a reality in which you really believe that those things must all be done today.
One patient, Peter, who'd had a heart attack and wanted to prevent another one, came to a dramatic realization of this one night, when he found himself washing his car at 10 o'clock at night with the floodlights on in the driveway. It struck him that he didn't have to be doing this. It was just the inevitable result of a whole day spent trying to fit everything in that he thought needed doing. As he saw what he was doing to himself, he also saw that he had been unable to question the truth of his original conviction that everything had to get done today, because he was already so completely caught up in believing it.
If you find yourself behaving in similar ways, it is likely that you will also feel driven, tense, and anxious without even knowing why, just as Peter did. So if the thought of how much you have to get done today comes up while you are meditating, you will have to be very attentive to it as a thought or you may be up and doing things before you know it, without any awareness that you decided to stop sitting simply because a thought came through your mind.
On the other hand, when such a thought comes up, if you are able to step back from it and see it clearly, then you will be able to prioritize things and make sensible decisions about what really does need doing. You will know when to call it quits during the day. So the simple act of recognizing your thoughts as thoughts can free you from the distorted reality they often create and allow for more clear-sightedness and a greater sense of manageability in your life.
This liberation from the tyranny of the thinking mind comes directly out of the meditation practice itself. When we spend some time each day in a state of nondoing, observing the flow of the breath and the activity of our mind and body, without getting caught up in the activity, we are cultivating calmness and mindfulness hand in hand. As the mind develops stability and is less caught up in the content of thinking, we strengthen the mind's ability to concentrate and to be calm. And if each time we recognize a thought as a thought when it arises and register its content, then each time we let go of it and come back to our breathing and a sense of our body, we are strengthening mindfulness. We come to know ourselves better and become more accepting of ourselves, not as we would like to be, but as we actually are.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12218503 - 03/17/10 11:44 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Relating to Thoughts: Part II
The thinking level of mind pervades our lives; consciously or unconsciously, we all spend much or most of our lives there. But meditation is a different process that does not involve discursive thought or reflection. Because meditation is not thought, through the continuous process of silent observation, new kind of understanding emerge.
We do not need to fight with thoughts or struggle against them or judge them. Rather, we can simply choose not to follow the thoughts once we are aware that they have arisen.
When we lose ourselves in thought, identification is strong. Thought sweeps our mind and carries it away, and, in a very short time, we can be carried far indeed. We hop a train of association, not knowing that we have hopped on, and certainly not knowing the destination. Somewhere down the line, we may wake up and realize that we have been thinking, that we have been taken for a ride. And when we step down from the train, it may be in a very different mental environment from where we jumped aboard.
Take a few moments right now to look directly at the thoughts arising in your mind. As an exercise, you might close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting in a cinema watching an empty screen. Simply wait for thoughts to arise. Because you are not doing anything except waiting for thoughts to appear, you may become aware of them very quickly. What exactly are they? What happens to them? Thoughts are like magic displays that seem real when we are lost in them but then vanish upon inspection.
But what about the strong thoughts that affect us? We are watching, watching, watching, and then, all of the sudden—whoosh!--We are gone, lost in a thought. What is that about? What are the mind states or the particular kinds of thoughts that catch us again and again, so that we forget that they are just empty phenomena passing on?
It is amazing to observe how much power we give unknowingly to uninvited thoughts: “Do this, say that, remembe; plan, obsess, judge.” They have the potential to drive us quite crazy, and they often do!
The kinds of thoughts we have, and their impact in our lives, depend on our understanding of things. If we are in the clear, powerful space of just seeing thoughts arise and pass, then it does not really matter what kind of thinking appears in the mind; we can see our thoughts as the passing show that they are.
From thoughts come actions. From actions come all sorts of consequences. In which thoughts will we invest? Our great task is to see them clearly, so that we can choose which ones to act on and which simply to let be.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12218997 - 03/17/10 01:09 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Homework for Week 6
note: if you have downloaded the audio files already you will not need to download them again.
1.Practice with your own selection from the following tapes:
Body Scan
Sitting Meditation
Yoga 1
Yoga 2
for a minimum of 40 minutes a day (e.g., 20 + 20, 30 + 10, etc.). Record your reactions.
2.3-Minute Breathing Space: Practice three times a day at times you have determined in advance. Record each time you do this practice, and note any difficulties/comments.
3.3-Minute Breathing Space: Whenever you notice unpleasant thoughts or feelings (paying particular attention to thoughts)--If negative thoughts are still around after the breathing space, then write them down. You might like to use some of the ideas presented above to get a different perspective on these thoughts.
4.Note situations in which you use the breath as an anchor to handle the situation as it is happening, and situations in which you use mindfulness practice to deal with the issues later.
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Shroom lover
Lord Shiva
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12257002 - 03/23/10 04:28 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thank you so much for making this thread, i just started meditation and all the info you have posted has really helped me focus on my techniques, so keep up the good work. also keep posting the homework because i enjoy doing it.
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Lets go back in the time machine to ancient india and smoke Hashish with Lord Shiva.
"nuthin beats a couple bowls at midnight when the world around you is fast asleep" - LetsGetBlazed
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Thanks for the encouragement
Week 7
“The Summer Day”
Who made this world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--
the one who has flung herself onto the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down--
who is grazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the gass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12262102 - 03/24/10 11:08 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Summary of Week 7 Goals
What we actually do with our time from moment to moment, from hour to hour, from one year to the next, can be a very powerful influence affecting our general well-being and our ability to deal skillfully with depressed mood.
You might like to try asking yourself these questions:
1.Of the things that I do, what nourishes me, what increases my sense of actually being alive and present, rather than merely existing? (up activities)
2.Of the thing that I do, what drains me, what decreases my sense of actually being alive and present, what makes me feel I am merely existing, or worse? (down activities)
3.Accepting that there are some aspects of life that I simply cannot change, am I consciously choosing to increase the time and effort I give up to activities and to decrease the time and effort I give to down activities?
By being actually present in more of our moment and making mindful decisions about what we really need in each of those moments, we can use activity to become more aware and alert, and to regulate mood.
This is true for dealing with both the regular pattern of our daily lives an periods of low mood that may lead to depression—we can use our day-by-day experience to discover and cultivate activities that we can use as tools to cope with periods of worsening mood. Having these tools already available means that we will be more likely to persist with them in the face of negative thoughts such as “Why bother with anything?” that are simply part of the territory of depressed mood.
For example, one of the simplest ways to take care of your physical and mental well-being is to take daily physical exercise—as a minimum, aim for three brisk, 10-minute walks a day and also, if at all possible, other types of exercise, such as mindful stretching, yoga, swimming, jogging, and so on. Once exercise is in your daily routine, it is a readily available response to depressed moods as they arise. The breathing space provides a way to remind us to use activity to deal with unpleasant feelings as they arise.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12262104 - 03/24/10 11:08 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Using the Breathing Space: The Action Step
After reconnecting with an expanded awareness in the breathing space, it may feel appropriate to take some considered action. In dealing with depressed feelings, the following activities may be particularly helpful:
1.Do something pleasurable
2.Do something that will give you a sense of satisfaction or mastery
3.Act mindfully
Ask yourself: What do I need for myself right now? How can I best take care of myself right now?
Try some of the follow:
1.Do something pleasurable.
be kind to your body: Have a nice hot bath, have a nap, treat yourself to your favorite food without feeling guilty; have your favorite hot drink; give yourself a facial or manicure. (Adjust as fits your lifestyle)
Engage in enjoyable activities: Go for a walk (maybe with a dog or a friend); visit a friend; do your favorite hobby; do some gardening; take some exercise; phone a friend; spend time with someone you like; cook a meal; go shopping; watch something funny or uplifting on TV; read something that gives you pleasure; listen to music that makes you feel good. Whatever is enjoyable for you.
2.Do something that gives you a sense of mastery, satisfaction, achievement, or control.
Clean the house; clear out a cupboard or drawer; catch up on letter writing; do some work; pay a bill; do something that you have been putting off doing; take some exercise (note: It is especially important to congratulate yourself whenever you complete a task or part of a task and to break tasks down into smaller steps and only tackle one step at a time)
3.Act mindfully
Focus your entire attention on just what you are doing right now; keep yourself in the very moment you are in; put your mind in the present (e.g., “Now I am walking down the stairs...now I can feel the banister beneath my hand...now I'm walking into the kitchen...now I'm turning on the light...”); be aware of your breathing as you do other things; be aware of the contact of your feet with the floor as you walk.
Remember
1.Try to perform your action as an experiment. Try not to prejudge how you will feel after it is completed. Keep an open mind about whether doing this will be helpful in any way.
2.Consider a range of activities and don't limit yourself to a favorite few. Sometimes trying new behaviors can be interesting in itself. “Exploring” and “inquiring” often work against “withdrawal” and “retreat.”
3.Don't expect miracles. Try to carry out what you have planned as best you can. Putting extra pressure on yourself by expecting this to alter things dramatically in an instant may be unrealistic. Let things unfold naturally.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12262119 - 03/24/10 11:10 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Homework for Week 7
1.From all the different forms of formal mindfulness practice you have experienced, settle on a form of practice that you intend to use on a regular, daily basis for the next 5 weeks. Use this practice on a daily basis this week, and record your reactions.
2.3-Minute Breathing Space: Practice three times a day at times you have decided in advance. Record each time you do this practice and write down and comments/difficulties.
3.3-Minute Breathing Space: Practice whenever you notice unpleasant thoughts or feelings. Record each time you do this, and note any comments/difficulties.
Since this is the second to last session, it is important to begin thinking about how you will be incorporating practice into your life. Mindfulness is a blade that will dull over time. One needs to keep it sharp with practice. Daily efforts towards cultivating mindfulness, for any amount of time, will be more beneficial than one long effort on the weekends. Begin considering ways to keep yourself mindful, be it through continued meditations, yoga, or your own creative blend.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12282708 - 03/27/10 11:47 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Is anyone noticing anything new or different in their lives?
I'd love to hear some feedback of how practice is going.
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Shroom lover
Lord Shiva
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12289561 - 03/28/10 07:20 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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I m not sure if it's the meditation but everyday i just seem to enjoy life more and i seem to have a lot more energy. I also seem to be slightly more confident and out going. I have been meditating for only several weeks so it might be something else but it could very well be the meditation.
I also seem to feel closer to friends and family, like I care more about them and how they live their lives. I must admit I enjoy this new state that i m in and it seems that others have noticed as well, saying things like I m more open and free in a sense.
I usually meditate the longest before i go to bed and when i wake up(shorter though cause i m a busy guy in the morning) and it helps me achieve lucid dreaming easier so that definitively a plus right there.
i will update my progress after this is over to see any more changes.
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Lets go back in the time machine to ancient india and smoke Hashish with Lord Shiva.
"nuthin beats a couple bowls at midnight when the world around you is fast asleep" - LetsGetBlazed
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Enjoy the process.
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tiptop
Stranger
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Quote:
Chronic777 said:
Meditation is fun
I rarely sit anymore, but meditation is all i am
Eating happens in meditation, sleeping happens in meditation, posting here, happens in meditation
I dont do any of those things, those things happen in meditation, in awareness
No moment when awareness is not
Ahh words of wisdom!
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   ah HAH, Victory Joint! 
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: tiptop]
#12333028 - 04/04/10 11:19 PM (2 years, 1 month ago) |
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Alright, this is it, session 8. The final session in therapy. I will try to continue posting side links and additional information in this thread for those interested, but in terms of information from the therapy itself, this is it. It's important to note that the therapy, really, is not what I post though. The therapy is in your active participation in the meditative process. The more active you are, the more therapeutic it becomes. So just because the instructions are coming to an end, doesn't mean the healing is done.
I strongly encourage everyone who has seen benefits to continue practicing. Be it through yoga, sitting, observing your breath, or just trying to be aware throughout your day. Please do continue to take the time and continue these efforts.
And, without further ado,
Session 8 Summary
The advantages of awareness, acceptance, and mindfully responding to situations rather than immediately running off preprogrammed, “automatic” reactions has been a recurring theme throughout this course.
Acceptance may often be the springboard to some form of skillful action directed at achieving change in participants' inner or outer worlds. However, there are some situations and feelings that it may be very difficult, or actually impossible, to change. In this situation, there is the danger that, by carrying on, trying to solve an insoluble problem, or by refusing to accept the reality of the situation one is in, one may end up “banging one's head on a brick wall,” exhausting oneself, and actually increasing one's sense of helplessness and depression. In these situations, you can still retain some sense of dignity and control by making a conscious, mindful, decision not to attempt to exert control and to accept the situation as it is, and if possible, with a kindly attitude to the situation and your reactions to it. Choosing not to act is much less likely to increase feelings of helplessness than being forced to give up after repeated failures is.
In the so-called “Serenity Prayer,” we ask for the grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, the courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.
Where do we find this grace, this courage, this wisdom? At some level, we already have all of these qualities—our task is to realize them (make them real), and our way is none other than moment-by-moment mindful awareness.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12333035 - 04/04/10 11:21 PM (2 years, 1 month ago) |
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The Future
Jon Kabat-Zinn gives advice to weave your parachute every day, rather than to leave it to the time you have to jump from the plane!
Decide, right now, what your regular pattern of practice will be over the next weeks, and stick to it as best you can. Also, remember that the breathing space provides a way to check in with yourself through out the day. Let it be your first response in times of difficulty, stress, or unhappiness—KEEP BREATHING!
Daily Mindfulness
- When you first wake up in the morning, before you get out of bed, bring your attention to your breathing. Observe five mindful breaths.
- Notice changes in your posture. Be aware of how your body and mind feel when you move from lying down to sitting, to standing, to walking. Notice each time you make a transition from one posture to the next.
- Whenever you hear a phone ring, a bird sing, a train pass by, laughter, a car horn, the wind, the sound of a door closing—use any sound as the bell of mindfulness. Really listen and be present and awake.
- Throughout the day, take a few moments to bring your attention to your breathing. Observe five mindful breaths.
- Whenever you eat or drink something, take a minute and breath. Look at your food and realize that the food was connected to something that nourished its growth. Can you see the sunlight, the rain, the earth, the farmer, the trucker in your food? Pay attention as you eat, consciously consuming this food for your physical health. Bring awareness to seeing your food, smelling your food, tasting your food, chewing your food, and swallowing your food.
- Notice your body while you stand or walk. Take a moment to notice your posture. Pay attention to the contact of the ground under your feet. Feel the air on your face, arms, and legs as you walk. Are you rushing?
- Bring awareness to listening and talking. Can you listen without agreeing or disagreeing, liking or disliking, or planning what you will say when it is your turn? When talking, can you just say what you need to say without overstating or understating? Can you notice how your mind and body feel?
- Whenever you wait in line, use this time to notice standing and breathing. Feel the contact of your feet on the floor and how your body feels. Bring attention to the rise and fall of your abdomen. Are you feeling impatient?
- Be aware of any points of tightness in your body throughout the day. See if you can breath into them and, as you exhale, let go of excess tension. Is there tension stores anywhere in your body? For example, your neck, shoulders, stomach, jaw, or lower back? If possible, stretch or do yoga once a day.
- Focus attention on your daily activities such as brushing your teeth, washing up, brushing your hair; putting on your shoes, doing your job. Bring mindfulness to each activity.
- Before you go to sleep at night, take a few minutes to bring your attention to your breathing. Observe five mindful breaths.
Fin
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LustfulLinsanity
The Familiar Stranger
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12370738 - 04/10/10 11:45 PM (2 years, 1 month ago) |
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I have a question, is it possible to "get high" from, and/or have psychedlic experiences without any sort of drug during meditation?
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  I wish to become enlightened, to know bliss, to be a pure expression of joy, to slake my insatiable thirst.
But tomorrow i will continue to propagate the pointless and divine cycle of human birth/death and probly get as fucked up as i can.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Technically speaking, it's possible for certain individuals to enter into what psychologists refer to as deep sleep (brain function in the delta waves) without ever falling asleep. I have a feeling that such an experience is one you don't return the same from.
Edited by Kickle (04/11/10 10:24 PM)
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12441370 - 04/22/10 10:57 PM (2 years, 1 month ago) |
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Log in to view attachment
Edited by Kickle (05/12/10 11:09 AM)
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MoreChellasPlease
Beshroomed
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This is a very cool thread, I look forward to putting some of it into practice. For some reason I haven't made the time to meditate, even though I remember it being such a rewarding experience.
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MoreChellasPlease
Beshroomed
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12505564 - 05/04/10 01:40 PM (2 years, 26 days ago) |
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Also, I was wondering if anyone ever experiences a buzzing sound while meditating? It starts small but seems to shake my body, and will slowly fade out as I come out of meditating.
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Grapefruit
Obliviated
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12515951 - 05/06/10 09:32 AM (2 years, 24 days ago) |
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Quote:
Kickle said:
Technically speaking, it's possible for certain individuals to enter into what psychologists refer to as deep sleep (brain function in the delta waves) without ever falling asleep. I have a feeling that such an experience is one you don't return the same from.
I had a sorta dissociative like trip from meditation a couple times and they really weren't all that enlightening. Psychedelics win for tripping. 
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"So man's insanity is heaven's sense; and wandering from all mortal reason, man comes at last to that celestial thought, which, to reason, is absurd and frantic; and weal or woe, feels then uncompromised, indifferent as his God." - Herman Melville
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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What was the dissociation like?
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The Chronic
Registered: 05/08/04
Posts: 11,039
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12548378 - 05/12/10 11:08 AM (2 years, 18 days ago) |
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Quote:
Kickle said:
http://www.interactivebuddha.com/Mastering%20Adobe%20Version.pdf
Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha
c0Sm0 would you be kind enough to post a link to that Sri Ramana Maharishi book in this thread?
Cosmo must missed this post, here you go though...
www.beasyouare.info/beasyouare.pdf
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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thanks Chronic!
I just edited that post
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The Chronic
Registered: 05/08/04
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12548408 - 05/12/10 11:14 AM (2 years, 18 days ago) |
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Ramanas having a good old laugh i bet
The version i posted is an online version anyway, not a scan of the book like your link (im assuming)
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The Chronic
Registered: 05/08/04
Posts: 11,039
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12548463 - 05/12/10 11:30 AM (2 years, 18 days ago) |
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Quote:
Yeah, it worked out functionally and I got an LOL
Speaking ofit working out functionally, anyone downloading these books or for anyone who has them , yourself, cosmo...
The link i posted is a searchable pdf, which can help if your looking for ramana adressing something like 'free will'
The other link is a straight scan of the book, so no searching possible
Im glad i just now found that other link as in the past i had a folder of all Ramanas books on pdf and i was searching the lot for quotes on a particular subject, that unsearchable scanned version of 'be as you are' had quotes in there i knew i wanted that weren't in any other books, such as...
"Only if one knows the truth of love, which is the real nature of Self, will the strong entangled knot of life be untied. Only if one attains the height of love will liberation be attained. Such is the heart of all religions. The experience of Self is only love, which is seeing only love, hearing only love, feeling only love, tasting only love and smelling only love, which is bliss."
I truly feel that in a hundreds of years the world will look back on Ramana as one of the greatest Sages
I am biased as he never fails to silence me, but i also see loads of self inquiry teachers who are ruling the spiritual circles nowadays
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Grapefruit
Obliviated
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12554419 - 05/13/10 09:09 AM (2 years, 17 days ago) |
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Quote:
Kickle said:
What was the dissociation like?
Visuals like colourful fractal type butterflys and an extreme feeling of peace, nothing like psychs tho.
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"So man's insanity is heaven's sense; and wandering from all mortal reason, man comes at last to that celestial thought, which, to reason, is absurd and frantic; and weal or woe, feels then uncompromised, indifferent as his God." - Herman Melville
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MOTH
Wild Woman
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I'm getting back into a routine of meditation after months of not doing it at all except during savasana in yoga. But yesterday after my practice I went upstairs to my room and sat down for 10 minutes in stillness and silence.
I feel like 10 minutes 2x a day is a good place to start for now. I felt great afterward!
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: MOTH]
#12555902 - 05/13/10 02:03 PM (2 years, 17 days ago) |
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Just had a nice little exercise courtesy of my better half.
Meditation That Tickles
While being tickled I decided to see what that sensation really is.
I observed the feeling of being tickled by hair,
by feet, by hands, and even by mouth and elbow.
As I examined it more and more, the less I laughed.
The sensation of being tickled was no longer something that compelled me to action.
It wasn't uncontrollable, it was pure sensation without anything connecting it to a reaction.
I think of the practice of not scratching an itch when meditating.
I never followed that practice. But this allowed me to see the value of it.
To really examine what an itch is, not to give your power to it.
Edited by Kickle (05/13/10 02:15 PM)
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Scantraxx
Wait........ what?
Registered: 04/15/08
Posts: 664
Last seen: 1 month, 2 days
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12676934 - 06/03/10 03:56 AM (1 year, 11 months ago) |
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Wow great thread, I would love to give this a go! Too bad I couldn't be there from the start but I will definatly give this therapy a go and keep you updated! Hopefully this will help me to put mediation into my life even more so!
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husk
Stranger
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12681100 - 06/03/10 07:34 PM (1 year, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Kickle said:
Just had a nice little exercise courtesy of my better half.
Meditation That Tickles
While being tickled I decided to see what that sensation really is.
I observed the feeling of being tickled by hair,
by feet, by hands, and even by mouth and elbow.
As I examined it more and more, the less I laughed.
The sensation of being tickled was no longer something that compelled me to action.
It wasn't uncontrollable, it was pure sensation without anything connecting it to a reaction.
I think of the practice of not scratching an itch when meditating.
I never followed that practice. But this allowed me to see the value of it.
To really examine what an itch is, not to give your power to it.
i find the best way to combat pain is to actually explore it, when focus'd on by a sharp mind it seems less like pain and more like information....sensation
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seylm
still breathing
Registered: 04/22/10
Posts: 462
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Last seen: 1 day, 13 hours
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Re: Meditation! [Re: husk]
#12793578 - 06/23/10 08:45 PM (1 year, 10 months ago) |
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Thanks for this thread, it has helped me a lot! I only have the audio files for weeks 1+2, the rest of the download links are "404 - file not found". Could someone please upload them and post the links?
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Easiest and Stealthiest Way to Grow Psilocybin
    
"you may be wearing an Armani suit, but it's just pyjamas" - Mooji
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: seylm]
#12795554 - 06/24/10 08:29 AM (1 year, 10 months ago) |
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Ah, thanks a lot of letting me know! I'll check out the links and re-upload whatever is missing.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12795719 - 06/24/10 09:02 AM (1 year, 10 months ago) |
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p.s. does anyone know a good site to upload audio files to since the one used appears to have a short expiration date?
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12820326 - 06/28/10 07:47 PM (1 year, 10 months ago) |
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Sorry about the delay, new home and no internet. Haven't been able to upload the files yet, using a droid to make posts and keep contacts.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12911246 - 07/17/10 10:35 AM (1 year, 10 months ago) |
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Ok, finally gave in and started tethering my phone (any tech junkies will get this). I've replaced the files throughout the thread but I'm still seeking out a better site to upload from. If you know of one, let me know.
Here's a list of the 4 main downloads from throughout the thread for those who need them. If you haven't gone through the thread itself, I strongly suggest doing so. The files will be in their appropriate place throughout so there is no need to download them all here.
Body Scan
Sitting Meditation
Yoga 1
Yoga 2
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#12911278 - 07/17/10 10:44 AM (1 year, 10 months ago) |
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seylm
still breathing
Registered: 04/22/10
Posts: 462
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Last seen: 1 day, 13 hours
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle] 1
#12912619 - 07/17/10 04:46 PM (1 year, 10 months ago) |
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Easiest and Stealthiest Way to Grow Psilocybin
"you may be wearing an Armani suit, but it's just pyjamas" - Mooji
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imachavel
Stranger
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Re: Meditation! [Re: seylm]
#13191990 - 09/13/10 09:26 PM (1 year, 8 months ago) |
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these types of posts in this forum is what to me makes the shroomery unique
the rest of it is just "i'm so *^(*^ed up right now, can't believe dmt is in tree roots, oh god i'm dying but it's awesome"
i love psychedelics and don't get me wrong they are fun. but this forum is unique.
it's said any attachment takes away your happy ness. from that perspective life is an art, not just a come and go.
i suggest any s.n. goenka tapes
and here is the website to join a short course. although your back will hurt after a time lol:
http://www.dhamma.org/
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johnnoc333
Stranger
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I definitely recommend Mahasi style vipassana
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radicaljonny
om om OM
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Loc: PNW, Oregon
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
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This is one of my favorite descriptions of the process we call meditation...perhaps you all will enjoy it too!
May we all meet in the silence of our hearts!
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"We are fascinated by these words, but where we meet is in the silence behind them."
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deff
just relax
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nice!
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!
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Re: Meditation! [Re: deff]
#13456886 - 11/08/10 10:33 PM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
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Mp3 of the month: The Shy Guys - Black Lightning Light
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Mr. Middle
Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 6,526
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Learyfan] 1
#13457258 - 11/09/10 12:26 AM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
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That music is by Craig Pruess, best chants around.
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c0sm0nautt
Registered: 05/19/08
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Re: Meditation! [Re: deff]
#13458194 - 11/09/10 09:17 AM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
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Just re-read this thread. It is full of so much good information.
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astralsun.blogspot.com
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant, and has forgotten the gift. - Albert Einstein
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leery11
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om
ahhh , waking brainwave ,
ohhh, dreaming brainwave,
mmmm, sleeping brainwave
ahhhhh out loud , transforms to oh , make it smooth
ohhh out loud transforms to
mmmm
try to make it completely smooth, feeling each 3 ,
om gets you HIGH
ahhh is infinite energy , it fills with light,
ooohhhhmmmm expands into space
ahhh is a needed part of om
it is usually written aum for this reason ,
ahhhh, ohhhh, mmmmmm
ahhhohhhhhmmmm
aum
om
if u need to balance,
shanti , shanti, shanti - peace that surpasses understanding
or , i like shreem, shreem, shreem, - abundance and wealth in a loving form, not material but fully divinely joyful opulence
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Om bhur bhuvaha swaha tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi, dhiyo yonah prachodyat.
We meditate upon that supreme light , the source of all creation, may it illumine our intellects and bring us eternal life.
Edited by leery11 (11/22/10 02:26 PM)
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weshroom
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Re: Meditation! [Re: leery11]
#13541769 - 11/25/10 08:55 PM (1 year, 5 months ago) |
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chriskachii
Stranger
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Meditated for the first time tonight, I've been overwhelmed with stress.. I felt.. lighter.
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yeah
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How can I meditate if I have the kind of anxiety where becoming aware of my breath makes my breath short? It gets in the way every time I try to meditate.
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I hope this is the dark part of the night which is generally just before day.
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c0sm0nautt
Registered: 05/19/08
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Loc: NY
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Re: Meditation! [Re: yeah]
#13630823 - 12/14/10 09:20 AM (1 year, 5 months ago) |
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Have you tried controlled deep breaths? If it makes you feel uncomfortable be aware of that uncomfortable but don't listen to the story your mind tells you about it. You can be aware without letting it suck you in, with practice.
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astralsun.blogspot.com
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant, and has forgotten the gift. - Albert Einstein
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: yeah]
#13630993 - 12/14/10 09:58 AM (1 year, 5 months ago) |
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If it makes you feel uncomfortable be aware of that uncomfortable but don't listen to the story your mind tells you about it.
I like that bit a lot
I know what you mean by not listening to thoughts but it is important to note that it isn't about tuning them out. Hearing thoughts is beneficial. Being thoughts can cause problems.
I think this might be a good jumping off point for a meditation. Instead of focusing on the breath, perhaps focusing on the anxiety would be useful. After all it sounds like it is already grabbing your attention.
Giving some attention to the bodily sensations of anxiety, e.g. quickened breathing and tensed muscles, along with the mental sensations of anxiety, e.g. rapid fire thoughts, can be really useful. Lots of times we get so wrapped up in escaping anxiety that all of our attention is on finding a solution and not on actually looking at the anxiety itself. Being anxious rather than seeing anxiety arising.
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Mike_ascends
Spiritual
Registered: 09/21/10
Posts: 12
Loc: Miami, Fl
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#13723403 - 01/03/11 02:49 AM (1 year, 4 months ago) |
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Im meditating right now ^-^ chanting, mala beads and all
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Andy21
Armchairanarchist
Registered: 01/01/06
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The bodyscan link appears to be down.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Andy21]
#13883290 - 01/31/11 04:23 PM (1 year, 3 months ago) |
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Thanks for the heads up.
Still wondering if someone knows a good upload site...
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#13883587 - 01/31/11 05:07 PM (1 year, 3 months ago) |
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Trying a new site... the body scan is back, other audios seem broke too and I'm re-uploading right now. They will be back momentarily.
Edit: Everything for the meditation practice should be working now.
Edited by Kickle (01/31/11 09:12 PM)
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JohnnyZampano
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#13898759 - 02/03/11 09:09 AM (1 year, 3 months ago) |
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Have been meditating on and off semi-steady since November (took a month break once the drugs called again) and everyday since the start of the year.
Yesterday I did a combination of Walking and Sitting for 2 hours, then went to my Wednesday night Sangha for an hour meditation, in which I believe I entered the 1st jhana for about 3 seconds, or at least the deepest meditative state I have encountered yet.
Already I can tell meditation has made a profound effect upon my life, and I am sure it will continue to.
Now I am trying to get back into sitting in the mornings and evenings for at least 45 min at a time, but still find it difficult to get motivated to sit in the early hours.
Plan on attending a 10 day retreat under the S.N. Goenka tradition, and another weekend retreat with my Sangha later this year.
I love meditation!
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"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
 
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stereolab
zig zag wanderer
Registered: 06/08/09
Posts: 940
Loc: NY
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I've been practicing Metta Bhavana (loving-kindness) meditation recently, which is really my first attempt to deviate from the normal Zen breath focus meditations or visualization meditations. I hate to compare meditation to drugs, but after doing loving-kindness meditation I feel a slight MDMA-esque high that is much more natural and awesome. 
I'll try to meditate at least once a day this month. I might have missed a day or two so far, but I'm starting now.
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The spiritual revolution
starts inside.
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JohnnyZampano
Stranger
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I did a weekend meditation retreat, one of the last sits was a guided metta, and it really effected me. As we were sitting around discussing our experience and what we had taken from the retreat I felt such a surge of love for all of these people. I felt very intimately connected with each of them, even though it had been a silent retreat. The feelings were similar to the outpouring of love that I have gotten on Aya, except this was completely drug free which made it even better.
Needless to say even a short weekend retreat had profound and lasting effects.
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"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
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Qualophile
Shpongoloid
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27, apparently. Interesting thread.
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Time is attending somewhere else.
"All experience is a drug experience. We're all on drugs, all the time. That's largely because we're MADE of drugs."
-Dennis McKenna
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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You are one of the only ones to vocally use that measure. Thanks for that.
That's a good score IMO, especially if you don't have any meditation in your background. I personally think lower scores show a greater degree of mindfulness up to a point. It takes a great amount of awareness to see how much of this moment we try and shield ourselves from.
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28064212
25 Or 6 To 4
Registered: 01/15/11
Posts: 5,361
Loc: Black Rock City
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#14037715 - 02/27/11 05:58 PM (1 year, 2 months ago) |
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floatingupstream
Registered: 06/20/10
Posts: 225
Loc: FL
Last seen: 3 months, 8 days
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Any advice on how to motivate oneself to meditate more. I am probably an amateur, and I've noticed benefits, but I can't seem to practice regularly enough to maintain constant benefit.
Thanks guys.
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floatingupstream
Registered: 06/20/10
Posts: 225
Loc: FL
Last seen: 3 months, 8 days
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Just had an almost 29 minute session which is my longest!
Can anyone explain or have similar experience with the feeling of a sudden pulsation then sinking feeling in the head? I repeatedly thought of going down on a rollercoaster when it happened, which was about 5-10 times. Not so much this session, but I've also felt as though my mind was spinning out of control inside my head throughout part of a session. Almost like being intoxicated.
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JohnnyZampano
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I have found setting an intention at the start of a meditation to be very helpful. For example: I am going to sit in meditation for 30 minuets and (insert whatever you want to accomplish in your meditation). Say this out loud or silently to yourself, but say it with meaning and the intention to do it. Repeat it twice more then just let it go.
I also find setting a timer and placing it far out of reach to be helpful. Just sit down, intend to sit for however long and just do it. Be aware of the urge to get up and check the time, or do something else then go back to the primary object of meditation. Its tough, sometimes really really hard but it gets easier and easier to stop giving into the urge to get up and go.
Six months ago I hard a really hard time sitting for 30 minutes, now I can sit easily (sometimes ) for 45 or more.
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"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
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Forever White Belt
Stranger
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Wow this post is pretty cool!! lots of people who are interested in these topics makes me excited!!
Quote:
floatingupstream said:
Just had an almost 29 minute session which is my longest!
Can anyone explain or have similar experience with the feeling of a sudden pulsation then sinking feeling in the head? I repeatedly thought of going down on a rollercoaster when it happened, which was about 5-10 times. Not so much this session, but I've also felt as though my mind was spinning out of control inside my head throughout part of a session. Almost like being intoxicated.
-- have you ever smoked cigarettes before?? Well this feeling is similar to the first time you smoked and you are just feeling the overload of oxygen... Many beginning practitioners will feel symptoms similar to these while doing focused breathing exercises ... this is only normal and nothing to be afraid of just follow a few pointers here and nothing dangerous will happen and most if not all of your discomfort should disappear
first become aware of how many seconds you are breathing in for --- and also how many seconds you are breathing out
for example
6 six seconds breathing in --- 6 six seconds breathing out
if you are only just starting or even if you have been at it for years its okay to start with a small number like 6 six or 10 ten and build up your lung capacity to longer breath span periods
Also be very aware of how fast you pull out of your breathing practice
for example if you are regulating your breathing
Fifteen 15 seconds in -- Fifteen 15 seconds out
be ready to slow your breathing down for a few minutes to a pace that is more regular
tell your body silently something like "Okay it's time to return to my body" or maybe " I am going to wake up "
Remind yourself three times before you change anything in your breathing pattern and most certainly before you open your eyes
your body is going through many physiological changes and needs time to adjust before coming out of the deep meditative state
try not to shock the senses while coming out of meditation take as much time as you like!! very slowly allowing your body to become aware of things all on its on eyes opening, toes wiggling etc.
Sifu always used the metaphor of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly taking the time to observe the body and its reaction to the changes it undergoes during this stage is important in your development
I have had students/close friends who jumped into water that was too deep for them to tread without drowning and as a result were too astonished by what they experienced within the altered states that they never returned to meditation
having said this warning I hope not to scare you but to warn you these symptoms are not always something associated with a beginner but sometimes associated with someone who is able to skip past certain stages or someone who is sensitive
if you could tell me do these feelings of spinning have a direction??
For example do you feel as if you are spinning like a top? 
If you are able to discern a direction up /\ or \/ down
are you spinning like a top going up /\ ? are you spinning like a top going down \/ ?
the answers to these questions can help me to know more about where you could be going in your travels!!
Because like the title of Rick Strassman's new book you might find yourself on an Inner path to Outer space!!
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The Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.
J. B. S. Haldane
The quest of the absolute leads into the four-dimensional world.
Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington
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Forever White Belt
Stranger
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Hey everyone just wanted to share some links from a website I created back when I was a teenager to help pass out the information my teacher was giving me
This stuff is great for people who have never really tried meditation before and even if you have you might find some useful concepts here-- Like I said this is directly from my teachers mouth I just typed it up and made a website out of it!!
Something to take with you
A quote from Sri Sai Baba
hope you enjoy!
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The Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.
J. B. S. Haldane
The quest of the absolute leads into the four-dimensional world.
Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington
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420andsuch
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So by forcing myself constantly to keep my thoughts focused on the current moment I am in a constant state of meditation? I find that in the past 2 hours or so of attempting this I have higher confidence when talking to people and am generally happier...at one point I thought meditation was taking myself to a happy place in my head to escape boredom or loneliness or some other ailment of this world but as I bring myself more into the now instead of avoiding it. I find my thoughts are more clear even and it is better. Taking life one moment at a time...this moment.
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JohnnyZampano
Stranger
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Heading out this afternoon to do a 10 day silent meditation retreat, put on by Goenka. I have only done a weekend retreat, and a relaxed 5 day personal retreat before. Really looking forward to this, and the introspective time. Will report back in a few weeks with what happens.
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"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
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 i like cow poo
Seargent Coochie
Registered: 10/20/09
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a meditation retreat sounds awesome!
is it pricey?
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Forever White Belt
Stranger
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Quote:
i like cow poo said:
a meditation retreat sounds awesome!
is it pricey?
I trained under a Dr. Roger Jahnke a board member of the National Chi Kung Association of America in Santa Barbara CA when I was 19 or so (was missing my teacher a whole lot after he moved away) it was two days 140$ a day so it was a total of 280$!!
He was a knowledgeable teacher who had a deep understanding of the medicinal benefits of practice from a western medicine perspective, I talked to him during the lunch break of the second day class and explained to him my background in Chi Kung. He imparted to me two books while everyone was gone that I gained much respect for him after reading.
I saw a whole class of people from all over the united states (one lady was even from Germany!) who were saying that they were teachers from their respective area's.
At the time I was looking for a way to obtain certification through the National Chi Kung Association of America and as it turned out their program was not fully functional at the time. Americans sure are obsessed with their paper certificates!!
I think if your intentions for going on a retreat are positive and the person or people throwing the retreat are doing it to pass on the knowledge of the Art as opposed to making it a vacation then retreats can be an amazing experience!!
But if you have watched any movies like Couples Retreat or Forgetting Sarah Marshall you can get a good idea of what a lot of "Yoga" or "Meditation" retreats really have to offer.
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The Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.
J. B. S. Haldane
The quest of the absolute leads into the four-dimensional world.
Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington
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JohnnyZampano
Stranger
Registered: 11/03/10
Posts: 295
Last seen: 5 months, 3 days
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Got back a few days ago, what an amazing experience!
Quote:
a meditation retreat sounds awesome!
is it pricey?
This one is by donation only - they don't require you to pay anything and only accept donations after the fact. The average cost per student was only $222 which is really cheep. Being broke I gave nothing - but plan on going back in November to serve the course which they said was even better form of Dana. Check it out at dhamma.org
Being lazy I am just going to copy and paste my report I wrote up for another forum. But I will say this: It was the hardest 10 days of my life to sit in meditation that long and be silent. It really put me in an altered state where I was able to really look at myself, I learned tons and had lots of insights. I had very beautiful moments where I felt I saw things very clearly which made me very emotional, and I also had terrifying which felt similar to a very bad trip I had on mushrooms years ago. Its a great process to though and I feel I am much better having done it, and plan to do one again as soon I can. So here's my report:
I recently returned from a 10 day silent retreat put on by Goenka. I went against the instructions and did my noting practice the whole time - except for a maybe a few hours where I tried a few things out, and did not note much on the last day when we broke silence. At 10 hours of sitting of day we put in around 100 hours total on the cushion. I noted though all sits, and every moment I was awake, naturally slipping into when rising at 4 AM.
I went though far far to much to report here so will try and stick with the bare details. I noticed my noting really developed, at the start I think I was just going from major sensation to major sensation and being aware of and noting it, and by the end I was being aware of the whole body and as many sensations as I could at once and noting whichever sensation was most evident in that second.
It quickly became very obvious that my mind does not like to remain in the present moment, always thinking about the past or living in the future, and imagining lots of conversations. It did quiet down as the days passed, and even slipped into the moment. I went though lots of mood swings throughout the day, going from a depressive state to an elated one. The same thing occurred with the time left on retreat (I have EIGHT days left of this! How am I am going to manage - Ahhh eight days left to work on myself)
About the 3ed or 4th days I started to notice that the lights behind closed eyes started to flicker quickly. This had never happened before, usually the lights are bright and either solid or move slowly. Now they were still bright but seemed to flicker at a quick rate, this continued until the 10th day when it stopped for most of the day then resumed later. A few times my vision seemed to flicker with my eyes open, as if my eyeballs were vibrating quickly. When I opened my eyes wide my vision also seemed to flicker - although this suddenly stopped around the 8th day (just the flickering with opening the eyes as wide as they go, the closed eye flickering continued).
Also around the 4th day vibrations were once again felt in my hands - previously they arose in every meditation, but were absent until then. As the days passed I was able to be aware of more sensations at once and feel more subtle areas of the body and subtler sensations. Near the last few days I remember being really bored during the sits. It seemed vibrations increased, being more noticeable in my arms and head area.
Getting stream entry was in the back of my mind, and sometimes thoughts of it came up throughout the day for the first week or so, then I just stopped caring about attaining this or that and just went with the moment.
One of my roommates (5 people in my room) snored loudly, and woke me up most nights, I was able to quickly fall back asleep and slept generally well throughout the retreat. However on the 9th night he was snoring very very loudly in the most annoying way I have ever heard - I even thought that Jim Carey got it wrong in Dumb and Dumber THIS was the most annoying sound in the world. I awoke agitated and look at my watch 11:32 PM "It can't be that early! this is ridiculous." I started to become agitated then started to get angry when I silently asked myself "Who is that is getting angry?" All of sudden I entered into was felt like a void - black nothingness for what seemed a few seconds then felt strong pleasurable vibrations all over my body. I remembered reading a fruition felt like "coming home" and that was what this felt like, I felt different somehow. At the time I thought I had attained Stream Entry and was very excited but also very tired again and fell asleep within 10 minutes.
The day during sits I tried to get myself to experience another fruition or A&P by intending to do so then guiding my mind towards the states as I remembered them, but never had any luck. I felt different all day - but we also broke silence that day and I had just been though 9 days of intense meditation. I stopped caring if what happened was a fruition knowing if it was it was, and if not no big deal.
The last day during the sits it felt like there was a current of energy running under me, and though my legs. It kind of felt like the floor was shaking slightly, like a very mild earthquake. I have felt the same thing in my legs and lower torso area during meditation, and sometimes while sitting or lying in chairs.
Also on the last day I messed around with some sensations and tried a few things out. I concentrated on the vibrations in my hands and narrowed my awareness down to one finger, then to the top part of the finger, then to the small area on the very tip of the finger. I was able to do this multiple times. When my awareness was focused vibrations topped in the hands and only remained in the small tip area. Once when being aware of the vibrations in the tip a small area the size of a ball point pen tip started to pulse about 20 times per second, this continued for a few minuets before the pulsing stopped. In another sit vibrations seemed to be going down one hand and up the other, flowing a circle. I imagined the flow stopping them going other way, up the down hand and down the up hand. Immediately this happened, and I found I was able to manipulate which way the vibrations flowed.
Now that I have been back for a few days its more obvious I was in an altered state during the retreat, and feel I am now more back to the way I was before - not so much in that concentrated state. One of the meditations the day after I got back there was a bird chirping loudly outside. He would chirp about 5 times a second, doing anywhere from 5 to 30 chirps then taking a break then doing them again. With every chirp I would feel a pulse at the exact same time an inch above my hairline on the left side of my neck. When he chirped it pulsed, when he was quite there was no pulsing - it was very cool and lasted for about 10 minutes before he must have flown off.
This was by far the hardest thing I have done in my life - makes climbing the local peaks seem like a cake walk - but it was also the most rewarding. I learned a lot about myself, had some personal insights and some very beautiful moments. I highly recommend a 10 day retreat to everyone.
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"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
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LustfulLinsanity
The Familiar Stranger
Registered: 03/25/10
Posts: 1,463
Loc: An island in the Pacific
Last seen: 7 days, 2 hours
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I wish to become enlightened, to know bliss, to be a pure expression of joy, to slake my insatiable thirst.
But tomorrow i will continue to propagate the pointless and divine cycle of human birth/death and probly get as fucked up as i can.
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evenbreak
Stranger
Registered: 01/15/11
Posts: 94
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hey.. i wanted to ask something about meditation
am i just wasting my time? i'm not making any progression. my life has always been filled with depression and anxiety and my goal is to get rid of that.
but when i meditate i'm never able to concentrate/focus for long. my mind always wanders and i give in to either frustration or boredom.
what am i doing wrong? am i just too weak and undisciplined for meditation to work on me?
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
Registered: 12/16/06
Posts: 11,340
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What is it that describes your experience as "undisciplined" and "weak"?
Where is the point between "undisciplined" and "disciplined"? Is it real?
At what point do your expectations meet reality?
Meditation can be seen as allowing where you are to be good enough.
Allowing changes to unfold without forcing them to unfold.
Meditation is effortless.
If you want to cultivate concentration, there are ways to do that. And they don't necessarily rely on meditation techniques. Whatever interests you can be the starting point. Whether it's a beautiful woman or a video game or the wind blowing through the leaves on a summer day. You just hold whatever interests you tightly in awareness for as long as you can. A good grounding point is the breath -- as you observe the beautiful woman check in with breath. As you play a video game, check in with the breath. If you keep forgetting to check in with the breath, you've lost yourself in the object. The goal being to keep concentration on the object, not to become the object.
After actively working with what interests you, then move on. No need to start with the heavy lifting first. One must first develop the muscle for a given task.
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Forever White Belt
Stranger
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#14468162 - 05/17/11 01:19 PM (1 year, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
Kickle said:
Meditation is effortless.
You just hold whatever interests you tightly in awareness for as long as you can. A good grounding point is the breath -- as you observe the beautiful woman check in with breath. As you play a video game, check in with the breath.
After actively working with what interests you, then move on. No need to start with the heavy lifting first. One must first develop the muscle for a given task.
good advice!! great way to put it 'chek in with the breath' me Likey!!
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The Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.
J. B. S. Haldane
The quest of the absolute leads into the four-dimensional world.
Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington
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don_vedo
MerKaBa
Registered: 05/12/11
Posts: 1,381
Loc: 5th dimension
Last seen: 4 months, 22 days
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Just wondering if you have ever herd or practiced MerKaBa meditations? If so what are your thoughts/opinions on it? I myself am very fond of meditation and agree like others in the earlier posts that mediation can be practiced in all aspects of life at all times. While practicing meditation in every aspect of life is definitely one of the main goals, I feel that with certain meditations come the ability to explore the infinite realms of consciousness. Thoughts, opinions?
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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us all. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: don_vedo]
#14574220 - 06/07/11 11:26 AM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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I haven't. Any relation to the old testament descriptions of merkabah or the "chariot" to God?
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OneU
Registered: 03/18/11
Posts: 763
Last seen: 3 months, 6 days
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#14574719 - 06/07/11 01:19 PM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Yeah it was actually the same essence, different wording. It was also what the 'ascended masters' were said to use to communicate with other beings of higher planes (whatever you interpret that as).
It is very old and in fact, I met this bizarre 'shaman' once in the mountains who spoke about the crystal in the Earth having been used as a strong platform for knowledge and takeoff into other dimensions. Sort of like the Earths own 'telephone' system.
Someone else once told me that the crystals of the Earth were similar to our human brain; in that they hold knowledge and vibrations of information. They hold reminders of energies that we maybe have forgotten of.
This very old lady who did some really bizarre things with crystals (moving them and hypnotizing people, using energy to hold people, other intense things) said that the Earth's crystals have become very damaged physically and energetically as a result of present human interaction with them. She said that we are becoming 'crystals' (quotations because it was metaphorically referring to something we do not possess a word for) in that we can spin our Merkabah and reach the crystal vibration to access lost knowledge.
There are a lot of useful tools online for beginning the meditation, then the intuition usually takes hold.
There are a lot of different ways but some people (majority of my acquaintances) say that that structure in the image is a female merkaba because the edge of the bottom pyramid is facing forward. For males, the top one's edge is in front and the bottom one's edge is in the back.
All of this is whatever you interpret it or don't as. It's just another angle through the kaleidoscope.
I am not a first language English speaker so pardon me if this is a bit twisted (it seems like it is to me )
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don_vedo
MerKaBa
Registered: 05/12/11
Posts: 1,381
Loc: 5th dimension
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Re: Meditation! [Re: OneU]
#14575239 - 06/07/11 03:04 PM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Great explanation OneU, like he described merkaba is very ancient in context and has been referenced in many ancient texts including the old testament as you stated kickle. I have been practicing merkaba mediations for a short while now and have had some very interesting experiences with it; for instance my lucid dreams have sky rocketed but the type of dream is very strange, hard to explain but almost like lessons and lectures from school where I am being reminded of fractal patterns of nature and the universe.
What it all means I dont know, I write dreams down regularly but these seem to slip from my mind the moment I pick up the pen. Either way I am enjoying all the experiences brought upon by this type of meditation and would recommend everyone to give it a shot!
Lah'Kesh
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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us all. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
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eve69
--=..Did Adam and ...?=--
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#14803354 - 07/21/11 12:33 PM (10 months, 3 days ago) |
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There is no such thing as 'meditation.' There are 'meditations.' I learned Transcendental Meditation 30+ years ago and soon after saw kundalini and experienced shakti. This is not mindfulness, not shamatha, not vippashana, not breathing, not mantra recitation, not the whole host of things called 'meditation.' I find it odd when people ask questions about their meditation - that's like saying, "I exercise!" So you have something to ask, "I exercise and I feel tired after, can you help me?" Well, what sort of exercise are you doing first off? Cabische?
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#14803807 - 07/21/11 02:13 PM (10 months, 3 days ago) |
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The benefits of the MBCT practice are laid out at the beginning. Just like you might lay out the benefits of a bench press. And just like a workout practice, it isn't something that can be done once and forgotten about. That will produce no results. That's why the practice is 8-weeks. 8-weeks is what has been repeatedly shown as effective at producing specific results.
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle] 1
#14810084 - 07/22/11 04:38 PM (10 months, 2 days ago) |
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Do you guys feel like meditating when you hear the song "Deserted Cities Of The Heart", specifically the part that begins at 59 seconds? The short little piece of the song that starts at 59 seconds and is repeated throughout the song makes me feel like I'm meditating on top of a grassy hill on a warm summer night with a head full of psychedelics and a heart full of god.
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--------------------------------
Mp3 of the month: The Shy Guys - Black Lightning Light
Edited by Learyfan (07/22/11 04:47 PM)
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mais
Registered: 07/31/10
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Loc: Tennessee
Last seen: 13 days, 4 hours
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meditating on the dharma
we find peace
meditating on the sangha
we find peace
meditating on the buddha
we find peace
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thoroughly good goodness.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
Registered: 12/16/06
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Re: Meditation! [Re: mais]
#14936680 - 08/17/11 10:11 AM (9 months, 7 days ago) |
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meditating on one foot in front of the other
I find my path
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AkhenAton
Stranger
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#14936691 - 08/17/11 10:14 AM (9 months, 7 days ago) |
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merkaba maybe the magnetic field when it becomes coherent. each organ, thoughts, emotions, intentions, desires and expectations having its own standing wave that is a sphere of particles/waves that cohere together in a more fractal manner or geometrical symmetry.
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don_vedo
MerKaBa
Registered: 05/12/11
Posts: 1,381
Loc: 5th dimension
Last seen: 4 months, 22 days
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Quote:
AkhenAton said:
merkaba maybe the magnetic field when it becomes coherent. each organ, thoughts, emotions, intentions, desires and expectations having its own standing wave that is a sphere of particles/waves that cohere together in a more fractal manner or geometrical symmetry.
?
Lah'Kesh
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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us all. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
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Sramana
Stranger
Registered: 03/27/11
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Re: Meditation! [Re: don_vedo] 1
#14959742 - 08/22/11 05:22 AM (9 months, 2 days ago) |
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Very interesting talk about meditation and drugs
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Drugs are a deception. They give you a feeling which is imaginary, hallucinatory, they give you a feeling that you are back, part of nature. People come to me; they say, "I have been on a drug trip, and it was beautiful, and so many things happened." Nothing happened! -- because after it you are again the same, even worse. It only releases dreams in you, but you become so unconscious that you take the dreams to be real. You are not aware, so you cannot see whether this is a dream or a reality.
Science is the Yoga of the West ·٠•●●•٠· Yoga is the Science of the East
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Sramana]
#14967597 - 08/23/11 06:23 PM (9 months, 1 day ago) |
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yeah a lot of good stuff in there.
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floatingupstream
Registered: 06/20/10
Posts: 225
Loc: FL
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15007650 - 08/31/11 03:21 PM (8 months, 24 days ago) |
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A few questions guys...
When I meditate I feel my mid/upper back muscles strain. Is this from bad posture? I don't know if I just have weak back muscles but is it something I should work through?
Also, I've been meditating on and off for over a year, though I cannot say I've done it with any consistency. Today will be my 4th straight 30 mintue session. I've been under a great deal of stress lately and thus very anxious. It's hard for me to feel as though I've accomplished much during my sessions. Due to my lack of experience is this common and something that prolonged regular practice will clearly sort out? I guess I'm just worried I'm missing out on an experience. Would anyone say it takes a certain amount of time to break through a "beginner's phase" of some sort?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
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Desert Elf
Registered: 08/23/11
Posts: 668
Last seen: 5 hours, 7 minutes
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Hey this is all rather interesting. I was wondering, I saw something about there being different kinds of meditation.. rather than just meditation as people generally imagine (sitting down with hands on knees saying Om over and over..)
The other day I was in the woods searching for Amanita Muscaria and I found myself getting frustrated and sort of "being walked" by the objective of my walking. It was like I was looking ahead all the time trying to fin a likely spot and felt like i was rushing. I stopped, took a breath and just listened to the surrounding environment, then just paid attention to my immediate surroundings. I began walking without direction and felt more in tune with everything and it was very relaxing.
Would this be considered a meditation technique?
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Om Bhur Bhuvah Svaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
Registered: 12/16/06
Posts: 11,340
Last seen: 1 hour, 25 minutes
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Quote:
floatingupstream said:
A few questions guys...
When I meditate I feel my mid/upper back muscles strain. Is this from bad posture? I don't know if I just have weak back muscles but is it something I should work through?
Also, I've been meditating on and off for over a year, though I cannot say I've done it with any consistency. Today will be my 4th straight 30 mintue session. I've been under a great deal of stress lately and thus very anxious. It's hard for me to feel as though I've accomplished much during my sessions. Due to my lack of experience is this common and something that prolonged regular practice will clearly sort out? I guess I'm just worried I'm missing out on an experience. Would anyone say it takes a certain amount of time to break through a "beginner's phase" of some sort?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
I used to find the most strain in my back when I tried to maintain a certain posture. I now find that there is no need to hold it straight and rigid. That idea of a certain posture was the source of the rigidity and also the source of the strain to maintain that rigidity. Letting the idea disappear was enough to allow my body to find a comfortable way to sit upright. With a solid base (legs and butt) the rest of the body naturally falls into an upright position for balance. Without the idea of "uprightness" or "straightness", it can find that position in a very relaxed way and that muscle strain just doesn't occur IME.
As for the anxiety and stress, those are in my personal opinion WONDERFUL emotions to experience in meditation. And maybe I can explain a bit why. I work in retail and often for long stretches without a day off. I am not steady with my meditation practice and often times come home worn out and with no desire to sit down and meditate. What I have noticed is that over time the stress from being in the retail environment adds up. And when a day off finally arrives and I'm ready to get some silent meditation in, I spend it mostly anxious. IMO the more I push away the feelings of stress/anger/resentment that arise in a customer service environment, the more they come up in meditation. So when it happens I'm really thankful because those feelings are finally being given the room they need to express themselves.
And part of my meditation practice is in seeing that scenario play out. As I acknowledge what is happening and the manner in which it is happening, it then becomes much more of a conscious choice to maintain that pattern of behavior or to alter it.
Thanks for posting
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
Registered: 12/16/06
Posts: 11,340
Last seen: 1 hour, 25 minutes
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Quote:
Desert Elf said:
Hey this is all rather interesting. I was wondering, I saw something about there being different kinds of meditation.. rather than just meditation as people generally imagine (sitting down with hands on knees saying Om over and over..)
The other day I was in the woods searching for Amanita Muscaria and I found myself getting frustrated and sort of "being walked" by the objective of my walking. It was like I was looking ahead all the time trying to fin a likely spot and felt like i was rushing. I stopped, took a breath and just listened to the surrounding environment, then just paid attention to my immediate surroundings. I began walking without direction and felt more in tune with everything and it was very relaxing.
Would this be considered a meditation technique?
Yeah
realizing there is nowhere you need to be but wherever you are is definitely a great meditation
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weshroom
Stranger
Registered: 11/19/06
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15017641 - 09/02/11 12:23 PM (8 months, 22 days ago) |
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Quote:
Kickle said:
Quote:
floatingupstream said:
A few questions guys...
When I meditate I feel my mid/upper back muscles strain. Is this from bad posture? I don't know if I just have weak back muscles but is it something I should work through?
Also, I've been meditating on and off for over a year, though I cannot say I've done it with any consistency. Today will be my 4th straight 30 mintue session. I've been under a great deal of stress lately and thus very anxious. It's hard for me to feel as though I've accomplished much during my sessions. Due to my lack of experience is this common and something that prolonged regular practice will clearly sort out? I guess I'm just worried I'm missing out on an experience. Would anyone say it takes a certain amount of time to break through a "beginner's phase" of some sort?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
I used to find the most strain in my back when I tried to maintain a certain posture. I now find that there is no need to hold it straight and rigid. That idea of a certain posture was the source of the rigidity and also the source of the strain to maintain that rigidity. Letting the idea disappear was enough to allow my body to find a comfortable way to sit upright. With a solid base (legs and butt) the rest of the body naturally falls into an upright position for balance. Without the idea of "uprightness" or "straightness", it can find that position in a very relaxed way and that muscle strain just doesn't occur IME.
As for the anxiety and stress, those are in my personal opinion WONDERFUL emotions to experience in meditation. And maybe I can explain a bit why. I work in retail and often for long stretches without a day off. I am not steady with my meditation practice and often times come home worn out and with no desire to sit down and meditate. What I have noticed is that over time the stress from being in the retail environment adds up. And when a day off finally arrives and I'm ready to get some silent meditation in, I spend it mostly anxious. IMO the more I push away the feelings of stress/anger/resentment that arise in a customer service environment, the more they come up in meditation. So when it happens I'm really thankful because those feelings are finally being given the room they need to express themselves.
And part of my meditation practice is in seeing that scenario play out. As I acknowledge what is happening and the manner in which it is happening, it then becomes much more of a conscious choice to maintain that pattern of behavior or to alter it.
Thanks for posting
Thank you very much for this
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
Registered: 12/16/06
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sure thing
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floatingupstream
Registered: 06/20/10
Posts: 225
Loc: FL
Last seen: 3 months, 8 days
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15024746 - 09/03/11 06:51 PM (8 months, 21 days ago) |
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I'm having a hard time focusing at all during my sessions. It's because my anxiety and stress is so great during the day. It's very hard for the work done in my sessions to roll over into daily life. I've come to the conclusion that I need to sit more than once daily. So, that's the plan for now!
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deff
just relax
Registered: 05/01/04
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cool! i've heard a lot of people recommend that multiple shorter sessions per day are often better than one long session, especially when you're relatively new to it. also, trying to keep mindfulness throughout the day outside of formal sessions is a good idea too
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White Beard
Venerable White Beard
Registered: 08/13/11
Posts: 2,317
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Re: Meditation! [Re: deff]
#15024892 - 09/03/11 07:16 PM (8 months, 21 days ago) |
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I highly agree with shorter but more sessions. I find if I force myself to sit for half hour or 45 minutes, it feels like I'm stressing too much over quantity over quality. Now I usually just sit whenever I feel like it for however long I feel like which usually translates to 10-15 minutes. I find it makes meditation so much more of a joy then a burden.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
Registered: 12/16/06
Posts: 11,340
Last seen: 1 hour, 25 minutes
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Quote:
floatingupstream said:
I'm having a hard time focusing at all during my sessions. It's because my anxiety and stress is so great during the day. It's very hard for the work done in my sessions to roll over into daily life. I've come to the conclusion that I need to sit more than once daily. So, that's the plan for now!
letting go of the idea of needing to do anything is helpful too
particularly when the problem is stress/anxiety, which is perpetuated by tension between the way things are and the way we want them to be
going in to a meditation session without expectations can be really good
especially when doing so is opening oneself up to whatever may arise
including stress, anxiety, confusion, discomfort, pain
there doesn't always have to be a goal and a plan to achieve the goal
because often doing that is what keeps us going in circles
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jimmymc
Stranger
Registered: 09/06/11
Posts: 11
Loc: Texas
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15046427 - 09/08/11 03:20 AM (8 months, 16 days ago) |
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Week 1 Day 1
1. done. Being aware of the body parts was easy. Awareness lost often. Twice missed parts do to mind on other things. Used to do this practice three years ago. It lead to meditation which I practice daily. Refreshing to return to it. Nasty summer cold might be effecting my mindfulness-a bit groggy. Distractions to body awareness ranged from the obscure to three useful reminders of business topics needing my attention-common in my meditations.
2. done here.
3. I have chosen my piano practice sessions with my daughter.
4. I choose breakfast as my mindfulness meal. My morning mixed berry shake is my only consistent meal.
Note: I will note the reflections for homework 3 and 4 in Day 2's section.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: jimmymc]
#15046597 - 09/08/11 05:30 AM (8 months, 16 days ago) |
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Thanks for posting, keep us updated on how any future practice goes.
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jimmymc
Stranger
Registered: 09/06/11
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Loc: Texas
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Re: Meditation! [Re: jimmymc] 1
#15056834 - 09/10/11 04:32 AM (8 months, 14 days ago) |
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Week 1 Day 2
1. Mind more flighty yesterday morning. Subtlety of mind amazing. I miss the body scan as it gives you a base line of measurement to nature of mind.
3. Did not do.
4. Did not do.
Note: About to start Day 3.
Week 1 Day 3
1. More restless in this session. Lack of sleep and an early meeting likely causes. Otherwise similar to Day 2.
3. Did not do.
4. Did not do.
Note: Will try awareness exercise 2 today while fishing and report with Day 4.
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jimmymc
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Re: Meditation! [Re: jimmymc] 1
#15061747 - 09/11/11 08:24 AM (8 months, 13 days ago) |
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Day 4
1. Subtlety of the nature of mind is very noticable in this body scan. As I said yesterday it gives you a baseline. The baseline is a point of departure and return. From here I notice how automated much of what I do is from scratching an itch to mentally wandering off without purpose. Sometimes the wandering happens to be apparently useful other times I wonder how I got there. I appreciate this basic practice and think perhaps my meditation should never wander to far from this basic body scan. Meditation, like religions, can take you far from the original purpose and truth when they are over-thought and over-"improved".
3. Did not do.
4. Fishing yesterday I more or less forgot to my commitment to practice. I will try again today while surfing and fishing as I intend to do both alone today.
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jimmymc
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Re: Meditation! [Re: jimmymc]
#15066469 - 09/12/11 05:38 AM (8 months, 12 days ago) |
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Day 5
1. Short session today. Nothing new to report.
3. Did not do.
4. Fishing yesterday again. Had a very full experience practicing awareness while there. Found the experience more productive and the impression (or memory) of the experience is clearer than normal.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: jimmymc]
#15072074 - 09/13/11 08:27 AM (8 months, 11 days ago) |
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I'm awaiting an update
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jimmymc
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15072176 - 09/13/11 08:55 AM (8 months, 11 days ago) |
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Day 6
1. Meditation was nice today. Had the relaxed body of someone who surfed for 4 hours the day before. The meditation was deep and steady.
3. Did not do.
4. Practiced this exercise during meditation. Noticed my awareness seemed to help me tighten up my performance in the sense that I became aware of the extraneous noises that tend to keep me from noticing what I am out there to notice--the waves, the board and my body's relation to it. Was a nice experience and carried over into my time with my daughter yesterday--we were very playful and engaged. This is something that I have not experienced in a while as I have likely been preoccupied with my business reopening.
Note: I guess I will move on the your second homework assignment.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: jimmymc]
#15072182 - 09/13/11 08:58 AM (8 months, 11 days ago) |
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awesome bro
thanks a lot for being open enough to share this with us
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jimmymc
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15072207 - 09/13/11 09:08 AM (8 months, 11 days ago) |
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It is a bit unclear to me but looks like you would like to see the same #1 for week 2 with the addition of a 15-20 focus meditation. Is this the case? Also, I noticed I labeled 3 and 4 reverse of there assignments--don't want any confusion...
Thanks for putting this together. I am enjoying the practice change up and will have to remember to change things up more often to keep practice fresh.
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: jimmymc]
#15072229 - 09/13/11 09:15 AM (8 months, 11 days ago) |
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The goal of week 2 is to take broad and unfocused mindfulness and turn it into a focused mindfulness, specifically on an automated process. This isn't to say stop exploring and only focus on the breath, but to take time to explore the breath. A focused exploration that requires no action to focus on.
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jimmymc
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15072749 - 09/13/11 11:22 AM (8 months, 11 days ago) |
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Is the 45min audio the same for the 1st and 2nd week?
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Kickle
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Re: Meditation! [Re: jimmymc]
#15072850 - 09/13/11 11:41 AM (8 months, 11 days ago) |
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Yes
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jimmymc
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 Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15076630 - 09/14/11 04:24 AM (8 months, 10 days ago) |
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Week2 Day1
1. Body Scan - noticing the increased familiarity with the audio track; not much else to report.
Will report the rest on Day2 report.
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jimmymc
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15082691 - 09/15/11 11:35 AM (8 months, 9 days ago) |
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1. Short session this morning. It is remarkable how much mental activity is involuntary (more or less) meaning without prior intention. Little itches scratched, little thoughts so random attended without accent, etc.
2. Two opportunities to have the short meditation. Both while driving. Both rewarding. Nothing special just something nice about checking in with oneself.
3. I find myself without the motivation/imagination to create/imagine a pleasant event. Part of the reason is I find most everything more or less even. Last night I slept under the stars and used this event for my #3. Mostly full moon. Quite lovely. No real pleasantness. Tired and ready for sleep. Ready for a less busy schedule. Music lately is the only thing that seems useful for transcending this lack of um, inspiration.
4. Was not able to practice piano with daughter yesterday so used the meal experience. Nothing notable to report.
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RedNucleus
Deep eyed wanderer
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Re: Meditation! [Re: jimmymc]
#15097525 - 09/18/11 06:10 PM (8 months, 6 days ago) |
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This is my favorite place on the internet and I'm psyched to be back. I'm gonna meditate on that now.
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birdland
Registered: 07/24/11
Posts: 615
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Ok so I've decided the time has finally come for me to take up meditation. I read the first couple of posts and I'm kind of wondering how I should go about starting this.
Basically I'm only wondering if I should
- Use the audio until I have a good idea of what I'm doing
or
- Work out something for myself. Just set aside 30 - 40 mins each time and lay/sit down and see what happens just focusing on my breathing/body and not analysing my thoughts
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Completely up to you. If I were you I'd try a body scan audio to see if it's something you enjoy or not.
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birdland
Registered: 07/24/11
Posts: 615
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15116407 - 09/22/11 09:02 AM (8 months, 2 days ago) |
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Yea that's what I was thinking, there's just so many different ideas out there on how to meditate I'm really not sure what one is gonna suite me the most. I have had anxiety all my life which has definitely reduced my standard of living, at times quite a lot. I'm currently working on improving my attitude and outlook on life as I've also suffered depression on and off since I was like 11 or 12, and I decided a few months ago I've had enough. I think I'm at the point now where I've improved my mental health enough through various means that I can give meditation a try too.
So I guess in the short term I'm looking to help relieve and reduce my anxiety while becoming a happier and more confident person. However I also am in to the idea of spiritual growth and if meditation does help with my short term goals I'm definitely gonna stick at it and try the whole self-exploration/enlightenment side of things.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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cool man, glad you're taking the initiative to get some new elements into your life. IMO meditation is one of the best things you can do for yourself
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birdland
Registered: 07/24/11
Posts: 615
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15199341 - 10/09/11 07:38 AM (7 months, 16 days ago) |
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Hah, I know I posted on here a couple of weeks ago saying how I was gonna meditate but I haven't yet. Anyway finally set some time aside tonight and just tried the audios but I couldn't get them to work 
20 minute version didn't link me to any audio that I could find and the 45 minute version only works on Windows (I'm running a mac).
Any other audios you could recommend or link me to?
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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What format can you open? I might be able to convert the audios for you.
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15199737 - 10/09/11 09:38 AM (7 months, 16 days ago) |
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Here's an m4a format (Apple Lossless)
let me know if that works
Body Scan
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Re: Meditation! [Re: Kickle]
#15200132 - 10/09/11 11:17 AM (7 months, 16 days ago) |
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Here's the rest of the audios from this thread in that same format
Yoga 1
Yoga 2
Sitting Meditation
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DrugFreeMike420
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Pineal Gland [Re: Kickle]
#15280645 - 10/26/11 10:23 AM (6 months, 30 days ago) |
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Before Meditation I was introduced to this endocrine gland, which one thing lead to another & brought myself to whom I am today.
I am profoundly wondering if this gland within my mind is even still active, once already "Re-activating" the gland. I am a very spiritual person & put the Taoism into my every thought & action. It is Taoism as of now that I am studying & it is the way. Self-reminders of rightful thinking or how eventually/and exactly how to go about your daily life with no judgment what-so-ever. Besides all of this I am in-taking about the great Tao, I am certainly concentrating on opening my mind to newer things. I've been waiting to post on here for almost a year it seems, I never knew or felt how it could simply better myself, just by putting time & effort into oneself.
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weshroom
Stranger
Registered: 11/19/06
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Quote:
DrugFreeMike420 said:
Before Meditation I was introduced to this endocrine gland, which one thing lead to another & brought myself to whom I am today.
I am profoundly wondering if this gland within my mind is even still active, once already "Re-activating" the gland. I am a very spiritual person & put the Taoism into my every thought & action. It is Taoism as of now that I am studying & it is the way. Self-reminders of rightful thinking or how eventually/and exactly how to go about your daily life with no judgment what-so-ever. Besides all of this I am in-taking about the great Tao, I am certainly concentrating on opening my mind to newer things. I've been waiting to post on here for almost a year it seems, I never knew or felt how it could simply better myself, just by putting time & effort into oneself.
Thats awesome my friend, good to hear For us all
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bigmike7104
Stranger
Registered: 07/12/10
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Re: Pineal Gland [Re: weshroom]
#15328253 - 11/05/11 06:22 PM (6 months, 20 days ago) |
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--------------------
Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind
Withering my intuition, missing opportunities and I must
Feed my will to feel my moment drawing way outside the lines
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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Pretty sweet branches dude
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weshroom
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Re: Pineal Gland [Re: Kickle]
#15351343 - 11/10/11 04:26 PM (6 months, 15 days ago) |
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Great pictures for meditation. THanks
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ornevo
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Re: Pineal Gland [Re: weshroom]
#15424448 - 11/25/11 10:44 PM (5 months, 30 days ago) |
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im some how not able to concentrate in meditation, need help from expert here, i loose my focus.
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AcidMonster
Mindful Warrior
Registered: 07/13/11
Posts: 472
Loc: OR
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Re: Pineal Gland [Re: ornevo]
#15424505 - 11/25/11 10:57 PM (5 months, 30 days ago) |
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Quote:
ornevo said:
im some how not able to concentrate in meditation, need help from expert here, i loose my focus.
I'm far from experienced but right now i'm in a phase and have learned to accept these phases before. Don't fight it, eventually it will come to you. Every time you loose your desired train of though just revert back to your goal. Or just let it be and ride it out. Personally if I ride it out I start getting extremely uncomfortable. So I'd say correct yourself back on your path and keep calm. Soon enough you'll be in that trance. Sometimes tea and incense help as well. Play around with it, the expert is you. Try not to get frustrated about it. This too shall pass. The perils of meditating I believe are learning to deal with arising occurrences such as yours. Good luck! Keep us posted on how you overcome.
I'd like to hear any other tips though as sometimes I'll be overwhelmed by side tracking, loosing my goal, etc and just ease up for that session and try another day. Also, sometimes I get very itchy and uncomfortable when I meditate while i'm in half lotus. It's kind of ridiculous and happens like i'm not even controlling it. I'll give it 20 minutes even and repeatedly that will happen and gets very frustrating.
Edited by AcidMonster (11/25/11 11:02 PM)
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bigmike7104
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Re: Pineal Gland [Re: ornevo] 1
#15424705 - 11/26/11 12:06 AM (5 months, 30 days ago) |
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Quote:
ornevo said:
im some how not able to concentrate in meditation, need help from expert here, i loose my focus.
that's all part of the process, especially for beginners, but even for people who have been meditating for a while.
it's the nature of the mind. so whenever you lose concentration which is always inevitable, observe that you got lost in your thoughts then continue meditating.
also, if you find yourself thinking 'im not good at meditating' or 'that wasn't a good meditation session' as i have done, realize it's just another thought and then let it go. in meditation, there is no expert. it's simply just being in the present moment. so meditation is kind of a practice for living in the moment instead of our thoughts for so much of the time.
Quote:
Also, sometimes I get very itchy and uncomfortable
you could use that as your focus for meditating. observe the uncomfortable and itchiness seeing exactly how it feels like. also watch intently on thoughts that arise about them, but don't react to them. see how long you can go without relieving the itch.
but if you have to scratch it, then scratch it and just be mindful of yourself scratching it, then continue meditating as you were before.
--------------------
Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind
Withering my intuition, missing opportunities and I must
Feed my will to feel my moment drawing way outside the lines
Edited by bigmike7104 (11/26/11 12:16 AM)
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JohnnyZampano
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6 week retreat [Re: Kickle]
#15465880 - 12/04/11 05:32 PM (5 months, 22 days ago) |
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I just returned from a six week silent vipassana(insight) meditation retreat out in Massachusetts at IMS (Insight Meditation Society) - it was part 2 of the yearly three month retreat. 41 full days of meditation, 38 in complete silence. I averaged 7 - 8 hours on the cushion each day, but was able to hold awareness / mindfulness though all waking hours pretty well.
I won't type much here as the the computer is still a bit much to process, but I will say this.
This is it. It is what it is. There is nothing to do, there is nowhere to go. You are complete exactly as you are right here, right now. Peace is available to you right now, always, right here... you can't do anything to get it, just have to let go and return to the natural state of your mind - perfect peace.
Anyway, it was a competently life changing experience where much wisdom was gained and some self was permanently lost. It also fully confirmed my faith in the Dharma, and I truly know this is what I want to do with my life - which I think means ordaining as a monk in a year or two when the opportunity is right. But, Here and Now I dwell, always.
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"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
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Kickle
A Growing Hope
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damn that's a long sit
glad you made it through in a good way
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White Beard
Venerable White Beard
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This inspired me. I'm going to try out one of those 10 day retreats this winter.
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JohnnyZampano
Stranger
Registered: 11/03/10
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Last seen: 5 months, 3 days
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Quote:
White Beard said:
This inspired me. I'm going to try out one of those 10 day retreats this winter.
I highly recommend it. I did a 10 day thru Goenka as my second retreat, and it was quite an experience. Really pushed my meditation practice forward and got me going more seriously. Plus when you get to day 10, you know anything is possible
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"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
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AcidMonster
Mindful Warrior
Registered: 07/13/11
Posts: 472
Loc: OR
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That post inspired me to check out a local Buddhist center to expand my further learning. After my last school final on thursday i'm going to a lunchtime meditation session. This will be my first time ever stepping in to such a place. Can't wait for the experience.
Edited by AcidMonster (12/04/11 09:24 PM)
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fatal222316
Alive
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Re: 6 week retreat [Re: Kickle]
#15501464 - 12/11/11 06:26 PM (5 months, 15 days ago) |
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Meditation is very peaceful, but also very hard to do I have practiced for a year or so on and off mainly using free literature and what I have read on the internet and have finally gotten to that point thats hard to explain all noises cut out all thought is gone and when I come to sometimes it feels Like I have done a obe and that kind of scares me so I have layed off for a while even though I enjoy the stress reducing peacefulness of it.
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"Who says upright Ape's should know the secrets of the Universe"--Terrance McKenna
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Culicarius
Stranger
Registered: 12/19/11
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I identify as a Pantheist, heavily influenced by eastern philosophies. Buddhism falls under this blanket, and as such I try to meditate as much as I can. I find it to be very relaxing and stress-reducing. I believe I once managed to obtain a state of enlightenment, but I'm reluctant to really admit it anywhere.
But whatever I might have experienced for that brief moment was absolutely overwhelmingly beautiful.
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