For those begining a spiritual experience through meditation...

[Finch]

Hello, Avalonians!

The internet is full of many different ideas of where to start and how to focus the mind and I imagine that it would be very similar on here as each persons experenice is reasonably indvidual.

Having said that :o I was wondering if anyone on here could help give a small guide to meditation from the begining stages and further on, kind of like a beginers guide for people just starting out and finding an information overload in many other places. Or even a few words of advice to novices unsure of direction.

For a few short months now I've been practicing meditation and have been feeling the benefits of clearing my mind from thoughts. Yesterday I caught a glimpse of a place inside myself that was both thrilling and surprising!

Cheers guys!

Finch

[mcaballero]

May I tell my story?

It is my current understanding that you can do two things: you can meditate (train yourself to keep your mind blank), or you can focus your thoughts (attempting to guide them razor sharp as a laser beam).

I personally believe that it is dangerous to meditate. If your mind is blank, you are opening your thoughts to whatever is in your path. I don't like that idea.

I prefer to focus my thoughts on love, on wishing love to others, on wishing love to myself.

Just an example. I am not an active catholic. But today I went into an arabic catholic church here in Buenos Aires, and stayed ten minutes there for prayer. I must say this is the first time in my life I do this at such a place. And I found it a good place. The silence, there was no one, I was not distracted.

I must also say that it is my current belief that the higher power spheres of the catholic church (and very probably of many other churches as well) are corrupt. But that does not mean that everybody in a church is corrupt. I know catholic priests who are an example, and I wish I knew others from other churches, but I am sure you can find them.

I do think there is an international campaign to take people away from spiritual matters. Atheism it is called. I am in no position of advocating or denouncing it, but I have in the recent months changed my views radically, so I am starting to embrace spiritualism.

I would also like to state this opinion of mine to everybody who believes that religion is bad. I am in no way an expert on religious or spiritual matters. But I do believe I can share what I know. It do not have proof, but the word religion might originate in religare, to "re-join" in latin. Taking this assumption, this might mean that once upon a time we were un-joined (separate) and there was a need to re-join people. The question is to what where people being re-joined? It could be to re-join to God, or to re-join among ourselves. I personally like the last interpretation. But I am careful and must say that it is my assumption that religion comes from religare. It could also come from relegere (which means re-read or re-interpret) or religere (to consider thoroughly).

My warmest wishes to all of you,
we are in tough times,
I don't know if we are in toughest time of them all,
if I look at my ancestors (who went throught WW II and WW I) I tend to think I am comparatively in the eden or paradise,
but who knows what will come.

But always keep up the good humor!

Marcos.-

[Anchor]

Here is a link to a thread on this very subforum that covers the basics - a lot of great contributions on this thread - have a read

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?3779-Meditating-simply

[Jake]

Hello, Finch. My experience/practice/understanding of meditation is as follows: Meditation is simply the quieting of your mind while remaining aware of your breathing. The 'monkey chatter' that is racing through your mind will slow as your breathing slows, as long as you remain relaxed. There is ALOT to be said for how much better your connection to your spiritual side opens up when your mind can calm itself.

Another approach is to close your eyes and 'watch' the thoughts fly by, trying not to get entangled in any of them. This approach is consistant with Eckhart Tolles understanding of meditation. Being the 'Watcher'. (see Echart Tolle, The Power of Now.)

You would be surprised how much you are missing out on, because of all of the chatter. With your mind quite (not vaccant) we can comprehend many of the concepts that we would normally have a hard time wrapping our brains around. Concepts like; Time/multidemensionality/reincarnation/energy body constucts, etc... Much easier to contemplate with a clear mind.

Trance is different. I use meditaion as a PLATFORM for trance induction. Trance being, 'mind awake/body asleep'. You can stay focused and aware, as your body goes to 'sleep', and experience different trance states. I use the trance states as a platform for OBE. Others use meditation and trance for other spiritual practices.

Trance is NOT required to meditate.

Meditation is simple and relaxing. Buddhism began as people began to be mindful of their thoughts through meditating. I know that Buddhism is many times referred to as a religion, but i am not sure that I agree.

Moving energy, and awareness of the energy body and its vital flow, is another element to my personal practice. When I move energy while in trance, WHOA!!! Watch out. Some very amazing and intense energy body awareness events including (but not limited to) OBE and Astral Projection.

This is my own opinion based on my own experience and practice. I hope it helps. Jake.

here is a link to another helpful discussion regarding meditation.
http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?3779-Meditating-simply

[Finch]

Thank you for the links and the advice! Theres quite alot to consider but I'm sure a path will show through. Cheers guys!