Meditation

Last Child of Ungoliant · 05-23-2005, 07:27 PM

This thread, a kind of split from "The Happy Thread", is for discussion and learning regarding meditation. Bear in mind this thread will have no religious connotations whatsoever, I believe meditation can help anyone, regardless of religion, or anything else.

Lesson the First: The Basics.

The most important thing to consider when starting meditation is breathing.
When you can regulate your breathing to a steady pace, that is not fast, you are ready to begin. Sit on the floor, cross your legs and lay your palms on your knees. The room must be silent for the first time that you meditate, and you must train your mind to ignore outside influences. Let your mind wander over your dealings throughout the past day, do not focus on details, but focus on the emotions that you felt at the time, when you believe that you have calmed your mind succinctly, then you will have mastered the primary force, that of clear thought.

Last Child of Ungoliant · 05-23-2005, 08:09 PM

Lesson the Second: Outside Stimuli.

By now you should have successfully mastered the basics of breathing, and keeping a clear head. Now we shall move on to aids to meditation. First, make yourself a cup of hot tea. The tea should be Chinese, and black, you may add a little sugar or honey if you wish, although I do not recommend it. It is important that you do not use Indian, African or blended teas, these present entirely the wrong flavour and scent. The best teas to use are Lapsang Souchong and Rose Pouchong.
Next light an incense stick, preferably Patchouli or Jasmine at this stage, or if you do not have incense sticks, an oil burner will give the same effect.
When using music as a meditationary aid, the best music to listen to is traditional Asian music, Japanese or Tibetan preferably. The Mantra to Avalokiteshvra is most effective.
When all is ready, repeat lesson 1, with these outside stimuli, take in the music, but do not focus on sounds themselves, but on the thoughts and emotions that these sounds produce in your mind.

Last Child of Ungoliant · 05-23-2005, 08:30 PM

Lesson the Third: Self Healing

This lesson should only be attempted when one reaches a point in meditation when they feel they can control their mind sufficiently.
Obviously you need mental pain to attempt, or there is no point at all!
Begin your meditation as you would at any other time, sit in silence, eyes closed, palms on your knees. Visualise the pain, such as a headache, as a ball, imagine the size of the ball relative to your pain, and let it float freely about your aura. when you have regulated your breathing, and your mind has cleared, visualise a hand slowly pushing the ball, watch the ball as it gets smaller and smaller, until it recedes to a point that is so small that it can not be seen. When you have done this, push that tiny ball away from you, as far as you possibly can, and then regulaTE YOUR BREATHING PATTERNS ONCE AGAIN, AND GO BACK TO BASIC MEDITATION.

Last Child of Ungoliant · 05-23-2005, 08:33 PM

And now, on to the discussion...

What do you think of meditation?
Do you meditate?
Have you tried/will you try my basic methods?
Any other points on the nature of meditation?

I personally believe that meditation allows us to calm our minds, and it also enables us to become more in tune with our body, I have meditated in the past, for instance, to remove headaches, and that has worked for me. It inspires peace in the mind and peace in the body.

... now, discuss away!

***RÃan*** · 05-23-2005, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last Child of Ungoliant

PLACEHOLDER for Lesson the Third

(did you get that idea from me?

)

IYO, is there any benefit to meditation other than calming minds and being more in tune with our bodies, and inspiring peace in mind and body? IOW, if I find that an activity such as riding horses does all those things, should I still meditate as you describe, IYO (if that makes sense)?

Last Child of Ungoliant · 05-23-2005, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

(did you get that idea from me?

)

i may have done

Quote:

IYO, is there any benefit to meditation other than calming minds and being more in tune with our bodies, and inspiring peace in mind and body? IOW, if I find that an activity such as riding horses does all those things, should I still meditate as you describe, IYO (if that makes sense)?

there is no higher way of finding true peace, IMO, but a benefit, which will form the basis of the third lesson, is self-healing, meditation can also be supplemental, if it is found that it helps one to be at peace with oneself, then it is a worthy idea to partake, meditation does not help everybody, but to those that it does, it is a great help, and i believe meditation can help more people than not

just think, allowing yourself to put aside daily worries, if only for 15 minutes, and let calmness and silence course through your mind, that has to be helpful in a calming nature at least?

thank you for taking the time to answer my little thread

Spock · 05-24-2005, 12:30 AM

sit on an ottoman or a chair that is comfortable and gives support to your back if you need it.
New Age music can be substituted for those who don't have or don't appreciate Asian music. Music, itself, isn't necessary it is an aid to attaining serenity of mind.
Incense is optional, especially if it triggers alergies or asthma.
Your mind will wander, try to bring it back to your breath. Concentrate on your breath, going in and down into your lungs and coming out. Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try expanding your stomach on breath in and contract it all the way on breath out.

no place for further tips just a note I'll try to supply them as I see openings for assisting.

Lief Erikson · 05-30-2005, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

IYO, is there any benefit to meditation other than calming minds and being more in tune with our bodies, and inspiring peace in mind and body? IOW, if I find that an activity such as riding horses does all those things, should I still meditate as you describe, IYO (if that makes sense)?

Many of the early Christians, I have heard, practiced meditation. It is a useful means of contacting God. I'm not sure that everyone is talking about the same kind of meditation, though. Richard Foster I believe was the person who said that Buddhist or Hindu meditation empties the mind, but Christian meditation "empties the mind to fill it with God."

Any comments on this?

I have not done much with meditation myself, but have found fasting enormously effective as a benefit to my spiritual life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tessar

IMO meditation is fine and dandy, if anyone wants to try it. I don't think anyone could have anything against clearing the mind and centering yourself.

One fact that is useful to keep in mind is that meditation can be used for far more then just centering oneself. Meditation is used by Christians to converse back and forth with God- I see it as sometimes (though not always) being a door between the spiritual world and the physical.

More things can come through that door then God. One person I talked to who was involved in meditation says that it "changes your mind, and the way you think." Perhaps this is good, and perhaps not. But anyway, for those that believe in demons, the risks involved logically can appear real.

Last Child of Ungoliant · 05-30-2005, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lief

Buddhist or Hindu meditation empties the mind

i am not sure that it empties the mind, to leave it blank, per se, more so that it allows your 'soul' (for lack of a better word) to fill up your body and mind, and so communication with god(s) is possible (more so in hindu than buddhist)

05-23-2005, 07:27 PM	#1
Last Child of Ungoliant The Intermittent One Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: here and there Posts: 4,671	Meditation This thread, a kind of split from "The Happy Thread", is for discussion and learning regarding meditation. Bear in mind this thread will have no religious connotations whatsoever, I believe meditation can help anyone, regardless of religion, or anything else. Lesson the First: The Basics. The most important thing to consider when starting meditation is breathing. When you can regulate your breathing to a steady pace, that is not fast, you are ready to begin. Sit on the floor, cross your legs and lay your palms on your knees. The room must be silent for the first time that you meditate, and you must train your mind to ignore outside influences. Let your mind wander over your dealings throughout the past day, do not focus on details, but focus on the emotions that you felt at the time, when you believe that you have calmed your mind succinctly, then you will have mastered the primary force, that of clear thought.

05-23-2005, 08:30 PM	#3
Last Child of Ungoliant The Intermittent One Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: here and there Posts: 4,671	Lesson the Third: Self Healing This lesson should only be attempted when one reaches a point in meditation when they feel they can control their mind sufficiently. Obviously you need mental pain to attempt, or there is no point at all! Begin your meditation as you would at any other time, sit in silence, eyes closed, palms on your knees. Visualise the pain, such as a headache, as a ball, imagine the size of the ball relative to your pain, and let it float freely about your aura. when you have regulated your breathing, and your mind has cleared, visualise a hand slowly pushing the ball, watch the ball as it gets smaller and smaller, until it recedes to a point that is so small that it can not be seen. When you have done this, push that tiny ball away from you, as far as you possibly can, and then regulaTE YOUR BREATHING PATTERNS ONCE AGAIN, AND GO BACK TO BASIC MEDITATION. Last edited by Last Child of Ungoliant : 05-24-2005 at 09:32 AM.

05-24-2005, 12:30 AM	#7
Spock An enigma in a conundrum Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,476	Tips for beginners sit on an ottoman or a chair that is comfortable and gives support to your back if you need it. New Age music can be substituted for those who don't have or don't appreciate Asian music. Music, itself, isn't necessary it is an aid to attaining serenity of mind. Incense is optional, especially if it triggers alergies or asthma. Your mind will wander, try to bring it back to your breath. Concentrate on your breath, going in and down into your lungs and coming out. Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try expanding your stomach on breath in and contract it all the way on breath out. no place for further tips just a note I'll try to supply them as I see openings for assisting. __________________ Vizzini: "HE DIDN'T FALL?! INCONCEIVABLE!!" Inigo: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

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05-23-2005, 08:09 PM	#2
Last Child of Ungoliant The Intermittent One Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: here and there Posts: 4,671	Lesson the Second: Outside Stimuli. By now you should have successfully mastered the basics of breathing, and keeping a clear head. Now we shall move on to aids to meditation. First, make yourself a cup of hot tea. The tea should be Chinese, and black, you may add a little sugar or honey if you wish, although I do not recommend it. It is important that you do not use Indian, African or blended teas, these present entirely the wrong flavour and scent. The best teas to use are Lapsang Souchong and Rose Pouchong. Next light an incense stick, preferably Patchouli or Jasmine at this stage, or if you do not have incense sticks, an oil burner will give the same effect. When using music as a meditationary aid, the best music to listen to is traditional Asian music, Japanese or Tibetan preferably. The Mantra to Avalokiteshvra is most effective. When all is ready, repeat lesson 1, with these outside stimuli, take in the music, but do not focus on sounds themselves, but on the thoughts and emotions that these sounds produce in your mind.

05-23-2005, 08:33 PM	#4
Last Child of Ungoliant The Intermittent One Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: here and there Posts: 4,671	And now, on to the discussion... What do you think of meditation? Do you meditate? Have you tried/will you try my basic methods? Any other points on the nature of meditation? I personally believe that meditation allows us to calm our minds, and it also enables us to become more in tune with our body, I have meditated in the past, for instance, to remove headaches, and that has worked for me. It inspires peace in the mind and peace in the body. ... now, discuss away!