Meditation.

I'm working on developing a meditation technique that works for me. Most meditation traditions are too fixed for my comfort so I'm trying to create a 'style' without rules, with infinite room for creativity and exploration and maybe even- fun. But the challenge is finding a guiding principle, the core philosophy of something so free-form.

If you could only take one meditation technique with you to a deserted island, which would it be?

What is meditation really? How does it work? What is the goal of meditation? Through what faculties of the mind does/should it operate in? [Other important questions, etc]?

Feel free to ask questions. Also feel free just to ramble out all your pertinent theories, I'll actually read through this time.

-Shepp

From my own training in meditation there are 2 types, contemplation and focus.

Firstly contemplate object of meditation then when one has a clear perception focus, switching back to contemplation when focus is lost.

That's the simplest explanation.

A couple of pitfalls of meditation can be seen as -

We try to force focus, this leads to tension and is counter productive, this is very common when one comes to meditation but by developing an awareness of how we are feeling and the tension we are holding will eventually help us combat this.

We focus on something that is external to our mind, not to say one cannot focus on a scene, candle, etc but the perception of it being outside of the mind when meditating lessens the potential benefits to be gained.

Hope this contributes to you developing your own practice.

reply to post by Shepp


I would take tai chi with me....first of all it looks cool like slow motion karate, and secondly, since I have tried it before it teaches us to connect our minds with our bodies. Great stress relief.

The one principle is your mind. No matter what you are contemplating, the tool you always use is your mind. The rest is simply how you use that tool/mind.

reply to post by Shepp




I am writing the following to all. Beginners and advanced alike. It is a meditation I use everyday and have since 1986. Its purpose is to relax the body and develop the minds eye. It grounds and opens at the same time. I suggest that you read it aloud while recording it so that it may be used as a guided meditation(use your calming voice). There is little that is more comforting than your own voice to your subconscious mind, not to mention, almost all mental programing happens due to what you actually say rather than think. Begin recording at the quotes and end recording at the quotes but do not record what is in parentheses, this is simply guides in how to speak. This should only take about 20 min.

Preparation is easy. Simply dim the lights or light a fragrance free candle(we are not working darkness or aroma therapy for the moment),sit or lie down in a comfortable position, and breath. Breath is very important, it should be slow and deep, in through the nose and out through the mouth, in through the nose and out through the mouth. Clear your mind of anticipation and focus on your voice. If you fall asleep its ok simply try again tomorrow.

And we begin:

"You are calm, relaxed, and safe(pause) You are calm, relaxed, and safe(pause) You are calm, relaxed, and safe(pause).
Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth(pause), Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth(pause), Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth(pause).

Concentrate on your feet and calves(pause), nothing but your feet and calves(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your feet and calves(pause, pause).

Concentrate on your thighs and buttocks(pause), nothing but your thighs and buttocks(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your thighs and buttocks(pause, pause).

Concentrate on your stomach and lower back(pause), nothing but your stomach and lower back(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your stomach and lower back(pause, pause).

Concentrate on your chest and upper back(pause), nothing but your chest and upper back(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your chest and upper back(pause, pause).

Concentrate on you neck, head, and face(pause), nothing but your neck, head, and face(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your neck, head, and face(pause, pause).

Concentrate on your whole body as a whole(pause), nothing but your whole body as a whole(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your whole body as a whole(pause, pause).

(pause 30 sec. for breathing)

See yourself walking to your refrigerator(pause), you open the door and it is empty except for a single orange on the top shelf(pause), see the light and the orange, feel the cold coming from the refrigerator(pause), you pick up the orange(pause), feel its cold, feel its weight, feel its texture(pause), see its colors, see its surface, see all its detail(pause), you begin to peal the orange(pause), you smell it, you hear it tare, you feel it, you see it,(pause), you begin to eat it(pause) you taste it, you feel the beads pop in your mouth, you smell it, you hear it(pause, pause) you enjoy the senses as you experience this orange(pause, pause).

You realize you forgot to close the refrigerator(pause) when you look back to it you see the back is missing and through and beyond is a sunlit forest(pause) you step through(pause) you feel the sun on your body, you smell the air, you see the trees and random bird and animal, you hear the wind as it rustles the leaves and you begin to walk(pause, pause)

As you walk you realize you are no longer you(pause) you are a deer(pause) you see as it sees, you smell as it smells, you feel as it feels, you hear as it hears(pause) you feel your new power, your new strength and begin to run(pause) faster and faster(pause) feel your heart rate, feel your breathing, see the woods speeding past as you run(pause) your fear is gone with this new experience(pause, pause)

You come to a cliff and jump, yet you do not fall for you are now a bird(pause)see as it sees, feel the wind on your face and wings(pause) notice what kind of bird you are(pause) you fly out over the ocean(pause) see, hear, smell, feel, taste(pause) turn and swoop, experience flight(pause, pause, pause)

You dive toward the surface of the ocean(pause) when you break the surface your fear is gone(pause) you are now a fish(pause), notice what you are(pause) see, hear, smell, taste, feel(pause) experience your new self and be(pause, pause, pause)

You begin to swim faster and faster then shoot up through the surface(pause) you do not come down for you are now a sphere of conscious energy(pause) see, feel, taste, touch, smell, be(pause) you rise higher and higher, faster and faster(pause)higher and higher, faster and faster(pause) you leave Earth, faster and faster(pause) you begin to travel toward the sun(pause) faster and faster(pause, pause, pause)

When you reach the sun you enter and become fire(pause) see, feel, hear, taste, smell, dance, experience, be, love(pause, pause, pause)

When you emerge from the surface you see yourself meditating by a campfire and it is night(pause) enter into yourself and open your eyes(pause) see, hear, smell, taste, feel the campfire and the area around you(pause) stand and raise your arms to the sky(pause) you begin to rise(pause) you fly to your home town(pause) use all your senses(pause) you see your house and enter through the roof(pause) you see yourself meditating and enter into yourself(pause, pause, pause)

Concentrate on your whole body as a whole(pause), nothing but your whole body as a whole(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your whole body as a whole(pause, pause).

Concentrate on you neck, head, and face(pause), nothing but your neck, head, and face(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your neck, head, and face(pause, pause).

Concentrate on your chest and upper back(pause), nothing but your chest and upper back(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your chest and upper back(pause, pause).

Concentrate on your stomach and lower back(pause), nothing but your stomach and lower back(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your stomach and lower back(pause, pause).

Concentrate on your thighs and buttocks(pause), nothing but your thighs and buttocks(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your thighs and buttocks(pause, pause).

Concentrate on your feet and calves(pause), nothing but your feet and calves(pause), breath in relaxation and breath out all tension in your feet and calves(pause, pause).

Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth(pause), Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth(pause), Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth(pause).

You are calm, relaxed, and safe(pause) You are calm, relaxed, and safe(pause) You are calm, relaxed, and safe(pause)."

When you are ready open your eyes and orientate yourself then write down your experience to the smallest detail you can remember. then repeat tomorrow and every day. When you are comfortable with changing it go through the process and change as you like. But remember to experience on all your senses levels

Edit to say; P.S. Is your refrigerator open?

P.S.S. you can alter words to fit your personal vocabulary or language ie; ice box instead of refrigerator.

Having suffered with what was labelled as ADHD as a kid, I do find it difficult to quiet my mind. But I used to dance, semi-professionally (my and my buddies would dance on stage at raves to pump up the crowd in return for free entry and backstage passes) and am quite good at it, for instead of rehearsed steps it came from within.

This is how I slow my mind. I don't need music, and it can be slow like Tai Chi or very fast depending on how the 'energy takes hold.

Does it boil down to intention?

reply to post by Shepp


Always

reply to post by Shepp

Originally posted by Shepp
Does it boil down to intention?

Yes.

Always, as the previous reply pointed out.

Keep that question in your awareness on your journey. Because it is always the right question, and the answer is always the same. Always.

Originally posted by Shepp
But the challenge is finding a guiding principle, the core philosophy of something so free-form.
-Shepp

You need a Great Mantra.
How about the one God uses?
Avoiding Relationship?

Of course you will need the manual on how to use it.
Manual
I am betting you dont read it.

My meditations are a lot more simple than any mentioned so far.

For every 1 count of breath in, 2 counts breathe out.

What tips would you give to a beginner.

Life itself is a lifelong meditation offered to you on a golden plateau and no techniques are needed at all. Observation is something totally natural that requires no efforts and the more you observe yourself, the more your true nature is unveiled but the MAIN problem is that most people are conditioned since birth to not trust their own consciousness.

Ask yourself what really is observation and everything will fall into the right place. Can something adequately be seen with preconceptions? Can something clearly be seen while judging? The answers are totally obvious.

And in due time, through cumulated personal experiences, you'll discover that consciousness is also something non-local.

Know thyself... 'nosce te ipsum'.