Thread: Meditation

I really want to get into meditation because it looks really fun. Also, I read some accounts of people levitating off the ground while meditating. I think that would be pretty sick to do Also, I heard that some people can meditate for like hours or even days at a time. THAT WOULD BE COOL! So, I read up on it, and I tried it a few times while sitting on my bed (I'm not flexible enough to do it cross legged yet )

Anyways. I really want to get into this, so just pour all of your knowledge out on the subject I read there's different types of meditation. The one that I tried was the one where you just focus on breathing. Are ther other better types than that? Thanks a lot

If you're looking to meditate 'cos you want to float in the air, I think you're a little misguided.

People who say that kind of thing are either simply making a metaphor for a mental experience, or else simply making shit up.

The whole point of meditation is that it's about the mind. It's largely about severing connections with the body. The body certainally wouldn't lift off the ground for... whatever reasons people put forward for such things.

I think you could use meditation to conjure up a really strong fart that would lift you off the ground for about a second or so...

Originally Posted by Tornado Joe

I think you could use meditation to conjure up a really strong fart that would lift you off the ground for about a second or so...

Or maybe I would just burn a hole in my floor.

Meditation takes a lot of practice and motivation, much like LD, and you won't float any time soon

Although it's true that some people can meditate for days on end, the average person will never achieve that in their lifetime. You are probably referring to Tibetan monks who practice meditation sacredly every day for many hours.

Practically, meditation is a great way to relieve stress and, believe it or not, exercise your mind. There is no link between meditation and spirituality, anybody can do it. The concept of meditation is to clear your mind completely and not think at all. It sounds simple, but try for a moment and you'll realize how difficult it can be. Even sleeping, as I'm sure you know from this forum, involves a heavy amount of thinking.

Here's a very nice guide I recently came across for information on meditation:
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/4-r...o-get-started/

The concept of meditation is to clear your mind completely and not think at all.

Right, this is what I first learned when I started to look into meditation - and it is more difficult than it sounds. However, there are those who say you can be successful and a particular area in your life if you meditate and "focus on an intent" or something. Know what I mean? Like creative visualization. So how do you focus on intent while meditating, if you're supposed to not think about anything at all?

Originally Posted by pokilty

Meditation takes a lot of practice and motivation, much like LD, and you won't float any time soon

Although it's true that some people can meditate for days on end, the average person will never achieve that in their lifetime. You are probably referring to Tibetan monks who practice meditation sacredly every day for many hours.

Practically, meditation is a great way to relieve stress and, believe it or not, exercise your mind. There is no link between meditation and spirituality, anybody can do it. The concept of meditation is to clear your mind completely and not think at all. It sounds simple, but try for a moment and you'll realize how difficult it can be. Even sleeping, as I'm sure you know from this forum, involves a heavy amount of thinking.

Here's a very nice guide I recently came across for information on meditation:
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/4-r...o-get-started/

Besides clearing your mind is there really anything usefull it's for? besides the obvious OBE/AP stuff. Would be rather boring to just sit there hours on end just to relax and clear your mind. first time i ever tried this within 20 or so minutes my mind was completly clear of thoughts and 3 days meditations later i felt this weird sensation...someone told me it was my body trying to leave. I was also completly numb, but the numbness was a different sensation all together..it was like a light pull i actually felt. Heart raced faster, my closed eyes the blackness i saw was starting to go lighter, and like a rush of air or something went passed me till i opened my eyes and said "wow".

I think you should go for it. Just remember that there is no spoon (It'll make sense in time.) and that the only limits/laws of physics there are are the ones you set for yourself.

Originally Posted by Infraredkelp

Also, I read some accounts of people levitating off the ground while meditating. I think that would be pretty sick to do

Haha

The type of meditation that I studied and that had an enormous positive effect on my life is vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka ( http://www.dhamma.org/ ).
It's a Buddhist technique taught in a ten days retreat course.
At the first stage of the course you learn to improve your concentration, and at the second you begin a process of purifying the mind.
The technique helps both during the course, so that at the end of the course you are at peace, and also in helping you cope with the ups and downs of life in a positive way, and helping you to become more peaceful and happy.

Yeah Vipassama is really effective and easy for westerners. They have a vajrayana temple in my area so I use those techniques as well as tantric techniques I read about.

Thanks for the recommendation and link, dodo. I've actually been interested in taking some sort of class for meditation, but the only place I could think of even asking is a martial arts gym - and I doubt they would have a night were all they did was meditation. I did see a place that taught yoga and pilates. Is it possible they also do meditation?

The closest 10 course to me would be in Chicago - I'd have to take vacation time to attend, though.

Anyone here do Silva Mind Control? I remember seeing a post where someone mentioned it and then I looked it up and got a book about it and its really interesting. One thing really interesting is how they have the names and ages of people then they have to go to their "level" (alpha brain level, like meditation) and they are able to accurately diagnose what medical conditions the person has. I havn't tried it too much but it basically seems like meditating and then when relaxed, being able to recall memories better like to find lost items, or to be smarter and psychic. They also use the three fingers together (thumb and first two fingers of either hand) to get back to a relaxed mind level such as I have heard people on here talk about using certain phrases in their mind. The book I have is called "The Silva Mind Control Method" by Jose Silva and Philip Miele. BTW great topic.

Originally Posted by DoomedOne

Yeah Vipassama is really effective and easy for westerners. They have a vajrayana temple in my area so I use those techniques as well as tantric techniques I read about.

Alas, Vipassana is not easy. At least the Vipassana that I studied. It's very difficult for beginners, but well worth the effort.

dodo, no form of Buddhism is necessarily easy, what I meant was that it's easier for Westerners. This is just what I've heard, Vajrayana is the most accessible to me, so for me personally, that's easiest.

Originally Posted by dodobird

The type of meditation that I studied and that had an enormous positive effect on my life is vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka ( http://www.dhamma.org/ ).
It's a Buddhist technique taught in a ten days retreat course.
At the first stage of the course you learn to improve your concentration, and at the second you begin a process of purifying the mind.
The technique helps both during the course, so that at the end of the course you are at peace, and also in helping you cope with the ups and downs of life in a positive way, and helping you to become more peaceful and happy.

I picked up a book on vipassana called "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante H. Gunaratana and just started reading it. This techniques sounds wonderful but hard work...isn't that true with most worthwhile things? Peace and coping skills are what I need.

Meditating on a daily basis is going to be a challenge, though...

Mindfulness in plain english is actually available free online:
http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html
Obviously a better idea to own the book though, might save your eyesight