New to this (Advice needed)

[tomon]

Hello,
I remember posting this several weeks ago when I was in a paricularly irritable state of mind.
I have carried on practising and studying meditation and I have to say that the benefits of meditation are well worth the time and effort (not sure if effort is the correct word) anyway I have more control over my racing mind than I have had in years and would certainly encourage someone to give it a try.

Best of luck to everyone and thank you for your kind advice.

[Edwin]

Great to hear Tomon, and thanks for sharing

[tomon]

Originally Posted by jimbob007

Pretty new to meditation, certainly have not employed a mantra before.

Am using Hay-ram and unlike the demo where it is suggested you say it to yourself quite quickly, I find it is only possible to concentrate on it with the breath, if i say Hay on inspiration and ram on expiration which makes it quite slow and extended. Am i doing it right or not?!

jimbob007

Hello Jimbob,
I found this article helpful and hope it can help you too-
Mindfulness The Path to The Deathless-Instructions_The Mantra 'Buddho'.

[flagstone149]

Quick hijack if you don't mind. Kind of in the same boat as tomon. I just have some basic questions.

After a few minutes of a half lotus or simply cross legged my body begins to tense. My back tenses from keeping straight and my legs b/c they start trying to support the back.

And it seems I have to put too much energy into keeping my eyes closed. If I don't they slightly flutter open.

I'm not a tense person. Not on-edge at all. What am I doing wrong?

[jimbob007]

Thank you for that, very useful.
007

[GilesC]

Originally Posted by flagstone149

Quick hijack if you don't mind. Kind of in the same boat as tomon. I just have some basic questions.

After a few minutes of a half lotus or simply cross legged my body begins to tense. My back tenses from keeping straight and my legs b/c they start trying to support the back.

And it seems I have to put too much energy into keeping my eyes closed. If I don't they slightly flutter open.

I'm not a tense person. Not on-edge at all. What am I doing wrong?

Perhaps just try meditating in a comfortable chair with your back supported (bot not your head as that is conducive to rest/sleep). There is not a necessity to sit cross legged, in half lotus or lotus position.

Hugs

Giles

[simonc00772]

Something I read the other day, the greatest secret to successfull meditating is...............

To actually do it!

[Panthau]

hehe that reminds me on this saying:

"Everybody can do ashtanga yoga, young people, old people, sick people - except lazy people. Lazy people can't do yoga." (Pattabhi Jois)

I guess its the same for meditation

[purplevibe]

Yoga, meditation, is all about doing, yes, Panthau, you are right, of course, it is all about setting that time aside for you, for you, yes, to do some yoga or meditation. If you are having a problem sitting in a certain position, then change it, meditation is not about being uncomfortable, sit on a couple of blankets, sitting on the edge of them, so that you are comfortable but sitting upright, that will be comfortable. Sit with another blanket over you, if that makes you feel comfortably warm. It is all about being comfortable but being upright will make you comfortable to sit for some time so try the couple of blankets, but sit on the edge so that you are not in a flat position, which would be no different from sitting on the floor. Enjoy your meditation, it is not about sitting in the lotus position, it is about being in the moment, and you can't do that unless you are comfortable in your body, once you are comfortable in your body your mind is free.

NAMASTE X

Originally Posted by Panthau

hehe that reminds me on this saying:

"Everybody can do ashtanga yoga, young people, old people, sick people - except lazy people. Lazy people can't do yoga." (Pattabhi Jois)

I guess its the same for meditation

[Panthau]

... on the other hand, is meditation all about doing?