I have been meditating for about a year on and off, but lately im practicing more and more because i have more time on my hands. I think that im getting it.

I use breeding techniques and focus on my breeding, Sometimes at night i can sit still and meditate for up to an hour. I focus on my breathing until i loose consentration and then i realise my mind has drifted and im thinking about stuff again i go back to the breathing.

The thing is i dont realy know if im meditating or not, i have never realy had any experiences where i drift out completely, i am always thinking i can never quiet my mind for that long.

So lately i have been reading books and listen to cd's and i now sometimes meditate to the cd's telling a story where i imagine im in a forest and all that stuff, meeting spirit guides and shackra workouts. And now im starting to get confused to what meditation is really about.

My question is am i supposed to be tryin to quieten my mind or imagine im in a forest meeting spirit guides and stuff.

I would realy like to hear other peoples experiences and how they became more spiritually awoken or more enlightened. What teqniques did you use. Love to here it thanks guys.

Also im a serious stoner and im always stoned meditating, is this ok. I dont think i be able to sit there and not be stoned altough im willing to try.

Well, here is some advice I can give you. Breathing is the most important thing you can do while meditating, if nothing else, let this always be the main focus of you concentration while you are sitting. Also, a way to help focus your mind/breathing is to count your breathes 1-10 and back. you can start by counting your inhalations as 1, exhalations 2, inhalations 3...and so on to 10 silently to yourself then back down to 1. AS you advance your inhalations/exhalations will count as 1, While you silently count to youself draw your numbers out too following your breath. like wooonnnnnnnnnn, twooooooooooooooooo, threeeeeeeeeee, and so on.


There are some strict postures also accompanied with different forms of meditating but they are negligible to the fact that you should allow your self to be comfortable and not rigid, however you should envision yourself as being a young prince sitting respectfully, with distinguished royalty, if your can envision that.

There is a significant difference in falling asleep, and the body falling away..... When the body falls away, you are still aware of yourself and surroundings, this is probably what you have been on the brink of.

Also, smoking is a useful tool to spark the higher mind, but when you meditate it like weight training, meaning weed makes you think deeper, but it's usually your lower mind thats doing all the talking drowning out your higher mind. So until you further advance yourself, I would suggest smoking afterwards. It's not impossible to do so, just makes it quiet difficult to nearly impossible while learning without a teacher on hand to correct you.

However, no matter the situation, even if you do, thoughts are not the problem you must conquer, it's attaching yourself to those thoughts, examples: did I lock the door, I need to pick up some groceries too, I wonder if Jane is going to the store

Thoughts will arise on just about any and everything, just let them rise and float on by. Don't try to force yourself into having a blank mind, this is counter productive with what your are trying to achieve.

Also, having a dark, low lighting, quiet room is important in the novice stage as well, but soon with practice it won't matter the conditions, place, or time...Speaking of time always try to meditate at the same times once in the morining and at night, mainly, just be consistent when you do. Also, only 30mins is sufficient but that is something you can work towards as well, sitting for 10-15mins and adding 5mins weekly until you are sitting for a total of 30mins.

So much more I can share but what I have shared should be sufficient enough to help. If possible, before buying anymore books, I would see if there are experienced teachers in your area to take a few lessons from for about 2-4wks, thats really all that is needed to help give you a good starting base, although it is not necessary....

OK, i'm going to stop now

__________________
"He was dead just long enough for the murder rap to blow over. And then he had lunch." - Kujan

Thank you Brazko this info should realy help me. I think as you were saying i was just on the brink of falling away. I can remember about 2 wks ago i was almost just about to fall away and i think the fact i felt like i was falling away i got a little frightened i was loosing control and this stopped me from goin as deep as i could. I just think with practice it will come.

Thank you Great info.

The Mystique of Enlightenment

That's exactly right, it does feel frightening, just don't panic and break your concentration. Press on and you will come to understand the beauty of this event and the great serenity that it promotes.

excerpt from Teachings of A Grand Master by Richard Behrens

When the body falls away, the lower mind, the higher mind, and you are left; When the Lower Mind falls Away, then only the Higher Mind and you are left. And then, when the Higher mind finally falls away, only you are Left!! That is the Miracle.

__________________
"He was dead just long enough for the murder rap to blow over. And then he had lunch." - Kujan

Very, very, Insightful & Helpful... Thanks for Sharing

__________________
"He was dead just long enough for the murder rap to blow over. And then he had lunch." - Kujan

Yes this is a great help to me i can understand it much clearer now thanks guys.

Sorry...I thought it said help with medication..never mind.

I used to get high and turn on the japanese chamber music while doing tai-chi, that always got me there. tai-chi is simplly moving meditation =)

great post! gunna read the whole thing later..

personally ive been taking a yoga+meditation class for about 3 years now.. and it is amazing. it has really changed my life in a very positive way.

Autobiography of a yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda is a LIFE CHANGING book and a must read if your into yoga and/or meditating. im almost done reading it and as soon as im finished im going to read it again and again its that good. and REAL.


first and formost its all about b.a.r.b
balance
alignment
realse tension
breath

once you have done the first 3 you can focus on the breath

anyways.. the advice i can give to you a meditational technique i use that is very simple, easy and effective.

breath in count 1,2,3,4,5
hold for 1,2,3,4,5
exhale 1,2,3,4,5
repeat 5Xtimes

then do it all over with 1,2,3,4,5,6, 6X times etc....

its all about controling the breath. let the thoughts come raging in then just go back to your breath.. you can do it

once you felt the divine moment in meditation where you feel complete.. you will strive to reach it everytime.

Relaxation Response is a great read too if you need the medical/scientific point of veiw.

peace

__________________