Meditating?

Question

Aside from the stereotypical crossed legs and hum, what are some practical ways of meditation, and what are benefits?

Answer 1

One way to meditate is to just pay attention to your breathing. So you focus on feeling the air pass in through your nose and down into your lungs, and then on it going back out again. And while you are observing your breathing, you also think "what am I feeling?" and think about what emotions you are experiencing.

While you are doing this, you will get distracted again and again, and by noticing what thoughts distract you, you gain some insight into what is going on in your subconscious.

Also in the middle of something you can just stop and focus on figuring out what you are feeling. For example at work today I was getting really agitated about the situation there, and I stopped to just figure out what I was feeling. I realized something that I hadn't noticed before, and that helped me deal with the problem.

This form of meditation is very ancient and is called Vipassana, which is a sanskrit(?) word for mindfulness. It is not connected with any religion and has no religious dogma in it.

Answer 2

There are many forms of meditation depending on your religious background or affiliation. The main objective to meditation is to still your mind and connect with your inner self and your creator ~ whomever that is for you. This will attone you, or bring you into a state of being at one with your creator.
The "hum" is a way to still your mind and focus your thought. It also establishes a steady and rhythmic breathing pattern necessary to lowering your heart rate. If you choose this method find someone who is presently practicing it to make sure that you are doing it correctly. It is "Um" on the intake of breath and "Ma" on the exhale. If you are able to sit cross legged do so, if not sit in a chair with both feet touching the floor and your hands in your lap palm up (not crossed). When you have stilled your mind you are clear for right thought.
Some benefits include calming the mind and spirit within, lowering your heart rate, and feeling a sense of peace when you are done. Be sure to wiggle your arms and legs after meditating before you get up to raise your heart rate.
Other forms of meditation include the tense and release method - check a biofeedback site for further info.
Blessings.

Answer 3

Meditation is not sitting cross legged. It is the part of Yoga according to our (Hindu) belief. Pathanjali's Yoga Sutra, which is considered the most important Guide on Yoga stresses the importance of Meditation. It is a method of purification of mind. Meditation is a technique by which we try to understand the thought process (vrittis) which deter us from realizing our true selves. Meditation calms the mind, by emptying the thoughts from mind. Only a calm mind can elucidate the Supreme consciousness "Iswara" which can open up highest level of spiritual awareness by constant practice. Gradually one's mastery in concentration will extend from primal atom to greatest magnitude. "Just as naturally pure crystal assumes shapes and colours of objects placed near it, the Yogi's mind, with its totally weakened modifications, becomes clear and balanced and attains the state devoid of differentiation between knower, knowable and knowledge. This culmination of Meditation is Samadhi."
The primary aim of Meditation is to control the flow of thoughts in mind.

Answer 4

there are many different types, including visualisation, walking(as the monks do) alot of people are experiancing different types of meditation doing everyday things such as walking, jogging exercising etc.most meditation involves control of breath & focusing the mind,either on what they are doing (visualisation,running etc) or focusing on stillness of the mind which takes practise.there are many benefits such as peacefulness often you can find solutions to problems by first stilling the mind, I have read somewhere that 10 mins deep meditation is as good as 3 hour sleep.If you are interested try buying a guided meditation cd,there are many available.
hope this helps

Answer 5

meditating is the way of think deeper thing in our life. Meditate is not about gesture and how to sit, but more than that. Meditate is a "focus thinking" of one problem and try to solve it clearly, calmly, and full heartedly. Hope it help you.

Answer 6

When I meditate I lay flat on my back with my legs shoulder width apart, palms facedown by my sides and I do visualizing techniques. Clear your mind and picture yourself in your favorite place. I always think of Hawaii sitting up on a cliff, listening to the waves crash.... Imagine the smells and sounds and really put yourself there. They say it helps you to relax and think more clearly. Very spiritual..... Also, they sell tapes you can listen to in your walkman that guide you through the imagery and tell you what to do, they're very cool and helpful.