Does anyone know the proper way to meditate. Like intructions, what types of meditation is best for the mind. Can some of you who are expirenced with this type of practice , please help me reach my goal on meditation!

There is no right or wrong way to meditate(ie, position, eyes open or closed).

Bodhidharma taught that everything one does is meditation so long as you concentrate solely on the task at hand.

This is definitely good advice. The three years I've been here, I've read posts of so many people confused about meditation and not knowing how to do it. Really, there is no right or wrong way, like Rev R said -- in fact, meditation is completely personal and is done the way you wish to do it. I'll give some examples and my technique, but remember, if you do try what I do (these are just examples) customize it to your own liking -- it's about you, afterall.

Personally, I meditate in a few different ways. When I am rather stressed out and need some time to myself, the best way I personally can meditate is to go to my garage, hop on my mountain bike, and go. I go out and ride for a few hours, usually getting in a good twenty miles. When I'm out there on my bike traveling around, I feel free. Since I live in a place where it's easy to go into the farmlands and country, I feel closer to nature, as well. On top of being really good exercise, I usually get to this point where my body does all the riding for me, while my mind is somewhere else, usually enjoying the scenery and thinking about the things that I see, sometimes those relate to my problems at hand. However like Rev R said, I am solely focused on being out there on my bike. That's how I escape to this beautiful place of peace.

On the other hand, I also meditate in the way that you are probably thinking about, IE sitting down with the legs crossed, closing the eyes, etc. When I do this sort of meditation it is usually at night time or when I truly need to sit down and only think about one thing, completely focus all of my available energy on a problem. I have also done this technique when I am doing religious practices (I am a pagan), or I use it as a way to enter Trance or Hypnagogia (Hypnagogia is explained in detail in my blog). It can be used for anything, though -- those are just what I do when I feel the need to "meditate" like that.

Remember, however, your way is the right way. I can give you examples, but those are only to get you thinking about how you'd like to do it. Basic relaxation techniques work well, and, like they are named, are quite basic. One way I have found to work for me is to get breathing rhythmically, and counting each deep, full breath I take. I then often focus on only one thing. Rather than clearing my mind totally, I think of whatever reason I'm going into this meditative state. At the same time, I am also actively putting down my body and mind's resistance to sleep, so although I don't fall asleep, my mind and consciousness definitely lower to those low "vibrations" or levels of consciousness so to speak. One reason I seldom use this technique is because often times I find the lotus position (Crossing the legs, as you are probably imagining what meditation is) rather uncomfortable, because it is hard to find something good to rest my back against, and if I don't, I often am too uncomfortable to rightly concentrate. To fix this, I sometimes stack pillows behind my back, or I actually lay down at an angle so I am not completely flat and straight. Laying down is the most comfortable, on the back, but it is also very easy to fall asleep if you are not putting 100% of your mind power into what you are doing.

I hope these examples help get your mind working so you can try out own meditation techniques of your own. An important thing to remember is never to say "I can't do this" or "What am I doing?" -- doubting yourself. There is no right or wrong way, there is only your way. Your way, for you, is the right way. While my techniques might work for me, chances are they will not work the same way for you. Feel free to try anything that comes to mind, because that's usually the best technique you can use. Good luck!

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum...showtopic=95190


Read this and it may help you along. Good Luck.

Gene

I sometimes meditate before i go to sleep laying on my bed, or taking a nap. When im a bit tired, and i try to not think about anything and not to fall asleep, that helps for me.

Sometimes everythings starts to feel more intense, its like you get super hearings and everythings feels more extrem. If your lucky it can take you in to some kind of "OBE" state of mind and thats what i always try to do. Sounds nuts

Oh and, it can be good to have something to listen to, like white noice, the computer maybe or a ventilation system. That takes you easier to the state of mind where everything feels more intense. It is not required tho if its not helping. Even when it is completely silent you can tell by your touch, breaths and when you swallow or just move little when everything is intense. You may feel heavy too, and your bed may feel hard as rock.

Otherwise if nothing works, then you might want to drug yourself. Just kidding

Probably the fastest method to learn is "transcendental" meditation without the transcendence, offered by Herbert Benson, M.D.

http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/2004/03.04/11-stress.html

is a short article with quotes from one of his talks. If you do what he tells his audience to do, you're there.

If you want more Benson, his books are in the bookstores, The Relaxation Response being the root classic.

If you want more T-for-transcendental in your TM, but still not too pretentious, there is

http://www.meditationiseasy.com/

But despite the name, they make it too complicated by half.

Protip: after you've done it a few times, you can pretty much leave "technique" behind, and just do it reasonably reliably whenever you want to.

Best of luck, but you won't need it. We are talking about the "skill" of letting yourself relax without quite falling asleep. It's just about the easiest thing in the world.

The best way to meditate, the tried and true method, is to sit in a comfortable position (preferably the lotus position) and concentrate on your breathing: Breathing in your belly expands out, exhale your belly deflates.
I know. It's not fancy. You aren't making psychic light balls with your hands that will help you move things without getting out of your chair, but it will start you out on a path towards self-realization and elightenment.

I dont like concentrating on my breathing, when i do then it dosent feel automated and it makes me less loosen, maybe some deep breaths before im starting and thats it. I prefer me concentrating on a distant source of sound.

That's interesting. I think I've heard of a type of Zen meditation like that before. I prefer the breathing because I do a lot of yoga type meditation. peace

Meditation is a funny thing because people think there is a "proper" way. I consider it just relaxing, especially mentally. This can be done by sports, activities by yourself. Or just sitting down somewere and just thinking or blanking your mind.

This makes a lot of sense. I don't usually count my breaths, but rather use the deep breathing and all the oxygen I get from that to help untangle my mind, if that makes any sense. When you take very deep, full breaths, your head begins to quickly feel different and your entire body will feel somewhat "charged up" so to speak.