What is the easiest way to meditate?

Question

What is the easiest way to meditate?

Answer 1

If you meditate, you give your attention to one thing, and do not think about anything else,

http://home.att.net/~meditation/Meditati...

Answer 2

Sleep is the easiest way to meditate because we do it every night, the ancient Chinese used to use sleep meditation all the time, when a person first starts it is his goal to achieve the state of mind known as a waking dream, when in a waking dream you will be aware that your dreaming but you won't have any control over it at first, after you have had a waking dream you need to start to make a dream journal to keep track of your dreams, after a while you will be able to do Lucid Dreaming and that is just as good as any conventional form of meditation.

Answer 3

Find a clean, quiet, airy, comfortable, uncluttered place and dedicate this spot to meditation-working in the same area builds up a positive energy.



Unplug the phone before starting and lock the door if you think you might be disturbed.

Wear comfortable, loose, clean clothing.

You may want to use something to focus your meditation: this can be an object such as a candle, flower, or a picture, a sound such as a mantra, or ambient music.

Sit in a chair or on the floor with your back supported. Place your arms on your legs with your hands in an open position-this puts you in the right posture.

Devote your whole attention to your point of focus: start with five minutes then gradually increase the time to twenty minutes, if possible.

Do not force your mind to concentrate. Keep it focused but without effort. When thoughts intrude, don't push them away but let them float by. If your mind wanders, return it to its focus, no matter how it escapes.

It's a good idea to meditate at the same time every day-many people choose first thing in the morning, as meditation is usually better on an empty stomach. Meditation last thing at night can just cause you to fall asleep, so find a time that suits you to meditate regularly.

Breathing in the light:

1) work in your meditation room, put on soothing music if it helps. When you are completely calm, turn off the music and concentrate.

2) Direct your conscious awareness onto your breathing and listen attentively.

3) Tune into the ebb and flow of your breath, and gently focus onto this quiet rhythm, so that your entire being is at one with your breathing. Take your time while doing this-you are entering a deep meditative state.

4) Let your breath take you to your inner calm, the "still place within" and consciously breathe that stillness out from the core of your being.

5) Visualize your breathing as ripples on a pond, moving outward in increasingly large circles, or as waves of light radiating from your body.

6) Deliberately hold the energy and keep your focus-don't be tempted to "float away". After awhile, as you breathe, concentrate on the thought that every living thing breathes.

Say to yourself "WE ALL BREATHE IN LIGHT." Now let yourself become completely open to the universal forces of light. Stay with this feeling as long as you like.

7) When you're ready, gently lead your consciousness back into your physical body (paying attention to keeping your feet on the ground)

8) Finally, cross your arms and legs, as an act of closing.

Answer 4

I want results from things,

so I meditate to achieve a goal, that is not how most people do it.

your intent will usually cause to happen what you want.

so, just keep your intent in your mind with no distractions.

example

if you are meditating to calm down, then just think about being relaxed and focused for about 15 min. and that is exactly what you will be.

Answer 5

Sit quietly and count your breaths. Breathe in - breathe out (1) - Breathe in - breathe out (2) and so on.

If you lose count start again.

If your thoughts pull you away pull them gently back to counting.  

Do this for 10-20 minutes at least once a day.

FP

Answer 6

Meditation is simply learning to live in the moment, when nothing distracts you and when you are not tied to the past or anxious about the future. In meditation you become peacefully aware of your real self. The more you use it, the more aware you become. When you learn to live life for each moment, to enjoy and appreciate life to the fullest at that moment, you suddenly become impervious to the myraid of doubts and fears that you've lived with all your life.

While there are many folks that seem to believe their particular mantra has "magical power", it really is the mindfulness that matters. The mantra is just one of the vehicles you can use to get there.

I developed a simple nonsectarian practice, but my background is in Buddhism - specifically Jodo Shinshu (aka Shin) Buddhism, Nichiren Buddhism, and the nonsectarian teachings of the Bright Dawn Institute (aka Kubose Dharma Legacy).

Here is the simple, yet potent, meditation technique that I use with some recommended resources as well. Specific posture does not matter. If you are uncomfortable sitting on the floor, you can sit on a chair with feet flat on the floor.

Since I have medical issues, I do a simple form of secular mindfulness meditation to relieve stress and anxiety. This helps to reduce high blood pressure and the frequency of headaches. It is a practice recommended by my primary licensed physician and is not encumbered by any superstitious nonsense.

I have actually studied a wide variety of religions and paths. Being more musically inclined, I was initially attracted to the practices of Jodo Shinshu (aka Shin Buddhism) and Nichiren Buddhism - with the combination of chanting a rhythmic phrase (Nembutsu or Odaimoku) and/or sutra recitation to a visual object (a scroll of Amida or a Gohonzon). This is a more active form of meditation as compared to the silent form (see below for that). So I decided to create a nonsectarian alternative in that vein. One practice that I find helpful in the vein of the Way of Oneness (the realization of interdependence) is to chant “Be One, Be Peace” in a position of gassho (palms together in front of chest with fingers pointing upward - a traditional gesture of respect) to an object such as a Dharma Wheel or a drawing of enso (a circle) as used in Zen. Five minutes of this every morning before work does wonders for my blood pressure and stress level.

You are more than welcome to use the chant if you think you may find it possibly useful.

I use two forms: “Be One. Be Peace.” for those who prefer a four syllable “mantra” like “Namandabu.” Or “Be One. Be Love. Be Peace.” for those who prefer the pace of a six syllable “mantra” like “Nam(u) Myo-ho Ren-Ge Kyo” or “Na-Mu A-Mi-da Butsu.” People who like (or are drawn) to chant are attracted to the rhythm.

For me, the purpose of any practice is to encourage self-reflection, internalizing this awareness , and wonder/gratitude/awareness of the interdependent forces of the Universe (Dharmakaya - in Shin this is symbolized as Amida Buddha which allows practitioners to perceive these forces as “compassionate” and “caring” thus allowing us to relate to them easier, or as the Gohonzon in Nichiren Buddhism which is a calligraphic representation of the “Ceremony in the Air” from the Lotus Sutra which is also a representation of the interdependent forces of the Universe).

There are a couple of simple techniques for silent meditation as well. You do not have to sit on the floor. You can sit with erect back on a chair. Many people say try for 15 minutes twice a day. I say start with a simpler goal - 5 minutes twice per day. The benefits include stress management and relaxation benefits which help the body, increased mindfulness and focus, and increased energy. The mindfulness can be a benefit to your spiritual life, but meditation also has "non-spiritual" benefits. Here are two easy techniques:

Breathing meditation - 1) Check posture. 2) Close your eyes and relax. 3) Focus on your breath entering and leaving your body. 4) Count breaths mentally one to four. Repeat. 5) Don't fight a wandering mind, but calmly direct it back to task. 6) Sit for a minute afterwards.

"Mantra" technique (choose a personal "calm" word or phrase that you will repeat in your meditation - it can be from your religion or something as simple as "one" or "calm" – I use the nonsectarian “Be One. Be Peace” or “Be One. Be Love. Be Peace.”) - 1) and 2) as above in the Breathing meditation. 3) Listen to your breathing and let it relax you with each breath. 4) Once you are relaxed, mentally "hear" your "calm" word or phrase in your mind. Let it repeat in your mind. 5) Don't fight a wandering mind, but calmly direct it back to task. 6) Sit for a minute afterwards.

That is all there is to these very simple but beneficial meditation techniques. Many people think that something "mystical" should happen during meditation. Most often "nothing" happens and "nothing" should be expected.

Oh yes, and it didn't cost me anything to learn nor were there any "initiations" involved.

Some good resources on "secular" meditation are "The Calm Technique" by Paul Wilson as well as "The Relaxation Response" by Herbert Benson. If you need more formal "assistance" or "training" then I would look into Natural Stress Relief which was founded by former Transcendental Meditation instructors upset at the rising cost and ongoing superstition associated with TM. They charge $47 for their training compared with the $2,500 that TM would charge you.

http://www.naturalstressreliefusa.org/

Also look at these websites on Buddhism on the nonsectarian Bright Dawn teachings which have a heritage of Shin and Zen Buddhism:

http://www.brightdawn.org/

http://www.heartlandsangha.org