New to meditation

Hey everyone, I really dont know what to do when it comes to meditating. I want to meditate. But not to sure how or what to do.
Any Tips?!?

Peace
Love
And
Water

 

you could do basic breathing meditation. focus on the breath, in and out. when thoughts come, acknowledge them but then go back to focusing (and visualizing) your in and out breath. you need to sit cross-legged on a small cushion or on the floor with your back straight. don't be lying down on a bed or relaxing in a la-z-boy.

 

I also visualize something that goes along with my breathing. some people visualize a candle flame that grows upon the inhale and shrinks on the exhale. or you could say something on the inhale, exhale, or both. If there's a song that has a line you particularly like, try using that if its not too complex.

 

visualize white light.

 

or put on some meditational music and feel your energy melt with it, or repeat a mantra to yourself... whatever you do you need to find a focus that sits comfortably with you. low lighting, candles and your favorite insense are a must because you want to keep your energy pure around you... outdoors meditation is awsome.... just find your own technique and make it yours

 

Start small


That's really important - don't except too much of yourself. Many people new to meditation think they can just sit down in the half-lotus (which they struggle to do) and become enlightened.

It doesn't work like that.

If you're any good at visualisation, then visualise. If you're not don't sweat about it.

If you can focus on your breathing do that.

It took me years to be able to do either, but some can start from there.

For most beginners I would just suggest to sit still for 2 minutes - forget any particular meditational technique, just sit still for 2 minutes.

Blessings

Sebbi

 

i've heard that you don't need to be sitting in any specific position. but maybe the positions come in with more advancment where you're focusing with your body more (or something, heh)

i hear it's important to just be comfortable in a position you can keep for a while. laying down, sitting up, on your belly... /shrug

i used to recline in my car on breaks and clear my mind as best as i could and it was really refreshing.

 

Be careful with that (especially using odors like inscence). You might end up having your body associate meditative feeling with low lighting and insence. This is especially true with smells, which are very closely tied with memory. On the plus side, any time you smell that particular insence or scented candle, you might feel relaxed, but on the downside, you won't be able to feel relaxed without it.

Anyways, good advice has been given so far. A quiet place, in a comfortable position (not too comfy though, or you'll fall asleep), and an attentive mind are all you need. Just observe, without thinking or judging. Be a pure observer: observe the bug walking by, observe the thought you're thinking, observe the car horns in the distance, observe the pain in your knee.

But then, that might be harder with no experience...I guess you'll want something to focus on. The breath is the most common focus the world over, but a candle flame, a rhythm, sound, or song, or anything else could be used. An interesting one is to focus on your heartbeat.

 

I found it the other way around actually.


I used to try and meditate by having the focus points you mentioned but I found it was easier just to observe.

One thing I did do though, as an except to that is play my guitar, it became a meditation to me. I achieved much more potent meditative states like that than sitting cross legged.

It's like the woman who want to somewhere quite to dedicate herself to the spiritual existance - she didn't get an ounce of meditation in. Instead she made friends, made enemies, neglected her teeth, built a church, learned to fix her out plumming and to do car repairs, wrote poetry, help her children with homework, fight battles and organise local raffles.

There's more to meditation than sitting cross legged and saying om.

Blessings

Sebbi