Meditation - one way to get started easily
Someone wrote on a Buddhism list:
Someone:
> I just cant sit still for 10 mins.
> Can anyone suggest what I should do?
Ramon replied:A lot of folks get discouraged because they find sitting still too difficult. And if they do sit still, then they find their mind wandering all over the place. The thing is, you first have to learn to concentrate the mind before you can 'relax' into the wonderful feelings. I've found that if my eyes wander, my mind wanders. So the first thing is to keep the eyes settled on one spot. One easy training method that I use is to stare for five or so seconds at a light source - just a regular low-watt light between - 3 and 5 feet away is fine. I stare for five seconds, then turn away from the light source, close my eyes and concentrate on the after-image, usually a purple oval on my eyelids. I stare at it as it slowly dissolves, which takes about 1 or 2 minutes. As long as I keep my focus on the afterimage, ignoring my thoughts is quite easy. Sometimes I also count my breaths at the same time to 10 and back to zero.
After a while, concentrating the eyes on one spot becomes very easy, and a certain 'feeling' begins to spread from the third eye, the forehead, into the body. It then becomes possible to stay concentrated more or less at any time, and I think this is called 'fixation.' Please, someone, correct me if I am wrong.
There are various levels of concentration described in the classic texts, as well as various levels of fixation. But once fixation becomes permanent, one then can 'relax' away from the object -- in this case the afterimage -- and just learn to unfold deeper and deeper into that feeling that started in the third eye area.
This 'relaxation' is meditation, and again can be described within many different levels. But I believe the 'first jhana'(bliss absorption) begins with that 'certain feeling' in the forehead that gradually spreads into the rest of the body. The main thing is not to just stop on these early levels, but always 'go beyond,' remaining alert and not spacing out.
I watched HH the Dalai Lama live on the tube the other night. I noticed that he blinks about four times more than I do, so I started copying his blinking pattern. It was quite interesting, and I noticed it tended to 'blink away' any random thoughts -- sort of like an eyelid 'thought swatter.' I use it now along with concentrating on an object to begin fixation. Blinking frequently open-eyed keeps the object visible more clearly in three dimensions. Blinking with closed eyes is also interesting, flexing the 'blink muscle' without opening the lids. Doing either type of blinking also helps keep me alert.
Comments are definitely welcome!
"Thanks for everything. I have no complaints whatsoever."
Wavy Gravy's daily response to occurring events of all flavors
Someone:
> I just cant sit still for 10 mins.
> Can anyone suggest what I should do?
Ramon replied:A lot of folks get discouraged because they find sitting still too difficult. And if they do sit still, then they find their mind wandering all over the place. The thing is, you first have to learn to concentrate the mind before you can 'relax' into the wonderful feelings. I've found that if my eyes wander, my mind wanders. So the first thing is to keep the eyes settled on one spot. One easy training method that I use is to stare for five or so seconds at a light source - just a regular low-watt light between - 3 and 5 feet away is fine. I stare for five seconds, then turn away from the light source, close my eyes and concentrate on the after-image, usually a purple oval on my eyelids. I stare at it as it slowly dissolves, which takes about 1 or 2 minutes. As long as I keep my focus on the afterimage, ignoring my thoughts is quite easy. Sometimes I also count my breaths at the same time to 10 and back to zero.
After a while, concentrating the eyes on one spot becomes very easy, and a certain 'feeling' begins to spread from the third eye, the forehead, into the body. It then becomes possible to stay concentrated more or less at any time, and I think this is called 'fixation.' Please, someone, correct me if I am wrong.
There are various levels of concentration described in the classic texts, as well as various levels of fixation. But once fixation becomes permanent, one then can 'relax' away from the object -- in this case the afterimage -- and just learn to unfold deeper and deeper into that feeling that started in the third eye area.
This 'relaxation' is meditation, and again can be described within many different levels. But I believe the 'first jhana'(bliss absorption) begins with that 'certain feeling' in the forehead that gradually spreads into the rest of the body. The main thing is not to just stop on these early levels, but always 'go beyond,' remaining alert and not spacing out.
I watched HH the Dalai Lama live on the tube the other night. I noticed that he blinks about four times more than I do, so I started copying his blinking pattern. It was quite interesting, and I noticed it tended to 'blink away' any random thoughts -- sort of like an eyelid 'thought swatter.' I use it now along with concentrating on an object to begin fixation. Blinking frequently open-eyed keeps the object visible more clearly in three dimensions. Blinking with closed eyes is also interesting, flexing the 'blink muscle' without opening the lids. Doing either type of blinking also helps keep me alert.
Comments are definitely welcome!
"Thanks for everything. I have no complaints whatsoever."
Wavy Gravy's daily response to occurring events of all flavors
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