Meditation (with & without weed)

[mrblonde77]

Just wondering if anybody on here meditates on a decently regular basis. If so if you have any articles or any websites that I could look at to start, or if you have any literature that explains how to do it and such, that'd be great. Also, if this applies, how does weed help/interfere with your meditations. This is something I've pondered trying to do and just wanted some opinions and insight. Thanks in advance.

[odds]

Meditation is a fantastic, natural tool. I've only had one experience with meditation and cannabis combined, but I can introduce you to to the basics of meditation. First of all, find a comfortable, yet non-drowsy position that you can sustain for at least 15-20 minutes. Close your eyes, and focus all of your attention upon your breath. As you inhale, imagine the breath traveling from outside of your body to the inside. Imagine and feel the breath literally heal and massage each and every cell in your body. As you exhale, focus on the feeling of it leaving your body.

At first, your mind will be chaotic, confusing and overloaded with thoughts. Many wise Buddhists and Hindus compare the untrained mind to an untamed, drunk, rabid monkey. Seriously. However, as you progress deeper into yourself, you will find that the mind will become increasingly stable and serene.

Most importantly, try and be open. Don't expect anything to happen-- just breathe in the present moment.

Here's a nice article about what meditation isn't:

http://www.vipassana.com/meditation/..._english_4.php

[Rabidbaboon]

Okay, well first you should learn some things that are meditation related. A good vocabulary makes a good understanding.

Qi/Chi/Ki is your internal energy, it's what helps your sustain life, and keep you healthy. You Qi flows in streams, somewhat like veins, but these are all non physical. Your Qi entery and exits your body at all places, but there are certain places where high amounts of Qi are released and taken in. These are called Chakras, and your main chakra is about to finger widths below your belly button. This is known as the Dan Tien.

Buddhist breathing is the form of breathing you almost always want to have while in meditation. When inhaling inflate your stomache not your chest, this makes for deeper, slower breathes, and helps your Qi flow smoothly.

Mudra is the position your hands take while in meditation. A common on is to lay one hand on top of the other with thumbnails touching. Like so:http://mathforum.org/~richard/pix/mudra.jpg

Sutra is what you say while meditating, but that's not till later, and more Buddhist related, though sutra can be anything.

Now here are some things you should focus on meditation make yourself healthier, and gain insight (the two main reasons for meditation). Your breath is key, most beginning meditations will have you focus on breathe. This helps you quiet your mind, so as you have full control over it. Proper posture helps your flow of Qi, and benefit of meditation. It's not often realized, but what posture you have greatly impacts your feelings. When you sitting criss crossed on the ground your feel humble, when standing, with arms crossed you feel important (I can't tell you what you feel when in what posture, but those are examples). Remember to sit criss-crossed (If you can sit in the lotus position it's even better) your arms relaxed, hand in whichever mudra you choose, or relaxed on your knees, back straight, and chin slightly down (about 10 degrees).

Okay now for a meditation technique (Odds is a good meditation that really helps your health). One of the first things you want to do with meditation is have complete control over your mind. A good meditation for this is too count up to 10. Each time you exhale count up. Not only count in your mind but imagine a picture of the number. The object of this is to do nothing but count, don't let your mind focus on one other thing. It'll be hard at first but get easier. Eventually you'll be able to do it with no distractions, and it's a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you know that your able to think about one thing and nothing else for a sustained time.

I've tried meditating while high and it softens your mind up, things are more clouded, and it's harder to focus.

But it does seem much easier to Astral Project while high. I think this is because drugs help seperate your etheral body from your physical, and which is (from my experience) why you feel more spiritual/philisophical. When your seperated from your physical body, and no longer in your plane, your mind has alot more freedom.

[MelT]

Am I allowed a mention mods? They asked...

I've written a book about meditation, with and without cannabis, which came out a coupleof months ago, it's got some decent reivews. Can't say the title as I've mentioned it before, but if you were to google "cannabis & meditation"+jackson you would see it. Or go to www.myspace.com/marijuanameditation

MelT

[chronictoker]

I just started sitting one day...and tried to transport my mind to different places.

[Bukley]

I try to everyday, but sometimes I cant because it can get hard.
Read "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle
It'll explain everything and more.

Also read up on Osho, he was a philosopher(sp?) that was always high on nitrous back in Asia..I could go on and on but its 4 o clock

[castaneda]

one thing I know for sure about meditation is that doesn't have to be complicated

meditation can be just sitting

A long time ago I read that and was perplexed. But if find yourself wound a little tight, just try sitting and doing nothing else. You're mind is going to keep doing stuff, but you may become more comfortable with that by allowing yourself to deal with your usually uncomfortable stuff. Meditation to me means taking a time out to be and do nothing.

I've got friends who are "experts" in this. But doing it the "right" way and trying to be the way of the professional meditator can be an obstacle to meditation.


MelT, congratz on your book, sounds interesting!

[MelT]

Originally Posted by castaneda

one thing I know for sure about meditation is that doesn't have to be complicated

meditation can be just sitting

A long time ago I read that and was perplexed. But if find yourself wound a little tight, just try sitting and doing nothing else. You're mind is going to keep doing stuff, but you may become more comfortable with that by allowing yourself to deal with your usually uncomfortable stuff. Meditation to me means taking a time out to be and do nothing.

I've got friends who are "experts" in this. But doing it the "right" way and trying to be the way of the professional meditator can be an obstacle to meditation.

Thanks for the congratz

What you say above is the absolute crux of meditation. The key is that you can't make muddy water clear by stirring it. Doing nothing, in the right way, is the correct way to achieve clarity.

MelT

[MelT]

MODS!!! I just gave Castaneda above +rep and I saw one square disappear from his display as I did it. Did I press the wrong button? The 'thanks for adding to the rep' banner came up? Can I arrange to reverse what I've done and +rep him?

MelT

[castaneda]

lol, I wondered what I did to piss you off. Your comment was "THIS is real meditation" and I thought you were implying that what I do isn't.

Pretty funny. Don't worry about it, we'll work it out.

Going along with your comment about not stirring the water: I long time ago I learned the hard way not to act when in doubt. Learn the same thing on a smaller scale day to day, but it's got to be a shared truth that changing things up radically isn't always the way. Shifts in perspective without doing or changing much of anything has got to be the general rule.

Cheers

[mrblonde77]

Great comments so far thanks for your imput. Maybe I've meditated before without conciously knowing I was meditating becuase sometimes I just relax and play with my senses by really really really concentrating on my sense of feel. I try to relax every single muscle in my body and just concentrate on how it feels because it feels cool hahah. This is definitely something I want to get into more. I think the reason I haven't done it before is because I've been brought up Catholic, attending Catholic schools my whole life. The Catholic religion doesn't talk about meditation really. Another reason is I (still?) thought that meditation is directly connected to religion, which is an enormous misunderstanding.

[Rabidbaboon]

That's probably the biggest misunderstanding most people have about meditation. Is that christians pray, and Buddhists meditate.

Meditation may have spawned from eastern philosophy and spirituality, but it benefits anyone and everyone, no matter what ethnic background.

[CH3VELLE]

Originally Posted by Rabidbaboon

That's probably the biggest misunderstanding most people have about meditation. Is that christians pray, and Buddhists meditate.

Meditation may have spawned from eastern philosophy and spirituality, but it benefits anyone and everyone, no matter what ethnic background.

very well said man.