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Sinbad
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Simple Meditation Technique 1
#3634775 - 01/16/05 11:41 AM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Traditionally our ordinary state of mind is compared with a muddy pool of water. Thinking is like stirring the water, the thoughts are like the waves on the surface, and the mud is like the emotions. The more we stir the muddier it gets! How do we make the water clear? Stop stirring! This is the cutting through of the thinking process. When we cease following the thoughts they dissolve along with the emotions into the nature of mind. When the mind is calm it reflects things as they are. Like the surface of a still pool of water. Throughout this training we come to notice the relationships between our thoughts, emotions and our habit patterns and can begin to free ourselves from our constant lack of control when under their influence. This discover of the tranquil base of our mind gives us a clear, smooth flow of energy in our bodies, and a calm joy and clarity that will pervade our whole experience of life. This enables us to cope with the pressures and demands of life that would normally overwhelm us! Main points of posture 1. Keep the back naturally straight 2. Keep the head upright 3. The eyes must be open and looking downwards following the line of the nose 4. The teeth must be kept slightly apart as to avoid any tension in the jaw. 5. Rest the tongue gently on the upper palate just beneath the teeth 6. Rest the hands gently on the knees Principles of concentration Their exist a whole range of methods for calming the mind. Some work with an outer object, some with an inner; then there are those that use the mind itself as an object of concentration, or which do not use any object at all. Naturally our practice begins with the simplest method, the breath. The breath is used as our focus of concentration, since our breath is always with us we can train at any time, any place without limitations. Turn your attention naturally to the sensation of air flowing naturally through your nostrils. Leaving your breath natural, this is without conscious control, follow the feeling of air coming and going, meanwhile the body remains still following the guidelines for posture above. In the beginning your mind will be easily distracted after just a few breaths, when you beomce aware that your mind has wandered gently bring your attention back to your breath. Our minds are accustomed to distraction, in fact we have never taught them anything else! SO do not be discouraged by your minds disobedience. Try to be patient as a parent is when trying to teach something to a small child. With practice the minds tendency to wander will decrease and eventually disappear altogether. This however, needs time, if your mind has been running around for twenty or thirty years you cannot expect to tame it within a week or even a month. Allow yourself sufficient time for mind training and do not expect immediate results! When developing concentration, the rule is that the mind should be treated in the same way as a violinist does his instrument whilst tuning it. Just like these strings the mind should be neither to loose or too tight. If the mind is to tense then you will experience anxiety and frustration. If on the other hand the mind is to loose, the sleepiness, dullness and loss of clarity will result and no progress can be made. You you remain still for a period of time your breath will become calm, slower and more even. Both body and mind will be relaxed, tension will disappear and Qi will flow harmoniously throughout the body. This is a very pleasant state that brings into balance all the elements of our being and contributes to better health. These are the teachings of Sifu yeshe Gyatso my father and Chi-Kung Master!
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Edited by Sinbad (01/17/05 10:02 AM)
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redgreenvines
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Sinbad] 1
#3634788 - 01/16/05 11:46 AM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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good
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TinTree
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Sinbad]
#3635127 - 01/16/05 01:50 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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:gassho:
-------------------- "I'm afraid of losing my obscurity. Genuineness only thrives in the dark. Like celery." - Aldous Huxley
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Anonymous
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Sinbad]
#3635210 - 01/16/05 02:24 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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This is good. However, I think it's important to point out that before you can do focal meditation, you should first clear out your current thoughts and concerns through no-mind meditation. One reason people have trouble with their thoughts wandering during focal meditation is because they first haven't settled all the thoughts floating around in their head first.
First, sit and think of nothing. Clear your mind of all questions and concerns. Take each thought that comes up and ponder it carefully, and then bring closure to it by making some decision about so that it's no longer a concern. Once this is complete, and no thoughts pop up for a good half-minute or so, you're good to move on to a focus. If you find that a thought keeps coming up and you can't get rid of it, clear out everything else, and then use that thought as your focus of meditation.
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Great Scott
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: ]
#3635786 - 01/16/05 05:31 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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There are many techniques for reaching the silence and no mind...why the emphasis on these? ---> Main points of posture
1. Keep the back naturally straight 2. Keep the head upright 3. The eyes must be open and looking downwards following the line of the nose 4. The teeth must be kept slightly apart as to avoid any tension in the jaw. 5. Rest the tongue gently on the upper palate just beneath the teeth 6. Rest the hands gently on the knees
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Cosm
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Great Scott]
#3635816 - 01/16/05 05:37 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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right on sinbad, great meditation.
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toneloke
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Cosm]
#3636028 - 01/16/05 06:28 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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does meditation change the way you think once you learn to make your mind block out the distractions and wandering?
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IamHungry
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: toneloke]
#3636146 - 01/16/05 07:01 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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How long should a normal meditation session last? And how often should one meditate?
-------------------- Here comes the sun, do n do do, Here comes the sun, and I say, It's alright...
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Swami
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Sinbad]
#3636188 - 01/16/05 07:15 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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when you beomce aware
Meditation should carry over into every activity. Were you aware when you wrote this?
-------------------- The proof is in the pudding.
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spudamore
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Swami]
#3636254 - 01/16/05 07:37 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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-------------------- suicide a permanent solution to a temporary problem
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Sinbad
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Great Scott]
#3637638 - 01/17/05 01:58 AM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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These all help the flow of Qi through the body, and help to calm the mind.
But if one is feeling dull, then its best to raise the gaze higher to clarify the mind. If one is feeling agitated then its best to lower the gaze as stated.
These points are the points used in the practice of shine within Tibetan buddhism.
The tounge being placed on the top alatle allows the the connection of the circulation of chi around the body.
You can also put your hands wherever the feel most comfortable, the point is to keep still. If the body moves the mind moves!
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Sinbad
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: toneloke]
#3637643 - 01/17/05 02:04 AM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Meditiation is the act of non-manipulation, so no it doesnt change the way you think at all. It makes you more aware of your thoughts and emotions, for some at first the may try this technique and think that the meditation is creating all these masses of thoughts and emotions.
This is not so, all the meditation has done is made you aware for maybe the first time of all these thoughts and emotions occuring in your mindstream.
So usuallly the first experience in meditation is that of wanting to be anytwhere else apart from where you are, wanting to occupy your mind and run away from the experience. This is what is called 'first experience' and is a sign that your meditation is working. Please do not be discouraged by this experience as it is a vital stepping stone in your practice.
There should be no act of blocking at all, any blocking will block your progress and the flow of Qi through your body. So just allow your breath to take its own rythm and relax naturally.
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Sinbad
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique *DELETED* [Re: IamHungry]
#3637654 - 01/17/05 02:12 AM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Post deleted by SinbadReason for deletion: on request
Edited by Sinbad (01/17/05 11:45 AM)
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redgreenvines
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Sinbad] 1
#3637842 - 01/17/05 05:49 AM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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your ability to repeat techniques and rules is good. clearly much respect for that!
what is concentration?
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Sinbad
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Sinbad]
#3638117 - 01/17/05 08:53 AM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Yes Swami i was aware! Well semi aware anyways
Quote:
Sinbad said: The breath is used as our focus of concentration, since our breath is always with us we can train at any time, any place without limitations.
This is a continual post, which will update with methods for daily life and working with emotions
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Edited by Sinbad (01/17/05 02:11 PM)
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Sinbad
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: redgreenvines]
#3638667 - 01/17/05 11:47 AM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Concentration within the context of meditation means "relaxed" focused attention.
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redgreenvines
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Sinbad]
#3639039 - 01/17/05 12:59 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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how do you focus attention?
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Sinbad
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique *DELETED* [Re: redgreenvines]
#3639159 - 01/17/05 01:29 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Post deleted by SinbadReason for deletion: on request + better info out there
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redgreenvines
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: Sinbad]
#3639378 - 01/17/05 02:17 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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in my terms you are gently stacking mind frames about a central object to create a self-stable resonant stack (series of mind moments of nearly the same type).
less like focussing and more like chosing mind moments - meantime the association process operates to chose a variety - in such a way a distraction would be a wild card (or sequence) in such an ordered stack, and following distractions will shuffle the deck.
can you explain more in your terms what attention is.
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Sinbad
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Re: Simple Meditation Technique [Re: redgreenvines]
#3639467 - 01/17/05 02:42 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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When meditating we are not attempting to do anything other than be 'present'. We are not attempting to create anything or achieve any goal at all! There maybe notions of choosing or creating in the mind, but these are just the distractions of thought processes at play, to recognize, relax and let go of such thoughts is essential. All experience is welcomed openly and nothing is rejected. To go into any more detail about attention would be erroneous and open up many complications of interpretation. Remember simplicity is the key! This next part should round things up nicely! "In our lives, everything we do is aimed at achieving a certain goal. Some of our goals are short-term, others long-term. Meditation, however cannot be regarded from the same point of view of a goal. Developing a calm and tranquil mind is one of those activities that must be carried out without any thoughts of a goal such as chasing after experiences of bliss, clarity, non-thought and joy. Our aim is simply to be aware and present. This does not exclude these experiences but our grasping after them will become an obstacle to our progress if we chase after experiences then the result will be disappointment and loss of interest in practice. So no assumptions, no expectations, and no goals. Naturally, this does not mean that if training the mind has no goal, then it will not in any way show up in our lives. Quite the contrary. We will be calmer, clearer , more content and we will have a greater perspective on life. If, however, we approach meditation with the view to attain all these things then this grasping will only stir up our thoughts and go against the grain of the whole training process; the heart of which is "letting go". If you succeed in approaching mind training in a relaxed manner, without thoughts of a goal or success, then you will never have the feeling that your training is not working. Remember: there is no such thing as a "bad meditation". In the wise word of Sifu Yeshe Gyatso aka My Father.
Edited by Sinbad (01/17/05 03:26 PM)
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