Does anyone know how to meditate without reading all those books?

Answer 1

Yes.

Meditation is simply being with a focused mind, it can take any form, but why do they always tell you to sit down take some breaths, count breaths let go of your thoughts etc etc etc.

It's because to have a focused mind you must put your mind in the moment. When you put your focus on your body it's easier to be in the moment because the body is always present.

So how do you meditate? Bring your mind to the moment whatever which way you can.

So far the shortest answers have been the best, plenty of good answers on how to meditate.

a tao, what are you talkin bout? that's a great way to confuse someone. There is no evidence of the brain containing the mind, that is to say that studies show that the brain doesn't recognize a memory from an actual experience, it fires the exact same way when you recall it as it would if you were to expierence it. The brain is a part of the mind but so is this computer I'm using.

Is prayer meditation? No, but you can meditate while praying.

Demons entering your mind while meditating? No, demons are that which distract your mind from meditating. Meditating seeks to end the demon's distractions.

Answer 2

Looks like you have enough answers to your question. But, it is all an individual accomplishment.
I have tried, and am still trying, darn near every way that I have had suggested to me or that I have read about and sounded good.
Effective meditation is something that is working for you and that is comfortable.
If you aren't comfy..... you need to try something else.
There are some ways that you feel ok with and that brings some results to but, you will defilnately know when you are meditating and going where you are led and it is real.
And you can't really go by the same old thing each and every time. I feel that you progress each time that you actually 'hit' on that spot in the universe that has a place for you for a time being.
And it changes.
I started out meditating because I have severe pain that a pill couldn't touch. It is an ongoing condition and I was offered through my Drs. that this may help me with my pain.
Oh ....Boy Howdy!!!! ;o)
I am so thankfull for them suggesting that I try it. And through that I have studied many different ways that a person could do it.
Just relax, without ANY interuptions....If you need to lock yourself in your bathroom or maybe an open closet to get away from a noise that might interrupt you then do it.
Let your self go. It's not that easy to do at first. And it does take some time. But don't run yourself into the ground trying to do it...
It WILL come with patience and time....OR maybe you will click right into it....
Just please, don't give up and try what you feel is best for you.
Take everything out of your mind.
If I can't get something out of my mind, I concentrate on it and I take it and throw it over a fence, so it won't bother me .
I have sometimes had to do this to maybe....3 or 4 things just to get them out of my head....to clear...
Happy meditating...and there is no barrier on where your mind can go..
I pray for you all the best...;o)

Answer 3

Meditation can be divided into two different approaches. First, find an object like a candle, symbol, etc and maintain your focus on the selected object without allowing yourself to break your focus. You will slowly "join" with the object until you feel a deep transcendent connection to it. The second way is to focus on emptiness or nothing at all. This is the more challenging process but it will take you into a deeper state of consciousness. The main thing that you need to be constant with is to keep your spine straight, either in a chair, laying down, or sitting in cross-leg pose. Breath slowly and deeply from your naval, not your chest as most people do. Every time that you have a thought, just let it pass by. Start by doing this exercise for about 5 minutes a day until you can really relax then simply add time until you are doing between 20-60 minutes a day, but 20 will be fine. I would highly encourage you to practice yoga or tai chi before your meditation as your body may be the most distracting aspect of meditation. Remember that meditation is not religious; an atheist can successfully meditate, although I have never meet one who did.

Answer 4

So far, so good, some great answers, some terrible.

First, it has been touched by a few here but not highlighted, what is meditation?

Meditation is a brain workout, yup work, hard work, it is common for people that are learning meditation to collapse with exhaustion. That is because the brain burns energy to function, meditation gives a feeling of euphoria or enlightenment from massive brain activity.

What part of you meditates? ever heard the "myth" that 9/10ths of the brain isnt used?, well thats only part true, the truth is that that 9/10th is active but quiet, it is the subconcious seeing all your conciousness sees, hearing and experiencing all the same. So that would be 9 times more intelligent than you? It is your intuition. Sometimes called the watcher since it seems to follow you from behind (experiencing all that you do, but being somehow separate).

How to "activate" the subconcious? easy, stifle the consious, empty your thoughts. There are 2 popular ways, drive out concious thought (with a mantra), or empty the mind (drain any thoughts that appear)
Distractions will cause concious thought so quiet and closed eyes are favorite.
Your body may also distract you, the answer about yoga or tai chi touched this. Try standing still with your eyes closed, feel the continual balancing act, that takes energy and some thought. To meditate you should lessen all such balancing. The ancients (who, between them had hundreds of thousands of years to find this out) found that the lotus position is the most natural balance for the body, so lessening the fight against gravity. The lotus position is a loose goal though, as near as you can comfotably get is plenty good enough.

Why is the lotus position so good?, why not lying down? its mostly to do with the leg bend at the hips, think of the foetus. Lying on your side with legs bent up is not so good since your stomach and lungs will sag to one side.

So, theres some of the nuts and bolts, now how to use it?
Have something to meditate about or free range?
Free range is unlikely, since your subconcious probabaly has a list of "issues" it wants to get across.
To meditate about a topic, concentrate on that topic, then forget about it, your subconcious (the 9/10ths of your brain) will take up the topic and work on it.

meditaion and religion? to me thats kind of like motor sport and the school run, they both use cars

Answer 5

I've taken some courses and studied on my own a bit about this.
The key is to keep the spine straight. Legs can be crossed as when normally sitting on a floor or in the lotus position. Use a small cushion to sit on. Wear comfortable clothes, unbuckle your belt etc, no shoes. I've seen different things done with the arms, I gently interlock the thumbs just above my belly. Keep the head forward, breathe from your abdomen slowly, then naturally. Some say to count breathes, but it's not necessary to do that. Visualize different areas of your body relaxing when you start your session. I've meditated for a least an hour at my longest session, but can feel the healthy effects just after 10 minutes at most!
Also, although I like quietness the best, some slow ambient music, like Aeoliah, might be nice for you. Incense I suppose if you're into that, although I've never used it, be careful with the sparks!
Have a good time with it, you'll be getting some extra energy and as one of my teachers would say, "keep your spine straight!".

Answer 6

Yes. Find yoursel a quiet place to relax and sit comfortably. Begin by slowly breathing in deeply, holding it for a second or two, then breathe out slowly. Do this for a minute or so until you feel relaxed. At the same time clear your mind of any intrusive thoughts. Begin focusing on the issue(s) you wish help on or answers to. You may even chant "OM's" if it helps you to focus and weed out other thoughts. The average meditation should be at least ten minutes, but you may meditate as long as you like. Morning and evening meditations when it is quiet are the best times. Distractions while meditating are counter productive. Best of luck. Meditating, like praying is a time to let your inner self be free.

Answer 7

What books you are talking about and that too all those books. This insistence on consulting a guru or books is largely due to the mystic air given to breathing exercise. am practising meditation but I never consulted any book or even a guru.I heard about breath exercises on radio/tv and started slowly at first and then went on increasing the duration.They say that normally you should take advice from some guru which includes books also as the experience of holding breath is novel and may cause problem As for the limits nobody told me about them but in any case I was not out to achieve 'samadhi' (being lost in meditation) I kept it within limits. Also I knew this much even without consulting anybody or the books that brain r equires oxygen and understood that if I were to st arve it for long it may afffect the system adversely. At the slightest sign of uncomfortableness I discontinued holding and started breathing normally..

Answer 8

Well, since I haven't read any of "those" books I would say that "Yes, I know how to meditate without reading all those books".

I read the Bible, like passages from the book of Isaiah where it talks about God creating this world and calling each star in the sky by name. And then I go outside and look up and think about how awesome He is for one example.

The book doesn't tell me how to meditate. It just turns my thoughts to things worthy of meditation if you know what I mean.

Answer 9

You don't have to read books. You close your eyes, take deep breaths, and push all your worries and cares from your mind. You feel yourself go deeper and deeper into your innter self, and continue with the deep breathing. You may use a mantra which is just (in my case) four syllables:"beautiful day." You say this over and over and then think about pleasant things, such as a beautiful day, while taking those deep breaths and forgetting all negative things. It is best to do this in a quiet spot without interruptions. I took a course on this once at a local college on a bright summery day, and the entire class was out on the lawn, under trees, listening to the flowing waters and completely relaxing while they meditated. What is meditation? the dictionary says:" to think about, comtemplate, plan. to think deeply and continuosly, reflect, ponder, and muse." A synonym is "ponder" which simply means to think deeply about. So forget taking the time to read all the books that are advertised.

Answer 10

There are many forms of meditation -- and I don't think you can really learn any of them properly by reading books. For thousands of years, meditation was taught from teacher to student through experiential instruction. You can READ about things like counting your breath, taking "complete breaths," going focusing on a mantra, clearing your mind, etc. but how the heck do you DO that if nobody shows you? So I recommend finding a meditation class taight by a competent teacher and trying it out for yourself. If one form does not work for you, try another until you find the type of meditation that resonates best with your body, mind, and soul.