Thread: Do you meditate?

One of the attractions of STR8 razor shaving is the meditative, calming aspect of the rituals surrounding the process and the mindfulness required to do it safely and well. One could argue that in a very meaningful sense everybody who shaves with a STR8 razor meditates.
see: The_Zen_of_Straight_Shaving http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...raight_Shaving.

I follow a Zen path. I sit and meditate pretty much every day for anywhere from 20-60 minutes. One of the biggest things I have noticed is that I seem to spend much more of my time in the here and now rather than in the past or the future. I have found this to be hugely freeing. Rather than my mind being on things in the past (which I can’t change) or in the future (which may never happen) I can be more fully present and engaged in the present moment, which of course is the only place anything actually happens. I have also been able to nearly eliminate my blood pressure medication and I sleep better than I ever have in my life. Those closest to me report that over the past few years since I started my meditation practice I have become significantly less of a jackass.

Bearing in mind that it is pointless to talk about meditation I am nevertheless wondering:
How many of you have a formal meditation practice?
What does your practice consist of?
Why do you practice?

I understand what you mean. I have to say that I can't 'sit and do nothing'. I am not wired that way.

For me, I get a similar state of mind through martial arts. Rather than sit in seiza and meditate, I spend an hour and a half on the mat in the dojo, concentrating hard on my techniques. After class I always feel reborn, no matter how physically tiring the class has been. And I always realize afterwards that I spent an hour and a half without once getting distracted by other thoughts.

Ever since I started MA again, I found that I am less annoyed by the typical issues of normal life. I don't get upset by much. Que sera, sera.

I don't formally sit down to meditate like, "Okay, time to meditate. Preparing mind and body to meditate...annnnnd go! I am now meditating."

Unlike Bruno, I'm perfectly content to just sit and do nothing. I've never really been capable of getting bored, since I could always amuse myself with my thoughts. So although I don't think of it like you do or specifically set aside time to do it, I guess you could say I have...meditations.

I have in the past.

The shaving routine is probably the closest I'm getting at the moment - though I'm not always totally mindful of what I'm doing.

I try and bring mindfulness to different actions from time to time.

Before going to sleep I will often lie on my back and relax my body to help 'clear' my mind and settle me.

Hmmm... might think about incorporating a bit more into the daily routines...

Thanks,
Michael.

I dont have a formal meditation process, but I find I go into a sort of meditative state when I go to the gym. I just get on the rowing machine, listening to my music, and my mind goes off all over the place.

The other time is playing my guitar. All I'm really focussed on is the feel of the strings under my fingers and the tone they are giving, and I can literally play for hours without noticing the time pass. I remember a few days ago telling SWMBO I was going to have a quick play before bed. She went and got into bed and I sat down to play and about half ten at night. She came out at 2am to ask why I hadnt come to bed yet...! I just totally lost track of the time...!

I often sit and contemplate, or meditate over things. Not deliberate meditation in the relaxation sense, however. More just ponderings, musings, that kind of thing. The cool thing is I am actually paid to spend some of my time doing it!

James.

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

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

Originally Posted by Bruno

For me, I get a similar state of mind through martial arts.

I understand what you are saying. I do Yoga (which I took up because I was so stiff and inflexible that my sitting meditation was physically uncomfortable) and for me Yoga is 90 minutes of moving meditation. I think a commonality between Yoga and martial arts is the emphasis on and awareness of the breath.

Originally Posted by billyjeff2

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

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