Hello good folk. I've been long considering starting meditating and yoga, because i'm so stressed, and no matter how tidy things are around me, i panic, because my mind is so messy, and it's completely smudging my aura. I need some space to breathe, as all my inner stress has started to give me somewhat neurotic tendencies and just cause more stress. So is there anyway you kind folk can guide me through some basics of meditation and yoga, i'd really appreciate it. Thank you in advance.
Well, meditation is simple. Sit upright (no slouching) and breathe. Clear your mind; focus on your breath...in....out....in....out. When thoughts come up, and oh boy will they come up, just be aware of them, let them go, and return to your breath. Awareness and breath. Start out with shorter sessions, maybe 5 minutes. Add a minute every day. Depending on how long you want to meditate for, of course. Maybe 20 minutes is all you want, maybe an hour, but start small so you don't get burnt out and discouraged. That's the basics. For more in-depth, go here, its a great site: http://www.wildmind.org/
You could try mantra meditation. Sit, or lie down with back straight and try to relax the body. Instead of concentrating on the breathing, repeat a mantra, out loud at first to establish the vibration, then move to a silent repitition and to a mental repitition, all the time, trying to focus one's whole attention on the mantra. You will find the mind starts to wander off - thoughts arise. Observe this, and gently bring the mind back to focus on the mantra. Begin with only 10-20 mins, and build up to longer sessions, but a half hour a day seems a reasonable target to aim for. As to choice of mantras, there are many that can be used. And the nice thing is that at other times too you can repeat the mantra silently, and thus tune in to a space of calm amid the rush of life, even if only for a few moments. But such moments can make all the difference. Hope this helps.
When the thoughts start coming the really tricky bit is to not get drawn into them (and thereby give them more energy than they started with). I often find when I'm meditating that I've drifted off with a train off thought and have been gone for quite a while. Blessings Sebbi
Thats a common experience Sebbi. Meditation can also lead to stuff emerging from the un-conscious - buried desires, supressed thoughts and ideas and so on. It can be interesting to note the thoughts that come, as they can often, in my experience, indicate areas of life we need to look at, perhaps to get into a greater balance balance. An Indian freind of mine put it like this - the mind is like a small child and there's father trying to sing it to sleep. At first, the child may 'play up', refuse to be quiet and drop off. But when it sees that the father is serious, it eventually shuts up and goes to sleep. Then, what is deeper inside can emerge.
yes, the mind is called the young monkey, it goes jumping from tree to tree, (thought to thought), one must learn to note these many thoughts which enter the mind. Basic meditation, will be difficult to focus ones thoughts and focuses onto other things such as mantra's, ones breathing or even with open eyes a point on the wall stc. All of these different objects/focuses are just different ways for the mind to shut off from the senses and learn to focus on one object. This object, after time will help to bring about peaceful mindfullnes, which is such bliss and contentment, i believe im lucky to have been able to of delved into meditation at such a young age, one of my mentors, thinks im special to be able to note and focus ones senses and mind. I hope this has helped to clear some aspects of meditation up for you, i personally use a Buddhist meditation, which is a sect called insightful (Vipassana ) meditation, an ideal sight to download basic tutorials and readings is, Buddhanet.net I hope this has been enlightening, Love Conor.
