Thread: tell me about meditation without using the word chakra

I'm interested in learning more about meditation and why it supposedly increases the size of your frontal lobe over time. also, please steer this thread away from the mysticism that a good portion of experienced meditators subscribe to

Originally Posted by metcalfracing

I'm interested in learning more about meditation and why it supposedly increases the size of your frontal lobe over time. also, please steer this thread away from the mysticism that a good portion of experienced meditators subscribe to

lol
We have plenty of other threads, including one or two in this section.

ClouD said it best with "thinking about ____"
I want to say it's undescribable, but it's not.

While I don't think of the chakras as anything more than a skeleton with pretty pictures and pleasing descriptions on it, I will give credit that the focus on these areas is a great place to start.

Try and lose yourself in your room, or wherever you are, and just focus on "_____" Not nothing, but just that, that moment and this and those and everything.

/ramble

Sit quiet and happy, be relaxed, as long as you can think, you're good.

I have never heard of meditation increasing the size of your frontal lobe.

chakra

Did somebody say chakra?

dude i can relate, its hard to find good meditation advice without that spiritual crap thats dragged along with it. a good method for me is to get a fan or heater going for background noise, maybe cover it up with a towel to dampen the sound, i tend to meditate laying down its easier, laying down on your bedroom floor is good too i dont know why but anyplace other then your bed seems to be easier. i focus on my breathing for about 10 minutes until the fun starts, dont move or think at all while you meditate, you will screw up but thats fine just clear your mind. after 15 minutes my body goes numb starting with my feet i work the feeling up my body. soon i start to spin into the ground which is intense, your laying perfectly still but your body feels like its upside down, if i meditate for a little longer it feels like a roller coaster ride, my body shoots forward and goes up and down its awesome.

briefly this is whats most important
stay still
dont think (if your mind drifts off just clear it again)
focus on your breathing (should be the only thing your thinking about)

this is what works for me, i hope it works for you

I refer you to

http://www.discoursesbymeherbaba.org/v2-111.php

Originally Posted by metcalfracing

I'm interested in learning more about meditation and why it supposedly increases the size of your frontal lobe over time. also, please steer this thread away from the mysticism that a good portion of experienced meditators subscribe to

About the mysticism: I invite you to look at it in a slightly different angle; one which allows you to use some aspects of said mysticism, without feeling like a tool because of conflicting beliefs.

Think of Chakra (I said the word, get over it) and all that energy flow stuff in terms of a model. It's not "reality", but rather, a useful way to model a certain slice of reality.

It's kind of like Newton's laws. They're not reality at all... but, given certain conditions, they MODEL reality accurately enough to be practical, so if you pretend that it's real, you get the results you want. However, Newtonian physics breaks down when objects are incredibly massive, incredibly tiny, or moving incredibly fast.

Likewise, you don't have to believe that there are energy centers in the body, and flow of energy needs to be unhindered between them, etc. to use that model as your visualization, so that you can get the desired outcome in the end.

to briefly sum up meditation, it's about being in the present moment.

if you're truely interested in learning what meditation is, and even using it in your own life, i would highly recommend jon kabat-zinn's wherever you go, there you are. this book explains the idea of meditation without clinging to any religious or spiritual content, but rather its practical use in anyone's life, no matter who you are. the basis of meditation is very simple (but not simplistic), and although simple, certainly not easy. if you don't want to buy the book, try looking up jon kabat-zinn on youtube.

here we go this tutorial helped me a lot, and is actually the reason i got the book in the first place. it starts out slow, but its a tutorial, this is to be expected.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nwwKbM_vJc

Wouldn't it really hurt to have your frontal lobe expand? You'd also probably lose some cognitive abilities, motor skills, and you might even die.

Meditation is very simple. Its an internal thing, not external, so I don't go for candles or incense or noise machines or anything. I never read too much into it, and learned on my own, for the most part. Here's my method:

1. Sit in a private space where there is no abrasive noise (ambiance like wind, rain, or passing cars is OK; noise like construction or TV is no good).
2. Just relax... for some, it seems like this takes practice and patience. Focus on something repetitive and simple like breathing, or your heartbeat. Simply distance yourself from everything that plagues your mind. If you find your thoughts wandering then don't panic, just let the thought pass and move on.
3. Let go of worries. Let go of responsibilities, if only for a brief moment. Learn not to take things too seriously. Realize what you truly want from life. Focus on sappy bullshit like that and convince yourself of it.

There is no wrong way to do it, really. I have always thought that the point of meditation is to cleanse yourself of internal stress, allowing you to live life with a clear head. For me, it helps me distance myself from stressful situations and deal with them objectively, rather then get too caught up in things. Good luck, hopefully you'll be surprised and see a positive difference in your life and behavior.