meditation experiences

[mccoist]

hello people
my interests are buddhism and meditaion
i starting this tread just to hear people comments and experiences when they meditate
even the diffferent types of meditation
i usually go to chat room but i feel i am boring people and just taking up their time lol
i intend to just write away my own experiences etc and see what people think
hopefully it will benefit others
mccoist

[mccoist]

Hello chatters readers

My experience to share with you is that on sat 26 nov I meditated all day with a lay buddhist teacher who is very kind and runs meditation practice. The day was supposed to be a day of meditative silence.
After about 20 mins of meditating which was fine my body began to ache and for the rest of the day struggled immensely.

I was not meditating on anything specific ,but teacher later in chat pointed out that this was tension axiety ,other stuff coming to the surface. it made for an interesting day. On reflection it was for me a fruitful day,with many lessons.

The first being and having a good guide who pointed out the following
what was happening the anxiety tension and stuff coming to the surface
the fact i was 50 plus so would have a lifetime of stuff in which i need to deal with.

That i was in the company of very experienced meditators this would trigger the depth and focus of my meditation. To stick with it for the day,. I seem to have grasped a better understanding emptyness and form,how thoughts come and go, and feel much more at home with the idea of everything.

Please if reading this reflect that thisis my experience,and I have recored it the best I can. Now two days later i just want to share my thoughts and experience from that day.

Please comment.
mccoist

[monkey100]

Seems very interesting mccoist. So nice to have experienced people to help us along. I agree to it being deeper with experienced meditators most times.

[mccoist]

In a world crammed with to-do lists, unread emails and incessantly ringing cell phones, it’s no wonder that we’re continually on the hunt for inner peace—or any peace for that matter. If you find yourself exhausted and disconnected, you’re not alone. Many people are turning to a regular meditation practice to achieve a sense of calm and well-being. Meditation can give you the strength and balance to get through even the toughest days.

Meditation is an ancient practice, a way of focusing your mind in order to become more aware and to achieve a higher state of consciousness. While meditation is commonly thought of as a spiritual practice because of its roots in eastern religions, it can be practiced by anyone who wants more peace and balance in his or her life.

You may be interested in learning to meditate, but think it’s not “you.” Rest assured that everyone from stay-at-home moms to Wall Street titans find it a helpful practice. You may also have concerns about entering into a “spiritual” practice if you are not a religious person. Meditation does not require you to adopt a particular faith, or any faith at all. If you’re ready to open yourself up to the possibility, meditation can help you find inner calm within the turmoil of daily life. With practice, you can experience greater peace at work, home and even while sitting in traffic or waiting on line for your morning latte.

During your first days of exploring meditation, you can expect to learn more about the practice itself, find some resources to help you try it and maybe even experience greater calm, a feeling of more peace and more self acceptance. All these outcomes are reported by those who meditate frequently.

[jesusrose]

Thank you for sharing your experience mccoist. For me, I have been finding lately that I am in the midst of purging negativity. Meditation is helping me to lift the fog and to see clearly. I tend to fall asleep during meditation and then off I go dreaming someplace. I haven't progressed much further than that but i daydream a lot - which isn't officially meditation but that's where I am at at this point.

[mccoist]

thank you for reply rose
pleased to chat with you again
i have been advised if i feel sleepy to raise my gaze and head
This usually works
i find a brisk walk where i try to meditate or at least be silent helps me with the daydream bit
I am almost immediatly meditating when i sit afterward.

[mccoist]

hello just a quick little note
i have beeen trying to meditate daily from 2100, to 2200
gmt,i am posting this as if like me you find group meditation easier
this will give you a comforting thought that others are meditating also.
The god light meditators will be active worldwide,

[mccoist]

i have had the pleasure of being able to meditate quiet alot recently
I hae been giving consideration to the many aspects of buddhism and realise it is hard to have an overall view or understanding of buddhism,[for me anyway]. But today i considered karma ,causes and conditions.
What karma is and how it operates
Thia is why i labelled this message cynical. Unfortunately we had a little drama of a family type what it was was of no interests but what caught me was that the drama even though it was nothing to do with me ,it was a family thing ,I was drawn into it.
The next day I was still thinking about this drama and even this message is a consequence of this drama, I considered the kama and considered the causes and conditions.
I could see or pick up where in times past karmas from causes and conditions had returned to me.
I then considerd how I should deal with this, and even I find my resolution suprising,
The Karma from previous actions was just that karma ,but it was my actions through ignorance desires etc which created this wave of karma and made it toxic, which was so toxic to me, Now the fruit of this karma had returned to me and was doing quiet well .
I considerd all this and decided that I had to take respnsibility for this and decided now this karma is mine ,for which i will take responsibilty.
Now I have the chance to take this karma meditate on my actions and removing the toxicity of it through recognising my past indiscretion release it as good karmathus in some ways learning and and setting free good karma,
I now in my limited way have an understaning of karma and cause and conditions, this has opened up in me a view which give sme great hope and a new way of approaching understanding the drams in life,
please respond if this little tale is of any use to you
love and light mccoist

[sparklekaz]

Hello Mcc..

Don't you just love how daily life and our interactions with others, provide us with the fuel for some good old introspection.

I love how you describe your thought processes and how you arrived at certain conclusions. Thoughts like this when begun, seem to take on a life of their own don't they. You tap into your higher mind and it just runs with it.

I find karma quite complex. I used to wonder, if the affects of bad karma are worse when we are 'aware' and commit misdeeds knowing the possible consequences of our actions, as apposed to committing them out of ignorance and fear. I totally agree with you that its important to take responsibility for everything we do. So I guess if I tried to justify certain transgressions being done out of ignorance was what I doing, trying to 'get out of' that responsibility.

I found it interesting that in accepting responsibility you were able to remove the toxicity of it. I would appreciate you explaining more about that. In what way you felt it was toxic too you? and how do you feel it has helped you to view any other drama's or difficult life choices you might have to make in the future?

Thank you again for sharing Mcc, its lovely to be able to share your journey with you.

Love and light
Kaz

[mccoist]

I will try sparkles to explain my understanding of karma and how it returned to me as toxic,my expression for it.
A drama erupted in my immediate family ,my sister and her kids and i had to get involved,it involved the usual drinking arguments and police.
I noticed in this how first of all considering conditions and actions how this came about by considering the various personalities and the nature of the drama. I noticed how venomous people were being towards each other their ego etc. Then it occur ed to me how all this drama was now being played out in my thoughts my mind ,like even now as i write this this is karma fruit from their and mine from previous actions which i have to resolve or feel i have to resolve in my action my thoughts and indeed in my home as my wife kids etc are now involved also in the drama.
When I considered this I realized that the karma was only karma it was just a collection of conditions and actions which was just toxic to me in my life,the karma itself was neither good nor bad ,but to me they were toxic bad if you like.I also realized that Even if the karma was created in ignorance it is still my karma,results of my actions,
I also noticed that these were the same toughts actions conditions which until recently I had spread about the place,as we generate these thoughts actions i felt like i had been here before and this was fruit toxic fruit returning to me.
In someways the karma thoughts recognized me and returned.
This is where I felt this way of observing thinking thoughts pays off a little,
I recognized the thoughts ideas for what they were and instead of now entering into the drama and further allowing and fostering future toxic ideas thoughts I took responsibility for them.
I now use them in meditation practice as an object of meditation ,from where now my actions regarding this drama karma thoughts are now viewed from a position of calmness and I allowed wisdom to rule my actions which is good karma,so in the future only good karma can return to me. I am trying to deal with this drama in a compassionate thoughtful and if i can loving manner.
I hope I have got to the nub of this for you.
I considered this with the Buddhist ideals on karma and causes and conditions , each part helped me understand the other part
I can add more if you like and try explain karma from a different view
or my understanding of karma.
One last bit karma is neither good nor bad it is just a result of causes and conditions ,.what is good karma to you may be toxic to me ,so in others words neither good nor bad ,but bad karma will reorganize where it can be fruitful IE recognize people where it can reap a good harvest,and is attracted to this fertile home

[sparklekaz]

Dear Mcc..

Thank you for that explanation, you put it very well.

The way in which we play out experiences in our mind or think on them when we meditate though is not the same as when we are 'in the thick of it' so to speak. Though I do agree, that if one has given this a lot of thought and already you have stopped 'reacting' to situations and mentally taken a step back. Sometimes, things do happen that trigger off a 'anger' or 'emotional' response.

I congratulate myself on having gained composure and control when in trying situations, and then out of the blue, something will catch me completely unawares and I then revert back to my old emotional way of responding. I could kick myself afterward and feel so disappointed in 'me'. I often think its only in the slowness of old age, that we learn. mainly because our reactions are not as quick..lol

Having said that, I do feel I have learned a lot through my own introspection. Spending times quietly and in isolation can do this for you. But its only when we are among others, whose behavior is so unpredictable are we truly tested.

I am sorry about your New Year drama. I am sure you could have done without that. Sadly drink loosens people's inhibitions as well as their tongues. Good and bad we can see the extremes of nature. The problem with your situation was down to the drink flowing. Unless you have a tea total house, I can't see that changing. Maybe the key is to know who to avoid inviting round for a get together..

Families hey.. who'd have them, but we love them warts and all don't we, as they do us.

Thank you for sharing this with me.

Love and light
Kaz

[mccoist]

Silence or being Silent is a conversation
this is one of those i would say interesting thought idea i had during my meditation walk
I have been considering this for the last few days
just curious if anybody has anything to add
In silence we are truly conversating with life
No thoughts ideas etc to interfere with just being
mccoist
please reply if you have acomment

[mccoist]

hello good people
I am in the process of trying to understanding karma
In the process of this I know now i must meditate on Equanimity . My meditation has me led to a place where now i have an undertanding of karma I have reacted or I have felt or see my own personality.
I am looking at how I react and even how I effect the world around me wheter it is just thought actions habits desires
Karma is such a subtle idea,something neither good or bad just karma.
Please anyone reading and wants to discuss please reply

[sparklekaz]

Dear Mcc..

I have thought about karma a lot and found your comments very interesting.

My understanding of karma is that action creates karma. Even subtle thoughts can affect our behaviour and interaction with others and so creating more karma good and bad. Its a little worrying really how easily we can create karmic situations.

I know people would say, if we always act and think in a spiritual way, then we wouldn't have anything to worry about. But life is rarely straight forward, and even with the best of intentions we do sometimes react emotionally. A moment of haste, impatience, anger or frustration causing an accumulation of more bad karma.

I do like to think that for the most part human beings are decent loving kind people. That in the great balance sheet of life, the pro's = good karma will outweigh the con's = bad karma. There is a school of thought that says that the people who are born into very difficult lives, either by the way they are treated or because of chronic illness or disability, have chosen those lives, to increase the opportunity for growth, for themselves and others. Thus creating good karma and to hasten their progress toward enlightenment. What do you think mcc?

In many ways the subject of karma is straightforward in others so very complicated.

Love and light
Kaz

[n1cky]

hi mcc..i spent about 20 minutes composing a post about karma and equanimity then i forgot that my computer was going to restart to upload new software..bit late now to rewrite it all..but in short to say find posts interesting and will endeavour to meditate occasionally at the same time :-)
will post my full message at another time when its not so late in the eve...

[mccoist]

hello fellow meditators
I have been away for a while from godlight
I have been practicing as usual but some habits
need to be considered to be dealt with
and chat was not really helpful
Lately I have been considering contemplating serious illness and death
I will understand if people do not want to read on but
both these things are immediate issues in my life
I have been watching the onset of parkinsons disease in somebody very close to me
I never realised how this effects a person
basically your physical body fails you even though your mind is perfect
I would wellcome any vhat considerations etc in this matter

[mccoist]

hello two post in one day
Somehow chat room not working for me no more
i taking this to be a consequece of my meditation
I really do enjoy the silence which meditation has helped me become aware of and which has entered my life
I as a practice now contempate wher emy thoughts arise from and depart to also i give consideration to the content of my thoughts
this in some ways is a humerous practice when you see how many banal and just inconsequentsial
alot of my thoughts are
another consequence of my meditation is that i now do not dwell on a particular thought so if i have bad thought which i do not like i let it go and also the same with goodthoughts
take care readers and pleae post replies
mccoist

[monkey100]

Well, I think that is a wonderful way to meditate and achieve greater awareness. If I were to give a meditation practice and had only one choice, that would be it. I have practiced it before as well.

It is well to contemplate death at times. Facing the fears and the unknown such an event brings.
I do not have much to say about illness, I guess it depends what you make of it and what you learn from it.

[anando]

Hi, all you need to do is the Eightfold Path, nothing more and nothing less. Read the Dighanikayo, the longer collection of PaliCanon and you will find out.

[n1cky]

Hi Mccoist

As a meditator your posts have helped me see that others are thinking of similar thoughts to me. I mainly practice mindfulness and tantric. It is fasinating for me to see how family patterns (I was always the scapegoat in my family) play out. I have also considered death..firstly as a practice as we are impermanent and could die any time, therefore emphasisng the importance of practice and in the foundation practice and then more recently with my own diagnosis of an illness. someone in the chat room very wisely discussed life being as one moment followed by another moment and that death is but a moment. There are many moments before that. The body I feel is linked with the soul but is the carrier.

The mind is linked with the body but is not the same too. In terms of death and meditation enlightenment comes when in the death bardo we recognise our enlightned nature. This nature is always with us in life but we cannot recognise it at a deep enough level. Thought I would post some thoughts in response to your meditation experiences mcoist. Curious to hear your views and insights. Nicky

[mccoist]

Hello Godlighters
I have come back to my old fav subject meditation
my lack of writing was mainly due to really having nothing to say
My meditation practice has now prgressed nicely
Some new reading has also helped and the feeling of being immersed in dharma is overtaking me
look foward to some replies
Book i am reading is called the ISLAND
Avery indepth book on buddhism
for karen i began at page 55 THE TERRAIN.
this explains the nuts bolts of buddhism

[mccoist]

Hello Godlighters
A new post
Nice to see the chat room up and running nicely again
I feel like I am a fisher man looking to see if we can get topic
moving again.
I was asked a question how and what is buddhism
This is an interesting question to ask yourself
Try it out
Mccoist

[spiral]

Iv had bad experiances of karma with meditation too, i hide my personal changes from others around me and looked up energy and noticed that the violet chakra is ment to my field, outter field, which protects me, if that makes scense, i use mind for example to block out anxiety from being strartled, also i noticed a change in my energy in my stomach and chest, its warmer than before, as when i meditated before i get cool waves, now they are warm and sometimes shockingly fast up the chakras, but i dont let it over power my thinking, i just let go and feel the warmth or burn and fade untill i have to deal with energy another day, 
also i have become more sensitive to sound light and movement, which makes it hard to relax, but easier if its asmr, which is atounomous sensory meridian response, relaxation videos to trigger tingles and a calmer state of mind, its helped alot and makes me think more about our scenses, 
ok im going to leave my experiance here for now untill i can somehow make sense of bringing sense into meditation and how karma effects those emotions and how they effect our energy and feelings.

[spiral]

I may let people get into my imagination, change things about, and i dont want that, but it happens, i changed well before i was 16 and didnt effect me, i couldnt effect myself, those where not consequences, i was oblivious to thae fact that i gained no feeling from my mistakes when i was younger, only time i had feelings was when i noticed someone noticed me and seen i had something different about me because of my oblivious change, i was very distracted as a kid and deeply interested in geetting deep with my desires, desire was not phased by anyone, i loved that feeling of not being conspired againsts as a kid, but makes me think, have i done this to myself, or did i open up for no reason and now i let others opinionate me, either to change me or to not change a thing.