a good meditation question...

[osuperu]

hey guys...i have never meditated outside of the dojo 30 sec or so before and after...(where i can never seen to think about nothing and relax in that time)

i was wondering if anyone uses music when they meditate at home..or where ever?

i hope its not a stupid question. Its just that i dont know how i can even close my eyes and focus on one thing, or, a harder area: totally free mind of everything for a few minutes!

i do listen to music a lot and it does relax, and calm me down(classical guitar)

So does anyone use music?

Or if this is a no no...does anyone have some personal tips on meditating?

i dont google on how to meditate because the majority of those are trying to sell you the right way..and you guys are just honest feedback

thanks!

[Cobosan]

I dont actually meditate a lot but i can tell you what helps me a lot before I do my baduajin and yinyang exercises. Afcourse it must be dark ( if its sunny we make it dark ) I light up a candle that , in a dark room , takes all the attention and in the background I play an Oliver Shanti CD ( 15 Years Sattva music ). It takes about 5 minutes of heavy breathing ( nose in motuh out afcourse - with the help of colours afcourse ) and my mind is set.

Although I am fairly new to the world of martial arts in both spiritual and phisical aspect, I can already feel things that my master said most practicants feel when they have been practicing for a long time. I believe that without propper relaxation of the mind as of the body you cannot achieve this state.

p.s.: my favourite Oliver Shanti - Bodishattva Child ( album Tibetiya )

Cobosan

[fangshi]

There is really no wrong way . If your mind and body are calm and relaxed , than that is effective meditation. People have been using sounds and or music in one form or another for millenia .

Many martial artists put too much emphasis on the ZEN way . Yes it is amazing and wonderful but it is also amazingly difficult . Imagine running at a full sprint , then just come to a dead stop . What happens ? Do you fall ? Would it be easier to slow to a jog than a walk than stop ? In this day and age our minds are forced to work at that full out sprint . Is it best to suddenly jump into Zazen ? Do you fall ?

My suggestion to you is to keep doing what you are doing until you can focus on only the music , a totally relaxed , calm and focused state . Then turn your focus inwards . Follow breath or heartbeat .