how do you meditate?

Question

no really how do you? i can nver do it

Answer 1

I lay in a dark room with soft music or no music.... and just relax and let go of reality..... I meditate on my faith and trust and belief in God..... I just let Him do all the talking.... God bless

Answer 2

I started out by finding the best position to sit in that doesn't cut off circulation to my legs. Humans don't have ischial callosities. For me, that's the half lotus with three inches of smooshed pillow between my butt and the floor and my legs actually on the floor.

I started with the candle method because I have trouble sitting still. I set a timer for ten minutes, sat, and stared at the candle flame. I breathed in deeply and breathed out more than I breathed in, or it felt like it anyway. I counted each breath, but only counted to one. Once I got used to the sensation and my brain recognized that meditation was good, I didn't need the candle to concentrate on and I'm up to twenty-thirty minutes (depending on how much time I have).

Answer 3

Meditation can be something much less sublime than sitting with my legs crossed, eyes closed and chanting "Om."

I think that people can meditate wherever they are and doing whatever they want to do.

I don't think one necessarily needs to "clear their head" in order to meditate. I think you can meditate while wearing an iPod, walking down a city street.

For me, meditation is about putting things in their proper perspective - and that includes challenging my own convictions.

Life is so complex, why should we limit ourselves? Ever listen to yoga or oriental philosophy adherents talk about meditation? Even THEY limit themselves ... and others! It's so repulsive. As if studying Buddhism or some other religion is necessary to gain enlightenment. What a bunch of bullshit. What one needs in order to gain enlightenment is an openess to the (for lack of a better term) ultimate reality, free of systematic constraints and a willingness to examine one's own failures and shortcomings dispassionately.

Answer 4

Since I have medical issues, I do a simple form of secular mindfulness meditation to relieve stress and anxiety. This helps to reduce high blood pressure and the frequency of headaches. It is a practice recommended by my primary licensed physician and is not encumbered by any superstitious nonsense.

I have actually studied a wide variety of religions and paths. Being more musically inclined, I was initially attracted to the practices of Jodo Shinshu (aka Shin Buddhism) and Nichiren Buddhism - with the combination of chanting a rhythmic phrase (Nembutsu or Odaimoku) and/or sutra recitation to a visual object (a scroll of Amida or a Gohonzon). So I decided to create a nonsectarian alternative in that vein. One practice that I find helpful in the vein of the Way of Oneness (the
realization of interdependence) is to chant “Be One, Be Peace” in a position of gassho to an object such as a Dharma Wheel or a drawing of enso (a circle) as used in Zen. Five minutes of this every morning before work does wonders for my blood pressure and stress level.

You are more than welcome to use the chant if you think you may find it possibly useful.

I use two forms: “Be One. Be Peace.” for those who prefer a four syllable “mantra” like “Namandabu.” Or “Be One. Be Love. Be Peace.” for those who prefer the pace of a six syllable “mantra” like “Nam(u) Myo-ho Ren-Ge Kyo” or “Na-Mu A-Mi-da Butsu.” People who like (or are drawn) to chant are attracted to the rhythm.

For me, the purpose of any practice is to encourage self-reflection, internalizing this awareness , and wonder/gratitude/awareness of the interdependent forces of the Universe (Dharmakaya - in Shin this is symbolized as Amida Buddha which allows practitioners to perceive these forces as “compassionate” and “caring” thus allowing us to relate to them easier, or as the Gohonzon in Nichiren Buddhism which is a calligraphic representation of the “Ceremony in the Air” from the Lotus Sutra which is also a representation of the interdependent forces of the Universe).

Oh yes, and it didn't cost me anything to learn nor were there any "initiations" involved.

Some good resources on "secular" meditation are "The Calm Technique" by Paul Wilson as well as "The Relaxation Response" by Herbert Benson. If you need more formal "assistance" or "training" then I would look into Natural Stress Relief which was founded by former Transcendental Meditation instructors upset at the rising cost and ongoing superstittion associated with TM. They charge $47 for their training compared with the $2,500 that TM would charge you.

http://www.naturalstressreliefusa.org/

Answer 5

Try breath counting.

Light a candle or draw a dot in the center of a piece of paper and tape it to the wall at eye level (the level your eyes WILL be at once you get comfortably situated, of course).

When you breathe in, count "1" silently.

When you breathe out, count "2."

Repeat for as long as it takes. Concentrate on ONLY thinking "1 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . 2 . . . " Like any other skill, it takes practice, but it's not really all that hard. Some people just have no experience "quieting" their minds.

Answer 6

Practice practice practice. Clear your mind totally and focus on your breathing. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Wipe your mind clean of everything. Eventually, imagine a small ball of energy emenating from about your belly button. Play around with it a bit, shange it into a cube, a cone, change the colors, whatever. Feel the heat and the power from this small ball of energy.

Answer 7

everyone can do it. In Buddhist tradition the simplist form of meditation is the breathing meditation. You clear your mind of all thoughts, and focus only on your breathing. Focus on the energy entering your body, and when you exhale, feel that you are returning part of you to the world. deep man.

Answer 8

The easiest way is to relax, in whatever position you best relax in, and focus on your breathing. If thoughts invade, let them pass and continue focusing on your breathing. Eventually, you will escape thought and then you are meditating.

Answer 9

it takes practice. learning how to clear your mind of the constant chatter that we all have is not easy. learn to clear your mind in stages, a little at a time. when i first started to meditate, i used soft music or some background noise (like a clock ticking, air conditioner humming, some kind of white noise) to help me keep my focus. when the chatter starts up, i refocused on the white noise. after alot of practice, i didn't need the white noise to help me clear my mind. takes time and patients

Answer 10

First off, clear your mind, and focuse on what you are meditating on/about. If you can't clear your mind. you have been working to hard so take a day off of work.

Answer 11

I listen to some calm music I like an lock myself inthe bath room with a face steamer.