Meditation

[Ben Dhyan]

Concentration is a noun. We could discuss this further in the debate section if you wish, but let this thread stay on-track.

Nothing to debate,...I agree 'concentration' is a noun'.

 

[crossfire]

No one said anything about forcing anything, where did I suggest anything had to be forced?

Don't cling to concentration. Don't push being away. Accept being. Don't cling to being when it vanishes. Don't push non-being away. Accept non-being. Don't cling to non-being. Accept one. Accept two. Accept emptiness. Don't cling to any of them. And most of all--don't cling to your meditative experience! Let it go when it passes. (Does it really ever pass away?)

 

[Shuddhasattva]

Nothing to debate,...I agree 'concentration' is a noun'.

You may wish then to know that it's the same in Sanskrit.

'dhyai' - to concentrate/contemplate, with connotations of mental activity. dhyana = contemplation/concentration.

 

[Ben Dhyan]

Don't cling to concentration. Don't push being away. Accept being. Don't cling to being when it vanishes. Don't push non-being away. Accept non-being. Don't cling to non-being. Accept one. Accept two. Accept emptiness. Don't cling to any of them. And most of all--don't cling to your meditative experience! Let it go when it passes. (Does it really ever pass away?)

But the question to you remains the same,..who are you talking to?

You keep quoting me and saying things as though they are relevant to what I'm trying to convey, it's not that I disagree with what you're trying to convey but I can't see any congruence with my post content.

Do you understand?

 

[Ben Dhyan]

You may wish then to know that it's the same in Sanskrit.

'dhyai' - to concentrate/contemplate, with connotations of mental activity. dhyana = contemplation/concentration.

We use different sources, I posted my source,..where is your link?

 

[crossfire]

But the question to you remains the same,..who are you talking to?

You keep quoting me and saying things as though they are relevant to what I'm trying to convey, it's not that I disagree with what you're trying to convey but I can't see any congruence with my post content.

Do you understand?

I understand that you do not understand me.

 

[Ben Dhyan]

I understand that you do not understand me.

Well that's progress..

True understanding is not only understanding understanding, it's also understanding not understanding.... - Bodhidharma

 

[Jainarayan]

I don't know if I mentioned this, but there are many, many Youtube videos for meditation background music. I don't mean only for New Ageish relaxation, I mean background music for blocking out external sounds... e.g. rain; sitar, sarod, tambura droning; even white noise. There are a lot for Hindu and Buddhist chants. I even found an awesome one of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. I like listening to it for its mesmerizing rhythm, though I don't use the chant.

You have to sample a lot of them to find what works for you. They are easy enough to download using Youtube Downloader (Google it, perfectly legal), convert to mp3, mp4, iPhone or whatever your media preference, then burn to a cd or add to your iWhatever. If it is not long enough, loop it. I don't see anything wrong with a meditation aid if it helps achieve your goal and train your mind. I've found some with the proper rhythm and intonation for my japa mantra.

 

[YmirGF]

My friend (or have I been permanently unfriended? )

Your time in the doghouse is over.

Paul, yes, it is thought processes of the brain that create so much neuron firing (which is the natural process of dealing with reality indirectly through conceptual representations), that the universal calm within is obscured and hence displaced as the reference perspective for apprehending reality directly.

Just so, BenD. The calm is always there for all to "reach/touch" within the howling winds of perpetual thought. The thoughts themselves do not cease, rather, it is the fixation on thoughts that ceases.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

We use different sources, I posted my source,..where is your link?

your source is straight out inaccurate, consullt monier williams or any other sanskrit authority please

 

[Straw Dog]

I understand that you do not understand me.

It's amazing how many of the world's major issues come down to a communication problem between people, cultures, etc. Meditation also helps simplify thinking processes and increases our ability to listen to each other more carefully. Meditation on a mass scale would probably help resolve many communication issues in the world as we open ourselves to better understanding others.

 

[YmirGF]

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, Drolefille. I have been biting my nails over the US election and now that the forces of insanity seem to have prevailed I can get back to business as usual.

I'm aware of the theories but not good at the specifics.

So, in effect, you have read a bit about meditation. So far, so good.

1. I want to try and have peaceful moments. Stress relief. Potential for some sort of spiritual or religious output - but see "unwilling agnostic" above.

Ah, the peaceful moments thingy. Nice choice. It is certainly a nice fringe benefit from the meditation process, but, alas, it is not usually something that happens early on.

On the topic of stress relief. Meditation does give one a break from ones basic routine, by instituting a new routine, thereby altering stress levels - to be sure. The downside to this is that the act of meditation can cause more stress if it is not done properly. If one feels they are failing at "getting meditation" or making progress during meditation, one can accumulate stress due to that perception. An unintended consequence. So, in effect, don't bet the farm on "stress relief" out of the starting gate. It's a prize for more seasoned adepts. Others may tell you differently, but they are just pulling your leg.

Ability to have some stillness that could lead to introspection. I don't have a lot of that during the day and my brain tends to whirr at a ridiculous RPM.

This is probably the best area to work on to begin with. Think of the other stuff as fringe benefits that occur with years of practice. What you are saying is you want to have predefined "down times" during the day where you can just sit quietly. I have read that you suffer from ADHD, so this would seem to be a reasonable place to start. What I would suggest is that SLOWLY, over a period of weeks, you begin with sitting quietly for 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 4 minutes etc... allowing yourself to become used to the process. Give yourself TIME to get into the new routine. Given your ADHD "condition" this might take some effort in and of itself. Make the commitment to yourself that this is something you want to pursue.

2. Yep

Excellent.

*adopts conspiratorial tone*

I would highly recommend that you precede each "quiet time", the forerunner to actual meditation time, with 15 minutes of light exercise. Do not work up a sweat that will tire you out. Simply release some of the physical energy you have. That may help.

3. No, I've cut back significantly. Caffeine does help medicate the ADHD so I tend to drink it at work but prefer water.

Ok, just checking my bases here. I didn't want to offer advice to someone who was practically intoxicated on caffeine and then not understand why they cannot sit still for more than a minute, LOL.

After your 15 minutes exercise period, have a 6-8oz glass of orange juice or whatever juice you like. Make it a fruit juice though.

If you do decide to try this, do let me know if you are making any progress or are still stuck. Stillness is a bit more than just sitting down and thinking of nothing in particular.

 

[crossfire]

On the topic of stress relief. Meditation does give one a break from ones basic routine, by instituting a new routine, thereby altering stress levels - to be sure. The downside to this is that the act of meditation can cause more stress if it is not done properly. If one feels they are failing at "getting meditation" or making progress during meditation, one can accumulate stress due to that perception. An unintended consequence. So, in effect, don't bet the farm on "stress relief" out of the starting gate. It's a prize for more seasoned adepts. Others may tell you differently, but they are just pulling your leg.

At first, you may find some things bubbling up from your mind that you would rather keep buried than address at. Once you know these things for what they are, they will quickly pass if you let them pass. (Although they might bubble up again repeatedly until you understand them and address them.) This can also become a source of stress if you have difficulty identifying or even acknowledging them.

 

[Ben Dhyan]

Your time in the doghouse is over.

Ahh, a reversal of fortune, it's good to be back in the godhouse...

 

[Twilight Hue]

What the problem with "the zone"?

Occurs when your out of the zone.