Does anyone here meditate?

[Christian_V]

So I wasn't sure whether this should be posted in the Clubhouse or here. I figured it is more of a mental exercise as opposed to a physical so I am posting it here.

A lot of you, including myself, have described shaving as a meditative act. An opportunity to escape our lives, if but for a short time, and clear our thoughts as we indulge in the smells, textures, and feel of shaving and focus primarily on the act itself.

However, how many of you actually allocate time each day to meditate?

This is something I have recently implemented (or tried to) into my every day routine, however I am curious as to where, when, and for how long each of you guys meditate? They say you should meditate for at least 15 minutes each day and if you do not have time to meditate for 15 minutes than you should make it 30 minutes. I have found that it clears my thoughts and helps me stay centered. Furthermore, I hope it will help me achieve my quest to eliminate myself of selfish material needs and desires (except razors evidently hah!) and to love what I have/do and value my time here.

Anyhow, I know a lot of you guys are pretty Zen dudes, I'd love to hear about your practices and history with meditation, or even Far Eastern philosophy.

Also post pics of your meditation spots be it a nook in your home or whatever. I'd love to see where you guys find Zen each day!

 

[WetWhiskers]

Medically indicated MBSR -> 30 minutes of Insight (Vipassana) practice a day.

Helps a lot. My relationships with pain, anxiety and any sort of correction are significantly different. Not "psyche yourself into it" different, but completely "how my mind deals with them" different.

For instance, receiving an IV in the back of the hand is painful for most people. For me it is REALLY painful. However, now, while the pain is still there, it is separate from me. I can mentally stand back and non-reactively say "yes, I am having pain now, it is particularly sharp about 3/4 of the way to my pinkie. Ah, it is now changing from a sharp pinching pain to a duller pain." It isn't a psych-out sort of thing, it is a different way of perceiving it. Worth the price of admission if you deal with chronic pain...

I have low back pain when sitting for long periods of time. It's become an old friend that occasionally visits when I'm practicing. "Oh? hello! you're here! Must be getting towards the end of my practice session. Thank you for giving me a strong point of focus."

Sound sorta weird, eh? Does to me too. But it WORKS! I'm enough of a pragmatist to go with it.

Being something other than completely mindful while shaving is also contra-indicated. Blood and pain are a faster teacher than breathing.

Ww

 

[Christian_V]

Wetwhiskers, are there any books you'd recommend? My meditation technique was more or less shambled together by Youtube videos and instructional websites - and it works. However, I'd love more in depth information about it.

 

[Teppanyaki]

I used to meditate, but not regularly. I really need to start up again - it's annoying to make the time and start meditating. Once I get going, however, it's darn relaxing.

 

[Christian_V]

Teppanyaki, I try to do it at the same time every day and make it into an enjoyable routine. You should totally start up again, I'd love to hear about what differences it might make to your current mental and physical energy

 

[Chadao]

I learned to meditate 30 years ago when I began studying Chinese martial arts. It has changed my life for the better more ways than I could even begin to enumerate.

 

[Try em all]

I do Vipassana as well. Started in college, and used it to quit smoking 22 odd years ago but have not been practicing regularly recently. Need to be more regular...
+1 on the back pain while meditating, though. I often find it difficult to distance myself from it.

 

[Try em all]

If you are interested in the Vipassana technique(s), there are centers in North America, but perhaps none near you.
See
http://www.vridhamma.org/centers-aroundworld
for centers near you.
It is advisable to complete a 10 day course at a center first, though if that is not practical, you can learn from books. You can download ebooks from the website as well.
Courses are free.

 

[johnjackson]

I do meditation for 30 min everyday morning.It gives positive energy and increases my stamina.It also helps us to learn to live stress free.

 

[Prof. Moriarty]

Did a Vipassana meditation course, sadly halfway it aggravated my clinical depression and I wasn't yet strong enough to deal with it. Had to take it really easy after that, and since then I haven't meditated (although I have to start doing some Metta meditation again).

 

[Try em all]

Be advised that meditation, in any form, is not intended as a replacement for a competent mental health professional, and / or medication.

In fact , if you are under treatment, you may be advised to reconsider taking it up.
That said, however, many have found relief in the practice.


Generally speaking, if a person is able to complete the !0 day course, their prognosis is good.
This does not mean that those who do not complete the course are in any way lacking, it just means that they are not in a place where it is the right thing for them at that time.

In general, it is my opinion that a person wishing to do the vipassana course for the first time should not be a complete novice to meditation, or should at least be aware of and have practiced some of the precepts.
There is enough information on the website to begin the practice in a small way.

A 10 day vipassana course is fairly intensive for those not used to it, or for those who are uncomfortable with the concepts and precepts involved.


I would point out that for many catholic and protestant priests in India, a course of vipassana or other meditation as part of their retreat is not unusual.
Since most of us are not in the least priestly, going through such a course can be disconcerting, to say the least.

It is advisable to learn as much as possible about meditation in general before attempting it, and specifically breath-focussed meditation before attempting vipassana meditation.
If planning to attend a course for the first time, one can try to be silent for a few hours or a day, to see how one's psyche takes it.
This is especially useful for those under treatment.
Most people find that being silent for 8 days is the most difficult part of the vipassana course.










.

 

[brucea]

The closet I get to meditation is when I am about to deadlift heavy weight. I visualize the lift and focus intently before the lift. Breathing changes as well. Not the same as 30 minutes but somehow very relaxing and peaceful.

 

[cpacamper]

I meditate 15 minutes a day on workdays.

I first became aware of the benefits of meditation while practicing yoga. I was fooled into thinking yoga was about physical ability to twist, stretch, and move, when if fact I found quite the opposite to be true. The physical practice is a way to help prepare the mind for meditation. Through the physical practice, I learned to focus on the breath and to observe the physical sensation of whatever pose I was doing but without judging or reacting to the sensation. At the end of each practice, my teacher guides us in a meditation, focusing on breath and we are reminded that while we may experience thoughts and feelings, to simply observe the thoughts, and not judge or react. Just simply be.

Learning to observe my thoughts and feelings instead of simply reacting is the most beneficial aspect of meditating to me.

Here is an article on breath control techniques. Don't get lost in the "mysticism", the practice (called pranayama) has real physical benefits. Check out this and this also.

As has been said already, this is no substitute for professional medical care/advice and while I am a yoga practitioner and meditator, I am a student, not a yoga teacher or professional.

 

[Niles]

I make time every day to get away from life's distractions and meditate. Sometimes it's in a quiet room. Sometimes it's outside. It is an important part of my day.

 

[WetWhiskers]

Wetwhiskers, are there any books you'd recommend? My meditation technique was more or less shambled together by Youtube videos and instructional websites - and it works. However, I'd love more in depth information about it.

I'm a bit conflicted about how to answer this. There are any number of excellent books out there. I find Jon Kabat-Zinn's work engaging, Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Nhah, Sharon Salzberg... They're all good for inspiration.

The crux of it is that meditation is experiential.

The "what do you do to meditate" is profoundly simple.

The getting the head dialed in is the hard part.

For instance, "doing" meditation in an effort to relax. That may or may not work out long term. Almost certainly will. But will raise lots of frustration on those days you inevitably can't focus worth a darn. And so the "expectation of relaxation" gets in the way of the reality of meditation, taking you further from where you started.

It sounds circular, doesn't it? But will be very familiar to those who have meditated for a while...

Chapter 2 of "Full Catastrophe Living" by Kabat-Zinn has a nice coverage of the "attitudes" that make for good (at least for me) meditation: Non-judging, Patience, Beginners Mind, Trust, Non-striving, Acceptance, and Letting Go.

As a resource, here is a (completely free) beginning meditation class:
http://audiodharma.org/series/1/talk/1762/

And they're getting ready to have an on-line, instructor assisted class next month:
http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/programs/online-courses/


As for "shaving as meditation?"
I "do" shaving as a way to learn, and play/experiment with things, and focus. It has a strong "mindful" component. Otherwise I bleed.

If I were "doing shaving" as a way to get BBSs I'd be routinely frustrated. ;-)

Ww

 

[Geoface]

I do my best to sit everyday for 20 minutes at morning and night but I'm not perfect with my practice. Two days a week I visit a Zendo for extended sits and training. Prior to finding the Zendo I did quite a bit of research. Just find what resonates with you and do it or not, it doesn't matter. My teacher always tells me sometimes you're called to sit and sometimes you're not but put all of your awareness into everything you do. That's why DE shaving is similar to a Zen ritual for me.

 

[WetWhiskers]

The closet I get to meditation is when I am about to deadlift heavy weight. I visualize the lift and focus intently before the lift. Breathing changes as well. Not the same as 30 minutes but somehow very relaxing and peaceful.

Part of it is this ^^^.

The moment of clarity when your mind is completely focused and in the moment, uncluttered by distractions.
But also flexible enough to instantly change too.

It's really ineffable.

The yoga... the lifting... the hiking... the shaving... It isn't about the "what." It's about the clarity of the moment, and to a lessor extent a separation of/from the self.

Sorry guys, this is getting pretty esoteric for a Monday morning. I gotta go strop, shower and shave. ;-)

Ww

 

[Christian_V]

Thank you all for sharing your insights and tips on meditation! I loved reading all of you guy's stories.

I did find a local Zendo and will be attending a day long retreat in November! With perhaps a couple of visits to the Sunday service before then. I am looking forward to meditating in a group setting and learning how to breath and focus my thoughts better.

I will be sure to post pictures and tell of the experience~!

 

[brucea]

Part of it is this ^^^.

The moment of clarity when your mind is completely focused and in the moment, uncluttered by distractions.
But also flexible enough to instantly change too.

It's really ineffable.

The yoga... the lifting... the hiking... the shaving... It isn't about the "what." It's about the clarity of the moment, and to a lessor extent a separation of/from the self.

Sorry guys, this is getting pretty esoteric for a Monday morning. I gotta go strop, shower and shave. ;-)

Ww

+1

 

[Hunter]

I try to meditate when I can, I normally can get it down when I'm being driven in a car or during take off and landing in a plane. I usually go through the Litany against Fear a few times to centre myself and I'm good to go. I first clued into how meditation works when I was target shooting to dial in my scope years ago, controlled breathing, exact focus, pushing out all distractions. Later on I focused in my mind rather than on the bullseye. It is has been a great help with my anxieties.