experience with meditation?

[longlivesolitude]

Hello

Lately I've become a bit interested i buddhism and meditation. Read some books and done a bit of meditation.
I wondered what experience you folks have had with meditation? and which kinds you would think is good and which that aren't so good?
I don't think meditation is going to solve my problems, but I find it very interesting and think it could bring something good to my life.
I would also like to know what you people think about buddhism and if anyone here uses any of the ideas in their life?

I hope it's not too off topic for this site or category.

See you around :wink:

 

[young]

actually meditation is good for stress and anxiety. it helps to relax your mind and your muscles. and helps you to stay focused in the now, instead of the later.

 

[blight]

Hey longlivesolitude,

I have been into meditation for a number of years now and I do it every day. Honestly you say you don't think meditation will solve your problems but I wouldn't rule that possibility out completely. The fact that doctors are so quick to perscribe side-effect ridden drugs without ever mentioning meditation is very disturbing to me.

Most people think of it as just sitting and relaxing but it can help you develop a whole new way of thinking and perceiving. One thing is that it enables you to add some order to your thoughts and efficiency to your problem solving skills. You can decrease the "chatter" that is ongoing in your mind and focus on things. You can walk down crowded sidewalks and notice that everyone else is in a hurry, unhappy, would rather be somewhere else, and in their own world and you can simply appreciate the scenery and feel comfortable breathing steadily.

I have SA so even with meditation I still have problems with people but I think even after taking a couple days off I am much much worse. I can bring a calm and anxiety reduced attitude into work everyday that I wouldn't be able to otherwise. That is the main thing for me; the physical relaxation and health benefits and perception are secondary.

I can dig up some references and info if you are interested.

 

[black_mamba]

I can dig up some references and info if you are interested.

Ooo yes please, I've always tried meditation from time to time and it seems to work a little, but I've never stuck at it for long enough to find out.

 

[longlivesolitude]

Wow sounds really nice and could be super with some info. Have you learned it only by reading or with a person guiding you?
Since I'm pretty interested in buddhism I have considered going to a buddhist "center" near me with a friend. Then I could both learn something about buddism, meditation and it's probably also a bit social Think I'm going to try it...

 

[renegade]

Meditation ? If I start to meditate it's more like ruminating 4 me, so no thx :?

 

[Hurricane]

I also am very interesting in buddhism and meditation, I did some meditation for some time but I noticed feeling even worse afterwards...my mind starts rushing like never before...I have been told this is normal in the beginning...but I don't know, never got past the beginning part, I really ought to make some effort to start over

 

[idunnoimnotcreativ]

If you have the opportunity, try to take yoga classes. They are great for your mind, and body.

 

[blight]

Wow sounds really nice and could be super with some info. Have you learned it only by reading or with a person guiding you?
Since I'm pretty interested in buddhism I have considered going to a buddhist "center" near me with a friend. Then I could both learn something about buddism, meditation and it's probably also a bit social Wink Think I'm going to try it...

From the Buddhist perspective I would try Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. The author was one of the main people to popularize Zen in the US and has a very direct and easy to read style of writing.

I had the same idea about going to a Buddhist center for those reasons and I have definitely learned a lot as well as met a couple people who i at least say a couple things to most weekends. For those of us with SA going to a Zen center is an interesting experience. The normal social conventions aren't encouraged at all and even discouraged at the place where I go. The feeling is that most "small talk" or politeness is not beneficial I guess and can eliminated. During the formal practices, the etiquetee for this particular place even discourages eye contact. HA! Needless to say I felt relatively more comforable here than most places. Also zen buddhists have strong beliefs about compassion and understanding so even if you ever go up to anyone there you can be very sure they will be making an effort not to judge you in the conventional way and to be empathetic to your situation. With that said however, for me I am most uncomforable around people that I care what they think about me, i.e. people I like, so I am not as comforabe as I could be at this place. Good luck though and let us know how it goes if you go to a buddhist center at all.

 

[longlivesolitude]

Heh really sounds like an interesting experience. Sorry that you had to feel the SA there too. Been reading a book about meditation (rather old book though) in the holiday and seems very interesting. Some types of meditation seems a bit long so would take some time to learn - but it's probably worth it. Might take a look on the book you mention - but as english isn't my native language it would take some more effort and guess it's better to use the effort on meditation that on the language. I think I might go to the Buddhist Center.. guess it would be something really worth trying.

 

[striker]

Meditation is the shit!!

Learn it the right way & it will change your personality in a positive way.

I do something called Kriya Yoga
http://www.kriya.org

There is a whole science to the process. Very fascinating, if you like to explore the mysterious forces lurking in your being.

To put in a simple way, there is a life force which sits at the base of your spine. It controls everything a person does. The ultimate goal of meditation is to raise this enormous life force from the base of the spine to the top of the head. When one does this, you basically reach a state of bliss.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Autobiography_of_a_Yogi/Chapter_26

 

[Kamen]

I practice meditation (started soon). As a creative and spiritual person, I highly appreciate it - I find it a calming source of enlightenment and an inspiring source of ideas. There are many different kinds of meditation. You can even invent your own! The goal is to enter the specific state of mind. I tried Zen meditation but I prefer the Silva method, which is great and very advanced. Or you might like the Transcendental meditation - David Lynch is among its practitioners.
Also, check this website: http://www.meditationcenter.com/ where you can find different techniques.

 

[milo001]

i'm buddhist but i don't meditate but maybe meditation can indeed help to improve your life by reducing stress.

 

[Kamen]

Yes, it really reduces stress! Here is an example: At certain point in the day (usually around 10 PM) I meditate for 30 minutes or so. I go deeper and deeper until I lose orientation about my body and the outside world, and flashes start to go through my mind (as it is just before going down to sleep). My resting heart rate is around 85 but after meditation it could go down to 75.

 

[Lexmark]

Started the meditation thing again recently.
Today i was at the gym and someone started speaking to me and I had hardly any anxiety I couldnt beleive it. I was aware of my thinking and it was telling me to be anxious and wat not but it just never happend I couldnt beleive it. I put this all down to meditation coz I havent changed anything else.
Just gotta stick with it and realize I am not the thinker....

 

[FlashFlashFlash]

I converted to Zen Buddhism about a month ago. Since then I've noticed that, probably because of the meditation, I am way less depressed. I still have social anxiety as much as I did. but it really doesn't make me depressed like it used to. I strongly recomend you look into meditation and Buddhism more!!

 

[dpr]

It will help if you have the patience.

You should read "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" (originally titled "The Tibetan Book of the Dead")