Meditation-How do you do this?

A great topic indeed. Yes,I meditate regularly.Initially I tried to make my mind calm and thoughtless.It was so difficult as the more I tried to do so the more my mind went stray.Later I came to read about the Buddhist method of meditation which is known as Vipasyana.If you follow this method,you would have to 'see' your breathes going in and coming out.I mean,you would have to keep a close watch on your inhaling and exhaling.Or,if you feel it difficult,then keep a close watch on your thoughts and keep yourself detached from them.These thoughts may be good ones or bad,but you should not try to check them.If bad thoughts come to your mind,let them come in.Don't let yourself be taken away by them.Similarly don't let yourself be swayed away by good thoughts either. Go on going so,and your mind would get calm and quiet.

I follow a random practice. I do not use candle light because of the danger of a fire, and I am a bit reluctant to use an artificial candle for this purpose. I prefer, actually, to meditate in the dark, but this is not always possible. Fortunately because I am retired now I do not have very much stress. I think, though, that meditation has other benefits.

meditation is so hard and elusive to explain. I've off and on gotten into it over the years and there is nothing "magic" about it. It is a matter of just relaxing your mind and your body. I never got into the chanting and all that. I have read books on it and talked to people on it. The more you focus on it the more it eludes you. Honestly, I find that by just closing my eyes and relaxing I have the best results. I've been hypnotized and that is what meditation is supposed to be like...self-hypnosis.

The strictures that used to be such as sitting on the mat cross legged etc. etc. have all been now relaxed, atleast that is what my guru said to me. I went to her only for 4 lessons and I do pranayams just sitting down comfortably overlooking my garden. I am not regular though but since I am a Reiki Channel this therapy I find is more effective.

Hi kalav! This is really a good form of relaxation. Just recently, I learned about opening the right brain. At first I was not able to do because I don't believe it. But when I concentrated on what I am doing, I was able to do it and I am so happy with the result.

well kalav, as for my opinion, based n my own experiences, im always tired and my job is really stressful, but i dont do any meditations, if you are the restless type, meditation is not good for you,though it'll work for you but just in hours or days only. as a busy career man/woman, if you want to lessen your stress, the first thing that you should do is sit and relax on a soft sofa or in a cushion. so that you will feel easy. then maybe after 5mins or more you may sleep. sleeping is the best way to avoid stress or lessen it, at least.do not eat anything if you are stress, you may be fat. alright? just message me if you need more advice.

Sit your body in a position that you can get comfortable in. Close your eyes. Clear your mind. Concetrate on your breathe as it flows in and out of your lungs. Slow your breathing as much as you possibly can. Relax. Drift.

I never could figure it out, I seem to almost always be thinking, except when I catch myself in an unthinking haze.

As a Zen practitioner, I have practised daily meditation for the past 30 or more years. I don't use candles in front of me or anything like that, but just sit focusing on my breath going in and going out. It is called zazen, and I have a meditation link on my profile for anybody who is interesting in learning more. I used to sit in lotus position on the floor, but due to medical conditions with my blood circulation, I have had to stop doing that and use a chair. I found it to be just as effective and know of many people who practice with a chair.. If my health was OK I would go back to sitting in lotus. _Derek

Hi kalav, There seem to be many different ideas about meditation but I think what's important is to clear the mind of all the chattering. If you find that we have to work at it, you are not doing what's best for you. It is about relaxation. Some like to concentrate on their breath, others the third eye(in the middle of your forehead), while still others lie or sit with eyes close and watch a white dot become lager until a peace envelopes them. Some like to sit and observe a thing of beauty, like a garden or watching and listening to wild birds. It should leave you with a feeling of peace. Blessings.

I have been initiated into the practice of Kriya Yoga, an ancient system of Yoga which Lord Krishna taught Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra before the start of the Mahabharat war.It is not available in books or videos but is taught on a one to one basis by the Guru to the disciple.I was initiated in 1992 and have had a number of very high spiritual experiences.The best thing about this technique is that one does not have to meditate using any means, but one automatically slips into the meditative state after the spiritual practice. If you want info about this practice you should read " Autobiography of a Yogi " by Paramahansa Yogananda. This is a secret practice and cannot be revealed to anybody.

I do this first thing in the morning before I get up from bed, so laying down, then I do it again at night before I go to sleep. Sitting is very uncomfortable for me so I do best laying down. I have a matra that I use and I watch my breath, this clears my mind of all stress and allows my life energies to flow. That is the best way I can explain this.

Dear kala I have tried to concentrate my mind, but the thoughts fly like horses, try to focus at the space between eyes, it causes headache, so i just sit and recite Hanuman Chalisa, it helps lol. Happy posting, cheers. Kalyani

I am new to meditation as I've been doing it for about a year now. For me, I usually just lie in bed and clear my head of chatter. I do this when I go to bed at night and before I get up in the morning. Sometimes I focus on my breathing and sometimes I just try to clear my head. I have read a couple of books on it, my favourite one being Getting in the Gap, by Dr Wayne Dyer. This book came with a cd to help me get started and is a very basic and simple form of meditation. I also liked the way it was explained and how to do it in a book that I read by Esther and Jerry Hicks. So, even though I have not studied meditation extensively and am just a beginner I like to lie down, relax and clear my head.