I've always been interested in the idea of hypnosis and naturally reachable alternative states of mind. Being able to control yourself to a greater degree than others and also reduce stress and all that seems to be a good deal for a small price.
So...
Who here meditates regularly? Does it produce a noticable effect in you? What technique do you use?
I just started last week, and am doing the following:
I sit down, clear my mind. After 2-3 minutes, I start to focus on simple, clear positive thoughts. I maintain this for a while, then return to basic repeating mantra like "I can" or "peace." I do a few more moments of concentrated positivity.
^^
Posted by Soara (Member # 6729) on :
My dad has meditated every morning since he was eighteen. He usually does it for a half an hour or so, when he wakes up. He says that if he doesn't get a chance to meditate, he has a really crappy day.
I know he sits on a little cushion on the floor. He sits in a kneeling position, the cushion under him, so his legs don't fall asleep. I don't know too much about his thought process during the meditation, though.
There's probably a meditation center/group around you somewhere. My dad attends one called Mindful Way. You could probably find something like that.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
And here I excitedly opened this thread expecting to see something about Descartes . Oh well.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I don't meditate regularly, but I do practice self-hypnosis.
Posted by Luet13 (Member # 9274) on :
I wish I meditated more. It has a calming effect. When I meditate, I focus on Lord Ganesha, and contemplate his physical and tempermental qualities. Finding something peaceful to contemplate is key. Also finding a time where there is silence, which is hard for me because I live in a city where there is constant noise.
I know that many yoga studios offer meditation seminars and classes. There are also Kirtans, which are chanting sessions that can be very relaxing too. Good luck on your road to inner peace.
Posted by Elmer's Glue (Member # 9313) on :
I think long term medication is bad. Doctors don't know everyting. Medicine can have many harmful side affects. If it isn't medically necessary, like, a heart condition, you should try to not take medicine.
Posted by Luet13 (Member # 9274) on :
quote:Originally posted by Elmer's Glue: I think long term medication is bad. Doctors don't know everyting. Medicine can have many harmful side affects. If it isn't medically necessary, like, a heart condition, you should try to not take medicine.
Um, I think this thread is about MediTAtion, not mediCAtion.
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
Interesting to see the responses ^^.
Meditation has so far been a positive experience. Maybe it's combined with the fact that I've decided to make a determined effort to improve my quality of life, but I feel like things are indeed better to a degree, and that I'm more relaxed.
Of course, this may be a placebo effect --> but isn't the whole point of meditation to achieve a mental effect?
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I use meditation 2 ways.
1: as a means to seriously figure out a solution to a problem that has proven inordinately difficult. Calming myself and working through all the options works really well.
more importantly
2: As a means to calm overpowering emotions such as fear, anger, anxiety. I have a resentment for acting while under the influence of emotion. I think my low moments in life have always followed allowing my emotions to governm my actions.
It works quite well for me, if I do it early as a reflex I can usually halt the progression of say fear, and push it out while I focus on what needs to get done.
Sometimes Ill be half asleep and suddenly be seized by feelings of fear and dispair (It started when I was about 19 and I have no explanation for it). Its paralyzingly horrifying to be perfectly honest. My mind gets flooded with terrifying images. The blast of adrenaline wakes me up but the feelings and images remain. I respond by channeling all my thought into shifting the track of those images into something soothing or if I am having particular trouble, into something that is at least harmless.
Dunno if anybody else has this problem, I still do not understand it fully.
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
I used to use self-hypnosis to fall asleep, if I had a lot of stuff on my mind keeping me alert. On at least two occasions I found it impossible to wake up, even though I was aware of an imperative reason that I should. It was kind of scary both times. I've found that a clear conscience works almost as well as a sleep aid, and has fewer side effects.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
I go to a dark calm spot. I get as physically comfortable as possible. I close my eyes and try to breathe, in through the nose, out throught he mouth. Soon, I am snoring.
Actually, try this excercise. I sit quietly alone and try to expand my awareness out. I don't mean I become the room or send my conciousness out of my body. Instead I take inventory of those things around me in as detailed a fashion as possible. For example, I know a wall is next to me. I picture the wall, not as a wall, but as all the components that make up the wall, the paint, the plaster, the drywall, the wooden or steel braces, the electrical conduits running through it, the wire in the conduit, the flowing or stagnent electrical current held in the wires, etc etc.
Posted by Will B (Member # 7931) on :
That's interesting, BlackBlade. I do self-hypnosis for exactly those reasons: to explore an issue and to calm stress.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
. Oh well.