What is the difference between concentration meditation and mindfulness meditation?

I was wondering if somebody could explain the difference between these two. I was also wondering if somebody could give me some ideas on where to start with meditation. I hardly know where to begin, there's so much information on it. I have experimented some with concentration meditation where I just focus on my breathing, and when other thoughts come up, I go back to focusing on my breathing. However I don't know where to go from here and I don't feel like it has done much for me yet.

[Gem]

Breath meditation like you describe is fine. How long have you been practicing for?

Chessmaster,

From my tradition (Tao and Soto Zen), one answer among many is that focusing on the breath is a device to help people to not let their mind start mulling over all of the thoughts that try to pass through your head (and trust me, on some days, thoughts will come into your meditation). From my perspective, the next step of meditation after focusing on breath is just being able to sit while focusing on nothing at all. If thoughts come up, let them run their course through your mind and they will pass away. Even intense emotion will pass if you let it do it's thing in your head and don't cling to it. Focusing on breath is the entryway into true meditation, not focusing on anything is the next step... and the step after that? I'm not quite there so I can't speak of that :P

Best Wishes,
TaoSandwich

Originally Posted by TaoSandwich

Chessmaster,

From my tradition (Tao and Soto Zen), one answer among many is that focusing on the breath is a device to help people to not let their mind start mulling over all of the thoughts that try to pass through your head (and trust me, on some days, thoughts will come into your meditation). From my perspective, the next step of meditation after focusing on breath is just being able to sit while focusing on nothing at all. If thoughts come up, let them run their course through your mind and they will pass away. Even intense emotion will pass if you let it do it's thing in your head and don't cling to it. Focusing on breath is the entryway into true meditation, not focusing on anything is the next step... and the step after that? I'm not quite there so I can't speak of that :P

Best Wishes,
TaoSandwich

Not focusing on anything... Would that be like mindfulness meditation?

Originally Posted by Gem

Breath meditation like you describe is fine. How long have you been practicing for?

I practiced for about a week and a half and then quit and now I'm getting back into it

[jonesboy]

The twice sitting for 20 mins. is a powerful practice. It is much more powerful than the watching of your thoughts during the day practice. What most people do is start with the sitting and then during the day try for 2 mins to watch your thoughts/emotions. Try for 2 mins maybe 10 times during the day. The mindfullness of watching your thoughts can lead to extreme levels of bliss. The advanced method is called maha mudra which then leads to Dzogchen.

Remember this is a marathon not sprint. While you may not notice anything happening at first others may notice. That is what happened with me. Give it time. The most important thing is being consistant with your twice daily practice.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by chessmaster

I practiced for about a week and a half and then quit and now I'm getting back into it

Oh yea? not so long... well, I'd say if you began with breath meditation, stick with that, and see what comes up from there.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by chessmaster

I have experimented some with concentration meditation where I just focus on my breathing, and when other thoughts come up, I go back to focusing on my breathing.
However I don't know where to go from here and I don't feel like it has done much for me yet.

May I give you some inspiration?

When you focus on the breath...at the same time...
relax into it...get wonderfully relaxed and comfortable...so much that it
puts a smile on you like relaxing on the best mattress...feel the beauty of
total freedom from bodily muscle tensions subtly gone unnoticed bec they
are 'normal' to you.

As you breath easily and naturally...know in your mind there is a goal...that sweetly hidden behind that breath
is something so incredible...that only in relaxed, wonderful stillness...stillness sublime...can this hidden 'secret place'
come to the forefront ... like a butterfly
emerging inside you...fascinating, mysterious, yet familiar
...behind the breath is the power underlying all creation.

It is not some boring, dry mental discipline...

[Robinski78]

My findings over the years, and the resulting outcome has been that the first major step to thought provoking meditation, is the complete control of the conscious mind...

The method mentioned in this instance, is the only type of meditation I have ever used... Such has served me well, improving my overall levels of intuitive thought and decision making...

I'm not suggesting this will be advantageous for one and all, but I think it's worth considering: as a means to an end ~ in some cases...

Pardon me for asking: how does one control the conscious mind?