What do you do for meditation? Does it help relax you? How long do you meditate? Do you meditate more than once a day? I am looking for more ways to relax, which is why I am asking.

Mary there are many many approaches to meditation. My favourite is a book by Thich Nhat Hanh called "The Miracle of Mindfulness".

When I was sitting za-zen I would sit twice a day. Twenty minutes right out of bed and again just before bed in the evening.

Cheers! Ian.

Thanks Ian! :)

I like his attitude about being able to participate no mattter where or when.. You can always take advantage to centre your mind.. even doing the dishes.. < g >
Cheers! Ian.

Thanks so much Ian!

There is also a book called Taming the Monkey Mind that I thought was rather good.
A really good book for beginners called A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield. The author takes you through several mediatations at the end of chapters.

If you are hyperkenetic at all, you may also want to look into Tai Chi or Yoga mediation as well. These forms of meditation allow you to move our body while meditating. As a hyperkenetic myself I find I get more out of mediation if I can also use my body.

MM

:yin-yang:

Mary, I am thinking of trying some types of meditation as well. Not being much of a reader, and certainly never about anything as abstract as meditation, I don't have anything for you now. I prefer the hands-on, try-it-before-you-buy it methods. I have always automatically ruled out for myself anything having to do with stillness. Now I think stillness just might be THE right thing. I am going to attempt to attend a meditation workshop Saturday. If I make it, I will let you know how it goes. The organization putting it on has a website which I cannot post now because the paper is in my room and there is someone tiny sleeping in there. :) I will post the website regardless of my attendance.

I can't meditate very much, but that is how I learned to go to sleep. By trying to meditate. I listen to my breath in order to stop thinking so much, and I actually fall asleep, I can't do it when I have allergies a cold or athsma though. I should post this in the sleeping section.
I am not much help here!!

Oh yes you have... all of you have. Breathing is one of the ways we can all meditate. I sometimes listen to my pulse if it's pounding hard enough and the house is quiet enough. It lulls me to sleep sometimes.

Thanks to all of you who've answered!

of course you all know that there are *tons* of meditation mp3 files to be downloaded via winmx!

I've noticed that just putting on some slower praise and worship music helps me just automatically feel more relaxed...also classical music...slow stuff of course.

My suggestion is if you want to learn how to meditate you get trained via some sort of established orgainization - for example there is Transcendental Mediataion - it is not cheap - this way you will have a structure and if you have to pay for the training you will more likely do it. I do not believe very many people in this western society can lean how to REALLY medidate on there own - it is too difficult.

There are many meditation groups that meet and do not charge a fee (or request a small membership donation). It is good to have some direction from a teacher and is difficult to learn from a book.

But if you encounter something that is really expensive, stay away from it unless it is something you are very very into doing.

Many groups teach non-denominational meditation. You can be Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, or have no religious affliliation. There are Catholic priests who teach Zen meditation and many teachers who instruct in Tibetan meditation practices.

This is easy to find in large metropolitan centers, but can be found in many non-urban areas also.

Hi,

I meditate alone, and have never taken a class or read about it, beyond a couple of Internet pages and a few minutes spent with a psychotherapist.

This was intentional; I wanted to see if I could meditate and experience meditation without any preconceptions of how it should be done and what I should feel.

As I feel sensations -- I sometimes try and learn more about them from Guru Google.

I have spent up to 8 hours in a day meditating....but 2 hours seems to be my norm.

For me, I use feelings to tell me whether my approach is working. I change techniques, as others come to me -- all that's important to me is that focus is maintained on just this one thing, whatever that is, and that wandering thoughts are banished.

I have made the following curious observation linking the effects of dexedrine and meditation.
--------------
I might actually go one controversial step further -- and describe a good meditation session as yielding similar sensations to the mild euphoria that is sometimes felt when first taking dexedrine. To elaborate, shared sensations = ripples of relaxation traversing the body during, a quietness in the mind afterwards, a feeling that the area of the brain directly behind the forehead has been freed during and afterwards, focus/concentration improvement afterwards and a deep sense of relaxation too; there're probably others..........
--------------
I have never meditated with Dexedrine - but I'm sure that it'd be an interesting experience :-)

SB.

to meditate you need no services, no expensive teachers, and not even a book. sure there are tons of techniques out there and different styles, but just try it. everyones meditation is their own, there is no right or wrong way to do it once you have gotten yourself into that state of relaxation.
personally, i like to grab a cup of coffee, or nothing at all, and sit on my front porch and watch the leaves for a few minutes to get me really into the moment, then regulate my breathing, then close my eyes and listen to what my thoughts are doing.

Yes, yes.. I could not agree more.
ian

hey there mary, :D
hi it this auntchris. I know one way I like to relax and I suppose you could call it meditation; is during the good weather to go to the park and since I like near Lake Erie,I can watch the boats and seagull go by.

I also go down by the lake and sit on the rocks and read an interesting kids books. ( I like to take a break from the intense reading of school material and "grown ups" books) Some times I like to watch the people at the park with their child ( I love to watch the children)since I love children as I read while sitting under a tree.

I still havent found somethign to do in the colder weather, but I hope this helps.

auntchris

I have found over the years that Mindfulness Meditation is very effective for ADD (and also ADD complications like OCD).

Some of the best books written on how to do mindfulness meditation are written by Thic Nhat Han (could be slight,y mispelled).

also anything put out by the insight meditation center is good.

Best,

Phil

Welcome to the board Phil. I have enjoyed one of his books and I can't spell worth a darn! eheh He brought the whole concept of carrying with me that tone of attention throughout my day. Washing dishes can be a fine place to retain some reverence for being alive. :)

I too find that this helps a lot with my ADHD struggles. Lately what's been very pronounced is a much lighter Ian. Not so intense with others and much more approachable. I also find I'm not nearly so hard on myself when I'm sitting regularly.

The time doesn't seem to matter so much as the consistency. I've been away from it for years and have just started back in the last few weeks. I feel very "light" but I don't have much in the bank so to speak so that feeling dwindles rapidly if I'm inconsistant with my practise.

There is an introduction forum here that you'd be welcome to post to. I'm glad to have your input regardless.
Cheers! Ian.

Hi,



I'm getting back into repair mode. I started with a therapist a few weeks ago, and he feels that meditating will help to quiet my mind. I seriously started doing it at home this week. I do 15 min in the morning and at night. I'm having a hard time. I'm not sure if I should focus on my breathing, on my "happy place", or other techniques he brought up. I have another session tomorrow and since I'm seriously trying it now, I'll have some questions.



al

It is hard but I am careful not to beat myself up over my seeming lack of progress. I am not very good at "it" but I get a good feeling when I practise regularly.

For my the simpler the better as far as what to consentrate on. More importantly is that I don't get frustrated with the process. It's only going to last a few minutes. I forgive myself for getting distracted and quietly bring myself back to what I'm committed to focus on. It's a simple thing that I seem to be hopeless at but yields big results regardless of my competency.

I feel it's the practise at letting go of the distractions that affords me some peace. I seem to make no improvement in clearing a space for peace in my thoughts but somehow something is lighter if I'm sitting regularly.
Good luck with it.
Ian.

HI,

I saw my therapist tonight. We talked a bit about techniques. He brought up that even though there are different techs, you're working to train the mind to do one thing. If you're going to focus on your breathing, that's all you do. If you are going to visualize something, you stick to just that thought. He's pretty experienced in meditation. He told me that he's meditated with ???????(I forget what he called them), who were so good that they could pop out of their meditation to converse, then pop back in.

I asked him about Mindfullness, since I see that word associated with meditation. He told me that since the word meditation reminds people of Mideastern culture, Mindfullness is mor acceptable. He likes to refer to it as mindlessness, since you're actually working to take thoughts away.

On my ride home, I thought about mindfullness and how I think of many things when I should be thinking of only one. Tonite I had to do my upper body weight workout. I usually daydream my way thru it. I worked on being mindfull doing my weights. All I thought about was each movement of the weight and pushed away distracting thoughts.

I thought of another situation where being mindfull would help. I play guitar and never had the patience to learn scales or practicing moving up and down the neck. It's boring and repetitive. I will set up a time where that's all I'm going to do. Instead of being bored because I'm thinking of other things, I'm just going to work at just thinking about what I'm doing.

see ya,

al

Al that all sounds pretty dang optimistic. :D I like the mindfulness reference too. Although I don't have issues with "meditation" either.

I think you have a pretty good handle on the theory and practise.

I had an old saying come to mind when I was reading your post. Always think about what you are doing. It came through with new meaning tonight.
Cheers! Ian.

FYI: meditation audio files and online courses are available at http://www.wildmind.org

I'm procrastinating on signing up for the course, but I've been pleased with the results from trying a couple of the audio files.

I'll check out the link, thanks.

al

I've managed a few days in a row to meditate both in the morning and evening. I'm trying to create the habit instead of focusing on how much time I sit. This attitude has worked elsewhere so I'm applying it to this too.

On Monday I think I sat for less than five minutes in the morning but by Friday I was able to sit for ten minutes without effort.

My expectations need to be so low for me to even make a start! I hope some else will hear this and be able to make a start. I've had a zafu and zabuton for many years but only since dextroamphetimine have come into my life have I been able to see any consistency.

The benefits seem to come from the consistency not necessarily the time spent meditating.

My first steady and consistant self care gig was my exercise. Now it seems that it's going to be my meditation time that settles into a groove.

The benefits are so enormous that it's hard to ignore now. My acceptance of just a couple of minutes is enough to encourage me to take that couple of minutes to care for myself. This is an important step toward a more generalised skill set for self care.

Cheers! Ian.

What do you do for meditation? Does it help relax you? How long do you meditate? Do you meditate more than once a day? I am looking for more ways to relax, which is why I am asking.Hi Mary,I find it hard to find time when I have a 7year old that reqires alot of attention but here is ways I like to meditate.At night I have a little budda light in my room that is christal that goes around in circles.I play some celtic music along with it.Insence or candles help too. JUst before I go to sleep.
I like to walk and meditate and use good thoughts to help me relax.
For me sitting near the water like lake or river for a few minutes and relaxing the mind and allow the waves heal your mood.I like to kyack.Rowing in cannue or kyack really relaxes me.Stop for a moment take a deep breath and smell the water.Some times just going to your favorite healing place like the woods for earth people or Maybe to see a kite or baloon fly or maybe you can just imagine your self at the places I mentioned doing those things.Deep breathing is great relaxing feeling.I also like to garden it is very theraputic to dig in the dirt :) Scorpioleo1970

Hi Mary I meditate at least 15 min or longer if my time allows it.Maybe an hour before bed.Maybe a few minutes before get up if you are a morning person.Sometimes take a few minutes when you first get home or when others in house hold are watching TV Scorpioleo1970

My Dad told me last night that reciting poetry to yourself before bedtime can help you fall asleep. I have yet to try it, I have to try and actually memorize something first!

Here is a good book for those just getting into meditation/mindfulness :

"Mindfulness In Plain English" by Venerable Henepola Gunaratana

On the fun side, check out :

"The Darhma of Star Wars"

This explains the mindfulness with examples of the Jedi.

I've been meditatiing everyday 2x's each day as I learned years ago in TM, which I don't recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to be marketed at for the rest of their life. Another book which I read that helped was "A Gradual Awakening" by Steven Levine.
I think it helps me get into a focusing mood. I think that it helps relax my muscles which are tight because of stress. I've heard tell, and had experience that because stress and thought are associated with muscle knots and discomfort, than its almost like thought is "stored" there in ones muscles. I wonder if relaxing during meditation doesn't stop a circuit between the muscle tension and the thought which caused it. By relaxing, I stop the thought from being triggered - thus less distraction for as long as the relative state of relaxation lasts? Any experiences out there with something like this?

My stress level is way up and my therapist keeps at me to work daily on meditation. I don't like doing it much -- very hard to quiet my mind and if I manage to usually a child or dog comes and jumps on me and that is very disquieting in the middle of meditation. It does seem to help when I do it. I'm not doing anything but deep breathing -- I'm not comfortable with the Eastern Religious associations and that probably gets in the way too. I'd like to find something that works for me and doesn't conflict with my beliefs.

Scattered

As I understand it, meditation doesn't need to focus on the breathing of the universe (Ohm......) but can be most anything that encourages stillness. The point, at least to start, is to clear your mind of all distractions. I use the cross as a focal point when I try, but normally cannot last very long at all. (Way too busy mind!) Use something close to your core, it may help.

Just a thought,

Craig

My stress level is way up and my therapist keeps at me to work daily on meditation. I don't like doing it much -- very hard to quiet my mind and if I manage to usually a child or dog comes and jumps on me and that is very disquieting in the middle of meditation. It does seem to help when I do it. I'm not doing anything but deep breathing -- I'm not comfortable with the Eastern Religious associations and that probably gets in the way too. I'd like to find something that works for me and doesn't conflict with my beliefs.

Scattered
Check out : "Mindfulness In Plain English" by Venerable Henepola Gunaratana

This book explains the process of how to meditate. It doesn't get into religion. It's only about the "how to". It's a very good book.

Thanks Tim and Craig for the suggestions.:)

To learn more about TWDD meditaition, click here (http://haikong.ca/blog/index.php?category=2)

You are invited to join us for our TWDD meditation teaching/practice session (http://haikong.ca/blog/index.php?d=06&m=03&y=06&category=11) that will be held on following dates
Sundays: March 19, Saturdays: April 15, 29
Time: 1:45 p.m to 5:00 p.m.

Location: The Inner Sanctum Yoga Studio, Milton, ON
400 Main Street Suite 208, upstairs
(near First Choice Haircutters) Corner of Ontario/Main St.

For those having trouble meditating, another technique that quiets the mind is the daily practice of silence. Practicing silence means speaking, no t.v., no radio, and no books. Through silence your internal dialogue slowly decreases and after a while the mind gives up and you experience a bit of pure silence and pure awareness.

I have to say that the payoff from meditating is immense. When you experience that pure silence, the gap, the source, it enlivens you. It also stays with you during the day. Small portions of the day where you suddenly feel happy for no reason at all.

I'd recommend finding a teacher. Think of all we learn. Most of what we know is passed on through a teacher of some sort.

Meditation has made a profound difference in many aspects of my life related to spirituality, concentration, anxiety, egotistic thinking, etc etc. I don't think it matters what one's belief's are, because our minds need a rest during conscious states like being awake(imo). Our minds usually have too much chatter and learning how to relax and calm ourselves , i think, is the key to being able to allow ourselfs to think clearer and feel better.

Find a quiet place, and shut the door so the cats and dogs and children can't come in. (put a "do not disturb til XXX" sign on the door if necessary)

Sit wherever and however you're comfortable. Best to be sitting erect with palms up, or at least relaxed in your lap. Set a timer for 21 minutes (21 is a 'magical' number, but choose any length of time you feel you can spare).

Close your eyes

Breath deeply and slowly three times. Think of a word that applies to where you are. Suggestions are..."relax", "breath", "let go', "surrender", "let go", "God", "hope", "love".

Continue to concentrate on that word. Say it silently with each inhale or exhale.

When you find your thoughts wandering, dismiss them, and focus on the word.

Do this until the timer goes off.

This is how I started meditation, only it was in a group and a moderator told us when to stop.

It seemed kind of pointless to me, and it took me awhile, but I was forced to do it because of the group I was in. Eventually I realized that FINALLY THE THOUGHTS STOPPED!!!! And the more I did it, the more I found myself thinking no thoughts, and just focusing on the moment......it helped me in many ways.

Dear friends,

Meditation may be defined as focusing attention on desired something and ADD/ADHD means distractabilty of attention from desired something. So with the progressive success in meditation ADD/ADHD is to go down and down and down...................

regards

The point, at least to start, is to clear your mind of all distractions. I use the cross as a focal point when I try, but normally cannot last very long at all. (Way too busy mind!) Use something close to your core, it may help.

Clearing my mind of distraction is another distraction. . . . .for me any way.

The more I tried to meditate the further away I got so I quit trying and it was there all along. The loss of time perception, the loss of awareness to the linier things is a natural sate of mind for an ADDer I would think because the things ADDers struggle with in “functional” world are the very things of meditation states strive to reach (IMHO)


I don't think it matters what one's belief's are,

Nope your are right it doesn’t. Meditation is not an organized religion however most “faiths” encourage this practice although they may use different terms to describe it .



Meditation may be defined as focusing attention on desired something and ADD/ADHD means distractibility of attention from desired something. So with the progressive success in meditation ADD/ADHD is to go down and down and down


On a desired some thing??? Meditation???? Wow I must use totally different terminology then, there is no desire to focus upon, there is no focus, there is being.


I do not require quite nor a specific place often I take a moment in the midst of chaos and confusion to reach a state of awareness where there is no space, time, only folding and unfolding, there is neither distraction or concentration, there is being just simply being.

Like I said perhaps I have a different definition as what happens to me doesn’t seem to “fit” – Oh well so what else is new-(shrug)

Ok, meditation - getting into the zone, etc. This is quieting the mind - getting that void thing happening.
For attention strengthening we want to do the same thing except that we are choosing something specific to contemplate.
The 'desire' may be something as mundane as a pen, for example. The pen is our focal point - like Lamaz...

Take a pen and explore it. Touch it, smell it, try it out. Take it apart and put it back together again. How long did it take you? Where did it come from? What is it made out of?
Is it hot now that you've been engaging it? What could you do with it? What do you want to do with it?
I guess the point is to STOP everything else and pay attention to the pen, only the pen.
Can you put yourself in the pen's position?

Imagine an island paradise like tahiti, you're laying on the beach, the waves are gently lapping in and tickling your toes, the warm sun is burning your flesh...
like that. Visualization in your mind's eye.

The point of this is to stop long enough to put a lot of consideration into something/anything/everything as an excersize. practise makes perfect.

The longer we can sustain that focus on something/anything/everything, the closer we may get to being able to control attention.

I don't think we're talking about defining meditation on this thread.

We're describing how we meditate.

At least that's how I read Mary's original question.


With that in mind, I meditate by taking a slow walk, through a wooded area.
I don't think about anything else, except the beauty and serenity, of the surrounding, natural area.


Nova

no, right. I was just interjecting at meadd823's On a desired some thing??? Meditation???? Wow I must use totally different terminology then, there is no desire to focus upon, there is no focus, there is being. I had been following jogeshwar's posts and I was trying to paraphrase what I thought he meant.

And as usual, thanks for calling me out on it.

No worries, K.
I was making a general comment- not really directed at you.

So how do you meditate ?

Nova