2007-09-13 12:40:27 · 7 answers · asked by DING S 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The environment does have an effect on many people, but more so on students and those just starting. With practice, many can meditate just about anywhere.
Meditation is about not allowing the mind to take control. One can learn to shut off the constant mental babble that many associate with their personality. You are not your thoughts. You can learn to control your mental processes. The mind is a tool, nothing more.
2007-09-15 14:32:45 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 8⤊ 2⤋
I think it depends on how long you have meditated. When I first began, I needed absolute quiet and to be alone. Any distractions would take my attention away, and if someone else saw me, I'd feel self conscious. Of course, now I meditate several times a day, just not in the conventional way. I might meditate at work, while I am walking, whatever.
So, if you are training yourself to focus on the immediacy of experience -- then I'd say you need to find a quiet place, sit upright, and do all the other traditional things. But if you are practicing mindfulness (which is the ultimate goal of meditation as far as I am concerned) its best to practice it anywhere you are at!
2007-09-13 12:48:23 · answer #2 · answered by KenshoDude 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a beginner the environment is important to most people but in time everything becomes meditation even taping these keys being in the present moment the past is a memory the future hasn't arrived
And for the Guys oh yes even doing the washing up [now You have no excuse]
2007-09-13 13:21:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The whole idea of meditation is to transcend the environment and move to a quiet space that is not controlled by the busy little self mind. Only the self mind is concerned with physical distractions, put it at bay and what is happening around you is of little or no importance and hardly worth be concerned over.
2007-09-13 12:49:59 · answer #4 · answered by nikola333 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it fully depends on your 'goal' of meditation.
If your goal is to ascend to a "higher plane" (etc) then, yes, utter calm, stillness and peace might be important to you.
However, if your goal is to center your mind, clear the cobwebs from your thoughts, find peace within yourself, become 'one with nature' etc, then I think that location is different for everyone.
For me, that location is at the farm with my horse. I find no other place in the world to be more calm and relaxing. And I always walk away feeling a million times better! My thoughts are clear, I can remember things, I can think both creatively and logically, I can dream, imagine, ponder, etc. I don't stress, I don't worry,... I am at 'peace' with myself and with nature.
However, my sister, who hates the outdoors, would find that to be the most distracting and awful place to find inner peace. For her, that place would be a good coffee shop where she can relax and listen to the guitar, etc.
So I think that it really depends on your goal for meditation and also on the person. Each person is going to be different in what they need! :)
2007-09-13 13:42:14 · answer #5 · answered by kerrisonr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can, if your in a really loud, cluttered, or just plain stressful area i find it really hard to meditate. but that's just me, cause i also find it hard to meditate i dead quiet, totally clean areas.
2007-09-13 12:44:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
I have never been there, but these guys
http://www.monroeinstitute.com/
probably consider environment (even sound)
important.
2007-09-13 12:46:24 · answer #7 · answered by A Guy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋