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Lately been pretty into Zen meditation that is just simply sitting and being present and trying to be more aware and open to the vastness of what it means to arise and fall away each moment. A lot has opened up for me in understanding what my real identity is with this simple thing and just spending time with myself in kind of a concentrated way has felt really therapeutic. Kind of has solved a lot of stress and meaning issues for me.
Also think the Jhana stuff is pretty cool in like deep meditation.
I am hoping to maybe spend some time at Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery in America to focus on meditation and see how deep I can understand about myself and life. Also would be really into doing like a long retreat at a forest monastery or something.
What about anyone here? Into meditation or any other stuff like that?
I was a student when the government imposed the Poll Tax. At the time you got a very small student grant and you were only allowed to work a few hours a week while studying so unless mum & dad chipped in you had no way to pay the tax and still keep your place at university. A genius friend of mine worked out that people living in religious communities were exempt from the tax and didn't count as working either so we became Buddhist monks with a local Soto Zen group. I left after the tax was repealed but the habits of meditation and moderation have stuck with me ever since. I sit first thing in the morning and last thing at night most days.
ZenBadger wrote: I was a student when the government imposed the Poll Tax. At the time you got a very small student grant and you were only allowed to work a few hours a week while studying so unless mum & dad chipped in you had no way to pay the tax and still keep your place at university. A genius friend of mine worked out that people living in religious communities were exempt from the tax and didn't count as working either so we became Buddhist monks with a local Soto Zen group. I left after the tax was repealed but the habits of meditation and moderation have stuck with me ever since. I sit first thing in the morning and last thing at night most days.
I do sometimes. I have episodes of depression and meditating to happy music is one of the methods I use to get over it.
That or whenever I come out of the YMDC forum. There's a reason I rarely visit that place now.
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I meditate...actually concentrate when I work out....and the females dig the body armor when I wear it on the incline tredmill
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I tried it a few times. But I didn't feel like I was meditating. I just felt like I was sitting around. I couldn't stop thinking about things. Maybe I just don't get it.
NinthMusketeer wrote: I keep trying... Still have not gotten my brain to just stop thinking and be at peace. My mind keeps wandering. I'm going to keep at it though.
Sam harris has a good audio guide to meditation. Check that out.
If we fail to anticipate the unforeseen or expect the unexpected in a universe of infinite possibilities, we may find ourselves at the mercy of anyone or anything that cannot be programmed, categorized or easily referenced.
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Yes. I was taught a long time ago by a Wing Chun master as a way to relax and focus. I use these techniques before going to bed most nights to clear my head and prepare to sleep.
It is mostly about breathing and focusing your mind only on the act of breathing. It is very restful in itself and I can sometimes use it as a "Life Hack" to go without sleep for decent lengths of time.
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Funny that.
It really is just focus on your breathing and sit comfortably.
I had been told the "correct" breathing is "stillness in rest", so much of the time may be to get your breathing down in pace.
Many thoughts or feelings will come up, accept them as they come (give them no focus or thought), focus on your breathing and "they will go away".
It really is to be a lesson on removing "attachment".
I have found that "feeling" a more restful state for a time with the less intrusive "boil-up thoughts" the meditation can be considered complete for that session.
Painting as a meditation experience is a very good point: you are performing a process, it is a very present, mindful thing.
Like the sand art, it is the exercise that is of import, that is why the art is swept away: not to grow attached to the result of the efforts.
Work that requires strong physical effort or mental focus can achieve a similar result of being more present.
My wife once had her head to my chest and I decided to meditate a bit (I was comfortable), she commented later that my heart slowed a fair bit as my breathing changed.
I had no idea that happened till she mentioned it.
Took me a while to get my thoughts "unattached" to that comment each time I meditated.
If any argument can be made, it is worth taking a moment and being able to enjoy the now and I cannot help feel that it helps settle things in your mind just a little bit better.
I am no expert but just offering my own findings, you will have your own.
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It certainly counts if you do it right. A nice long Kata such as the Wado Ryu version of Kushanku, done slowly with focus and an emphasis on flow is virtually Tai Chi. You are concentrating on the breath and preventing the mind from straying and causing the movement to break up into individual actions. That is a great application of meditation that you can use in many situations.
Easy E wrote: Yes. I was taught a long time ago by a Wing Chun master as a way to relax and focus. I use these techniques before going to bed most nights to clear my head and prepare to sleep.
It is mostly about breathing and focusing your mind only on the act of breathing. It is very restful in itself and I can sometimes use it as a "Life Hack" to go without sleep for decent lengths of time.
We had a guest Sensei from another dojo come and teach us a breathing kata once. Sanchin I think it was called.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I think someone should hand that guy a tissue.
It certainly counts if you do it right. A nice long Kata such as the Wado Ryu version of Kushanku, done slowly with focus and an emphasis on flow is virtually Tai Chi. You are concentrating on the breath and preventing the mind from straying and causing the movement to break up into individual actions. That is a great application of meditation that you can use in many situations.
I do Anshin Ryu Karate. Its sort of a hybrid system.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2017/08/04 22:36:18
I my teen years I practiced some oriental meditation techniques, staring as instructed with breath control. However I like to oxygenate myself more than most, even when I was young fit and healthy I breathed like Darth Vader even at rest.
The cycle on inhalation holding and exhalation as depicted for meditation, even at beginner levels was asphyxiating. Gave all that up rapidly.
As for 'emptying my mind', I haven't any idea how, my mind is very active and I have a vivid imagination, readily multi task and am always mentally on the go except when thoroughly exhausted.
Years later I learned that meditation is also part of Judeo-Christian beliefs. I already knew the of the message to 'meditate upon the Lord', but assumed that was meaning contemplation.
It worked though, when focusing on God, through the Holy Spirit, it bypasses the lack of deep meditative concentration that I do not achieve by myself. The Holy Spirit is key here, He can enable a depth of focus even in the untrained. No need for years of training, ask God and He provides. "Be still and know that I am God" - Psalm 46:10. Been there, done that.
As God wants us to meditate on Him, he will provide the talent to do so as a form of charismata if you ask Him. Its not really charismata though, effortless meditation without training or mastery is there for any who know the Holy Spirit, I didn't feel like it required any faith to do, it's no miracle, just part of the relationship with God, and God wants his people to seek him.
Charismata is from our perspective random, some people get some gifts, however seeking God is a directive for all His believers, with a call to move 'deeper' in a relationship with God. So logically any believer will be able to ask for enablement to meditate on God without training, and be able to do so.
n'oublie jamais - It appears I now have to highlight this again.
It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion. By the juice of the brew my thoughts aquire speed, my mind becomes strained, the strain becomes a warning. It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion.
I did Shotokan back in the day, not quite the same.
n'oublie jamais - It appears I now have to highlight this again.
It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion. By the juice of the brew my thoughts aquire speed, my mind becomes strained, the strain becomes a warning. It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion.
Once a year or so I like to sit down at the dinner table and drink a bottle of whiskey with myself. No TV, no other people, no falling asleep. Really get into my own brain.
15 minutes in the evening and morning. Before I started to meditate, I know I've tried to visualize my poomsae while I was being processed at the dentist to ease the pain and fear of it. It worked for me.
Listening to Alan Watts (particularly enjoy chill mixes with him talking in the background) and Sadhguru. I'm having hard time listening to Osho, perhaps it's because of his long pauses as he talks or rather dated videos.
Does doing Karate Kata (drills) count? I can get pretty zen doing Kata
I think it could. Focusing on next step, letting go, relaxing appropriate muscles... there could be a certain yoga style that's basically trying to do the same.
This message was edited 5 times. Last update was at 2017/08/09 19:44:44
I've been trying daily. Seems like my mind is even MORE cluttered when I do, but I think that it will eventually subside if I keep at it. It's like quitting smoking, or starting to exercise regularly; once you get over a certain hump, it will be easier, and once you start seeing the benefits, it will be easier still.
Knight wrote:15 minutes in the evening and morning. Before I started to meditate, I know I've tried to visualize my poomsae while I was being processed at the dentist to ease the pain and fear of it. It worked for me.
Listening to Alan Watts (particularly enjoy chill mixes with him talking in the background) and Sadhguru. I'm having hard time listening to Osho, perhaps it's because of his long pauses as he talks or rather dated videos.
Does doing Karate Kata (drills) count? I can get pretty zen doing Kata
I think it could. Focusing on next step, letting go, relaxing appropriate muscles... there could be a certain yoga style that's basically trying to do the same.
I think Alan Watts is responsible for a lot of people getting into Buddhism and meditation. I actually met a young Theravada Forest Monk in North America that had his entry because of his book or audio
murdog wrote:I've been trying daily. Seems like my mind is even MORE cluttered when I do, but I think that it will eventually subside if I keep at it. It's like quitting smoking, or starting to exercise regularly; once you get over a certain hump, it will be easier, and once you start seeing the benefits, it will be easier still.
It definitely is busy at first but your right it settles down quick after a few sittings and than you find these amazing places of peace and great states of being. Stick with it