There is no right or wrong way to meditate; though I'm sure many would disagree. I personally don't think you need anything special -- no mat or outfit or music will make any difference if you aren't in the right space/focus. There is nothing you need to think about or "see"; or not "see". Simply get comfortable (not so much that you fall asleep - though that wouldn't be "bad") -- but sleeping would mean you didn't meditate; you slept instead LOL! Sleeping is good, but not the point of meditation ;)
WHAT DO I DO?
When I first started meditating I thought I needed to clear my mind and be totally blank. Perhaps I figured the point of meditation was to disappear and be a statue; I've discovered that's not exactly how it works. I found that stillness is good but not necessarily in the physical sense, and clearing your mind is good but not in the manner I supposed.
THE MIND
The mind is like your own personal computer. However, we sadly seem to be acting like computers; with our little hand held devices. Similar to the manner in which we extend our focus to the modern machines, we don't allow our "personal computer brain" a moment in the off position. Everyone is holding some little machine! Cell phones, iPADs, Blackberry, PC, Mac, PSP, gidgit, gadget, radiation -- focus is always in the on position; brain (computer) always running. So meditation would appear as though you should just shut off, but I think it's more of a reboot -- a clearing, a reset, a pause.
HOW TO TRY & SUCCEED
Straining to clear your mind is really the opposite of clearing your mind -- you're only making it work more; like emptying the recycle bin on your computer (you're giving it a task, not allowing stillness). Reboot yourself instead. The deeper into meditation you go the harder your boot. LOL! That sounds totally strange considering I'm talking about meditation but I hope it helps make the picture clear.
So your sitting relaxed, and your eyes are closed; a good way to begin. While I begin meditation I focus on my breathing (in through the nose - deeply - into my lower stomach - filling it up - *not my upper chest*). I breathe using only my nose; in and out. If I'm really distracted or preoccupied I'll silently count my breathing (eg. 7 counts in, hold, 7 counts out, hold; repeat *you need not count 7 exactly-do what feels comfortable). This helps my mind let go of the distractions by giving it a mind-task; it loves when you give it something to do! Ego feels important and so it shuts up! LOL!
Then when I'm not agitated or uptight anymore, after a bit of breathing (if necessary, as sometimes I am relaxed to begin with). This is where your mind gets bored and your ego steps up and looks for something to do (it's a little pest!) -- think, worry, debate, consider, analyze, organize -- ego needs to be needed. You can't meditate with your ego, letting it go is the point, it's the noise in your mind (the silence is the quiet ego). Now it's important to anyone that doesn't have any idea what I mean by "ego" to know that the ego does not want to be quieted and will do anything to stop you from shutting it down, including random immature feats of attention getting.
HOW TO QUIET THE EGO
Shut it down. Pay it no attention. Watch it. Converse not with it. Do not answer it. Ignore it, if necessary. My little method or trick is to simply say: "Not right now. Step aside please. I do not need you." Allow yourself permission to do it later. If you forget; who cares! Don't create problems. Simply push everything aside and clear a path to silence. Be still. Just BE. It's ok to listen to the noise around you, observe the cars or the wind or the water; whatever it may be. But do not think about it, just "see" it; observe it; think not about it. Then ask it to step aside. Your 'computer' (your mind) is now off and you still exist; you are not your mind. You sit at the computer, you are the operator. You have control.
NOW WHAT?
Now just relax! Be still, peace, silence, serenity. Enjoy the moment. Breathe deeply -- low stomach; not up chest. I personally have some music, if you can call it that, which I sometimes play in the background; but sometimes it is quiet - no music. There is this one chakra balancing cd I have that really helps bring a stillness into me; I "ohm" while I'm listening to it; matching the tones/frequencies that are circulating as the cd progresses. Time is irrelevant - do it for as long as you want (2 mins, 10 mins, an hour), whatever you want. It's all up to you, it's your time, your space, your light shining, your moment of connection with One. Feel the love :)
Daily Menu (Jan.26/2011)
- Water (throughout the day).
- Green Juice (romaine/spinach/celery/parsley/apple/pear) with adya clarity and chlorella.
- Guacamole (avocado/lemon juice/Himalayan salt/onion/garlic/cumin/spinach/tomato/chlorella) with corn Tortilla chips. -Chocolate Milk Shake (rice milk/soy milk/maple syrup/maca/peanut butter/vanilla/nutmeg/ chlorella/Himalayan salt/cacao. -Snack (tomato/spinach/onion) with a couple corn tortilla chips.
** end **
NOTE: most, if not all, items are organic
Here's a video I made the other day -- making a green juice -- I had a very similar juice this morning. So yummy!
*sings* Here I go a posting, a posting, a posting, oh here I go a posting, a posting we will go LOL!! hhherrrmm ...ya okay! So you're learning that I'm a bit quirky ;) ...weird? ya I'm not "normal" hahah! Anyways!
What is this Blog about?
Well I have a YouTube Channel: MyHealthierMe (www.youtube.com/myhealthierme) where I started a "vlog" about my journey. This led me here to my first blog post - I wonder if most people start out on a blog, and then after start a vlog; does that mean I'm backward? lol
Here's a video I did to show "BEFORE & AFTER" photos:
Ok! So I plan to post recipes, health information and advice from various sources, sources and resources regarding health and wellness, spiritual stuff, and uhmmm ... can't think of anything else but there will be more. I also plan to post the occasional daily menu of what I've eaten, this probably won't be a daily thing. Here is what I've eaten today:
NOTE that most if not all things I eat are organic. I make it a rule to only eat organic corn/soy/potato/peanuts and a few others I can't think of right now. If it's a GMO product I don't buy it 'non-organic'.
Lessons of Late (these will be lessons I've learned lately)
* Today I learned that the ego is simply hilarious and must not be taken seriously. For ego is the mind and the mind is not aware (it's a computer).
** A child does not understand the inner workings of society as you may, yet a child understands with deeper clarity the inner workings of love. Children teach us to hold the love. Society teaches us to fear. Turn off the television and BE in reality. Live! Love.
