Meditation Strategies

I'm rather a fan of the idea: "When sitting just sit."

I subscribe to the, perhaps out-moded and possibly antiquated, belief that the purpose of meditation is that it has no purpose. If you're focused on anything other than meditation while you're meditating, you're not meditating.

My father (in nearly infinite wisdom) ascribes the same thought process to driving...when driving, just drive. If you're focused on anything other than driving while you're driving, you're not driving.

And the true beauty of that thought is, it can be applied successfully to nearly anything. (I only say "nearly" because, while I haven't yet found what it can't be applied to, I haven't finished searching.)

Jestor wrote: Ok you two...

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

That is a big challange. I was quite an intense guy in my 20's. Some people are calm by nature, not me. You may identify with this? I had to be dilligent to go deep, 2 X daily 20-30 min (which I could never keep up), early in the morning when I was mentally and physically calm. One good thing about growing older is my reactions are not so spontaneous. My meditations got better with age and time.

You could rhythmically work yourself into an exausted/relaxed state. Once you get the "feel" for a truly deep relaxed state you're on your way. That's why some people turn to booz, pot and other substances to induce a relaxed state but the quickly become a crutch and them a block. Once relaxed you can explore some mind work or go deeper to clear your mind. Deeper is better, mind work is a distraction.

You can: run, walk, dance, look at a candle, ring a bell, listen to soothing music, burn insense (I had blinking Cristmass Tree lights strung in a star shape across on my cealing and would gaze at them. Can't imaging what the neighbors saw from the street in the summer?)

These things are just aids to help you start. Everything you need in already with you. Eventually it's all about sitting and breathing. Everything else is a distraction, everything. You will eventually find nothing between your thoughts and nothing will expand. Sometimes it lasts a long time. Sometimes nothing happens except you're relaxed. Sometimes I fall asleep. That used to make me feel bad until I was told if that was what was ment to happen let it happened. That is what you needed at the moment.

It just takes time, there are no short cuts, your rate of progress is your rate. It may just take your more time than some to clear the water. Every attempt is valuable and a step in the right direction. You can't push it. You have to be in a state the letting it happen and it will come to you when you're ready.

Please share you thoughts and experiences. It really is a wonderfull thing.

Jestor wrote: I cant sit still... I have been told that I have to sit still to meditate...

You are a martial artist, are you not? Use that as your "meditative focus". The idea being that you're allowing everything to fall away by focusing on one thing to the exclusion of all else. If there is one Kata you know by heart and don't have to think about, that would be the one to use. Start by thinking about it while performing it. Use that single minded focus to drive everything else out of your mind. Finally, once your mind is calm and still, allow your thoughts of the form to fall away too. It might take practice, but I would be willing to bet that idea (or a variation of it) would be successful for you.

I just re-read this post and it occurs to me that I stated this point in a very aggressive way. I don't literally mean for you to use one thought to force others from your mind...all that creates is a split focus, part of which is placed firmly on what you're trying to get rid of. What I meant by "driving" thoughts from your mind was simply, allow yourself to hold thoughts about the form and let everything else go. Then, once everything else is gone, allow the thoughts focusing on your Kata to go as well.

Clear as mud?

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

Ultimatly...to become one with the force. Everything else is scenery and side trips. Enjoy the journey just don't stay in one place too long. There is lots more down the road.

The form of meditation I study, does indeed have a purpose and specific function.

Other types don't.


Ducks quack, ducks are birds, therefor all birds quack?


Here are some quotes you might find interesting:

"I will enter total meditation—like the borderline between sleep and waking, okay?"

-The Magus of Java

What is Level One exactly?” I asked.

“You’ve shown me the training method, but we’ve never talked about what I’m supposed to be doing,”

“In Level One you fill up your dantien with yang ch’i. You must be in actual meditation to achieve this, and it is time dependent.

-The Magus of Java

“What is actual meditation like?” I asked.


“There are no thoughts and there is no sense of time. If you are
thinking, you are not in meditation. If you are aware of yourself, you
are also not in meditation. You must become like a baby in the womb,
there and yet not there. Meditation is like the borderline between sleep and waking, between consciousness and unconsciousness.”


“Very difficult.”

“Not so difficult, Kosta. You stayed in meditation for long periods when you were an embryo and a baby, and you pass through it now each time you drift off to sleep. You just have to remember how.”


-The Magus of Java

Alluvius wrote: I'm rather a fan of the idea: "When sitting just sit."

I subscribe to the, perhaps out-moded and possibly antiquated, belief that the purpose of meditation is that it has no purpose. If you're focused on anything other than meditation while you're meditating, you're not meditating.

My father (in nearly infinite wisdom) ascribes the same thought process to driving...when driving, just drive. If you're focused on anything other than driving while you're driving, you're not driving.

And the true beauty of that thought is, it can be applied successfully to nearly anything. (I only say "nearly" because, while I haven't yet found what it can't be applied to, I haven't finished searching.)

lol, maybe I didnt say what I meant to say in my other post...

Well, in the second one, I wanted to know reasons for meditating...

So, thank you for that..

Ok, this is really tough to explain in writing, actually, I am sitting here talking to myself, trying to figure out what I want to say, or How, lolol...

Alluvius wrote: My father (in nearly infinite wisdom) ascribes the same thought process to driving...when driving, just drive. If you're focused on anything other than driving while you're driving, you're not driving.

And the true beauty of that thought is, it can be applied successfully to nearly anything. (I only say "nearly" because, while I haven't yet found what it can't be applied to, I haven't finished searching.)

This is how I understand Wu Wei to be... You are not the driver of the car, you and the car are one, to a common objective... That make sense?

And Yes, I agree, it can apply to almost everything... Holding out for something I have not experienced either... lol...


Im just gonna type, maybe something will click, and a question will pop out!!:woohoo:

Lets say I am meditating, only I dont know it... How do I know it? lol...

As I said about a baby, it breathes, even though it doesnt know what it is called...

So, how can I tell if I am experiencing meditation?

This is purly acedemic, it serves no purpose, and people are gonna be like "what?" kinda like "Jestor, you are making a mountain out of a molehill"...

You two dont know me, but all of this stuff here is new to me... I am where I am because instead of studying these things that most of you have studied, I was independent...

So, lets say I taught myself to meditate... How would I know that the meditation I do is the same as what someone else does?

Yes, I do my martial arts form, and I am Wu Wei (thanks to my Master Jasper as I didnt know this term until I was his apprentice... Didn't know the Tao either)...

Once the learning is done, the forms flow from me, as do the moves and combinations... I am one with the movement...

As for being able to warm yourself, I kid you not, I just had this conversation this very morning with my co-worker... When my hands are cold, (they were saturday at a meeting I had) I generated some body heat by 'Ki'ing up my energy, and my hands became warm...

I seldom am cold...

I sound like a dipstick, lol...

Anyway, I guess the only way is to study them, huh, lol...

It's why I am stuck...

IF I am meditating, but dont know it, then how do I read on it to do the particualr type I am doing? surely there are more efficent ways to do it, lol...

IF I am not, then I guess I can begin with the book maynoth suggested...

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

-Daniel M. Ingram M.D.

But, I am trying to figure out if I am even doing it... If I am doing it, and it is not one in the book by that guy, how do I determine... lol...

Ugh, whatta dork I am...

OK. Please keep an open mind. I mean only good and not to be critical.

Relax, decafinate, sit without distraction. I used to vibrate so much and got caught up in my own buzz it was diffucult to fall asleep. I loved it. It engergized me. I had to put my phone in the closet under pillows to block distractions for th weekend. The buz was consuming me and it fed me. Go some place away from everything for a day or weekend and do nothing. It will be tough, you willbe restless but you must find a quiet and peacefull place. Calmness is so satisfying and soul fullfilling experience you will never forget it.

Peace, happyness and tranquility are yours for the asking. Trust me.

Just sit and let the water clear. Give it time. It will happen.

I feel for you and send my best thoughts tonight. The rest is up to you. Have faith. Good night.

Jestor wrote: So, lets say I taught myself to meditate... How would I know that the meditation I do is the same as what someone else does?

Why do you feel that it needs to be?

Jestor wrote: Once the learning is done, the forms flow from me, as do the moves and combinations... I am one with the movement...

This sounds like meditation to me, stilling the mind and folding yourself into the moment, all that you really have left to do is to turn your focus inward.

Jestor wrote: As for being able to warm yourself, I kid you not, I just had this conversation this very morning with my co-worker... When my hands are cold, (they were saturday at a meeting I had) I generated some body heat by 'Ki'ing up my energy, and my hands became warm...

My father had this "party trick" that he used to do where he would, thru the power of his focus alone, make one hand cold and the other hot...

Jestor wrote: IF I am meditating, but dont know it, then how do I read on it to do the particualr type I am doing? surely there are more efficent ways to do it, lol...

Didn't you say you were, as best you could figure by the info that Maynoth supplied, practicing Mindfulness Meditation? Why not start by reading up on that?

Jestor wrote: IF I am not, then I guess I can begin with the book maynoth suggested...

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

-Daniel M. Ingram M.D.

I would think you could read that regardless...it certainly can't hurt your situation.

Jestor wrote: But, I am trying to figure out if I am even doing it... If I am doing it, and it is not one in the book by that guy, how do I determine... lol...

Ugh, whatta dork I am...

Jestor, you're making a mountain out of a molehill.

http://taoistpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/The-secret-of-meditation.png

I can"t get this picture to appear. Can someone help?

Thanks to Wescli Wardest

Rickie wrote:

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http://taoistpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/The-secret-of-meditation.png

I can"t get this picture to appear. Can someone help?

Thanks to Wescli Wardest

Sometimes something does happen next, depending on the school you study.