Meditation advice for beginners?

I really want to start meditation. I've done it in the past for a few days but never got into the habit of it.

The only problem is that I find it really hard to relax. And I'm not so good at visualising stuff in my head. There's so many different meditation techniques that I don't know what ones to try :(

I just want something that will relax me mainly physically, but also mentally.

If anyone has any advice, tips or meditation techniques then please post on here or pm me :)

Hello,
The best mediation I know is "The Aum Mantra Meditation": http://www.the-third-circle.com/nfmedi3.html#aumn . It is very relaxing the mind and body -- and much more than relaxing.

[ThoughtOnFire]

Since it's Relaxation you seek, I suggest Meditative Music. Here are some I actually just found on youtube. Choose which one fits you best or search further for something you like.

Zen Garden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVeCx0bM7Xg

Ancient Egyptian Meditation Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_whW3gwAi4

Native American Indian Spirit of Meditation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeBw_atUkoo

Forest Raindrops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_WeybKZLJA

Rain And Thunder Storm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lj1oFE0YB8

Hare Krishna!

Originally from songbirds............

"Meditation advice for beginners?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I really want to start meditation. I've done it in the past for a few days but never got into the habit of it.

The only problem is that I find it really hard to relax. And I'm not so good at visualising stuff in my head. There's so many different meditation techniques that I don't know what ones to try :(

I just want something that will relax me mainly physically, but also mentally.

If anyone has any advice, tips or meditation techniques then please post on here or pm me :)
.................................................. .................................................. ...

Dear songbirds,

Please relax. Everybody, all of us, once stood at the position where you are today. Nothing happens in a day, and achieving something like successful meditation is like building a city of Rome which was not built in a day.

If you are sincere and love doing meditation you shall undoubtedly succeed. To begin with, here are a few points which might be useful for you.

Please -

1.Do not try to visualize anything and concentrate upon, that will make you tired and bored.
2.Sit in any comfortable posture, keep your eyes either open or closed.
3.Keep breathing normally and do not do experiments. No focus on your breath.
4.Give a blank look forward with your eyes closed or open.
5.Thoughts will keep coming one after the other, do not give any notice or attach any importance to those. Be indifferent and neglect those thoughts and keep your look ahead totally blank.
6.Do not want to see or hear anything, if you see or hear anything, just ignore them.
7.Dear Joshua G said it, please try and chant 'AUM' without a break. It is the best mantra to give you results in the shortest possible time.
8.If you do not like the idea of chanting any mantra, it is alright. Just sit quietly trying to slowly make your mind still and blank.
9.Do not try too hard. As you feel uncomfortable stop the practice.

Very soon you will find how easy it is to meditate.

With love and best wishes,

SM

Originally Posted by Joshua_G

Hello,
The best mediation I know is "The Aum Mantra Meditation": http://www.the-third-circle.com/nfmedi3.html#aumn . It is very relaxing the mind and body -- and much more than relaxing.

Thank you :) for some reason I've never really resonated with mantras, but I'll give this a go one day and see how I feel.

Originally Posted by ThoughtOnFire

Since it's Relaxation you seek, I suggest Meditative Music. Here are some I actually just found on youtube. Choose which one fits you best or search further for something you like.

Zen Garden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVeCx0bM7Xg

Ancient Egyptian Meditation Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_whW3gwAi4

Native American Indian Spirit of Meditation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeBw_atUkoo

Forest Raindrops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_WeybKZLJA

Rain And Thunder Storm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lj1oFE0YB8

Aww thanks some of these are really nice I love the sound of rain and thunderstorms.

Originally Posted by storymaker

Hare Krishna!

Originally from songbirds............

"Meditation advice for beginners?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I really want to start meditation. I've done it in the past for a few days but never got into the habit of it.

The only problem is that I find it really hard to relax. And I'm not so good at visualising stuff in my head. There's so many different meditation techniques that I don't know what ones to try :(

I just want something that will relax me mainly physically, but also mentally.

If anyone has any advice, tips or meditation techniques then please post on here or pm me :)
.................................................. .................................................. ...

Dear songbirds,

Please relax. Everybody, all of us, once stood at the position where you are today. Nothing happens in a day, and achieving something like successful meditation is like building a city of Rome which was not built in a day.

If you are sincere and love doing meditation you shall undoubtedly succeed. To begin with, here are a few points which might be useful for you.

Please -

1.Do not try to visualize anything and concentrate upon, that will make you tired and bored.
2.Sit in any comfortable posture, keep your eyes either open or closed.
3.Keep breathing normally and do not do experiments. No focus on your breath.
4.Give a blank look forward with your eyes closed or open.
5.Thoughts will keep coming one after the other, do not give any notice or attach any importance to those. Be indifferent and neglect those thoughts and keep your look ahead totally blank.
6.Do not want to see or hear anything, if you see or hear anything, just ignore them.
7.Dear Joshua G said it, please try and chant 'AUM' without a break. It is the best mantra to give you results in the shortest possible time.
8.If you do not like the idea of chanting any mantra, it is alright. Just sit quietly trying to slowly make your mind still and blank.
9.Do not try too hard. As you feel uncomfortable stop the practice.

Very soon you will find how easy it is to meditate.

With love and best wishes,

SM

Right, I think I will give this one a go first. Seems quite basic and easy to do and remember so thank you :) will get back to you soon!

Originally Posted by Songbirds

Thank you :) for some reason I've never really resonated with mantras, but I'll give this a go one day and see how I feel.

Best is to follow your inner inclinations. A mantra isn't mandatory, there is a mediation which is as good as one I suggested earlier, which doesn't use mantra: http://www.the-third-circle.com/nfmedi2.html#silencen .

[Xan]

Songbirds... You've just begun to practice meditation so give yourself time to learn to relax into it.

Also, visualization is not an important part of meditation, which is really about becoming aware in your inner self.

Here's another suggestion for a simple non-mantra meditation practice you might like to try:

Three Steps into your true nature - http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/showthread.php?p=32551#post32551


blessings
Xan

[vicky3619]

Thanks everyone for the links I will also try them :)

I' ve been down the road your on... so it's nice for to be able to look back and help you ... I was just like you what I came to realize is you have to find one spot you can escape to...for me it is my bathtub with jets in my bathroom which is in my bedroom. This is where I go when i'm stressed to sit and just really let your thoughts run freely... let them come then let them go... don't fight anything... Accept what's on your mind it will pass. This is the step I have to go through first and foremost to be able to spend the rest of my time relaxing. The big thing is I have one place to escsape to and I do not leave until I feel my mind is focused and thinking straight with all scrambly thoughts smoothed out.

Originally Posted by arian9

… to sit and just really let your thoughts run freely... let them come then let them go... don't fight anything... Accept what's on your mind it will pass. …

A very good approach.