What is Meditation

@Decadian

I didn't see the show but to me meditation is being in the now. Just being whether it's sitting or lying down; it's breathing and noticing where you are right now. Not thinking about yesterday or tomorrow.

For me when I do mindfulness meditation I can be in the garden watering and I notice what I am doing, looking at the plants, hearing the noises of the birds, breathing the fresh air etc etc.

Or I could be on my yoga mat laying down and slow breathing, concentrating on my breaths.

Not sure if this is making any sense at all; hope it does 🙂

Thanks @BlueBay

That makes perfect sense -

I think I am practising being in the now - I like to listen to the wind, hear the rain, stare at the sky - I have taken a lot of pics of clouds - and changed the colours in some of them.

It's peaceful to listen to the planes flying overhead from Moorabblin Airport and hear people talking and walking around looking for signs of spring

And waiting for the spring - waiting for the birds to start the Dawn Creation - the first time I hear it I will let people know - and listening to the birds in spring is really beautiful

I find meditation when it's important is not helpful to me - or pleasant - but it is good to know if it works for other people - I do practise breathing and concentrating on that - it helps my back pain - quite a bit

Thanks @BlueBay

Decadian

@utopia

I am beginning to see that experiencing life in the moment and absorbing the world around me through my skin even seems to be what other people are doing

When I wrote that meditation is not important - that was not what I meant - I meant that clearing my mind was not helpful - but fixing on an idea or a moment - I love just listening to the wind

And breathing really works - I like to breathe in for 3 - hold for three, breathe out for three, and hold for 3 - and this is a different pattern - I was taught something else - but this one works

It's important to work out what works

Maybe it's a bit different as we get older - that throught process that we learned earlier in our lives that worked then is still serving us - if it works - good

But most of us can still learn new things

Decadian

I did not see the catalyst program @Decadian

But I like your attitude to it. I started courses that included meditation when I was about 24. It has been both good for me and not sufficient to help with the torrent of my grief. Then I did a little Tai Chi. I didnt stick with the forms, but found active mediation good. Then I realised I had always been a meditator when I went for walks.

I still go back to different forms, but my favourite is gardening too ... was out peacefully weeding tonight as the sun set.

@Appleblossom@utopia

It seems that people find their own way to do pretty much the same thing - to set aside the rough world and find a place in nature to see and feel, smell and hear - this beautiful world of nature - and it is with nature that we can be close to God or whatever it is that people believe in

My rear courtyard used to be full of vines - but the Body Corporate in the units where I live and those next door insisted that these all be cut back - and now I don't have my little eco-system of critturs I used to look for in these vines - there were so many - some as fine and delicate as a lace-wing and others a bit more agressive and confronting - yeah - possums - messy little buggers

In 1993 I drove a hire-car though Tasmania in the middle of winter - and not knowing where I was going I drove from Deloraine to Bothwell - and after a short time I found the road to be unsealed and there was snow from horizon to horizon - an unbelievable blue sky and the lakes reflecting it - it was special - and dangerous - there was black ice on the road and I could not get above 5 - 10 Km/h - and I prayed a lot

And when I got to Bothwell - it is an historical village - I couldn't get lunch there - but still - I stood there and gave thanks - for that was among my best moments - I will never forget that day and that drive and years later I flew over the Great Central Plateau on my way to my cousin's funeral - and I saw that road from the sky - and it was the middle of winter again - and those memories have more power now - for the good - for the beauty and thankgiving

Maybe we can share these moments - sometimes a whole day - or more - when we were right inside nature and saw the hand of God in all creation

I have had some wonderful times in this chaotic life of mine - stuff I never want to forget - ever

Decadian

@Cazchri

I agree - there is more than one way to find this state where we can allow memories to enter our mind and either let them go for the moment or concentrate of them - really stare into the barrell as it were

Decadian