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Antonik
Old Hand
16 Posts |
 Posted - 06/07/2005 : 21:13:41
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Ok question for someone out there. What is the best meditation to start with? I can just about manage the basic belly breating (on a good day) but should i start out with the secret smile, the mirco-whatever orbit (sorry cant remeber its name is right now but its the one you imaging bring energy up one side of the body and down the other) or anything and everything?
"For that which once existed is no more, and that which was not has come to be; and so the whole round of motion is gone through again." Ovid, Metamorphoses
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al_b
Stone broke...
21 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2005 : 02:27:40
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the subject of meditation doesn't matter, as long as you are clear on the aim of what you are trying to do. meditation is about directly experiencing something, whether it is a physical sensation, a sight, sound, smell, your breath, etc.
if you are the sort of person who has a constant stream of words going through their head, this is the first place to begin - try to reduce them, perhaps by using a breath counting method, until you can gradually decrease the volume of the counting, and just directly experience the breath. relaxing the navel area appears to make this easier - body and mind are not separate, and one can be used to affect the other.
your mind can be a trickly little stickler, and although you may not have that running commentary verbalising in your head, if you really concentrate, it may become apparent to you that you aren't directly experiencing what is actually happening to you. you may, for example, have read or heard about what you should feel or experience, and then be watching for that to occur, or try to induce it.
just sit and experience what is actually happening. if you get bored, that is just your ego getting in the way. it wants more stimulation - yet this isn't necessary. or perhaps your legs hurt - this too doesn't actually matter. just try to experience the sensations without any prejudice.
(ok, i'm off on one now) most people live their lives in the pursuit of pleasure, and this warps us, polarising the experiences we allow ourselves to fully examine. it's all well and good to eat a bit of chocolate cake, fully savouring every mouthful and taste, but what about when someone applies a choke? do you allow yourself to fully experience every sensation before tapping out, or do you suddenly get scared, and tap out because it feels so unpleasant, almost as a reflex?
so, there is no good or bad, right or wrong. there is only what there is. whatever the subject of your meditation, the aim should be the same - just experience what is currently happening, absorbing yourself totally in the present moment.
hope this helps,
al |
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shadowninja
Newbie
6 Posts |
Posted - 23/12/2005 : 18:53:10
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| that works for me, but what if some people don't know how to do all of that in their own way? |
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PaulB
Overfiend
50 Posts |
 Posted - 06/02/2006 : 13:57:49
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Since al hasn't been able to jump in to respond to shadowninja's query, I'll jump into his boots for a moment (tho we're still curious to know who you are).
If you are asking where you can get further guidance on these sort of subjects then there are a few books you can look at. Now, bear in mind meditation is a MASSIVE subject. Research and read around a bit. Different forms of meditation have been practiced by different cultures and groups around the world for thousands of years, so an important question is what do you want from your meditation. What are you seeking from your meditation- increased calm? Self-healing? 'enlightenment'? to use your body and mind a bit more efficiently? etc, etc. also bear in mind that there are different approaches which suit people of different mindsets (some people find visualisation useful, others don't, some find a philosophical/religious undertone to their meditation useful, others don't etc).
That little disclaimer thrown in, the club in general has a more chi-gung orientation to meditation, and since this seems to be the approach mich is coming from with her original question then useful books I can personally recommend might be-
For general meditation intro from no particular philosophical approach try "Meditation for Dummies", the club has a copy, and you say you're a member, so get in touch with Paddy, the resident Librarian, to borrow it.
A Complete Guide to Chi-Gung, by Daniel Reid. A good introduction to chi-gung that explains its background, benefits, and an assortment of basic practices to help you find out which of the many routes you may wish to take.
Healing Light of the Tao- Mantak chia. Covers pretty much everything you ever need to know about the micro and macrocosmic orbits, and how to get them running, with detailed descriptions of different points and channels involved. Can read a bit like an anatomy text at times, and does sometimes use a lot of taoist metaphor, so if you're just starting out, may be useful to read "Healing Energy of the Tao" first as a more basic intro.
For a more esoteric ninpo/shugendo approach to all this, then some of Stephen K Hayes books, and for an intro to the Kundalini approach geared specifically to ninpo, and for an intro to esoteric codework then try Path Notes and Shadow Strategies, By Glenn Morris (all these are available in the club library).
Read some of Hatsumi's stuff after you're familiar with some of the esoteric code that can be involved and see what you think he may be saying on the subject (It'll be you're own perspective, but that doesn't mean it hasnt got validity, it appears the Boss never spells this stuff out definatively- its up to you to find your own way).
Once you've read enough and have seen something you think might work for you, try it out with an open mind for a while, and see how it goes. Some of us can give you pieces of guidance, but ultimately, unless you join a meditation group then you take this journey on your own.
Hope that helps as a general resource list.
Paul
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"Although we may be meeting for the first time, I accept everyone as a friend.
In truth we already know one another, profoundly, as human beings who share the same goals:
We all seek happiness and do not want suffering"
-HH the Dalai Lama-
ps. even this forum seems to be telling me I'm old- so get posting so there's more old hands!! |
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Mr Meridian
Newbie
2 Posts |
Posted - 26/04/2006 : 11:59:27
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Doing Micro- cosmic orbit in early stages in kinda a risky in you dnt knw what ur doing.
The first thing to do in meditation or begining is to stillthe mind until is becomes normal then one should go on to do other things. theres alot of things in meditation but the most important is to focus the energies.
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RichL
Old Hand
15 Posts |
Posted - 13/05/2006 : 20:16:42
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OK so sit, breath, lather rince repeat
with new meditate'N'go my mind is so smooth and managable...
ok so my mind is still as dirty and cluttered as ever. when is the next week end session WITH added meditation?
"the pointy end goes in the other guy" |
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starting meditation
