Thread: Whats the best meditation style?

The one that fits you best.

It's like asking what sleeping, or standing, or sitting position is the best. Whichever is most comfortable. If you can find a position that is comfortable, but you wont fall asleep in, then perfect, you've got it.

I lay on my back, or sit down leaning against something, like a tree or a wall, find somewhere quiet, peaceful, and comfortable. Good luck!

so it doesnt matter which I pick as long as I do it?

But then why are there things like "opening the third eye" meditations and then there are basic breathing ones? Surely they differ in results and difficulty

Originally Posted by Dog Biscuits

so it doesnt matter which I pick as long as I do it?

Not in my opinion, no. If you're comfortable, you're doing it right.

But then why are there things like "opening the third eye" meditations and then there are basic breathing ones? Surely they differ in results and difficulty

Why would there be? Sure doing a full lotus pose while meditating will stretch the hell out of your calves, but I don't see how it would be connected to opening your third eye.
Different meditations depend on your own PERSONAL mindset, not your pose or breathing technique.

Ahhhh ic.

I thought like im being "ripped off" so to speak by doing a very simple meditation (awareness of breath) when I could be getting "more" for my time. But I still find it hard to get rid of this foolish notion I have embedded in my brain e.g. "I WANT TO BE ENLIGHTENED" for me at least, getting rid of this idea is very hard to do thats why I though of a "best" way

I have another question, is meditation practice culmulative? meaning every little bit I practice adds to the all previous sessions i had (the sum)??

Originally Posted by Dog Biscuits

"I WANT TO BE ENLIGHTENED"

You're going the wrong way. Turn around.

Indeed, I guess I think thay way because its my minds way of creating a purpose, but how does anyone obtain anything without having some sort of drive to accomplish something; like a goal or end state?

Could I ask you why do you meditate, is it for a spiritual fullfillment? Does it allow you to function better? or some other reason?

So I have to ask: Why is this in Religion/Spirituality? There's nothing religious/spiritual about it. Meditation only had to do with religion/spirituality if you've got that attitude about it.

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

So I have to ask: Why is this in Religion/Spirituality? There's nothing religious/spiritual about it. Meditation only had to do with religion/spirituality if you've got that attitude about it.

This.

Originally Posted by Dog Biscuits

Could I ask you why do you meditate,

A serious answer for a serious question, because it's fun. It gives me time to think, relax, find myself when I can't seem to find anything else.

Well yea thats why I practice it. I believe meditation practices can allow an individual to get closer to the source, that fundemental nature of reality tha quantum physics is beginning to shed light on. Meditation has been around alot longer than quantum physics so there is alot of good history there waiting to be learned. So to answer your question I do have an attitude that mediation is a spiritual practice.

Originally Posted by Dog Biscuits

so it doesnt matter which I pick as long as I do it?

But then why are there things like "opening the third eye" meditations and then there are basic breathing ones? Surely they differ in results and difficulty

Its all a matter of the results you wish to have. Do whatever gets you those results.

So much knowledge on nothing?

I do it to cool down and figure things out, insight meditation I think it's called. I used to be interested in all that charkra balancing stuff but I would get fed up when I couldn't remember all that stuff and then I realized... why? Zen is me

When people ask me why I mediate I explain it like this: how much time do you waste every day? Probably a lot. We all have things we need to do, but instead we do things we like to do. Instead of studying or doing homework we'd rather watch tv or get stoned. So when you sit and devote say an hour every day to not "doing" anything then you have one hour less to waste. Before you know it you'll be accomplishing everything you need to do everyday because you don't have time to waste anymore!

Yea, I would say there are more "difficult" ways to meditate... but... why? And I would say it has a cumulative effect, sitting for an hour at once is no easy task, but you can get there eventually doing 15-30 minutes sessions every morning and evening.

You cannot destory the ego with the ego my friend.
Don't seach for enlightment, eventually the light will find its way to you.

Pratice yoga if you want more from meditation.

I have been partial to transcendental (silently repeating a mantra almost effortlessly and with a very light tendency to move toward concentrating on the mantra) for a long time, but I also like pranayama (slow, deep breathing) and all out concentrating on objects and music. Combining pranayama and all out concentration on music is an extremely good mind expander and anxiety reliever. It can annihilate a panic attack. I plan to try out the Zen techniques of zazen (concentrating on environment) and koans (thinking really hard about absurd questions). I like all of it, but transcendental has given me the best highs.

Originally Posted by grasshoppa

You cannot destory the ego with the ego my friend.

Pratice yoga if you want more from meditation.

So to say I want to conquer myself would be like saying
I want to be sober when im drunk?

Originally Posted by Dog Biscuits

So to say I want to conquer myself would be like saying
I want to be sober when im drunk?

That would simply be self control.

What do you [italicslol]really[/italicslol] want.

Originally Posted by ClouD

So much knowledge on nothing?

Knowledge is like knots in a rope

Keep tieng knots and the rope soon becomes useless and lost

Hidden itSelf, behind and within all the knots

I likes me some tonglen and guru yoga, though I haven't been properly initiated in either one. Tranquility/simple breathing remains my meat and potatoes (...er, fish + rice?).

Originally Posted by NonDualistic

Knowledge is like knots in a rope

Keep tieng knots and the rope soon becomes useless and lost

Hidden itSelf, behind and within all the knots

yup thats definitely sounds like me

From my own personal experience I would say you really ought to keep your eyes open. I sat for years eyes closed, and I got "results" but they were pretty weak compared to what I've been doing lately. When you close your eyes your mind tends to sink. You relax, but you don't focus; you aren't really paying attention.

Other than that it's mostly about comfort. Though just because something is uncomfortable at first doesn't mean that it isn't a good technique. When I first started sitting I thought the mudras(hand positions) were pretty much useless, but lately I've found they help me keep my attention on the breath.

I enjoy equanimity meditations myself. Working with the feeling body is probably the easiest way to start.