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1. sit down somewhere, a relatively quiet and dark place is nice but you can do it wherever, maybe set a timer, maybe don't 2. close your eyes, pay attention t

1. sit down somewhere, a relatively quiet and dark place is nice but you can do it wherever, maybe set a timer, maybe don't 2. close your eyes, pay attention to your breath 3. when thoughts appear in your mind, note them but attempt to keep your attention on your breath, not on your thoughts 4. when you notice that your thoughts have wandered away from your breath, congratulate yourself for noticing this, and go back to step 2 important: do not berate yourself for getting caught up in your thoughts, do not worry that your head is too full of thoughts to ever be able to "stop thinking" - your brain has been thinking for most of your entire waking life and disengaging from this is hard at first! it gets easier. "the mind illuminated" is a nice book on the subject IMHO.

Retric 2y ago
That’s a solid introduction to the most well know type of meditation but the specifics can vary quite a bit and people disagree on the specifics. Many groups consider meditation in a religious context though that’s far from universal. There’s also many ideas around what you should be doing while meditating from simply being in the moment to reflective thoughts. Still meditation is basically get enough sleep then get in a comfortable position sitting, lying down, or even standing just so long as you can hold it indefinitely and focus on something for long periods. Breathing is always available but options vary wildly from something specific like smoke from a stick of incense, to the environment such as trees blowing in the wind, ripples in a stream, or even the sound of someone leading a meditation. Though in general people follow something similar to what egypturnash mentioned. Moving meditation allows for some representative action like walking, dance, ritualized prayer, juggling, or even some repetitive factory job where you can do it indefinitely without thinking. Just be careful it’s easy to lose focus on what you’re doing so don’t try this when driving etc.
- DaoVeles 2y ago
  Some see meditation as a means of contemplation, in that you focus on a single topic to focus on while sitting. Please consult you local Buddhist/Zen temple for a Dharma talk or Koan as an example. But others feel that can be restrictive in that it doesn't go into a deeper state. But that goes to the whole truth of zen and the misleading of the student and the one thinking they need to be there - it gets complicated.
datameta 2y ago
Mind Illuminated is what finally got me into (a more stable) meditation practice.
JumpCrisscross 2y ago
For those who need a structured intro, for me it was through mastering buoyancy control in SCUBA diving [1]. You’re watching and controlling your breathing and multiple environmental variables. Once you’ve felt what that’s like it’s much easier to recreate it on land. [1] https://www.tdisdi.com/sdi/get-certified/advanced-buoyancy/ https://www.tdisdi.com/sdi/get-certified/advanced-buoyancy/
ilc 2y ago
Back when I used "The Relaxation Response" I believe. Taught myself in 7th grade. - Go some place with no distractions. - Lay down, and let your muscles go limp. - Close your eyes, and just focus on your breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth, nice and slowly. I'd often hold at full breath for a few seconds just to let everything settle.. this is not a hurry. - Focus on relaxing your toes, then your feet, ankles, calves, etc up through your chest, now focus on your arms... let all the stress run out your fingers like rays. Finally focus on your head, and push the stress out through the top of your head, or fingers, which ever feels easier. I'll also push stress through my toes too. The key is to release the stress from your body and visualize it... visualize getting rid of the knots and stress. Some days, you'll get up to your calves, some days with practice you can get your whole body. But even your toes is an accomplishment! - Your body will tell you when you are done. It is hard to explain, but you will know, "I'm done." When you are, don't rush to sit up, let your body rest a moment eyes closed, then open your eyes, wait a moment, then sit up. (if you were actually well relaxed this may stop a faint.) But much of this comes from listening to your body. The noise of life isn't what matters... just listening to your body, and helping it relax.... I use relaxation, as a way to force other things out. So if work comes up, out it goes. Relaxation gives me a central focus, which helps with the whole experience.
- kstenerud 2y ago
  That seems to be what all the meditation people say. I've done it many times, and it goes like this: Ok, lie down. Relax muscles, sinking down, good breathe... Bored. Bored bored bored OMG this is so boring! Breathe, breathe, try not to think of how boring this is! Bored bored bored oh a bird is chirping. Chirp chirp chirp and gone. Bored bored bored bored bored holy shit when does this end? My fingers are flicking now. Bored bored bored bored fuck it I'm done. Waste of an hour. My friend: wasn't that awesome? Uhh.. let's just go build something.
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
  - arghnoname 2y ago
discreteevent 2y ago
Some people might find closing their eyes and focusing on breathing to be a bit intense. In that case you could try: 2. Relax and just be in the room. 4. When you notice that your thoughts have wandered congratulate yourself for noticing this and come back to the room.

Retric 2y ago

That’s a solid introduction to the most well know type of meditation but the specifics can vary quite a bit and people disagree on the specifics. Many groups consider meditation in a religious context though that’s far from universal. There’s also many ideas around what you should be doing while meditating from simply being in the moment to reflective thoughts. Still meditation is basically get enough sleep then get in a comfortable position sitting, lying down, or even standing just so long as you can hold it indefinitely and focus on something for long periods. Breathing is always available but options vary wildly from something specific like smoke from a stick of incense, to the environment such as trees blowing in the wind, ripples in a stream, or even the sound of someone leading a meditation. Though in general people follow something similar to what egypturnash mentioned. Moving meditation allows for some representative action like walking, dance, ritualized prayer, juggling, or even some repetitive factory job where you can do it indefinitely without thinking. Just be careful it’s easy to lose focus on what you’re doing so don’t try this when driving etc.

DaoVeles 2y ago
Some see meditation as a means of contemplation, in that you focus on a single topic to focus on while sitting. Please consult you local Buddhist/Zen temple for a Dharma talk or Koan as an example. But others feel that can be restrictive in that it doesn't go into a deeper state. But that goes to the whole truth of zen and the misleading of the student and the one thinking they need to be there - it gets complicated.

datameta 2y ago

Mind Illuminated is what finally got me into (a more stable) meditation practice.

JumpCrisscross 2y ago

For those who need a structured intro, for me it was through mastering buoyancy control in SCUBA diving [1]. You’re watching and controlling your breathing and multiple environmental variables. Once you’ve felt what that’s like it’s much easier to recreate it on land. [1] https://www.tdisdi.com/sdi/get-certified/advanced-buoyancy/ https://www.tdisdi.com/sdi/get-certified/advanced-buoyancy/

ilc 2y ago

Back when I used "The Relaxation Response" I believe. Taught myself in 7th grade. - Go some place with no distractions. - Lay down, and let your muscles go limp. - Close your eyes, and just focus on your breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth, nice and slowly. I'd often hold at full breath for a few seconds just to let everything settle.. this is not a hurry. - Focus on relaxing your toes, then your feet, ankles, calves, etc up through your chest, now focus on your arms... let all the stress run out your fingers like rays. Finally focus on your head, and push the stress out through the top of your head, or fingers, which ever feels easier. I'll also push stress through my toes too. The key is to release the stress from your body and visualize it... visualize getting rid of the knots and stress. Some days, you'll get up to your calves, some days with practice you can get your whole body. But even your toes is an accomplishment! - Your body will tell you when you are done. It is hard to explain, but you will know, "I'm done." When you are, don't rush to sit up, let your body rest a moment eyes closed, then open your eyes, wait a moment, then sit up. (if you were actually well relaxed this may stop a faint.) But much of this comes from listening to your body. The noise of life isn't what matters... just listening to your body, and helping it relax.... I use relaxation, as a way to force other things out. So if work comes up, out it goes. Relaxation gives me a central focus, which helps with the whole experience.

kstenerud 2y ago
That seems to be what all the meditation people say. I've done it many times, and it goes like this: Ok, lie down. Relax muscles, sinking down, good breathe... Bored. Bored bored bored OMG this is so boring! Breathe, breathe, try not to think of how boring this is! Bored bored bored oh a bird is chirping. Chirp chirp chirp and gone. Bored bored bored bored bored holy shit when does this end? My fingers are flicking now. Bored bored bored bored fuck it I'm done. Waste of an hour. My friend: wasn't that awesome? Uhh.. let's just go build something.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- arghnoname 2y ago

discreteevent 2y ago

Some people might find closing their eyes and focusing on breathing to be a bit intense. In that case you could try: 2. Relax and just be in the room. 4. When you notice that your thoughts have wandered congratulate yourself for noticing this and come back to the room.