What do you do when meditating?

[Joecooke007]

I meditate to develop my ki and eventually get it to become tan tien. I will sit outside on the grass and ground myself. I release myself from this world.

 

 

[KickChick]

I follow the "shotochem style of meditation" also! To be able to free the mind of all outside influences and yes to connect with "yourself" ... to be selfish for a few minutes of the day I believe is extremely important especially if you are extending yourself to everthing and everyone else dring your day. It gives you a chance to relax, connect with your feelings ...was it a good day ...do you have time to make it better? I usually come out of it and find that yes, I have neglected something today and either go and give my husband a big kiss or hug my kids tight!

 

 

[Deathcometh]

I just kind of "go blank" you could say.

[Ti-Kwon-Leap]

I dwell in the present moment, develop the flow of energy, cultivate inner awareness, marvel at the miracle of life, contemplate infinity, you know, the usual stuff

[Taikudo-ka]

Hmmm...well particularly with all the Americans on the board, I'm surprized no-one has said they try to get in touch with God while meditating...

 

Have you ever considered it interesting that the prayer/meditation forms of so many cultures are so similar...

 

I even saw a photo of an old Jamaican Rasta Elder from way up in the hills, demonstrating how to meditate/pray correctly, and damned if he wasn't sitting in almost perfect seiza!

[dtstiachi]

I sing a song in my head to pass the time away, or I quote scripture or focus on a passage i am working on memorizing. sometimes I just relax and do ... nothing.

[greenbelt_girl15]

I also go over scripture.It seems to help with trulely understanding when you just sit down and realy think about it instead of going over large amounts each day.Sometimes I practice deep breathing just sitting there feeling God in and around me.The feeling of true peace.

[markusan]

I was taught to meditate to eliminate the "me" or the "I" awareness, so in that way meditation could be seen as the opposite of selfish. Most of the time we see life as it effects us rather than life as it is, so by focusing on one thing, (I use the breath) and training the mind to concentrate on just that one thing (and not that one thing and me) allows a greater clarity.

The wow moment you get from training intensely is just that. Instead of me punching it becomes just punching. Have you ever been so absorbed in a sparring session that you lose awarness of yourself in the fight. How many times have you gone home and discovered a bump or bruise and not been able to remember where it came from.

The daily practice of meditation allows you to duplicate that mental state at will in exactly the same way that practicing your kata allows you to perform them at will.

As for the universality of sitting positions like seiza, lotus, half lotus etc. They provide a three-pointed base to sit on, giving you physical stability and allowing you to meditate on your meditation subject without being distracted by body movement or instability. That body movement and the correction required in a less stable posture immediately makes you think of yourself, how comfortable you are or are not. With practice, as your concentration improves that becomes less of a distraction. That's why for we westerners it is often easier to meditate sitting in a chair to start off, because it is more natural for us. If you try to start in lotus position your mind is thinking "how clever am I sitting in lotus position saying mystical words and being very spiritual!!" rather than just concentrating on the breath or the mantra.