Questions about Meditation in Hinduism?

[Nyingjé Tso]

Vanakkam,

That's strange, I'm usually meditating eyes half closed and concentrate on third eye without problem...Am I doing this wrong ? D:


Aum Namah Shivaya

 

[Jainarayan]

That's strange, I'm usually meditating eyes half closed and concentrate on third eye without problem

Show off!

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

Vanakkam

Show off!

No seriously I was always thinking this was a normal way to meditate and now that I read this tread I'm full of very important existential questions and 42 cannot answer them !

Ah, thank you mister, THANK YOU !

Aum Namah Shivaya

 

[Windwalker]

I agree, and I think therein lies the talent of meditation. I can't keep my eyes half-closed either unless I am focusing on a flame or the yantra, which I don't use anymore, because ironically, it was distracting. I keep my eyes closed too. But notice in images of Lord Shiva, his eyes are half-closed. He is, of course, the consummate yogi and ascetic.

What I find is that as I move into deep meditation, that is when the eyes open like this, or at a point fully open. It's a matter of where you are in meditation. It just sort of happens naturally. I love when the eyes are fully open and you are deep in meditation. Beautiful.

 

[Jainarayan]

I love when the eyes are fully open and you are deep in meditation. Beautiful.

Now, that I can do!

 

[Windwalker]

Now, that I can do!

You mean to say "can't do?

Actually, I can't do it either. What I mean is it isn't something I try to do and accomplish. When this happens it occurs as the mind has moved through various stages in meditation, where the subtle forms dissolve and you move into pure stillness and beyond. It is like you are done meditating, and you just open your eyes and see the world as it is, pure, still, absolute.

I suppose you can say you have moved through meditation and come out on the other side awake. Sort of like that car wash analogy, except it's the world without boundaries. Each flame of the candle is a living life, every breath the world. Hard to describe. Most of the time however is at a stage prior to that. There is much to learn before for me before moving there regularly.

And then there was today.... Boy the mind was both sluggish and distracted at the same time. Hard to sustain focus within those spaces for long like that. It's all part of the process. Just rambling now... as I said, the mind is scattered today a bit.

 

[Windwalker]

To clarify that confusing statement, meditation isn't something we do. It is something we don't do. All our normal trying to do something, will not work. It is "not doing" that allows it to happen. And that's the magic key. Learning how to "not do".

 

[Jainarayan]

You mean to say "can't do?

Actually I can sit and meditate with my eyes open; block out the world and focus on one thing. Oh, I don't mean the "I-had-so-much-caffeine-I-won't-blink-for-2-weeks" kind of opened eyes. It's actually how I work through things, even meditate on God, or let my mind empty (that doesn't take very long, so it's a short meditation session :biglaugh: ).

 

[Jainarayan]

To clarify that confusing statement, meditation isn't something we do. It is something we don't do. All our normal trying to do something, will not work. It is "not doing" that allows it to happen. And that's the magic key. Learning how to "not do".

Gee, someone said "he who sees action in inaction and inaction in action is among the wise". It's also quite Taoist, you know... doing by not doing. In today's parlance, "don't force the issue".

 

[Windwalker]

Actually I can sit and meditate with my eyes open; block out the world and focus on one thing. Oh, I don't mean the "I-had-so-much-caffeine-I-won't-blink-for-2-weeks" kind of opened eyes. It's actually how I work through things, even meditate on God, or let my mind empty (that doesn't take very long, so it's a short meditation session :biglaugh: ).

Yes, I understand this. That too is with the eyes open, but its that momentary, minutes or longer, moving into the clearing thing we can do at any moment, once you understand how you get there. I do this at work, walking meditation, etc. Of course it's not the sort of thing I was referring to where you have been in a sitting meditation for an hour or more moving through subtle states, casual states, and the nondual. It's true to say that once you are experienced in meditation, it doesn't take long at all to enter into a meditative state. It's like turning a switch, sort of.

 

[Windwalker]

Gee, someone said "he who sees action in inaction and inaction in action is among the wise". It's also quite Taoist, you know... doing by not doing. In today's parlance, "don't force the issue".

Yes, it's the very first thing I learned in my meditation, and it's something that you have to "do" every single time. The more you learn to do this in meditation, then you take this into your daily life. You become receptive to the movements of the world around you in a sort of partnership, a dance as it were. It is such a hair's-width difference between doing and letting. That takes practice, a lot of it, which is why regular meditation is critical to learning this in living.

 

[Jainarayan]

:yes: it takes time and practice to be experienced enough to move through those states and turn it on and off at will.

 

[Windwalker]

I'll add this here as well in light of speaking of regular practice, since it really pertains to the OP about helping in schooling. I remark that when I first started regular practice it felt like my IQ shot up 15 points, and memory has increased, anxieties are largely gone, relationships improve, job performance improves, problem solving becomes instinctive, intuition increases, and the list goes on. Really I attribute it to not becoming smarter, but simply clearing the debris that clouds our minds constantly, and allowing what is there to become what it has been all along. The question shouldn't be how can I get smarter, but rather how do I get to it!

There is nothing but good to be said for meditation, but of course if someone has mental health issues it should be done under advisement or direct guidance. Going into those spaces can confuse someone not prepared to expose the deep in themselves. A lot of cruft surfaces that is normally suppressed and can take some disturbing forms manifest from the subconscious mind. You do need to have a relatively stable psyche to do this. I believe this touches on the "dangers" that were brought up earlier in this thread.

 

[Jainarayan]

...if someone has mental health issues it should be done under advisement or direct guidance. Going into those spaces can confuse someone not prepared to expose the deep in themselves. A lot of cruft surfaces that is normally suppressed and can take some disturbing forms manifest from the subconscious mind. You do need to have a relatively stable psyche to do this. I believe this touches on the "dangers" that were brought up earlier in this thread.

This touches on what I've learned about Vajrayana and why the direction and guidance of a lama is important in Vajrayana sadhana. I can understand why the meditation and visualization could do more harm than good if a person is a DIYer and chooses the wrong yidam. Not that any yidam is malevolent, of course, but the hoped-for results may not be realized and achieved. That might cause mental and emotional conflict in the practitioner. I've also read that the mantra Om Sri Mahā Kalikayai namaha is given to very few people because it has a very powerful and purgative quality as compared to Om Sri Kalikayai namaha.

 

[Windwalker]

This touches on what I've learned about Vajrayana and why the direction and guidance of a lama is important in Vajrayana sadhana. I can understand why the meditation and visualization could do more harm than good if a person is a DIYer and chooses the wrong yidam. Not that any yidam is malevolent, of course, but the hoped-for results may not be realized and achieved. That might cause mental and emotional conflict in the practitioner. I've also read that the mantra Om Sri Mahā Kalikayai namaha is given to very few people because it has a very powerful and purgative quality as compared to Om Sri Kalikayai namaha.

I suppose it would have to do with the emotional state of the person as well. If some uses a mantra in some personal power way, they only increase something they should be emptying themselves of. It's about power over others, which eats someone alive if they do so trying to avoid the inner work towards transformation. It's just feeding our baser natures. But the same power turned towards a good for others, brings that higher power out within you. So I can see why they are dangerous if understood in this light.

 

[Jainarayan]

Excellent way to describe it. If someone uses something on someone for evil, it could backfire. My s-i-l is a classic example. She was always trying to put "curses" on people, and wishing them evil, but she leads the most miserable and sad existence. It always backfires on her. Even her kids despise her. Some people never learn.

 

[SageTree]

Excellent way to describe it. If someone uses something on someone for evil, it could backfire. My s-i-l is a classic example. She was always trying to put "curses" on people, and wishing them evil, but she leads the most miserable and sad existence. It always backfires on her. Even her kids despise her. Some people never learn.

Always makes me think of:

'Judge lest ye..... what you measure out will be given back to you'.....

Which, at least to me, seems like a karma-esq story from the Gospels.

That is, your mind-set proceeds your perception.

Intention in action..... you know the name of the game

 

[Jainarayan]

Always makes me think of:

'Judge lest ye..... what you measure out will be given back to you'.....

Which, at least to me, seems like a karma-esq story from the Gospels.

That is, your mind-set proceeds your perception.

Intention in action..... you know the name of the game

Indeed, this is why it's clear to me that there are really few differences between the core teachings of Jesus and the philosophies of the dharmic religions, and even Taoism. There is a cosmic rule of law that transcends all religions. It's further clear to me that there was an exchange of information and thought back and forth between east and west. I do not believe these similar philosophies all grew up in a vacuum.

 

[SageTree]

I do not believe these similar philosophies all grew up in a vacuum.

 

[Jainarayan]

Lol