How do you do your active meditations?

[acitak]

I am practicing walking meditation for a years and I have found that only real practice is to surrender myself. All else is walking concentration, not walking meditation. Of course, first it must be concentration to break old automatic movements and activate silent center(observer). Later you only surrender yourself, just allow your body to walk by itself, without your will. Walking may be slow, it does not matter. You just observe one guy(yourself), how he walk, moves his legs and arms and observe around. You are observing observer while he is observing around. Deep breathing come effortless, naturaly when meditation is right. You may call that meditation "self- remembering" . I have had experiences of intense bliss when I was walking, but only when I was completely surrendered. How do you do your active meditations?

[Gem]

Originally Posted by acitak

I am practicing walking meditation for a years and I have found that only real practice is to surrender myself. All else is walking concentration, not walking meditation.

Good point.

Of course, first it must be concentration to break old automatic movements and activate silent center(observer). Later you only surrender yourself, just allow your body to walk by itself, without your will. Walking may be slow, it does not matter. You just observe one guy(yourself), how he walk, moves his legs and arms and observe around. You are observing observer while he is observing around. Deep breathing come effortless, naturaly when meditation is right. You may call that meditation "self- remembering" . I have had experiences of intense bliss when I was walking, but only when I was completely surrendered. How do you do your active meditations?

Well said.

A lot of things are steeped in tradition, like deep breath where in fact the breath can be shallow sometimes and deep sometimes. Bliss also comes and goes at different intensities... and of course walking starts and stops too. I guess you know what remains present as these change, and has always been present throughout your whole life. Everything else changes, the child body replaced by the adult body and the mind body ever changing thoughts and sensations, but you were always present and remain present now... sometimes bliss comes and sometimes it goes... but that presence is always there. Meditation is being present, so it's not something you do, it's something you are.

[athribiristan]

Same way as a I do a sitting meditation only walking, or sweeping the floor, or washing dishes. Nothing changes. Give the body and mind a task to focus on and the start your meditation.

[VinceField]

Originally Posted by athribiristan

Same way as a I do a sitting meditation only walking, or sweeping the floor, or washing dishes. Nothing changes. Give the body and mind a task to focus on and the start your meditation.

Same here. The only difference between my sitting and active meditation is that I can't be 100% focused on my meditation object while active, as some part of my mind must be aware of the physical activity at hand. My all-inclusive method, put simply, is bringing my awareness to my breath and the energy throughout my body. After developing with this method on the mat, eventually the ability to practice and bring its results into daily life is attained, and so a deep state of peace, joy, and clarity arises any time I shift my focus inward in this way, whether I am sitting, walking, on the computer, conversing, playing volleyball, etc. The key is having the mindfulness to remember to maintain this focus and bring it back when it is lost, as it is particularly easy to get lost in the mind while physically active.

[acitak]

"Meditation is being present, so it's not something you do, it's something you are."

You are right, it is wrong title question. What is meditation? You must have intention to meditate or be at present moment , but at the same time reject all intentions.

[acitak]

I am practicing walking meditation for a years and I have found that only real practice is to surrender myself. All else is walking concentration, not walking meditation. Of course, first it must be concentration to break old automatic movements and activate silent center(observer). Later you only surrender yourself, just allow your body to walk by itself, without your will. Walking may be slow, it does not matter. You just observe one guy(yourself), how he walk, moves his legs and arms and observe around. You are observing observer while he is observing around. Deep breathing come effortless, naturaly when meditation is right. You may call that meditation "self- remembering" . I have had experiences of intense bliss when I was walking, but only when I was completely surrendered. Are you surrendered in your active meditations?

[VinceField]

Originally Posted by acitak

All else is walking concentration, not walking meditation.

Hmmm.

I think it's important to get our definitions straight.

Concentration is an important aspect to many meditation methods and is even a method of meditation in and of itself. You seem to indicate that surrendering is the only real meditation, and concentration practices are not actually meditation. It's important to realize that there are many different methods of meditation, and some work better for some people than for others. The practice of concentrating while walking is indeed a valid method of walking meditation.

Are you surrendered in your active meditations?

Surrendering is indeed an aspect of my practice. I generally call it "letting go." This is coupled with concentration. Concentration is the mental faculty which allows this state of surrender to be maintained.

[acitak]

I agree, concentration is an important aspect in all meditations , it is preliminary work before real meditation. First come will or concentration, then surrender or letting go or present moment.

("and so a deep state of peace, joy, and clarity arises any time I shift my focus inward in this way")
That is state of first samadhi(jhana) and it is sign that your meditation is right.
When you have a feeling of oneness with all with physical bliss(ecstasy) that is sign of second samadhi and feeling of oneness(unity) with all only at mental plane, with deep eqanimity is a sign of third samadhi(jhana) in buddhistic teaching . I myself jump up and down from third to first jhana.

[athribiristan]

Also, different practices of meditation are intended to yield different results. Emptiness and mindfulness are different ends through the same means. And then there is meditative visualization which is yet another way the tool of meditation can be used.

[ocean breeze]

I find myself most meditative while running at night. I use to live not far from a bay, and it was such a beautiful place to run at.