Pre meditation preparation for beginners.

[Poly Hedra]

Hey, I'm here to ask if anyone has any info to share. I really want to meditate and to do it properly but I have an issue. When I was younger I could see auras etc. I went to an event MInd body spirit festival, there was a speaker and I could see his aura shining brightly. Afterwards I spoke to him, eventually I met him again and I told him about an OBE and he warned me to be careful because bad things can happen to you. This really freaked me out and I basically became scared of having an OBE again. I have avoided doing meditation because I know I could very likely have an OBE.
I know its silly because I have done enough research myself but I also wonder about the reality of astral travel and if he was right.
I know I could picture white and golden light but I feel nervous. I listen to hypnotherapy though.
This feels like a huge block and its gone on for too long. I feel a very strong urge to meditate but I'm lost.
Any info or tools to help would be gretly appreciated.

[jagman]

I'm interested in the auras. How long did you see them? What colors were they? Do you still see them? If you draw the circle of protection
around yourself while meditating, I think its done in cornmeal or salt you should be alright.

[Selene]

Well, Conec, the first thing to understand is that meditation and an OBE are not the same thing. Not at all. You can meditate for your entire life and never experience an OBE, which is a much more advanced experience. So you needn’t be concerned. I’m sure that whoever gave you that previous advice must have had some kind of misinterpretation or misunderstanding. (And if you do spontaneously experience an OBE during meditation or otherwise, trust me: you’ll be fine, if somewhat astonished!)

If you can already see auras, you will find formal meditation very easy and natural. Your concerns are, actually, largely irrelevant. Meditation is a very gentle and benign experience – so much so that many people miss its implications entirely when they drift through the state spontaneously.

Preparing for meditation, externally, is a matter of setting up your own personal ‘feedback loop’, your own personal physical touchstones or triggers that will help ease your body and mind into the physiological state of meditation. The internal journey will follow according to the meditative technique you use.

This means:

• Prepare a clean, quiet personal space for yourself, in your bedroom, on your deck or balcony, in your walk-in closet or your patio or garden, or … wherever you feel comfortable and safe, without intrusion or distraction for a half-hour or so. No one else need know that you’ve chosen this space for yourself.

• Prepare yourself, using whatever personal rituals or habits appeal to you and suit your lifestyle: a shower or warm bath, changing into clean clothes, washed hands and feet, listening to a favorite piece of music, a run or jog, some yoga postures, or reading a spiritual text…whatever seems conducive to settling your mind and easing your body so you are relaxed and clear. Use this preparation time to leave the external world – and your concerns thereof – behind. This is private, your own time. Close the door on the outside world.

• I don’t advise drugs or alcohol in any way, shape or form – for obvious reasons. Drugs will hijack and override your brain’s natural responses, ultimately making it impossible to experience the natural beauty of your own mind.

• Establish a regular time of day for your meditation. Again, whatever suits you personally: Sunrise? Before work? Late Afternoon? Before bed?

Only you know what suits you, but – once again – a regular schedule or physical format will ultimately work very powerfully in your favor to provide the external cues that will help trigger your body and mind naturally into a meditative state even when you aren’t “feeling up to it…”

Beyond that, depending on the meditative technique you use, a repetitive mantra, a chant, a scent, a piece of music, a physical movement or whatever also will contribute to allowing you to settle in to a meditative state more easily.

After you’ve gained more experience at mediation, you’ll be able to adjust your ‘triggers’ to suit your evolving needs and enter easily into meditation in a variety of environments.

And to the inevitable FAQ:

Q:What is the best meditation technique?

A: The one that you practice consistently.

I hope this is helpful.

Cheers and all my best wishes,

Selene

[Tarka the Duck]

If you're interested in meditation, as opposed to OBE (as Selene says, they are different things), you might find the meditation group on the forum could be helpful. Go to the Groups tab at the top of the page to find it.

[eileenrose]

Why do you want to meditate Conec?

I am confused why anyone would want to. Honestly.
I am awake and I know what is going on. You are trying to get out of your human existence by making it go away (I call it trying to think your way out it). Watching people misunderstand the nature of meditation is sad. But nothing I say seems to change people's mind that they think they are on a self improvement path. Even failure.

When I ask what is the point, they pretend they didn't hear me. People want to feel like that are doing something to improve themselves. Even if it doesn't work out like they planned.

When someone fails completely, is when they start to see their truths. So my ambition is to fail (permanently). It always works (as the human mind can never help...in any way....along self discovery).

[Tony]

Good morning Conec!

The point of meditation is to become familiar with one's absolute true nature.

Why do we meditate? It is a method of seeing clearly, and just being.
We are confused about our true existence.
We have created a fabricated idea about ourselves, which causes negative emotions
to arise when these ideas feel threatened.
These negative emotions are fear, pride, desire, jealousy, anger and ignorance.
Most of our lives, we are controlled by these emotions, believing these thoughts to be us.

Of course, there are 'good' emotions - happiness, joy, contentment. But these can quickly turn into
my happiness, my joy, and my contentment, taking us neatly back to the negative emotions!

The Powers That Be, know how to manipulate this feeling of 'me'!

There are these good qualities, but we cannot claim them as our own.
If we do, we suffer, and so do those around us. However, happiness,
joy, contentment and knowing are qualities of our true nature,
but it is all too easy to twist these qualities into a demonic form, via the ego.
The ego is merely our consciousness clinging to ideas about itself!

We believe that 'things' and an 'acquired self' are real, and must be improved upon.
This is how the mind gets distracted from its original natural state.
Then we mingle it with daily life, this is called conduct.
It is the continuation of the meditation.'mood'.

The outcome is less self desire, more joy and....compassion.

Our true being is: our essence is purity/emptiness, our nature is clarity and our energy is unconfined compassion.

Follow your own impulse.

Tony

[Tarka the Duck]

There has been a lot of work - particularly recently - by neuroscientists investigating the beneficial effect of meditation on the brain. Some of this research is available on the web: here are just a couple of links.

http://www.breathingspacelondon.org.uk/about-Breathing-Space/about-mbas/meditation-research/

http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/104-how-thinking-can-change-the-brain

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110121144007.htm

The Mind Life Institute is also a fascinating resource: one of its aims is to "build a deeper understanding of the mind, combining contemplative traditions with contemporary scientific methods."

http://www.mindandlife.org/about/mission/

Kathie

[Poly Hedra]

A lot of info there, thanks everyone. I've done group meditation before and we were guided by a professional. I found this to be amazingly beneficial. It was twice a week and I felt so good. I am convinced that meditation is worth getting into properly. I understand what is said about OBE's and meditation to be completely different but its that feeling of floating that makes me think about the OBE experience, flaoting and then that buzzing sound before pop out. It was an amazing expereince and I wish I hadn't had that conversation with that man. He put the fear in me.
What do you encounter in the astral really? I read loads of stuff before on an astral travel forum and some of it was quite freaky, people being attacked, followed by astral beings etc. I am also aware of the many positve experiences related to astral travel and that we do it every night when we dream. I wonder if people here could tell me about how to protect myself. Then I think it would be cool to feel happy to practice meditation alone. Because when I was doing the group meditation I felt safe. Thanks for listening. :)

[MariaDine]

Hello Conec :)
Indeed ...like it was mencioned --------OBE and aura reading are not the same thing.
I strongly advise you do a Aura Reading course, like I did with a Reiki Master that also «reads» auras.
And there are many people doing it, so you don't have to be afraid.

http://books.google.pt/books?id=WEXTBQOJGowC&pg=PA101&dq=reading+auras&hl=pt-PT&sa=X&ei=RXNKT83eIseN8gPzr6CnDg&ved=0CD4QuwUwAQ#v=onepage&q=reading%20auras&f=false

The «Rose Meditation» is a basic course that «pre- prepares» anyone who wants to «see« auras.

...bellow mentions, gives a hint ....of the many steps of the course of « The Rose Meditation»

http://www.learn-to-use-psychic-powers.com/clairvoyance.html

There is also an OSHO book about Meditation.

...hope this Info helps...

[MariaDine]

The protection you seek to have during meditation is also, a teaching provided by the teacher when you do the Aura Reading Course.

Be well
Maria

[Poly Hedra]

I feel very prepared now. Ready to go. Thanks everyone.

[Anchor]

Why do you want to meditate Conec?

I am confused why anyone would want to. Honestly.
I am awake and I know what is going on. You are trying to get out of your human existence by making it go away (I call it trying to think your way out it). Watching people misunderstand the nature of meditation is sad. But nothing I say seems to change people's mind that they think they are on a self improvement path. Even failure.

When I ask what is the point, they pretend they didn't hear me. People want to feel like that are doing something to improve themselves. Even if it doesn't work out like they planned.

When someone fails completely, is when they start to see their truths. So my ambition is to fail (permanently). It always works (as the human mind can never help...in any way....along self discovery).


Awesome.

I find myself thrown for a loop.

I both agree and disagree at the same time.

To resolve this paradox I find I have to distil the operation of the intellect and the path of the heart.

These two are not the same.

I will watch these thoughts and follow them.

Hey - how come I am meditating on the actual forum?


---

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

[Tony]

Why do you want to meditate Conec?

I am confused why anyone would want to. Honestly.
I am awake and I know what is going on. You are trying to get out of your human existence by making it go away (I call it trying to think your way out it). Watching people misunderstand the nature of meditation is sad. But nothing I say seems to change people's mind that they think they are on a self improvement path. Even failure.

When I ask what is the point, they pretend they didn't hear me. People want to feel like that are doing something to improve themselves. Even if it doesn't work out like they planned.

When someone fails completely, is when they start to see their truths. So my ambition is to fail (permanently). It always works (as the human mind can never help...in any way....along self discovery).


Awesome.

I find myself thrown for a loop.

I both agree and disagree at the same time.

To resolve this paradox I find I have to distil the operation of the intellect and the path of the heart.

These two are not the same.

I will watch these thoughts and follow them.

Hey - how come I am meditating on the actual forum?


---

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

Dear Anchor,
You are so right ...how does one stop meditating? Even non-meditation is meditating, we are hopeless!

[MariaDine]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-lA6PeGL0k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2yIkDVs0cA&feature=related

[Fundy Gemini]

Ahhhhh - used to LOVE THIS SHOW as a child, and always Loved the flashback to "Masters" teachings...
Thank you for that, I think this will be my guiding thought for today ~~~
(I wonder if there is any compilation of Masters' teachings anywhere?)