Thread: Meditation

This is a subject I've recently become interested in. I'm also interested to know if anyone here practices any form of meditation, what type and why? I've looked at, looked at...TM. It's hard for me to grasp the concept of paying 1500.00 so they can use my money to teach other's for free...?

I've been looking into Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhism, and their meditation techniques, Mindfullness, etc...

The practice itself is supposed to bring focus, lower blood pressure and numerous other benefits. If anyone has any info, or anything helpful, I would appreciate it....

I've practiced a form of Zen meditation off and on for a few decades. Mostly off I confess but definitely beneficial and I wish I had stuck to the regimen on a regular basis. Anyhow, all I paid was the price of this book here . The Three Pillars of Zen taught me a meditation technique that was effective for me. The learning process is a very simple concept and execution involving counting your exhalations. Give it a shot, it is worth the effort.

I try to meditate at least once a week. It does become difficult. I have studied many forms and have since melded many of them to create my own form. Let me tell you all of the information is available via quick google search and try not to do it right before bed. I found that meditation immediately before bed can become addictive and breaking the habit is difficult.

Why not just sit in a darkened room with a single lit candle and focus on the flame, trying to keep your mind empty of thought. Serious! Better than spending $1500. Another method I've used is to sit and close my eyes, imagine an apple (or what ever), imagine it from all around, turning it around in your minds eye and finally eating it, imagining the taste in your mouth as you do so.
Hope that is of some help,


Mick

Whatever system you choose should be simple to practice. You should not be invited to separate yourself from very much money to do so. The teaching practitioners should not be interested in your cosmology, nor press you to change it. They should be able to offer you an effective technique that does not breed hopeless frustration or require achievement of silly impossible tasks like "think of nothing."

There are growing numbers of centers who simply provide a "place to sit" along with others of similar bent. It really does make it easier to practice. Here's a place to start looking: FLORIDA DHARMA GROUPS that I would recommend based on the most general experiences I have had. You might find a great group or less so, but you have already started looking regardless.

Now this is not to say that you can't figure it out alone. But, it does help to have some kind of teacher. Sitting alongside someone else who has achieved some success in breathing and settling the mind, transmits that success much quicker than trying to figure out how to do it from reading on a page somewhere. Think of this as priming a pump (the old one arm classic farm piston pumps). Sure you can pump away and eventually get water to rise, but a little priming will get the water to move quicker.

I'm not a Buddhist but I do enjoy their company.

I learned meditation in, of all places, a college health class in the early 90's. It was one of those "required electives" you take just to get it out of the way, but it was taught by a dynamic young woman who literally spent weeks teaching us some simple meditation methods, which I still use (mostly deep breathing with visualization, nothing fancy or ambitious). As someone who teaches the basic tenets of Buddhism in a mythology and religious lit. elective, I know that the Tibetan and Zen branches both have some fascinating meditation techniques. Apparently some of the more disciplined, advanced practicioners can exert a control over their bodies that is quite astonishing, and no doubt exist on a higher plane than most.

I'd be very suspicious of the motives of anyone asking for that kind of money. Teaching you how to empty your mind and wallet at the same time.
I'm sure meditation works well for some people. I'm not intelligent enough to meditate, so I just fall asleep.

I lived in a Buddhist Monastery for 8 years. I was never a great mediator, but particpated in a number of meditation sessions.

Its not uncommon for people to ask for donations for a mediation retreat, as they need to feed and house you. $1500 is quite a bit though.

My main advise is to look for a monk or nun who teaches, rather than a layman. Aside from having a life dedicated to practice (which gives them far more experience to teach from), the moral precepts are a integral part of meditation and having a teacher who does not hold them can't get you far.

Also, and probably most importantly, trust yourself. There are more false teachers out there than real ones, and if your heart tells you that something is up, pay attention to that. The thing is, is that spiritual cultivation requires that you set your ego aside and be willing to be guided outside your normal experience. Both the true teachers and the false teachers will tell you this. The difference is the false teachers want to get something out of you and are using that approach to do it, the true teachers want to help you and aren't trying to rob you. You need to use your gut feelings to discern the two.

Originally Posted by welshwizard

.... so I just fall asleep.

that is the Fourth Level of Meditation. Either you've learned to meditate backwards or are quite the Adept...