8 ms·

What is the best way to learn how to meditate? Any good resources?

by pgrote 12y ago

DigitalJack 12y ago
Google Jon Kabat-Zinn.
chdir 12y ago
Either join a course or pick up a good book. I found this book immensely useful and simple to follow: "Mindfulness in Plain English" [1] [1] http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Plain-English-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0861719069 http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Plain-English-Anniversary-...
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- nodata 12y ago
  Is that book the same as this free one? http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html Does your book contain exercises?
  - vidarh 12y ago
    It's the same book. I strongly recommend it. You don't need exercises: The book is a step by step "instruction manual". There is only one exercise (in this context; there are many other forms of meditation) Sit comfortably. Breath in. Breath out. Repeat. Now gently try to let go of your thoughts, and gently focus your attention on your breath. When your mind slips, bring it back to the breath. Repeat for as long as you want to sit. The reason you want to read the book is because it deals systematically with the practicalities, such as how to deal with pains and aches and distractions, or how to deal with sudden intense nonsensical urges (for example, when I started I went through a period where I'd get one minute or so in and then be convinced that I'd failed to set my timer, and that I had been sitting for way too long, and that I'd be late for something, anything; it took weeks to push past that barrier). I'd also strongly recommend this series [1] of recordings of a course by Gil Fronsdal. It covers the same practice, and fits very well with the book. And like the book, the course recording is very much kept secular. [1] http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma12/GilMed07.html http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma12/GilMed07.html
thomasvarney723 12y ago
Headspace is an app I've tried and thought was interesting.
- andrewem 12y ago
  I've been using the Headspace app for several months and found it to be very helpful. While doing the exercise, which is a daily 15 minute guided meditation session, I feel much more relaxed. And throughout the rest of my day I find that I'm more aware of my reactions to various events and sometimes I'm able to step outside an emotional reaction and see what I'm doing, and whether it's actually how I want to act, and then behave accordingly. It's no panacea, but I have found it useful enough to keep doing pretty much every day despite the friction which tends to lead to giving up on good habits.
- fernly 12y ago
  Headspace link: https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app
akeck 12y ago
I found these downloads useful: http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/books-articles/meditation-instruction/ http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/books-articles/medita...
- fernly 12y ago
  I know Gil Fronsdal and the community he serves. His talks are always practical and empathic. There won't be any woo or supernaturalism in these, but a generous humanity.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
  - vidarh 12y ago
    I stayed away from meditation for very long because of the "woo and supernaturalism" concern, and I agree - Gil Fronsdals stuff is great.
trentmb 12y ago
Earplugs help. It makes it easier to listen to your own breath.
KobaQ 12y ago
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5B1627ADAF657A2C http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5B1627ADAF657A2C The scenery looks a bit odd ... he is sitting on a couch and the studends on the floor, kind of looking up to (admire) the master. But he is in his talks the opposite of a self-salesman. Anyway, this is very systematic and in itself the best approach I've seen so far. There are practices that need to be done and learned in a specific order. In this spirit it all starts with the basic step: Regular time and place! If we fail this, it won't happen! Followed by the other practices (inner dialog, sitting, breathing ... inspecting thoughts later on ...) in the required order. Really, the best I've seen so far. Also, very recommended his podcast "Developing Determination for Enlightenment", where he's talking about the paradox of letting go while being determined to aim for enlightenment.
BeoShaffer 12y ago
UCLA has some good guided exercises here http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22&oTopID=22 http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22&oTopID=22
peatmoss 12y ago
I'll second this, with the specific request for recommended secular resources. I've found I get pretty turned off the higher the quantity of mysticism / spirituality, veneration of random leader persons, and faux eastern cultural elements thrown in as color.
- arbitrarywords 12y ago
  I found Waking Up by Sam Harris pretty interesting. It's a bit more abstract than a how-to manual, more why and what. http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Spirituality-Without-Religion/dp/1451636016/ http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Spirituality-Without-Religio...
  - adrice727 12y ago
    As someone who has gradually moved away from the more "woo" end of the spectrum and more towards the practical end, I found Waking Up to be a really good read.
- fernly 12y ago
  The Mindfulness in Plain English book mentioned above, or the Insight Meditation Center talks linked below, are both without fake spirituality or mysticism.
_nullandnull_ 12y ago
The best resources I have found are books, audio tracks, a good meditation app and discipline. In regards to the latter, the hardest thing about meditation is consistently doing it. Books: "Calming the anxious mind" by Jeffrey Brantley, "Mindfulness: An eight-week plan for finding peace in a frantic world" by Mark Williams and Danny Penman, "Mindfulness for Beginners" by Jon Kabat-Zinn (my favorite), "Wherever you to there you are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn Audio: The second and third book both have cds or downloadable tracks. The audio tracks are a good way to start. App: Insight timer. I have been using it for years. Most of these books approach meditation from a non-religious approach.
lozf 12y ago
Alan Watts - The Art of Meditation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u10aHEfcEQY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u10aHEfcEQY
estefan 12y ago
While it's not meditation, one of the best things I've discovered recently for relaxing with minimal effort are binaural beats (also branded commercially as "HemiSync"). Put those on for half an hour before going to sleep and it's like nothing else. There are free apps for android (and probably ios as well) you can use. You just need earphones.
MarkL4 12y ago
http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/how-to-meditate-one-perspective/ http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/how-to-medit... http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/how-to-do-foregroundbackground-meditation/ http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/how-to-do-fo... http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/articles/ http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/articles/ "Meditation and transformative practice vis-à-vis rationality, phenomenology, neuroscience and {clinical, developmental, evolutionary} psychology because humans." (self-link)
michaelsbradley 12y ago
It depends on the type/s of meditation in which you are interested. In the Christian West, there are several schools of "discursive meditation", or mental prayer, which developed over many centuries. This kind of meditation, practiced daily and closely connected to regular examination of conscience, is seen as an important component of the struggle to overcome vice and cultivate virtue. Two resources you might find helpful in learning how to go about discursive meditation are a short essay on Lectio Divina and the Fifth Treatise from Fr. Rodriguez's Practice of Perfection and Christian Virtues: http://j.mp/LectioDivina http://j.mp/LectioDivina https://archive.org/stream/PPCV-Manresa#page/n273/mode/2up https://archive.org/stream/PPCV-Manresa#page/n273/mode/2up See also Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange's overview of mental prayer in his classic work The Three Ages of the Interior Life: http://www.christianperfection.info/tta47.php http://www.christianperfection.info/tta47.php In the Christian East, meditation generally takes the form of "passive contemplation" rather than discursive meditation. The Philokalia is probably the best resource for learning more: https://archive.org/stream/Philokalia-TheCompleteText/Philokalia-Complete-Text#page/n0/mode/2up https://archive.org/stream/Philokalia-TheCompleteText/Philok... Make sure to keep handy the glossary at the back of the book: https://archive.org/stream/Philokalia-TheCompleteText/Philokalia-Complete-Text#page/n1237/mode/2up https://archive.org/stream/Philokalia-TheCompleteText/Philok...

What is the best way to learn how to meditate? Any good resources?

by pgrote 12y ago

What is the best way to learn how to meditate? Any good resources?

DigitalJack 12y ago

Google Jon Kabat-Zinn.

chdir 12y ago

Either join a course or pick up a good book. I found this book immensely useful and simple to follow: "Mindfulness in Plain English" [1] [1] http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Plain-English-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0861719069 http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Plain-English-Anniversary-...

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
nodata 12y ago
Is that book the same as this free one? http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html Does your book contain exercises?
- vidarh 12y ago
  It's the same book. I strongly recommend it. You don't need exercises: The book is a step by step "instruction manual". There is only one exercise (in this context; there are many other forms of meditation) Sit comfortably. Breath in. Breath out. Repeat. Now gently try to let go of your thoughts, and gently focus your attention on your breath. When your mind slips, bring it back to the breath. Repeat for as long as you want to sit. The reason you want to read the book is because it deals systematically with the practicalities, such as how to deal with pains and aches and distractions, or how to deal with sudden intense nonsensical urges (for example, when I started I went through a period where I'd get one minute or so in and then be convinced that I'd failed to set my timer, and that I had been sitting for way too long, and that I'd be late for something, anything; it took weeks to push past that barrier). I'd also strongly recommend this series [1] of recordings of a course by Gil Fronsdal. It covers the same practice, and fits very well with the book. And like the book, the course recording is very much kept secular. [1] http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma12/GilMed07.html http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma12/GilMed07.html

thomasvarney723 12y ago

Headspace is an app I've tried and thought was interesting.

andrewem 12y ago
I've been using the Headspace app for several months and found it to be very helpful. While doing the exercise, which is a daily 15 minute guided meditation session, I feel much more relaxed. And throughout the rest of my day I find that I'm more aware of my reactions to various events and sometimes I'm able to step outside an emotional reaction and see what I'm doing, and whether it's actually how I want to act, and then behave accordingly. It's no panacea, but I have found it useful enough to keep doing pretty much every day despite the friction which tends to lead to giving up on good habits.
fernly 12y ago
Headspace link: https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app

akeck 12y ago

I found these downloads useful: http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/books-articles/meditation-instruction/ http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/books-articles/medita...

fernly 12y ago
I know Gil Fronsdal and the community he serves. His talks are always practical and empathic. There won't be any woo or supernaturalism in these, but a generous humanity.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- vidarh 12y ago
  I stayed away from meditation for very long because of the "woo and supernaturalism" concern, and I agree - Gil Fronsdals stuff is great.

trentmb 12y ago

Earplugs help. It makes it easier to listen to your own breath.

KobaQ 12y ago

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5B1627ADAF657A2C http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5B1627ADAF657A2C The scenery looks a bit odd ... he is sitting on a couch and the studends on the floor, kind of looking up to (admire) the master. But he is in his talks the opposite of a self-salesman. Anyway, this is very systematic and in itself the best approach I've seen so far. There are practices that need to be done and learned in a specific order. In this spirit it all starts with the basic step: Regular time and place! If we fail this, it won't happen! Followed by the other practices (inner dialog, sitting, breathing ... inspecting thoughts later on ...) in the required order. Really, the best I've seen so far. Also, very recommended his podcast "Developing Determination for Enlightenment", where he's talking about the paradox of letting go while being determined to aim for enlightenment.

BeoShaffer 12y ago

UCLA has some good guided exercises here http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22&oTopID=22 http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22&oTopID=22

peatmoss 12y ago

I'll second this, with the specific request for recommended secular resources. I've found I get pretty turned off the higher the quantity of mysticism / spirituality, veneration of random leader persons, and faux eastern cultural elements thrown in as color.

arbitrarywords 12y ago
I found Waking Up by Sam Harris pretty interesting. It's a bit more abstract than a how-to manual, more why and what. http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Spirituality-Without-Religion/dp/1451636016/ http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Spirituality-Without-Religio...
- adrice727 12y ago
  As someone who has gradually moved away from the more "woo" end of the spectrum and more towards the practical end, I found Waking Up to be a really good read.
fernly 12y ago
The Mindfulness in Plain English book mentioned above, or the Insight Meditation Center talks linked below, are both without fake spirituality or mysticism.

_nullandnull_ 12y ago

The best resources I have found are books, audio tracks, a good meditation app and discipline. In regards to the latter, the hardest thing about meditation is consistently doing it. Books: "Calming the anxious mind" by Jeffrey Brantley, "Mindfulness: An eight-week plan for finding peace in a frantic world" by Mark Williams and Danny Penman, "Mindfulness for Beginners" by Jon Kabat-Zinn (my favorite), "Wherever you to there you are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn Audio: The second and third book both have cds or downloadable tracks. The audio tracks are a good way to start. App: Insight timer. I have been using it for years. Most of these books approach meditation from a non-religious approach.

lozf 12y ago

Alan Watts - The Art of Meditation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u10aHEfcEQY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u10aHEfcEQY

estefan 12y ago

While it's not meditation, one of the best things I've discovered recently for relaxing with minimal effort are binaural beats (also branded commercially as "HemiSync"). Put those on for half an hour before going to sleep and it's like nothing else. There are free apps for android (and probably ios as well) you can use. You just need earphones.

MarkL4 12y ago

http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/how-to-meditate-one-perspective/ http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/how-to-medit... http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/how-to-do-foregroundbackground-meditation/ http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/how-to-do-fo... http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/articles/ http://meditationstuff.wordpress.com/articles/ "Meditation and transformative practice vis-à-vis rationality, phenomenology, neuroscience and {clinical, developmental, evolutionary} psychology because humans." (self-link)

michaelsbradley 12y ago

It depends on the type/s of meditation in which you are interested. In the Christian West, there are several schools of "discursive meditation", or mental prayer, which developed over many centuries. This kind of meditation, practiced daily and closely connected to regular examination of conscience, is seen as an important component of the struggle to overcome vice and cultivate virtue. Two resources you might find helpful in learning how to go about discursive meditation are a short essay on Lectio Divina and the Fifth Treatise from Fr. Rodriguez's Practice of Perfection and Christian Virtues: http://j.mp/LectioDivina http://j.mp/LectioDivina https://archive.org/stream/PPCV-Manresa#page/n273/mode/2up https://archive.org/stream/PPCV-Manresa#page/n273/mode/2up See also Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange's overview of mental prayer in his classic work The Three Ages of the Interior Life: http://www.christianperfection.info/tta47.php http://www.christianperfection.info/tta47.php In the Christian East, meditation generally takes the form of "passive contemplation" rather than discursive meditation. The Philokalia is probably the best resource for learning more: https://archive.org/stream/Philokalia-TheCompleteText/Philokalia-Complete-Text#page/n0/mode/2up https://archive.org/stream/Philokalia-TheCompleteText/Philok... Make sure to keep handy the glossary at the back of the book: https://archive.org/stream/Philokalia-TheCompleteText/Philokalia-Complete-Text#page/n1237/mode/2up https://archive.org/stream/Philokalia-TheCompleteText/Philok...