Help with meditation?

I have been trying to "meditate" every night for a week. I'm not quite sure how to do it, if im doing it right...

A lot of the time, I've just sat and stared at a candle for ten minutes, occasionally taking a deep breath to remind myself that i'm there.

But lately (past few days) I've been imagining, if you will, that there is a glowing blue or white light around me in the shape of my body. Is this my energy aura? I can almost feel it breath in and out with me...

Is this normal? Am i doing it right? What do i look for now?

Blessings,

AH

[Xan]

Yes Arian... seeing light around yourself is normal. This is one of many experiences you may have as your awareness develops through meditation practice.

Don't look for or expect anything in particular, but stay open in your practice with whatever shows up.

Just keep going.


Xan

I don't know if I'd call it "normal" but it can happen and I wouldn't be worried about it unless the discipline of meditation you're following (or your religious path, values, etc.) would forbid or frown upon such things.

As for doing meditation "right" there are so many styles that it depends on what your objective is. For a basic mindfulness meditation of the type you seem to be going for, you could use an auric visualization as a point of focus for that mindfulness, but messing with that isn't the goal of a mindfulness meditation.

Sorry I was going to try assist you by posting some youtube videos I made with guided audio meditations that got tons of great feedback but this forum wont let me post links yet so guess you have to wait :(

Good luck in the meanwhile!

Originally Posted by maggador

Sorry I was going to try assist you by posting some youtube videos I made with guided audio meditations that got tons of great feedback but this forum wont let me post links yet so guess you have to wait :(

Good luck in the meanwhile!

Its okay, i know the feeling :( I'll try searching for you now though, and I'll let you know if I find you :)

Thankyou!

Blessings,

Arian Hawk

Originally from ARIAN HAWK

"I have been trying to "meditate" every night for a week. I'm not quite sure how to do it, if im doing it right...

A lot of the time, I've just sat and stared at a candle for ten minutes, occasionally taking a deep breath to remind myself that i'm there.

But lately (past few days) I've been imagining, if you will, that there is a glowing blue or white light around me in the shape of my body. Is this my energy aura? I can almost feel it breath in and out with me...

Is this normal? Am i doing it right? What do i look for now?

Blessings,

AH"


Hare Krishna!

Dear AH,

Your experience is wonderful ! There is absolutely nothing wrong. Your meditation has just started and believe me you have just started experiencing things. But these are nothing and you must go ahead without having any craving or desire to see anything. It keeps bugging me to ask you what you are meditating for. I must tell you that normal breathing is the right thing to do and without your knowing about it the breathing will become very slow and shallow as you advance. The basic idea is to go into a state of oblivion so much so that you even lose the sense of your body. That is when the 'Kumbhak' (Arrest of breath) occurs and you go into a state of 'samadhi' (Trance). To go into a transcendental realm you must go above and beyond this material world and that is possible only when you lose the sense of your body. Even slightest movement of your breath keeps you tied up with all your senses and the mundane world. So, please do not try to focus on your breath and never take deep breath during meditation unless you feel uncomfortable. Please try and train your mind to go into a state of nothingness. In the beginning focussing your mind on candle flame or some points is alright but very soon you wont need anything to concentrate your mind. It is just the beginning , lots of mines are ahead, each better and brighter than the other, as you move on. Never get allured by those and stop.

Love and best wishes.

Originally Posted by storymaker

Originally from ARIAN HAWK

"I have been trying to "meditate" every night for a week. I'm not quite sure how to do it, if im doing it right...

A lot of the time, I've just sat and stared at a candle for ten minutes, occasionally taking a deep breath to remind myself that i'm there.

But lately (past few days) I've been imagining, if you will, that there is a glowing blue or white light around me in the shape of my body. Is this my energy aura? I can almost feel it breath in and out with me...

Is this normal? Am i doing it right? What do i look for now?

Blessings,

AH"


Hare Krishna!

Dear AH,

Your experience is wonderful ! There is absolutely nothing wrong. Your meditation has just started and believe me you have just started experiencing things. But these are nothing and you must go ahead without having any craving or desire to see anything. It keeps bugging me to ask you what you are meditating for. I must tell you that normal breathing is the right thing to do and without your knowing about it the breathing will become very slow and shallow as you advance. The basic idea is to go into a state of oblivion so much so that you even lose the sense of your body. That is when the 'Kumbhak' (Arrest of breath) occurs and you go into a state of 'samadhi' (Trance). To go into a transcendental realm you must go above and beyond this material world and that is possible only when you lose the sense of your body. Even slightest movement of your breath keeps you tied up with all your senses and the mundane world. So, please do not try to focus on your breath and never take deep breath during meditation unless you feel uncomfortable. Please try and train your mind to go into a state of nothingness. In the beginning focussing your mind on candle flame or some points is alright but very soon you wont need anything to concentrate your mind. It is just the beginning , lots of mines are ahead, each better and brighter than the other, as you move on. Never get allured by those and stop.

Love and best wishes.

THIS!

Thankyou so much for your help. I'll definatley keep this in mind! I need to remember to try and stop taking deep breaths because I do this A LOT during meditation. When I see my energy body, the light around me, i feel as though it moves WITH my breathing. I will continue to look forward and do as i am doing. I feel as though I will get somewhere, as the other day, after posting this, i felt something different, which I can't explain right now, but i'll try and see if it happens again.

Blessings,

Arian Hawk

Hare Krishna!

Dear Arian Hawk,

Thanks for your post.

For good and successful meditation no particular rules,religions, rituals and postures need to be followed. Wherever and whatever way it is most convenient and comfortable for you should be followed. Two things are absolutely important for good meaningful meditation and they are sincerity and love. That is why it is important to know and decided upon why you are meditating. Without any object or goal (aim) neither sincerity nor love can come.

For a beginner, it is better to follow a disciplined route for meditation as regards the place and time for it. Later on meditation becomes a part and parcel of your life irrespective of the place, time or congeniality. Then you no more try for it and without being aware you are always in meditation of your beloved object or aim. It's exactly like what happens when you first meet somebody and like him. Initially, there will be a lot of ifs and buts and hesitations about how to go about it during the first few meetings and as the love grows intense and gets acknowledged then you become assured and quiet. After that the thought of him engulfs you all the time, 24x7. The results ? Eventually, you achieve the object and meet your goal. That is successful meditation.

With lots of love and best wishes,

SM

Well you just need to concentrate on your meditation power. However you are new with this but at this starting level it is good starting. Imagination is a good strategy for meditation.