Meditation Strategies

maynoth wrote: Sitting quietly and observing the breath and bodily sensations, being intensely aware of the present moment, letting thoughts flow by and being aware of them as they pass.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that this, for at least many people, is typically a recommended process preceding most other types of specific meditation, though I could be wrong. I'm still learning a lot about meditation, and you are teaching me a lot.

I am going to have to go back and reread this thread, but I wanted to comment, that I have yet to have meditation defined well enough to me to know if I am doing it automatically...

I dont know if I meditate by the standard understanding or not, and it is actually holding me up in a vein of study I am pursuing...

I dont have to know what something is to use it...

As an infant, I didnt know I was 'breathing', yet I was...

And this can apply to a multitude of experiences, and subjects...

And part of my issue I think, is to define it, people tell you how to do it... And as was said, if each doesnt work for all, then how do I know I am/was meditating?

Ive been hypnotized, I think it is like that, from the few actual descriptions I have gotten, but if you have not been hypnotized, how could you compare?

SO, I keep reading and thinking...

The dictionary says, it is "deep and pointedly thinking" or something similar...

I am just trying to fgure it out...

I highly recommend this book if meditation is something you are really interested in, this is more a Buddhist overview which isn't my cup of tea but it's still a great read. There is so much newage filler and fluff now a days it's refreshing to see a book on actual meditation and practice written by a professional.

http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Core-Teachings-Buddha-Unusually/dp/1904658407/r

Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha: An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book

-Daniel M. Ingram M.D.



It's available here free as well:

http://www.dharmaoverground.org/web/guest/dharma-wiki/-/wiki/Main/MCTB

http://integrateddaniel.info/book/

Rickie wrote: They are all the same you're just using different words. same dance different tune. Start anyway you desire the destination is the same. Just get started.

Sorry Rickie they aren't all the same and using different words. The differences in different forms of meditation become apparent when advanced practitioners each engage in their specific form of meditation while connected to an electroencephalograph to monitor their brainwaves or meditate in an fmri to see which areas of the brain are being activated.

Proteus wrote:

maynoth wrote: Sitting quietly and observing the breath and bodily sensations, being intensely aware of the present moment, letting thoughts flow by and being aware of them as they pass.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that this, for at least many people, is typically a recommended process preceding most other types of specific meditation, though I could be wrong. I'm still learning a lot about meditation, and you are teaching me a lot.

Sure this is probably the most common, popular, and recommended form of meditation.

Not all other forms of meditation begin with this however.

I don't mean to confuse others. I guess it does make things complicated to say there are a gazillion forms of meditation, and they all have different purposes and functions and there is no one best form for all people, nor one best place to start.


Really I think the first step is not starting vipassana meditation, it is figuring out why you want to meditate in the first place, then finding the best form of meditation for that goal.


Think of the forms of meditation like majors in college.

Vipassana is like a major in business administration.


What you go to college for depends on what you want do with your life.

Not having a game plan is like getting a liberal arts degree so you can work at Starbucks the rest of your life.

maynoth wrote:

Rickie wrote: They are all the same you're just using different words. same dance different tune. Start anyway you desire the destination is the same. Just get started.

Sorry Rickie they aren't all the same and using different words. The differences in different forms of meditation become apparent when advanced practitioners each engage in their specific form of meditation while connected to an electroencephalograph to monitor their brainwaves or meditate in an fmri to see which areas of the brain are being activated.

I've been meditating for decades. IMHO You are over intellectualizing this. How long have you been meditating and what have been some of your experiences. I'll be glad to share mine.

God I can't imagine what they would find in my brain?! :whistle: :laugh:

I think it's probably a bad idea for me to talk about what and why I practice the form of meditation I do and my experiences with it. They aren't exactly believable and tend to cause problems when I talk about them in public. If you would like you can send me a PM if you agree to keep it private.

If you would like I can post EEG data showing how brainwave patters differ between various forms of meditation.

I doubt it's a bad idea but feel free to PM me. Private means private.

I'll look at the eeg stuff of the various forms. It could be fun.

Ok you two...

As you both seem to be knowledgeable...

I am told it is good for relaxing, for your health, and stress...

So, if it is good stress, by relaxing, then it is good for my health...

The three are interconnected...

I cant sit still... I have been told that I have to sit still to meditate...

I think, by reading a little of your links maynoth, I do mindfullness meditation...

I am very aware of my body... I am a martial artist...

I'll stop here for now...

So I am not stressed, for what other purpose would I use meditation?

Jestor wrote:
for what other purpose would I use meditation?

To increase I.Q. and spatial intelligence with forms of meditation like image streaming.

http://www.winwenger.com/imstream.htm

http://www.winwenger.com/ebooks/guaran3.htm



To develop compassion and cultivate loving kindness for yourself and all other beings with practices like metta.


To control your immune system, increase or decrease metabolism, and raise your body temperature to survive certain death from hypothermia via practices like tummo.


And probably the least believable for attaining Godhood and realizing your ultimate potential as a human, developing and mastering ever psychic ability we have names for and then some.