What helps you meditate?

Originally Posted by Uma

Glad you like it Miss Hepburn :) Your deep connection to the Divine is always so inspiring.

Hello hazada guess - sounds like you're off to a great start! Keep it up :)

I try I must say,I'm having some good results.

[Unseeking Seeker]

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What an interesting topic!

Taking meditating as a chore to be performed by setting aside time to consciously shift our attention inwards ... why do we need to do this at all as a ritual, more so since it must be effortless and unforced?

Meditation being simply connecting our in-form consciousness with our own divinity within by recognising that we are in reality formless awareness, there simply cannot be any conscious doing involved in my view, since we are already that all the time.

Meditation ought to be our default orientation. Flowing without resistance or memory imagery drawn anticipation. So, we don’t meditate. We are always in meditation upon disassociation of our consciousness with all that is transient* (*mind-body and associated attachments, fears & desires).

We admit thought now and then as of need to navigate earth life. Otherwise thought is rested always with dynamic stillness of awareness present in the now-continuum.

So, equating meditation with our state of being, how are we? In ineffable bliss without cessation.

If we still have ego driven cravings, then instead of meditating (which as a doing is what?), it may be better to first voluntarily align our consciousness in thought, word & deed with purity of the voice of our conscience.

***

[Uma]

Hello Unseeking Seeker,

I couldn't agree more and that's what I am aiming for - moment-to-moment meditation, meditation as a way of being.

However.........easier said than done, right?

I think that, for most of us, a sitting meditation practice compliments this or supports this by eliminating many of the more difficult distractions we meet with in life - such as challenging relationships with people and dealing with difficult situations.

And then dealing with the other distractions - body, mind, ego. One step at a time building that inner muscle strength to be able to grasp the hand of the Divine that is ever reaching out to hold and carry us.

What do you think?

Namaste
Uma

[Altair]

An empty or light stomach works wonders to reduce physical itching and to feel in a higher place.

I don't mind sounds but preferably they are monotonous. Listening to rain sounds for instance is nice, but most music on the other hand is too active and indicates and stimulates change.

Guidance is okay, but preferably it's short, and does not rely on suggestion. Some teachers are keen on guiding you through visualizations but I prefer to observe and not actively shape. Ideally, we 'deal' with that which presents itself, instead of creating or adding more layers.

[Unseeking Seeker]

Originally Posted by Uma

Hello Unseeking Seeker,

I couldn't agree more and that's what I am aiming for - moment-to-moment meditation, meditation as a way of being.

However.........easier said than done, right?

I think that, for most of us, a sitting meditation practice compliments this or supports this by eliminating many of the more difficult distractions we meet with in life - such as challenging relationships with people and dealing with difficult situations.

And then dealing with the other distractions - body, mind, ego. One step at a time building that inner muscle strength to be able to grasp the hand of the Divine that is ever reaching out to hold and carry us.

What do you think?

Namaste
Uma

***

The interruption of a meditational orientation is nothing other than indulgence or stagnation in an ego driven activity. Which means ... please freely do whatever we please ... from sex to ice cream ... but do not stagnate anywhere, at least beyond the duration of that activity. If we think about it ... more than the passing fleeting thought after we are done, we are stagnating.

Anticipating the future (fear/desire) or dwelling in the past (attachment) is a no-no unless it is a humorous 10 seconds with the knowing that we are deliberately behaving like a clown in a circus.

No sooner we try to meditate, the self defeating proposition of our doing is evident. We are here and say ‘no! I want to go there’. Applaudable as a first move but after that unless the fulcrum of our consciousness shifts to make divine connectedness the all in utmost reflexive sincerity, it would signal that we are still enmeshed in ephemerality. Which again is fine but then, first we need to weed out the blockage from the root.

It’s a slow process but who is in a hurry. If we are in haste, then again, which aspect of us as a doer or seeker has that sense of urgency and for what?

In other words, meditation as a part time activity we have slotted our in our daily routine has validity only if it is that time when in stillness we merely quietly slither deeper within than what we already are and were throughout the day (or night).

***

Ridiculous advice, Unseeking Seeker. I’ll take advice of the Saints who all advise seated meditation practice and yes periodic has validity, what planet do you live on? Do you really think that people move from 1 to 100 in one step? Moments of clarity build strength, power, momentum.

I guess it also depends on lifestyle. Maybe for someone who has nothing to do they can count flowers all day, but it’s in the hustle and bustle that true Dhammic strength is tested, refined, embellished and finally brought to full fruition.

So yes, seated scheduled periodic meditation is important - as any practitioner / teacher will tell you...

Jl

[Unseeking Seeker]

Originally Posted by janielee

Ridiculous advice, Unseeking Seeker. I’ll take advice of the Saints who all advise seated meditation practice and yes periodic has validity, what planet do you live on? Do you really think that people move from 1 to 100 in one step? Moments of clarity build strength, power, momentum.

I guess it also depends on lifestyle. Maybe for someone who has nothing to do they can count flowers all day, but it’s in the hustle and bustle that true Dhammic strength is tested, refined, embellished and finally brought to full fruition.

So yes, seated scheduled periodic meditation is important - as any practitioner / teacher will tell you...

Jl

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Whatever works for you, my dear!

***

[Miss Hepburn]

Yes, diet, ie, mild foods, light eating help so much. We don't want to be soaring into
galaxies of bliss and burp up garlic and hot peppers.

Brings ya right down to body awareness!!! LOL!!!

[Unseeking Seeker]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

Would you explain stagnating as you mean it here?
I'm not getting what you're saying.

Sitting in meditation,
for a few moments to get (more) connected to your center -
stopping an ego driven activity for a moment is a good thing, is it not?

***

Hi Miss H!

What I’m saying is simply this ... our attention flows. It flows where our priority lies. We do not have to consciously work towards an activity we enjoy. However, for the most of us, such activity is in the external ephemeral.

Now, having voluntarily self realised that enduring joy can only be found in the internal eternal, our priority on where our attention dwells should shift. However, life not quite being black & white, we tend to stagnate in old habit patterns.

In as of my own experience, continuous contemplative consciousness correction steers us inwards. Layer by layer. Unless we cheerfully choose to change, a forced meditation is but a chore.

Sure. Meditation, even if as a ritual helps but in a limited way. I hold the view that our very orientation itself should be meditational. This would mean that it is our default position, relaxed and easy, free flowing in the now continuum. We then call upon thought to perform our daily activities and that too subject to frequent review so that the fulcrum of our consciousness shifts.

Speaking as of my experience, I would affirm that meditation is simply orienting or positioning our consciousness to magnetically induce Divine energy to connect with us. As such, there is nothing we can do ... all being a Divine grace, be it the oneness experience in the void or kundalini rising and then igniting in the heart centre or whatever. Our only doing is in allowing. Devoid of resistance. That would mean as much disassociation from the mind-body as we are able. Which means that our priority must shift. If priority shifts, meditation is our default orientation. Our natural state of being. Just like breathing.

Now, having gotten to this, being mostly meditational, stagnation may be said to be indulgence in old habit patterns rooted in transience. So, whilst we may engage, we should seamlessness disengage easily.

Coming to meditation as a doing ... sure, once we have shifted as such, we sit quietly, doing nothing, simply accentuating our inner silence by distancing ourselves even from memory drawn imagery anticipation. We just let go and be. The Divine energy does all the doing.We just have a burning yearning to connect. This yearning, if only occurring when the alarm rings or a pop up reminder in the phone comes on won’t do. Which is why meditation ought to be our naturally flowing state of being.

And no ... such an orientation does not impede daily life. On the contrary, we are always centred.

What I have said is not conjectural. It is as of my life I’m living. Yet, this sharing in no way assumes to suggest that all follow this path.

***

[peteyzen]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

WHAT a great idea for a thread, Uma!! Way to go!
Now, I will tell more later maybe about 'things' that help...
but my very first thought went right to my center...I want God.
I adore God. The Love that comes from God, (don't wanna say 'Him' exactly),
is SO fulfilling, is so the thing that allows me to be filled and feeling wonderful, 'that' alone is what 'helps' me meditate.

It's like asking,"What makes you want to come home to your puppy?"
What makes you want to come home to the one you love?"
The love, cuddling,the feeling you get...you love the feeeeeeling.

Getting centered in the Divine Presence is like a vacation to the beach; laying in the Sun,
soaking up the warmth, listening to the waves, smelling the fresh sea air...it's just the BEST!
It's like a hot water bottle and a cuddly blanket on a cold evening.

Being immersed in, surrounded by , enveloped by His Divine Presence
is 'it' - the reason we're here, not 'here', but why we exist...forever, wherever we are
in whatever form...it is to love and be loved by Him...
whatever comes after, comes after - serving, for example.
Meditation is the bomb.
.......
Other things, preparation you ask - being healthy, feeling great in a completely
comfortable position to forget the body.
Thoughts? If you must have any thought at all - Let it be,
"I know You're there." "I'm here...I will wait...:) I know You're there."
Why would anyone want to observe thoughts!
Meditation is letting go of thoughts, hahahah! Going beyond thought.

Best meditation? Any long meditation - hours and hours and hours...that is when the magic happens!
That's when I am taken to another Zone of experiences, (think like profound NDEs).
That is when God Himself comes -
and suddenly, bam, becoming instantly breathless as He unfolds whatever He does, says
to you whatever He does and that I just can't talk
about anymore, unless it's to my best spiritual friend in private.

This, this is it.