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I’ve been meditating on and off for about 4 months now. I’ve used a few different techniques to allow me to quiet my mind: everything from breath counting to active meditation. I’m just curious how many others meditate and if you would care to share your experiences. Right now, I’m using the Kundalini meditation technique developed by Osho as well as trying (I know thats not the best word to describe this) moment to moment meditation. So far only but a few glimpses of peace though I know much more work needs to be done.
Wow… Dave I find it incredibly difficult to quieten my mind. I have used a few meditation tapes (not sure which technique they use) and found them to be the best method for me.
After meditation, I find I have amazing clarity...problems tend to be so much easier to solve and I feel lighter, as if a burden has been lifted from my shoulders.
I also know that feeling of there being so much more work to be done!
I would love to learn to meditate. I have a tendency to be hyperactive and have trouble focusing on only one task let alone clearing my mind. Meditation tapes are boring after the first minute, or if I’m at all tired, they put me to sleep. The closest I can come to meditation is while working out on the treadmill or elliptical. There is something about the repetitive motion that helps me relax and think. Even then, my mind is all over the place. Guided meditations and visualizations are better for me, since they at least direct my thoughts and keep me centered.
There are several resources that worked well for me. I know have about 90% less worry, fear, guilt, etc than just 4 months ago. Growth is a continuous journey. Once you have an open mind to change, the teachers will appear. A child, book, peom, flower, etc....they can all be your teacher.
Some of the resources that I’ve used include…
1) ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle
His book is a bit wordy and repetitive but his message is simple. If you’re living in the present moment, then you are not living in the past (guilt, etc.) nor in the future (fear, etc). Be fully aware of the present....this is where God is....this is the only moment we have. This is a great book for quieting the mind. I believe this book is also at AUDIBLE.COM.
2) ‘Manifest Your Destiny’ by Wayne Dyer
His book talks about an old meditation technique. The morning meditation focuses letting the universe know your desires. The afternoon meditation focuses on graditude. I believe this book is also at AUDIBLE.COM.
3) Numerous meditation techniques puts your attention on your breathing. By eliminating distractions and becoming comfortable, notice your breath going in and out of your body. When you have a thought...don’t struggle to remove it. Acknowledge it, then watch the thought float on by. Redirect your focus back to your breathing. At the beginning, you may only be able to complete a meditation for a few minutes. This will increase with time.
I’m not sure that the meditation technique is important. However, consistent and persistent application of a technique is important.
There are actually some forms of meditation that you do when you’re moving! (How about that!)
The basic premise, as I understand them, is to focus on how you feel doing the movement, which is generally walking. Focus on your breathing, the feeling in your feet as they touch and release from the pavement, etc. When I walk, sometimes I also count steps, restarting every time I reach 100. I find that between paying attention to my breathing, my feeling, and my step count, I don’t have attention to focus on anything else! It’s a great (if somewhat cheating) way to clear your mind.
I sometime use a Kundalini meditation (Kirtin Kryia) and other times I just sit quietly clearing my mind. I’ve looked into some other Kundalini meditations but I haven’t tried any yet. I love to meditate in goddess pose, it for me is a great self booster. Does anyone else use mudras or mantras in their meditations?
The closest I can come to meditation is while working out on the treadmill or elliptical. There is something about the repetitive motion that helps me relax and think. Even then, my mind is all over the place. Guided meditations and visualizations are better for me, since they at least direct my thoughts and keep me centered.
Hi Paula...active meditations are definitely for you then. I know that when I exercise, laying down immediately after allow me to reach a meditative state much much quicker. I would recommend reading “Meditation” by Osho. He has many different active meditation techniques. As for the learning part, everything I’ve read on the subject says that its not something you can learn. In fact, taking it with that approach apparently hinders the possibility of a meditative state. Most teachers say that mediation should be a way of being, just like Julie said “meditating while your moving”. The best thing is that your not just sitting and repeating mantras but rather practicing a peaceful yet alert state of mind at every moment. I’m only sharing what I’ve read, take is as you will.
Hello! I’m delighted to see this topic here. Tonight I began my meditation journey ... again. I’ve never meditated for more than a week or two at a time, but every time I find it is a fabulous and powerful experience, especially the more days I get under my belt.
I’ve tried a few different methods and read parts of different books. For me, I finally had to decide that “normal” meditation is not right for me, yet. I can’t quiet my mind that much yet. I found a book, something like “8 minute meditation,” which basically says that you should aim for 8 minutes a day, and if you get more, that’s great. The key is just to get started. (Sounds like exercise, eh?!) I often find myself going past 8 minutes, but the fact that I only “have to” do 8 minutes is what enables me to sit down and do it sometimes.
As for what I do ... I follow my breathing a lot, and I usually find a thought or phrase to focus on - usually something I want to bring into my life. I’ll repeat that phrase over and over (bringing my mind back to it when it strays), and then often it will morph into something else, which I then repeat. The longer into the meditation time I get, the quieter my mind gets, and so toward the end I often end up really focusing on my breath, repeating to myself “innnnnnn .... ouuuuuuuuut .... innnnnnnn .... oouuuuuuuut” as appropriate.
And then I get up TOTALLY refreshed and excited about life! Believing anything and everything is possible! Fantastic!
I do want to try the walking meditation more. Perhaps tomorrow on my 2nd day of my 100 days challenge!
Thats totally an excellent way to approach meditation. I feel exactly the same when I take it for what it is and don’t feel obliged to complete say the 15 or 20 mins suggested. Meditation is after all a very long exploration and requires time to be developed. Keep up the work healthyella and one day we’ll both be able to keep the mind quiet and at peace!
I was listening to an audiobook on all things spiritual and in it the author was discussing the introduction of meditation into the west. She said that one guide soon realised that telling people to ‘quieten their mind’ wasn’t going to work. Instead, he suggested they follow their breath, as Ella has said “in and out”.
Sometimes I feel we have so many labour saving devices that we believe we must cram more and more into each hour. Instead, we perhaps need to take advantage of all these wonderful inventions, and sit and slow down for a while. And I don’t for one second mean stop moving (phew, that would have got me 5 minutes on the naughty chair) but that we may need to take a decent chunk of time to rest our bodies and minds.
I believe it was Steven Covey who talked about the principle of “sharpening your saw.” The metaphor he used was of a new woodcutter who started work on day. The longer he worked, the duller his saw became, but he never stopped. The other woodcutters, on the other hand, would take a 5-minute break once an hour to sharpen their saws, and consequently were much more productive for the rest of the time, as they were working with sharp saws instead of dull ones. When someone suggested this to the newbie woodcutter, he said, “I don’t have time to stop! I’ve got to keep sawing!” He just didn’t realize the benefits he would gain from sharpening his saw.
I see meditation kind of like that. It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and sharpen our mental and spiritual saws.
Julie - really good analogy. I started my 100 days challenge the same day as my new meditation practice so I’m on day 3 on both - and feeling like they’re each a part of the whole. I’m glad I’m doing them together because I feel like each makes the other so much more powerful!
Hello! I’m delighted to see this topic here. Tonight I began my meditation journey ... again. I’ve never meditated for more than a week or two at a time, but every time I find it is a fabulous and powerful experience, especially the more days I get under my belt.
I’ve tried a few different methods and read parts of different books. For me, I finally had to decide that “normal” meditation is not right for me, yet. I can’t quiet my mind that much yet. I found a book, something like “8 minute meditation,” which basically says that you should aim for 8 minutes a day, and if you get more, that’s great. The key is just to get started. (Sounds like exercise, eh?!) I often find myself going past 8 minutes, but the fact that I only “have to” do 8 minutes is what enables me to sit down and do it sometimes.
As for what I do ... I follow my breathing a lot, and I usually find a thought or phrase to focus on - usually something I want to bring into my life. I’ll repeat that phrase over and over (bringing my mind back to it when it strays), and then often it will morph into something else, which I then repeat. The longer into the meditation time I get, the quieter my mind gets, and so toward the end I often end up really focusing on my breath, repeating to myself “innnnnnn .... ouuuuuuuuut .... innnnnnnn .... oouuuuuuuut” as appropriate.
And then I get up TOTALLY refreshed and excited about life! Believing anything and everything is possible! Fantastic!
I do want to try the walking meditation more. Perhaps tomorrow on my 2nd day of my 100 days challenge!
Good luck! I replied to your post in my 100 days thread. Keep me posted on how it goes.
(phew, that would have got me 5 minutes on the naughty chair) but that we may need to take a decent chunk of time to rest our bodies and minds.
