Recently, I’ve started to practice meditation. Although I don’t believe in the spiritual side of it, I do think that it can help make you happier and calmer (there have been many studies to this effect).
Anyway, most of the time I just sit in on a chair in my bedroom to meditate. Occasionaly I have sat naked on the floor (quite fun), or sat in different positions around the house.
It was a really nice day today, and I didn’t have much to do (university holidays), so I set off on my bicycle and rode for about half an hour to a reservoir I know. Next to it is a small hill, with a cliff going down to the water. This hill is technically private property, but I’ve never seen anyone up there, and as it’s not used for anything, and so much of England is fenced off, I feel no qualms about using it. I climbed up the hill, took off my shoes so I could sit comfortably cross-legged, and meditated while looking out across the reservoir.
It felt wonderful, all I could hear were the birds and the squirrels, the sun was shining, and I felt very close to nature. I can see myself doing this quite a lot while the weather’s nice.
So do any of you who meditate have anywhere special you do it, or anywhere special you have done it, or do you do it whereever?
Usually in my room, but if a situation calls for me to do it somewhere else, I do. I think the question of indoors vs. outdoors depends on what you want out of meditation. If you are looking for more of a Zen thing, to become only more aware of your surroundings and actions, for calmness and peace, I think outdoors would be more suiting. However, for a more ego-loss/transcending the physical plane indoors would be better, due to lack of distraction. But to each his own right?
I’ve only done it in my room but there sure are a lot of nice flowers outside in my backyard. To tell you the truth, it’s the only backyard in my field of vision that is that nice.
Tomorrow… Tomorrow!
Quite so. I’m going more for the calmness and peace side of it, and outside seems to suit that perfectly.
Go for it, try it sitting outside. It feels great.
It took me ages to find out how. Even though really it’s very simple. For the easiest form (the one I’m practicing at the minute), find somewhere quiet to sit. Sit with your back straight and hands in your lap (or on your legs if it feels more comfortable). You can either shut your eyes, keep them half open or fully open (I normally shut them inside, but had them open when I was outside). Breathe in and out normally (try not to control your breathing), and concentrate on the feeling of your breath going in and out of your nostrils, or in and out of your chest. Concentrate on the breath.
If, as happens to everyone when they start, you start thinking of other things, just concentrate again on your breath.
That’s it!
I wish I lived somewhere like that. Oh well, someday…
This is how Krishna describes meditation in the Bhagavad Gita, and who better to tell you how to meditate than Krishna, right?
(from Chapter 6)
From a non-orthodox Hindu standpoint, in the Gita, Krishna represents the self, rather than being a concrete deity. So to focus on Krishna does not mean to actually think about the blue guy depicted in Hindu art, but to focus on the self, the collective consciousness of mankind, and the loss of ego.
The practice of meditation, in the simplest of terms, is to calm the mind, and to free it from the thoughts that go on continuously in our heads. In Zen philosophy, that is called the roving mind. To quiet it is peace, and one step closer to getting free of desire. Just sit in the most comfortable position you choose, as long as your head, back, and spine are straight,
and calm the mind. Clear it. Focusing on your breathing is helpful. 1…2…1…2…
You know, thats the HUGE thing i love about Norway. In the free nature, everyone can go mainly everywhere. Its lofely One could say I should use it more, and maybe be right, be just the idea of this right, it’s the thing in Norwegian politics and laws that’s just right !
I usually lie flat on my back, on the floor. Hard floor (e.g. marble) and soft floor (e.g. grass), and in a broader sense, the ambient in general make for very different experiences—I believe meditation outdoors becomes, more often than not, a wordless sensory experience; whilst meditation indoors can easily become an immersive emotional experiences around a single stream of thoughts and a little scarce words here and there.
It doesn’t take much, really. You can meditate with the eyes open (doesn’t get you too far, but still), with the eyes closed; in complete silence or surrounded by thought and sound; in the heat or cold; everywhere, anyhow.
My favourite spot to meditate is the grass, under a big tree. The sound of birds singing just above you is elevating.
I just imagined you sitting under that party-tree in the lotr shire now
I walked in the woods a little some days ago. Found a fine rock to sit on
Only problem was the seldom car in the road some 200 meters away or something
Ah, you guys should’ve seen this place in the forest. Nearly a perfect triangle with open space and only blueberry bush thingies. Almost saw crazy cults move there, hehe, would be the perfect spot for a film or something
Don’t just think about indoors versus outdoors, how about walking meditation? The only time that has really gotten me anywhere was the first time I did it, over a year ago after reading about it on a meditation website. That first experience was incredible to say the least, but I’ve never been able to replicate it through walking meditation afterwards. Hmm. That would have to be the only meditation I’ve done outdoors, otherwise I normally meditate while sitting indoors, whether it be in complete darkness in my room past dusk, or perhaps while my room is sun-filled. I’ve also done plenty of meditation during my study hall period in school just to make the day go by a bit smoother.
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And shower meditation! If you haven’t, please give it a try! I find it to be the perfect time to practice mantra meditations.
As far as positioning goes—I’ve sat upright in chairs, walked, sat cross legged on pillows (I’m far too inflexible for the lotus or half-lotus), laid on my back like Bruno, and on one occasion, simply stood in the middle of my room. I think all of these positions are valid in their own rights.
I’ve only meditated outside a couple of times. Each time that I do it I really enjoy it. There is a flat rock at a park near the top of a large hill, people always walk by there though, and disturb me from my meditation. Bahh. In any case, it is enjoyable, and I recommend it to anyone who has the time.
I find it to be the perfect time to practice mantra meditations. 
