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barfightlard
tales of theinexpressible



Registered: 01/29/03 
Posts: 8,670
Loc: Canoodia
Last seen: 14 years, 1 month
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Meditation and self help
#5904296 - 07/27/06 02:42 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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I have tried meditating many times, but I don't seem to get anythign out of it. I get comfortable and focus on my natural breathing and if any thoughts flow I try and just let them flow. Talk therapy has helped a little bit, but not much, and medication has done fuck all.
I hear alot of storys and advice of meditation helping people, maybe I'm not putting enough energy into it? I wan't to feel more content with life and enjoy living it. I'm not too happy with the way I'm living right now, and the past few years. I feel like I'm completely ditached from people and that everything is, well,for a lack of a better word, fake. I can feel within myself that a true connection with other people would make me feel awesome. I can feel connections that other people have, but not myself and other people. I know it's out there, but I feel I'm missing out.
I'm lost I guess. Wen't a little off topic, but some input is greatly welcomed.
thank you
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"What business is it of yours what I do, read, buy, see, say, think, who I fuck, what I take into my body - as long as I do not harm another human being on this planet?" - Bill Hicks
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leery11
I Tell You What!

Registered: 06/24/05
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Re: Meditation and self help [Re: barfightlard]
#5904967 - 07/27/06 11:01 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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". I feel like I'm completely ditached from people and that everything is, well,for a lack of a better word, fake. I can feel within myself that a true connection with other people would make me feel awesome. I can feel connections that other people have, but not myself and other people. I know it's out there, but I feel I'm missing out."
I relate completely.
How long do you meditate for? It can take quite a while til you get the results. I did for an hour or so the other day, sitting mainly, then lying down on the floor and trying to attain yoga nidra (conscious deep sleep..... i got some images and went in and out of sleep a lot while breathing deep, then randomly wasn't tired anymore and got up, and sat a bit longer).
and well, it felt quite restorative, but even that hour wasn't entirely what i'm seeking.
your method is good, if you are aware of every breath you take then that is sufficient, if not counting during your exhale, to 5, 7, or 10, at a slow rhythmn (in synch with the heartbeat or every other heartbeat seems good) is good. this can create a contrast where you are sort of "trancing" and aware mainly just that you are exhaling and counting.
it's what i was taught at a Zen "temple".
the other way to go is to go take a yoga class, or a spiritual martial art such as tai chi. these in some ways are more rewarding than meditation sitting because there can be a good connection to the other people you are with.
my tai chi instructor (and he hasn't been here over the summer) is an extremely loving close to enlightened man..... he just beams it.... sometimes just thinking about him and his smile is just really peaceful to me, as I feel this sort of unconditional love come from him. he's also very silly and humorous.
my yoga teacher is not nearly as advanced but she is a great person too. unfortunately there is a sort of dissonance between us me being indiscrete and shy and not opening, and not understanding what I want from her exactly other than some sort of friendship, which doesn't seem to be taking flight... yet... it's a difficult learning lesson.
meditation will help a lot, but it will also make your problems a lot more REAL becuase it's about cleansing, and so if you are hiding from people and you meditate to try to feel better, in some ways you will feel better, but in many ways you're gonna start to think things about who you are as a person, and it might be a bit difficult in that way.
unless you want to meditate to nirvana and hide from the world...... otherwise you're still gonna have to fix your "problems", meditation just helps you view them accurately and without attachment... which ultimately makes them not hurt as much, because a lot of problems come from simple wrong view.
-------------------- I am the MacDaddy of Heimlich County, I play it Straight Up Yo! ....I embrace my desire to feel the rhythm, to feel connected enough to step aside and weep like a widow, to feel inspired, to fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity and still be a human...... Om Namah Shivaya, I tell you What!
Edited by leery11 (07/27/06 11:04 AM)
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barfightlard
tales of theinexpressible



Registered: 01/29/03 
Posts: 8,670
Loc: Canoodia
Last seen: 14 years, 1 month
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Re: Meditation and self help [Re: leery11]
#5906181 - 07/27/06 05:49 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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When I used to meditate I would do it before going to sleep, maybe 10-30 minutes.
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"What business is it of yours what I do, read, buy, see, say, think, who I fuck, what I take into my body - as long as I do not harm another human being on this planet?" - Bill Hicks
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Fractalated
There's no onehome up there...

Registered: 07/22/06
Posts: 640
Last seen: 17 years, 4 months
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Re: Meditation and self help [Re: barfightlard]
#5906252 - 07/27/06 06:20 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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I wan't to feel more content with life and enjoy living it. I'm not too happy with the way I'm living right now, and the past few years. I feel like I'm completely ditached from people
If you are experiencing suffering, the first thing to do is to recognize that you are suffering. This means embracing your suffering without trying to do anything about it. Acknowledge that you are suffering in such and such a way. Just embrace it like a mother would embrace a misguided child, smiling and full of love and understanding.
The next step is to realize that the suffering has an origin. Look very deeply into your suffering and try to see how and where it came to be. See how you contributed to it. See how others contributed to it. See what caused it, and what conditions allow it to continue. See what nourishes the suffering; what gives it food.
The next step is to realize that there is a path to end the suffering. It has been tread on by many people throughout the ages, and it works. It liberates those who live by the path from suffering.
The last step is to realize the path and live by it. The path consists of Right View, Right Thinking, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Diligence, Right Concentration, Right Mindfulness, and Right Livelihood. There are many books and web sites dedicated to explaining these aspects of the path in detail, so I won't attempt it here.
Life is suffering and joy. Wherever there is suffering, there is joy; and wherever there is joy, there is suffering. If you're suffering, then take action to stop it.
-------------------- "Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."
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The_Hobbit
Bilbo Baggins


Registered: 04/06/04
Posts: 1,382
Loc: The Shire
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Re: Meditation and self help [Re: Fractalated]
#5907804 - 07/28/06 02:11 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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I find that a big step is to know what is going on. To focus.
You can tell yourself to do that and it may seem simple, but you will realize how hard it is when you come back to that same thought after 10 or 20 different thoughts having passed through your mind without actually being focused. You realize what processes are going on - what cycles are being repeated in your thoughts and then you say - woah - I need to change and adapt to this moment!
It is not easy, bro. That is what your life is. That is the one thing - the meaning to life. Understand that it's what it is and decide - what do I do?
For me.. I found that gratefulness is a key. Be in awe - be happy - explore and experience the adventure.
-------------------- Smoking my hobbit leaf... Please keep in mind that I am just a human being. Please read my posts carefully and interpret their meaning for yourself.
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barfightlard
tales of theinexpressible



Registered: 01/29/03 
Posts: 8,670
Loc: Canoodia
Last seen: 14 years, 1 month
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Re: Meditation and self help [Re: The_Hobbit]
#5908621 - 07/28/06 11:07 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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sS there an ideal time to meditate? I know the brains thought patterns change through the day.
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"What business is it of yours what I do, read, buy, see, say, think, who I fuck, what I take into my body - as long as I do not harm another human being on this planet?" - Bill Hicks
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Fractalated
There's no onehome up there...

Registered: 07/22/06
Posts: 640
Last seen: 17 years, 4 months
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Re: Meditation and self help [Re: barfightlard]
#5908985 - 07/28/06 01:35 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Generally speaking, the early morning hours between 4 and 6am are the prime time to meditate. However, that's not always practical, so after waking up is a good time, and after that, pretty much ANY time is a good time. Consistency is important though.
-------------------- "Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."
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barfightlard
tales of theinexpressible



Registered: 01/29/03 
Posts: 8,670
Loc: Canoodia
Last seen: 14 years, 1 month
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Re: Meditation and self help [Re: Fractalated]
#5910323 - 07/28/06 10:07 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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thanks
--------------------
"What business is it of yours what I do, read, buy, see, say, think, who I fuck, what I take into my body - as long as I do not harm another human being on this planet?" - Bill Hicks
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Fractalated
There's no onehome up there...

Registered: 07/22/06
Posts: 640
Last seen: 17 years, 4 months
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Re: Meditation and self help [Re: barfightlard]
#5910397 - 07/28/06 10:28 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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-------------------- "Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."
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bobjones
...


Registered: 10/12/05
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Loc: Tx
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Re: Meditation and self help [Re: Fractalated]
#5912394 - 07/29/06 03:33 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Consistency is important though.
but so hard to maintain...
-------------------- "Outside of a dog a book is a man's friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read" -Groucho Marx
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Fractalated
There's no onehome up there...

Registered: 07/22/06
Posts: 640
Last seen: 17 years, 4 months
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Re: Meditation and self help [Re: bobjones]
#5912445 - 07/29/06 03:52 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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You're telling me! If I stop for just one day, the motivation to continue with my practice the next day is almost non-existent!
-------------------- "Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."
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