Thread: Do you meditate?

Originally Posted by AussiePostie

My father has meditated for as long as I can remember. He is a firm believer in "yesterdays history, tomorrows a mystery, today is the only reality" He was diagnosed with bowel cancer two years ago, he is now 80, no drugs, no surgery his doctor has said he should be dead by now.Could it be the meditation or is it just coincidence?
The closest I come to meditation is standing outside at night smoking my peterson pipe and staring up at the stars in the sky and not thinking, just being.All very calming

Sorry to hear about your father but glad to hear he is doing as well as he is. As far as staring up at the stars and not thinking , just being, I think that is a great type of meditation. Our brains are thinking machines so that is what we tend to do compulsively. Being able to explore the space in between the thoughts can be very powerful.

I've been meditating more or less for 12 years now, but in the past 6 months I have gone at it much more seriously and consistently. Especially in the last month, I have been combining meditation with the Sun Salutation series of yoga postures, singing, and bass playing into a daily practice that has made substantial improvements in my health, happiness, musicianship, etc. I'd recommend it to everyone with the caveat that you must find your own method or technique, one which best suits you. For me anything musical works. How do you what works best? Try as many as possible for several years. What's the worst that can happen, cramped legs?

I mediate each morning before work for about 15-30 minutes, either sitting or lying down. I find making the time for it is an important part of the discipline. I try to do it regardless of what else might be going on.

Jordan

Originally Posted by billyjeff2

Not ever since my mother told me I'd go blind if I did it too much....

The reply used to be " I'll stop when I need to wear spectacles"

On the subject on meditation, no matter how hard I try, if I clear my mind and stay quiet and still, I always fall asleep.

I do not meditate. I would probably fall asleep trying to do that. Closest thing that comes to my mind is watching a stormy sea at night time. Every now and then i have to witness it at work. Doesn't get me into meditative state but it has sort of a magic as well.

Someone has said that there are three things man could stare forever: Stormy sea, fireplace and the sleep of a little baby. I think this is true, at least for me.

Originally Posted by welshwizard

... if I clear my mind and stay quiet and still, I always fall asleep.

There are times in my life when, if I stop moving, I'll fall asleep.

But ... I've done meditation of various kinds, semi-regularly, at different periods of my life. Currently there's a meditation teacher who does a more or less weekly session at my workplace, and when I can, I attend those. I find it helpful but haven't yet managed to establish a routine of meditation on my own.

Ah, if I were a cat ... then I could just stare at an imaginary spot on the wall until I fell asleep.

~Rich

Originally Posted by Lazarus

Your mother sounds like a very wise woman. She may have been warning you about another activity that starts with the letter "M".

Maybe you're right. Might explain why I'm as blind as a bat....

Back in the '70s I became interested in Zen and did some reading on it. I learned the form of meditation taught in 'Three Pillars of Zen' of counting exhalations. This practice was the first time I realized how difficult it is to quiet the mind. Eventually I learned to let the thoughts come but not to attach to them and they came and went like clouds drifting past on a clear day. I have practiced meditation, as described above, at various times in the ensuing years but not enough. Really something I would benefit from if I were to get back into it on a regular basis. Might even overcome the ADs.

Originally Posted by Lazarus

Your mother sounds like a very wise woman. She may have been warning you about another activity that starts with the letter "M".

mastication?

eating too much?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Back in the '70s I became interested in Zen and did some reading on it. I learned the form of meditation taught in 'Three Pillars of Zen' of counting exhalations.

I love that book. I literally wore out my first paperback copy. I am now wearing out a hardback edition.