Meditation!
- Thread starter bfj
- Start date
Hi Bita-
Yes, I meditate for 1 1/2 hours a day and have been for over 25 years. I cannot imagine what a day without meditation would be like...just as I exercise everyday (yoga on rest days, of course!) for my physical body, I meditate everyday for the benefit of my spiritual self. It has completely changed my outlook on life...
Robin
Yes, I meditate for 1 1/2 hours a day and have been for over 25 years. I cannot imagine what a day without meditation would be like...just as I exercise everyday (yoga on rest days, of course!) for my physical body, I meditate everyday for the benefit of my spiritual self. It has completely changed my outlook on life...
Robin
Hi Robin,
WOW! 1 1/2 hours/day, for 25 years!! That is awesome! I admire you. How do you do it? Does it come with practice? Do you use a mantra, or do you visualize or..? What is the best way for a beginner? Can I use three 15 minutes sessions on medition and still reach the higher level of concentration and calm?
I hope you don't mind me asking all these questions. I just love to master meditation, but to calm my mind is hard sometimes. Can you please give me some pointers?! Thanks again.
Bita
WOW! 1 1/2 hours/day, for 25 years!! That is awesome! I admire you. How do you do it? Does it come with practice? Do you use a mantra, or do you visualize or..? What is the best way for a beginner? Can I use three 15 minutes sessions on medition and still reach the higher level of concentration and calm?
I hope you don't mind me asking all these questions. I just love to master meditation, but to calm my mind is hard sometimes. Can you please give me some pointers?! Thanks again.
Bita
Hummmm...it's kinda hard to explain in writing, Bita. Here's an analogy. If you had a direct telephone line to your spirit, or you could call it your "center", the wise, calm part of yourself, you could "talk" to it all the time. Unfortunately, the mind is "chattering" constantly (all those thoughts that go round and round) and it's like trying to talk on the phone in a room full of chattering people. Distracting!! The object of meditation is to teach the mind to "shut up" and listen by focusing on something like a mantra or your own breathing, in other words, by giving it a simple task to do to keep it quiet you can "concentrate" on listening to your inner self.
There are lots of books out on the subject, but I myself have a spiritual teacher - just like I need Cathe for the physical stuff (some people just strike out on their own - runners, for example, but many of us need the inspiration of a teacher or guru - like our Cathe!). And yes, by all means, split sessions are fine - even 15 minutes a day is wonderful! Like anything, consistancy is the key. The path of meditation is a life long journey, but well worth it.
Hope this answers some of your questions.
Robin
There are lots of books out on the subject, but I myself have a spiritual teacher - just like I need Cathe for the physical stuff (some people just strike out on their own - runners, for example, but many of us need the inspiration of a teacher or guru - like our Cathe!). And yes, by all means, split sessions are fine - even 15 minutes a day is wonderful! Like anything, consistancy is the key. The path of meditation is a life long journey, but well worth it.
Hope this answers some of your questions.
Robin
Bobbi
Cathlete
Hi, Bita, I have been a wannabe for years and I continue to pursue meditation to varying degrees. Since our brains our constantly bombarded with stimulus it's great to learn to sit quietly, foucusing on the breath or a word, to get in touch with ourselves! That said I would like to recommend two books by Jon Kabat-Zinn. The first is called Full Catastrophe Living and is about learning to meditate through all lives ups and downs, the second, also by Jon Kabat-Zinn is called Wherever You go, There You Are. These are good guides. Good luck to you!
Bobbi http://www.plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Chick's Rule!
Bobbi http://www.plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Chick's Rule!
Bita, you are most welcome...I urge you to investigate meditation further - it, like our physical exercise, is a wonderful practice. I think we all need to reconnect with our True Selves as often as we are able and, for me, meditation seems to be the best way to do that. I meditate at night, when all is quite and calm and all the troubles and worries accumulated throughtout the day that seemed so important at the time seem to just melt away...and I sleep in peace and wake in joy...ready for a new day!
Robin
Robin
Here's some good tapes for guided meditation. $4 each.
http://www.bhavanasociety.org/tapes/tapes.htm#guided
http://www.bhavanasociety.org/tapes/tapes.htm#guided
starlight6
Cathlete
Robin, I just had to say thank you for your analogy...it made the process much clearer to me. Very nicely thought out!
Ruth
Ruth