Newbie looking for some guidance

[Elando]

Hey there,

Just thought I'd introduce myself before I dove into the community. I've been looking for one to join for sometime now. I'm a 19 year old British College student and I'm looking to get more into meditation.

I've been quite a spiritual person for as long as I can remember and I am constantly looking for answers within a world that is full of questions. Recently I have been hit with an onset of depression and have since suffered for it in terms of College life as well as everyday life.

While I have not turned to meditation souly to help this illness I hope to make it part of my life not only to calm my mind and my soul but to also better myself.

However I find that within my cluttered and quite bustling life I find it hard to find the time, space and calm to meditate effectively.

I have dabbled in guided meditation sessions on youtube, mainly relaxation meditation, but I find it difficult to meditate without guidance. The problem being I live in quite a small house in a village on the outskirts of a city and I happen to have a main road just outside my window. The only time I can find to meditate in some relative peace from the family is at night.

My room isn't big enough for a meditation cushion so I usually either sit cross legged on the bed or lay on the bed to meditate.

Is this addiquite? It's near impossible to meditate in the day due to the traffic noise and there is no where nearby I can 'escape' to to meditate away from it. I would like to possibly attend a meditation group but I am not sure where to look and I have trouble with transportation due to not having a car yet. Also finances are at an all time low for me so paid classes are a no no unfortunately.

Any guidance you can give me would be great.

-Andrew

[Hazelkay]

Warm welcome to the forum.

Have you downloaded the free meditation course from Michael? This is a mantra based meditation.

It is quite difficult to have an ideal environment for meditation - most of us have to reconcile with only adequate conditions.

The background noises are difficult, but made more so by our reactions to them. Most of the disturbance comes from our wishing that it wasn't there.

It sounds like you have an image of what it means to 'meditate effectively'. Meditation sessions vary widely and it is not wise to categorise them as effective or ineffective. Each meditation session is a contribution to our exploration inside even if it is full of distraction and irritation. We eventually learn to observe these emotions as just phenomena arising and then passing away.

The bed is fine - any position is fine - though when lying down it is very easy to fall asleep - if you like to lie have your head at the foot of the bed so the body doesn't automatically assume you want to sleep.

Michael's course gives great advice - I recommend you download it.
peace and joy

[Edwin]

Excellent post once again Hazel !

Welcome to the forum Andrew !