Thread: Do you meditate?

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Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church, had an experience almost identical to Buddha's enlightment.

Here it would be easier for us to infer that Joseph Smith knew enough of Buddha's Experience in order to give him a great idea for some derivative fiction which he passed off as a True Experience. Of the Buddha we knew that he had been a Prince who had given the greater part of his Youth and Manhood in Asceticism and Spiritual Quest, but Joseph Smith, on far the otherhand, had been a frustrated salesman who could never quite find the break that would make him Big, until he happened upon the idea of starting up his own Religion.

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What about the Hindu ascetics? They are very high class people (not rich and everything, but well respected.) If they wanted food, they could easily get it.

Again, of the millions of Sadhus in India, now and ever, how many have ever been enlightened? I'm sure the Fat well fed Brahmins who retired into beggerliness as something of a lark, who could reside on the lawns of spacious country clubs, to be fed by the best cooks, I can be certain that they did not achieve anything beyond a selfapproving satisfication. But the generality of India's Sadhu beggers are too many to be too well fed. It is something of a Religious obligation for ordinary people to extend charity to these Sadhus, and although it is not openly resented, it is not often done with much enthusiasm, and the people do believe that a Good Sadhu is a very very thin Sadhu, and will do nothing to fatten them up.

Then you forget of the Virtue that is made of Fasting, this is, of not eating at all. Fasting is only a Virtue in cultures that flirt often with Starvation. If food was in plenty then Ascetics of both East and West would not place so much importance upon the ability to live with as little food as possible. Again, Fasting becomes a survival skill. We may imagine that during regional famines these Sadhus and Monks could actually have finally become socially useful in giving a general instruction on how to slowly starve to death with the minimum of discomfort. Such instruction could have supported the ability of local authorities to ration remaining food stuffs with less chance of the danger of spontaneous Food Riots perpetrated by mobs allowed to remain undisciplined.

Just thought I'd pop in and offer my opinion of Buddha's image...

From reading biographies of Buddha online, I found that it was popular at the time to try and reach enlightenment through fasting (as Leo Volont just talked about). However Buddha found a better way, a way in which you dont have to fast. Perhaps he is drawn fat as a symbol of this decision?

Originally posted by LewisM
Just thought I'd pop in and offer my opinion of Buddha's image...

From reading biographies of Buddha online, I found that it was popular at the time to try and reach enlightenment through fasting (as Leo Volont just talked about). However Buddha found a better way, a way in which you dont have to fast. Perhaps he is drawn fat as a symbol of this decision?

Good point. The original teachings of Buddhism were largely a reaction to Asceticism, Meditation.. in fact all serious Spiritual Practices. And these Teachings were to catch on in the Urban Centers, among the Merchant Classes, and then among the Warrior Castes in the Rural Areas, all among people who wanted the Aura of Religiousity without desiring to do any of the necessary work. Memorizing a few easy precepts would substitute for all of that. Such teachings survive today in Hinayana Buddhism -- the last remnants of the Original Teachings which still hold some ground in Burma or thereabouts. Everywhere else Buddhism evolved back toward serious and workable forms of Spirituality and Moral Religion, and is called Mahayana Buddhism. The distinctive factor of Mahayana Buddhism is the BoddhiSattva Doctrine -- the Ethic of Self-Sacrifice and Moral Responsibility that is substituted for the stoical quietism of original hinayana Buddhism.

All of this is not to say that Gautama Buddha was not a great Religious Leader or even Moral Innovator. But he was a product of his times. Its been said of all great men, that their vices are the vices of the Times they live in, but their Virtues are entirely their own. So it was for The Buddha. Civilizations were collapsing. The most that could be hoped for was that people could back away from the moral turpitude of the Barbarians and try to find some personal peace of mind. The same influences in the West generated must the same Philosophy, as there is little difference between Western Stoicism and Eastern Hinayana Buddhism. But with the Rise of the Secondary Civilization, in both East and West, Mahayana or Moral Buddhism took hold in Asia while in the West, Christianity and Zoroastrianism displaced Pagan Amoral and Quietist Stoicism.

after meditationg for 14 minutes cross-legged, my feet were numb. Is that normal?

Originally posted by ledzeppelin
after meditationg for 14 minutes cross-legged, my feet were numb. Is that normal?

You probably just cut off circulation to your legs by sitting cross-legged. And, yes, that is normal.

I found a neat little phrase in regards to the mental state of meditation.

Form Papaji

Still mind is temporary

"Meditation or concentration can result in a still mind. It is like a flame of a candle. When there is no breeze, the flame will be still. When wind comes, the candle will flicker and go out. Still mind will be blown away as soon as it encounters the wind of a new thought"

I meditate, sporadically, but not nearly as much as I'd like to. I need to set aside more time because I'm about ready to get back into it, on the regular...

Originally Posted by LewisM

Just thought I'd pop in and offer my opinion of Buddha's image...
From reading biographies of Buddha online, I found that it was popular at the time to try and reach enlightenment through fasting (as Leo Volont just talked about). However Buddha found a better way, a way in which you dont have to fast. Perhaps he is drawn fat as a symbol of this decision?
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Buddha is drawn with a large belly as a symbol of the greatness of his hara, the believed center of spiritual energy, located roughly at the hips.

As for the main topic, I try to meditate, but I often find myself ignoring it. When I do meditate, I sit crosslegged and focus on my breathing, allowing the energy to fill my body. It can be a chore to keep the mind from drifting, but it is also a chore to force it to focus. The key lies in finding the balance.

I've been reading alot about Buddhism & Meditation, Hinduism & Meditation...etc But I figured out my own personal individual way of meditation. It's usually very simple. Sitting in my room, alone for a long long time (as long as I like) and just comming to myself and feeling free from social and other pressure. I usually do it with some incense burning and lovely ambient music playing. I simply found many things that calm and clear my mind and put them together in my own form of meditation. I don't stick to the traditions of Meditation but get inspired by these Traditional ways and then adjust it so it suits me best.

If anyone knows ''me'' it would be myself. I have found profound rest of mind with these meditations.

I just read the beginning post so i don't know where the conversation is now but this is an extremely useful site: wildmind.org

Originally Posted by catsno

I just read the beginning post so i don't know where the conversation is now but this is an extremely useful site: wildmind.org[/b]

Good link - thanks for sharing

Originally Posted by Burns

Good link - thanks for sharing
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Has anyone tried CP (Centering Prayer) ? It seems like it would be a very meditative prayer. I am trying it as the last step of lectio divina. I wonder about CP and lectio's effects on dreaming and LDing, most likely the latter will improve.

Another interesting resource on meditation across various faiths and disciplines is www.shalomplace.com. They also discuss serious problems which can occur with meditation.

Lately I have been doing hardly anything else than meditating. My life's kind of a mess at the moment, and my head is even worse of a mess: Like a Zilion thoughts, worries and Concerns are Racing through my head simultaniously: Which makes it hard to concentrate, become restfull enough to sleep at nigh and drives me fairly crazy.

Just like a man who's lost in Dessert just yelling out:'' Water...water......wwwater....WATER!! AAARGH!''
It's me, staring at the Ceiling with no sleepyness at all thinking"REST....REST...REST! ...NOW! AAARGH!''

I've managed to tackle my Insomnia a significant amount with meditation:

I don't follow any existing Yoga Meditation Practise. More just my own version of meditation: Giving my mind some rest. To slow down the Chaotic Thought process and be able to clearly think about my problems and life.


I spend hours like that, eyes closed, in a dark room..some incense and ambient music or preferably NO music or sounds. Just making my head clear of excessive chaotic thoughts and thinking about my life and Life in general.

Doing this before bedtime makes my Mind in the Right mood to sleep peacefully. Whereas usually I'm too hyperactive in Mind to fall asleep at all.


I might read & learn more about Tibetan Yogas, DreamYoga in particulair.

Originally Posted by SKA

Just like a man who's lost in Dessert just yelling out:'' Water...water......wwwater....WATER!! AAARGH!''
It's me, staring at the Ceiling with no sleepyness at all thinking"REST....REST...REST! ...NOW! AAARGH!''
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LOL!!

Great description. ... that's exactly how I feel right now (3:50am UK time, yawn)......

I used to meditate often, and i've started doing some light meditation every few days again. Nothing transcendental, no amazing introspective experiences, just stress releasing, head clearing meditation.

Originally Posted by triffidfood

LOL!!

Great description. ... that's exactly how I feel right now (3:50am UK time, yawn)......
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thnx yeah I like methaphors and Symbolic Parrallel examples. It helps explain such sophisticated feelings and such to most people much easier and better


BTW Thanx a BUNCH for that lik of WILDMIND.
Everytime I come across a Christian, Zoroastrian, Druze-whatever cult site I cannot Identify Myself in their Explanations on Meditation.

However the Buddhist Approach of Explaining Meditation, the Concious- and the Subconcious Mind MUCH more appeals to me: I really love the Symbolical Methaphors they use to make Sophisticated information Obvious and clear in one Sentence.

Especially this one about our Subconcious, pure, Minds:
''It is this pure and luminous state that I call your "Wildmind." This Wildmind, as I have said elsewhere, is not the wild mind that is disturbed by the winds of ill will, compulsive craving, or anxious restlessness, but lies beneath your wild mind like the still depths of the ocean lie beneath even the most tempestuous ocean. ''


PS: Man there should really be a Tutorial on Meditation ( if it isn't already there, I haven't seen it) Meditation basics other than solely for Lucid Dreaming purposes. a Meditation Tutorial containing the Basics of Meditation and Explanations, yet open to Individual preferances and aids & techniques.

It'd be great and fit into the Spiritual Nature of these Boards.

no i don't meditate sounds boring lol...its just not like me ...

"Man in his search of joy and happiness is running away from his Self, which is the real source of joy. He finds himself very ugly and boring because he doesn't know his Self. A human being seeks joy in money or possessions, in power or human limited love, and ultimately in religion that is also outside. The problem is how to turn one's attention inward. "

Self-Realization

Of course I meditate. Everyone should spend at least 10-15 minutes a day away from distraction and within themselves. Don't let yourself go to the wayside on autopilot. It's the same as letting the tide take you in a random direction, you might not like where you end up. Therefore, you must continually get your direction and heading as to not veer too far off-course.

I do mostly gateway experience style focus 10 and 12 meditation, haven't hit the higher ones yet, gotta improve on my focus 12 still (and if you don't know what I'm talkin about check http://www.thegatewayexperience.com/ )

OH hell yea! Meditation!!!!!
i love it its so enlightening and so relaxing...i tried it in a dream once but when i sat and closed my dream eyes i started like moving back and forth like if i was extremely drowsy and it felt real weird ya know? also sometimes my mom looks at me and says "don't be doing those stupid things! you're christian! " but i never care cuz its my mind...some ignorant people just will never change their minds about it.

i meditate i try to visualise rivers and try to actually feel the wind blowing on my face and so on. i find it helps with lding

I find meditation does less and less for me the more I try it. If I attempt to meditate while in a good mood, I can quiet my mind and that's nice, sure, whatever, I'll do that for a half hour or so. If I'm stressed out/in a bad mood, it only exacerbates my situation, takes the distraction of real life out of the equation and lets my worries and destructive thoughts go to town on me. I know the idea is the quiet those, but when consumed by lousy feelings there's no reserve of attention or willpower within me to use to corral those thoughts up with. And either way I go about it, a half hour of meditation makes me feel groggy and tired, which puts a cramp in my style if I was having a good day and makes me fall asleep out of desperation if I was having a bad day.