What are the easiest ways to learn to meditate?
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You should really try this method called Sahaja Yoga:\n\nhttp://www.sahajayoga.org\n\nYou can start at home, by doing the experience described under "Experience it now!", while sitting in front of your computer.\n\nThe method is not really meant to be practiced by yourself, so it would be best to attend classes, which are always open to the public and free of charge:\n\nhttp://www.sahajayoga.org/worldwidecontacts/default.asp\n\nIf you would like to start practicing it, but still think you cannot attend classes, there are more internet resources you could use. Feel free to contact me and I'll tell you what you can do.
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Try this method:\n\nhttp://www.sahajayoga.org/experienceitnow/default.asp\n\nSee also the answer I gave you to your other question on meditation centres in Nigeria. Getting to a centre will surely improve your experience.\n\nGood luck!
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In meditation, we try to develop wisdom, learn to observe our own mind, decrease negative mind states and develop positive mind states. To develop wisdom and insight, we need a calm, clear and concentrated mind. To observe our own mind, we need to develop a kind of inner "spy" - a part of our attention that checks our state of mind. To decrease negative mind states we need to understand where they come from and transform them into positive energy with the wisdom developed from observing our own mind. To develop positive mind states, we need to focus away from selfishness and again develop wisdom by observing our own mind.\nAs you may realise from the above, we should actually become our own psychologist, or like the title of a booklet by Lama Yeshe: "Becoming Your Own Therapist".\n\nIn order to find the right state of mind for meditation, we need concentration instead of being scattered, and clarity of mind instead of dullness. We need to observe our own thoughts and mind states instead of getting lost in emotions or becoming prejudiced. We need to be honest towards ourselves instead of fooling ourselves and walk away from unpleasant problems. Furthermore, we need to be patient (one does not become a meditation master over night), generate self-acceptance, confidence and enthusiasm to make the mind peaceful.\nAll these factors need to be in balance: we need to be somewhat relaxed as well as concentrated, we need to avoid both sleepiness and excitement. \n\nIn Buddhism, the continuum of the mind has no beginning or end but changes moment by moment.\n\nthat said, meditation alone don't bring enlightenment.
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Breath in very slowly\nTake as much air as your lungs will hold.\nHold this air for as long as you can.\nRelease the air slowly.\n\nYou will find that you will calm down with the breathing exercise.  While simple, it really does work.\n\nHave a lovely rest of the day.
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You can get peace by doing meditation. In meditation there is tremendous peace and relaxation and joy. It gives you freedom from daily worries , makes you a more loving person and more at ease with yourself. \nBut in-order to get these benefits you will need to first go into meditation. \nI am giving below a few sources from where you can know a lot of meditation techniques and try them . This list is in no way exhaustive , i'm sure there may be a lot more websites available also, but these websites will get you started on the righ course - \n\nhttp://www.lifepositive.com/Spirit/meditation/meditation-techniques.asp\n\nhttp://www.kriyayoga.com/english/on_your_wings/meditation.htm\n\nhttp://www.feedback.nildram.co.uk/richardebbs/meditation/meditationindex.htm\n\n\nI am quoting a few lines from one of the above sites just to give you an idea of what they contain - \n\n    "  The simplest form of concentrative meditation is to sit quietly and focus the attention on the breath. Yoga and meditation practitioners believe that there is a direct correlation between one's breath and one's state of the mind. For example, when a person is anxious, frightened, agitated, or distracted, the breath tends to get shallow, rapid, and uneven. On the other hand, when the mind is calm, focused, and composed, the breath is slow, deep, and regular. Focusing the mind on the continuous rhythm of inhalation and exhalation provides a natural object of meditation. As you focus your awareness on the breath, your mind becomes absorbed in the rhythm of inhalation and exhalation. As a result, your breathing will become slower and deeper, and the mind becomes more tranquil and aware.  "
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Meditation... Towards a Stress Free Life \n \n\nMeditation: What it is !!!  \nAn ordinary person may consider meditation as a worship or prayer. But it is not so. Meditation means awareness. Whatever you do with awareness is meditation. "Watching your breath" is meditation; listening to the birds is meditation. As long as these activities are free from any other distraction to the mind, it is effective meditation.\n\nMeditation is not a technique but a way of life. Meditation means 'to join together or to yoke' . It describes a state of consciousness, when the mind is free of scattered thoughts and various patterns . The observer (one who is doing meditation) realizes that all the activity of the mind is reduced to one.\n\nA Tibetan Lama was being monitored on a brain scan machine by a scientist wishing to test physiological functions during deep meditation. The scientist said - "Very good Sir. The machine shows that you are able to go very deep in brain relaxation, and that validates your meditation". "No", said the Lama, "This (pointing to his brain) validates the machine!".\n\nThese days it is commonly understood to mean some form of spiritual practice where one sits down with eyes closed and empties the mind to attain inner peace, relaxation or even an experience of God. Some people use the term as "my gardening is my meditation" or for jogging or art or music, hence creating confusion or misunderstanding.\n\nThe word meditation, is derived from two Latin words : meditari(to think, to dwell upon, to exercise the mind) and mederi (to heal). Its Sanskrit derivation 'medha' means wisdom.\n\nMany years ago meditation was considered something just not meant for modern people, but now it has become very popular with all types of people. Published scientific and medical evidence has proved its benefits, but it still needs to be much understood.\n\nTraditionally, the classical yoga texts, describe that to attain true states of meditation one must go through several stages. After the necessary preparation of personal and social code, physical position, breath control, and relaxation come the more advanced stages of concentration, contemplation, and then ultimately absorption. But that does not mean that one must perfect any one stage before moving onto the next. The Integral yoga approach is simultaneous application of a little of all stages together.\n\nCommonly today, people can mean any one of these stages when they refer to the term meditation. Some schools only teach concentration techniques, some relaxation, and others teach free form contemplative activities like just sitting and awaiting absorption. Some call it meditation without giving credence to yoga for fear of being branded 'eastern'. But yoga is not something eastern or western as it is universal in its approach and application.\n\nWith regular practice of a balanced series of techniques, the energy of the body and mind can be liberated and the quality of consciousness can be expanded. This is not a subjective claim but is now being investigated by the scientists and being shown by an empirical fact.
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Come closer to religion. Meditate regularly like five times a day and see the difference. thats the best way believe me it works. lot of people tried it.
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1) Millions of people feel and experience the same things so try not to feel as if you are defective and alone. The qualifier is: how much do these situation affect your life, small, medium or huge problem? \n\n2) Your reaching out, that is the best thing to do. However, the net probably is not the best place to do so. (even though you have run into me)\n\n3) Find a professional to talk to. Call a hot-line. Family and friends are OK but many times are more harmful than helpful. It is important to be able to express yourself in a safe environment.\n\n4) Meditation can be extremely effective if practiced enough. Done everyday for a month (5 minutes) and the steps will become automatic. Then when faced with something stressful taking a deep breath will calm you. (it is that simple)\n\n5) You DESERVE to feel better about yourself.
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Meditation is a wonderful thing.  \n\nPrayer is always good.
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I would highly recommend a 10-day vipassana meditation course (http://www.dhamma.org/vipassan.htm ) if you can get the time off.  I think it's definitely worth it, so keep it in mind.\n\nIt's very intense, over 10 hours of meditation a day for 10 days, complete silence (except with the teachers), and guidance instructions basically broken up into hour-chunks.  It might seem intimidating but it's very doable and you just need to have the intention to do it.\n\nAlso it's non-sectarian, anyone can practice it, and it's free from any dogma, blind belief, etc.\n\nAlso (again) the courses are free, by donation only, and no recommended or forced donation.  Even the room and board are provided, because past students have found it to be beneficial so it's supported entirely by donation.\n\nVery intense but since it's so rigorous most people see distinct benefits after only 10 days.
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1. Breathe. Yes! It's that simple. Breathe deeply, but don't hyperventilate. Inhale as though you were sniffing a delightful scent. Then stre-e-e-tch your arms high over your head as you slowly and completely exhale.\n\n2. Set boundaries. Just like the stressed-out mom who sat in the playpen to keep away from the children, you can erect some barriers. Decide what you will do — and when. Better still, decide what you won't do and dare to say "no." Try to avoid anything, and anyone, who wastes your time.\n\n3. Clarify your goals. Decide exactly what needs to be done, and plan a smart way of accomplishing each task. Oh, and give yourself a pat on the back every time you achieve even one of your goals, no matter how small.\n\n4. Put yourself first. That's right! If you aren't functioning at your peak, your work and your relationships will suffer. Find time for yourself, and try to do at least one relaxing thing each day: Take a bubble bath, or read a chapter of a favourite book.\n\n5. Give yourself a break. It's okay to goof off, cancel a lunch date, or miss a deadline now and then. In six months or 10 years, who will remember?\n\n6. Get spiritual. Get in touch with your spiritual values, and align your plans and activities with them. For instance, read an inspiring book, then figure out how to incorporate what you learned into your day-to-day life.\n\n7. Take five. Right now stop what you are doing to cherish the moment. Savour whatever you're drinking or eating. Or go outside and smell the air, the flowers and the trees. Feel the wind, sunshine or rain on your face. Listen for tiny sounds. Take a moment every day to marvel at the wonders all around you.
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Try some relaxation exercises. Meditation and relaxation exercises usually work better than expected. Learn some new breathing techniques. Deep belly breathing and 3 part breathing are very relaxing. \n\nBasically what you need to do is tighten you rentire body and release, then start with your legs one at a time and lift them an inch off the floor, tighten and release, letting them drop. Go through each body part including head. Tighten and release.\nFocus on nothing but your breath. In through the nose, fill entire belly to the bottom, and out the mouth.\nEach time you breath in fill your entire belly with air all the way down when you release the air, let it all out. Each time you exhale you are going to focus on making the exhale longer than the inhale was count if you would like. Think of nothing. Push all thoughts out. When you have a thought banish it. You will sink deeper and deeper into relaxation until you accidentally fall asleep. \n\nThis generally will put you to sleep before very long at all.\n\n3 part breathing is done by breathing into (filling)the abdomon first, then the belly then the chest, fill each one after another. It helps to place your hand on each to feel what you are doing at first. \n\nHere is a deviation of the first one from dr. weil\nhttp://www.drweil.com/u/Article/M116/\nand another promising site:\nhttp://www.breath.org/mountainwind/tips01.htm\n\nThere are countless ways of doing these. Find what works for you. Do a search of breathing exercises or yogic breathing (Pranayama) or meditation. All these can be very helpful.\n\nBest of luck to you. Get some rest!!
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Chad the whole aim of meditation is,\n  1. to calm your mind, and\n  2. to focus the mind on one thing.\n\nIf you sit down and close your eyes you will notice that your mind is jumping from one thought to another. Even though you want to concentrate on your breath you will find other thoughts also coming in between.\n\nIn learning to meditate you must first learn to calm your mind. You do this by following every thought that comes into you mind. You must be like a Manager of a Hotel who stands at the entrance and observes the customers coming in.  Without getting attached to the thoughts try to observe them. You will find that a thought comes in and that it goes nowhere and another thought follows it - try following that too - with same results. This way you will find that your thoughts gradually subside.\n\nOf course do not expect results in one or two days. Practise it for at least 40 minutes every day for at least 2 months you find that you have 'killed' your train of thoughts. I have practised for 1 1/2 years but still vagrant thoughts come in.  The whole idea is to silence the mind.\n\nThereafter start concentrating on your breath. Notice the breath coming in and going out. You should not concentrate only on the tip of your nose. Notice the breath coming in and thereafter your lungs getting filled and then gradually exhaling the breath.\n\nYou should be able to get some guidance from the following sites,\n\n1. www.dhamma.org/vipassan.htm\n2. www.meditationexpert.com and click on the free articles on yoga meditation - it includes articles on all types of meditations including christian and muslim meditat
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Challenge yourself with new things and couple them with the familiar. Meditatation is good, try it in the woods next time or by a waterfall. Also, think, study and live! Always new experiences.
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Yoga and meditation, relax urself and pls no anxiety and tensions
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there are many many kinds of meditation. i'm doing pure concentration meditation, designed to quieten and clear the mind so that i can use it to look deeply, to see what's going on in my mind, and develop mindfulness & insgight. its a difficult form of meditation @ the beginning, but it's well worth becoming competent in. it forms an ideal foundation for further practice in the future, and it's also very conducive to a happy, stable life in the present.\nchoose a suitable place in your home where you can practice meditation uninterrupted. it needs to be quiet, not too bright, and out of sight of other people.\nonce you found the spot, find a good firm cushion, so that you can sit cross-legged, having something to cushion your ankle.\nto start, sit down on your cushion, sitting towards the front of it so that your body is sloped very slightly forward. experience will show you the optimum position. fold your legs so that your knees & ankles are touching the floor. the important thing is to have a good straight back & reasonably comfortable legs, so that your pgysicaly energy isn't blocked. place your 2 hands in your lap, palms up, one on top of the other.\nonce sitting there, wriggle a little bit to find an effortlessly comfortable position for your back & arms. you don't want to feel tension anywhere. then you can begin.\ntake a breath, hold it for a moment, then let it out gently. pause for a moment, then take the next breath. again hold it for a moment, and let it out again. do this for 10 breaths. once you've got the rhythmn, start to count your breaths. a breath is a complete cycle-- in, hold, out, hold- and most meditators find it better to count towards the end of a cycle rather than @ the beginning. in other words, you are counting complete breaths. simply count 1 to 10 in this way. when you've reached 10, start again. if your mind wanders and you lost the count, start again from one.\ndo this for 10mins @ a time for a week or so. when you are ready, increase your sitting time to 20mins. you can do it anytime, but most people do it regularly @ the beginning of the day & @ the end of the day.\nthis is all there is to it, and @ first you'll wonder why on earth you are doing it. your mind will wander, you'll probably feel twitchy, and you'll be bored. but persevere. ther's absolutely nothing better than this for calming the mins & opening mental doors that you never knew were there.\nwhat comes after this? once you've got to a stage where you can follow your breaths effortlessly, so that you can say, 10-20mins, and not lose count even once, you'll be ready for the next stage. in this, you start to observe the contents of your mind. you'll still be using the method of following your nreaths, but now, beacause of the concentration you've already developed, you'll be able to add in a new activity. it's not possible to do this until you've gained control of your mind. \n\n2nd stage:\nThis is called "Vipassana" meditation, which means "insight" meditation.  It's a practice where you develop mindfulness of your own mind.  This is the most popular form of meditation among Westerners because it's very practical and really, really helpful.  The main way in which it helps you is to show you what's arising in your mind almost before it arises.  That way you become master of mental states like anger and attachment and so on instead of them becoming master of you, because you never saw them creeping up until they were right there, completely occupying your mind.  Mental states can occupying your mind in the same way an occupying army of soldiers becomes firmly entrenched in the country they've been sent to occupy.  By the time the local people realize what's happened they can't do anything about the occupying force -- they just have to live with the misery.  When a meditator becomes adept at Vipassana meditation, menta
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instead of seeking some "professional"'s help with hypnosis, why not "hypnotize" y'self for free?  how?\n\nmeditate.  think it's hard?  it is SO not!  sit alone in a quiet room and just relax.  find yourself.  you might feel silly at first, but that's fine--no-one is watching you.  visualize y'self being calm and collected.  even practice talking if you want, but do it slowly and calmly.\n\n(there's more to meditation than just sitting with good posture and chanting "ohhhhhmmmmmmmm"..  it's the mindset y'go in with...  and come out with.  with that in mind, painting can thus become a meditation.. as can dance, jogging, laying down, or to heck with that!  sit with good posture and chant om!  oh, and don't worry if you can't clear your mind y'first time out.  it may take a few sessions to finish flushing out y'brain!)\n\n:)