by onacruse 42 Replies latest jw friends
O, it's from the rush of the assembly part (I mean wedding) being over. Sure you can come, bring Jon this time. Seriously let's come up with a date. August 28 on is okay. Gotta get my Mum Sept 17-27 'tho. Glen
PS Calling all locals, beer and brats anyone?
"Ahhh grasshoppa, you do not understand because you are to young to understand. Later in life you will understand the things you do not understand without understanding. Do you understand?"
*craig says..."Master....I STILL do not understand*
Hey some FAQ,
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QUESTION ABOUT INNER SOUND MEDITATION: You've described in your lecture, how to meditate on the Inner Light. Could you explain what is meditation on the Inner Sound and could you show me how to meditate to hear this Inner Sound?ANSWER:
The Inner Sound - also known as the Spiritual Sound Current, or Shabda in Sanskrit - is the Primordial Sound of the universe vibrating within us. Here is one way to meditate on the Inner Sound.
To tune into it initially, you will probably find it helpful to use earplugs to shut out external sounds. (After you have become more familiar with the Inner Sound, you may not need these.)
You will hear a sound inside of yourself... a vibration. It may sound like a humming, whooshing, or ringing, or a combination of these. This vibration will sound quite natural. You needn't look for supernatural sounds or try to create sounds.
To meditate on the Inner Sound, listen intently to this internal vibration. After awhile, you may begin to notice one or more subtler tones or frequencies. Let your attention be drawn to the subtle frequencies that are most pleasing to listen to. Go deeply into the sound.
You may find your consciousness rising on higher and subtler frequencies. (That does not mean that the pitch or note should be higher.) You may find yourself slipping into a silent or dreamlike space. If you feel your consciousness shifting in any way, go with it.
Don't strain... simply listen intently, allowing for whatever happens, and accepting whatever sounds arise. If your attention wanders off, gently bring it back to the Inner Sound.
Gumby,
Thanks for posting the above. That sound is very unique and Eckankar calls it the sound of God. If you have never checked them out:
http://www.eckankar.org/?OVRAW=eckinkar&OVKEY=eckankar&OVMTC=standard
Thank you Kate!!!
I'll have to look into how I can direct some of that. All I know is that it's very relaxing and it's very cathartic.
I'll let you know what I come up with when I get back to beading again. It's a winter thing for me.
Thanks again.
XW
I say we have an apostofest and we all just sit around and meditate for 2 days then on the third day we can relate the "trips" we all took! We could have crap to talk about on here for weeks.
Actually, I've never tried it either yet Craig but I would like to.
Can you take advantage of people while their Meditating?
*fantasizes about XW and Robdar*
Gumboob
Considering that various activities including those which are not meditation techniques induces something like a meditative state, could it be that meditation is in fact not about a certain type of activity? Just consider, what is the common denominator in all those activities? The answer is actually pretty simple: You. You might say you are meditation.
The implication of this would naturally de-emphasize techniques and methods of meditation. Strictly speaking, meditation wouldn't be an altered state either - it is a matter of finding, recognizing the natural state that is always there, but is simply obscured by the mental clutter taken to be the mind. Furthermore, it also implies that in spite of certain beliefs about meditation, those beliefs are actually part of the clutter. Regardless of whether it is good or bad, or how one thinks it works, they are simply thoughts - whereas meditation is really about the nature of mind. The same actually goes for states of bliss or misery, because those are actually temporary states.
So you can see how recognizing this would actually 'bring you closer' to meditation, because even if you sat there for an hour and reached a really quiet place, life is waiting for you beyond the cushion. In contrast, if you recognize thoughts and feelings as fleeting and temporary, then there is naturally a freedom from that, and that is there even in the midst of a lot of mental and emotional activity, you don't have to avoid life in order to have peace. It's funny because even though there's this understanding that a good meditative state would not be bogged down with thoughts, the meditator actually goes in with all these assumptions about what meditation is and so forth - I mean that's a bit of a contradiction isn't it?
So the basic idea I'm trying to get across could be summed up this way: there is no meditator who does something called meditation, there is only meditation. Actually, it is more like the meditator is an activity the clear mind of meditation does, dreaming it into existence you might say.
O, remind me about looking up Dao Yin in my medical qigong text, (I know it's covered) there may be some background info of interest there.
Craig, I know you asked about experiences - but you can understand that I am not so keen on telling stories if it is more about what has experiences rather than the experiences. How interesting or not the experience is would be beside the point. It's not that it's a secret, but since I'm no longer excited by them I couldn't pick out ones I found to be particularly entertaining, althought if it comes up I would share them. I don't even know that the experiences I consider more significant ever came out of or during formal meditation, I don't think any ever did. Some of those significant ones are subtle shifts in perception like no longer seeing people as egos, even if they hold themselves that way.
Also for the record I am not saying don't do formal meditation, I think just the simple act of sitting quietly can be conducive to meditation, but it isn't about a certain form of action or inaction. Well I'll leave it at that, if you're interested I'm sure it will be an ongoing conversation between you and Kate and others as well, no hurry to talk about it. You might even find that there isn't much to talk about.
blondie, biofeedback (as I recall, it incorporates alpha- and beta-wave monitoring)...yes, that was something that Kate and I were talking about last night. So, can what you've experienced be usually be described as "meditation"?
Well, Craig, not the kind based in Eastern religion or customs. http://my.webmd.com/content/article/18/1689_51814.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348} But as has been said since I posted, meditation takes many forms and definitions. Biofeedback does not equal meditation but meditative techniques enhance biofeedback. My Buddhist friends say what I practice is "meditation." http://www.wildmind.org/
The word mantra is said to come from a root meaning "that which protects the mind".
In Buddhist meditation, many things can be used as objects of concentration -- as "mind protectors". The breath is used in anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing), the sensations of walking are used in walking meditation, the emotions are used as a focus in metta bhavana (development of lovingkindness), and visual images are used in visualization. Mantras are sounds -- words or phrases --that are used as an object of concentration.
As an object of concentration - like any other -- a mantra can help to still the mind. While you are reciting a mantra out loud or internally, there tends to be less mental chatter. Even if there is a parallel stream of internal discourse going on at the same time as the mantra, the chanting creates more of a sense of continuity, which will grow with practice. The word Mantra is said to mean "that which protects the mind."
To use mantras in formal meditation, chanted out loud or internally, first of all make yourself comfortable and upright, and spend a few minutes following your breathing and letting your mind settle. You may want to slow your breathing, directing it into the belly, and deepen it. This will help to still your mind, although you don't need to have an absolutely quiet mind before you start the mantra.
If you're saying the mantra out loud, then let the sound resonate in your chest.
It will help if you take a deep breath into your belly before each mantra. Generally, mantras sound better if you can do each mantra with a single exhalation. But if you can't manage that, then that's okay.
Let the last note of each mantra linger before starting the next mantra. You'll find that the mantra naturally falls into rhythm with your breathing. Make sure that the mantra follows your breathing and not the other way round, otherwise you may become breathless.
Don't actively think about the meaning of the mantra (if it even has one!). If you know what some of the words mean, then they will have associations for you. These associations will have an effect on your mind, and will deepen in significance over time as you explore them outside of meditation.
Let go of any concerns that may arise about whether you are doing the mantra properly. It doesn't matter if your pronunciation is a little off -- it's the spirit that counts.
To bring the mantra to a close, gradually let your chanting decrease in volume until it fades away as an external sound and can only be heard internally. Then let the internal sound fade away into silence.
At the conclusion of the practice, sit in the resonant silence, letting the vibrant quietness have a refreshing effect on your mind and emotions.
Can you take advantage of people while their Meditating?*fantasizes about XW and Robdar*
Gumby, nope, you cant. Sorry about that. You can't take advantage of people when they are hypnotised either.
The best thing to do, is just ask if you can take advantage of me. If I am so inclined, I'll let you know!
