What are your meditation techniques?

There are many many techniques in meditaiton out there, and I'm curious to know what you guys practice. Meditation basically means "the art of concentration", and there are many things to concentrate on. I've only recently realized this though, and have only experimented with different points of focus as of late. Most people seem to stay with breath meditaiton, which is a great form, but there is so much more to explore.

For instance, a week ago I was having a lot of trouble getting myself motivated to study microeconomics. So I did my first meditaiton straying outside the basics, and meditated on drive (the drive to accomplish things). I started with breath meditation to focus myself, the centered my mind on the concept of being driven. I started to feel this ball of energy behind my solar plexus that seemed to energize my whole being, and by the time I came out of it I had all this energy to get things done. Worked beautifully.

What things do you meditate on? I encourage everybody to describe how to practice their particular skill.

My favorite: Committing to the act. It's one of those things like drinking water where you know it'll have a great effect but the actual act is avoided like your creepy uncle lester.

Otherwise... I like to put my head in wierd positions, and then pretend my vision is like a tv and i'm sitting back in my head watching it theatre style. Like upside down on a detailed rug in the sunlight.

Imagination is very very fun, I can get tranced in to first-person adventures or kung-fu or giant wonderlands, w/e.

I like to attempt kundalini, it started happening on it's own when I woke up, but died down when I decided to stop taking everything so seriously.
It's fun, you can do things with your mind you never thought possible, levitating objects or creating psiballs and stuff. Lot of practice.

Most often, the simple act of increasing joy/euphoria/appreciation is enough for me, I do it until I break into laughter that I can't stop. Afterwards I always feel like I'm five years old again. It's not like theres a single way to do anything, there's so much creative power that as long as your comfortable anything is possible with enough relaxation/focus.

Anyone ever do Watsu?
It's where you trust someone enough to close your eyes and let them take over your body in a pool. They stretch it and swing you and it feels absolutely incredible after you consciously eliminate all tension within the body. I've only had it twice but it was awesome each time. Close to ego-death.

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Originally Posted by Inferius

It's fun, you can do things with your mind you never thought possible, levitating objects or creating psiballs and stuff.

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Does it actually works? Did you make this things by yourself? If so, i would like to know more details...

And Gandalf, i used to do some meditation long ago... right now im too lazy to type it all, but soon i will come back here and explain.

Nice thread, by the way! :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Coelho

Does it actually works? Did you make this things by yourself? If so, i would like to know more details...

And Gandalf, i used to do some meditation long ago... right now im too lazy to type it all, but soon i will come back here and explain.

Nice thread, by the way! :thumbsup:

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They're called Siddhis or siddhus. General powers that start becoming apparent along with an incredibly strong synchronistic enhancement in your life.

I gave up on the psiballs, they take weeks to perfect and I could barely levitate objects after a week of experimentation. Heres a link:
http://www.psipog.net

You read don juan, what he's saying isn't just about the ability to think, but to completely re-wire your brain so that all the bullshit loses it's hold and you can understand everything. There are other worlds. Magic is as real as anything else.
The same electric force in "magic" is running your computer screen right now. It's all the same basic principles of energy.

It's when we idolize and conform to an individual communitory way that we usually stop dead in our progression. The more you allow different algorithms of social consciousness concept to sink in, the easier it is when the that final lock-peice is picked in your brain and a moment of intellectual rapture evolves like a lightning storm.

I use the HeartMath approach to meditation- a breath process- deep breath focusing on the heart as the center- focusing the mind on love and appreciation- breathe in love and exhale appreciation- HeartMath was developed my Doc Childer who is the director of the HeartMath institute in Bolder Creek California- smoking a litte herb helps put the mind and body into a receptive state

They did a study where they had water particles viewd up close ,all messy and shit. Then they had some people meditate on them, and the particles took on fantastic patterns. My mate has a book full of the pictures.

They also put words underneath the glasses of water. The word hate turned the particles into chaos, and love turned them into a flowing calm kinda thing. Note that change only occured when a human was present to observe the word, and he didn't need to to be anyone wiht knoledge, jsut somone who knew the differnce bewteen hate and love in their minds eye.

Intresting stuff. I've started using some memory techniques for college, but I think meditation will work better. I'll give it a real go.

sidenote: The best mediation takes place in teh absence of cannbis, whic his abit like cheating. Ever noticed how you can only focus on one thing at once when high, and forget what you're talking about alot? It's to do with the shift in what you can focus on at any one time, so it's alot like a form of meditation, only very easy to achive. Comprable to sterois for muscles in a bizzare sense...:p

the teachings of don jaun is wikid.

i start off with breathing to focus my mind. then depending on what i want to achieve i usually either in the morning concentrate on my muscles growing and breathing and working stonger and efficentely, starting at the toes all the way to my brain where i imagine it working and firing at full speed. works great to energise me.

in the evening i start with breathing and kinda do the opposite. but i finish with my mind imaginig it is like a cup i can turn all the way round and slowly empty all the water out of it. i find this really relaxing to help me sleep peacefully and not think before bed.

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Originally Posted by snowblind

the teachings of don jaun is wikid.

i start off with breathing to focus my mind. then depending on what i want to achieve i usually either in the morning concentrate on my muscles growing and breathing and working stonger and efficentely, starting at the toes all the way to my brain where i imagine it working and firing at full speed. works great to energise me.

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Snowblind, I really like this idea! I've never thought of trying it, but this sounds like it would increase oxygen flow to the muscles which is exactly what I need. Thanks for sharing!

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I use the HeartMath approach to meditation- a breath process- deep breath focusing on the heart as the center- focusing the mind on love and appreciation- breathe in love and exhale appreciation- HeartMath was developed my Doc Childer who is the director of the HeartMath institute in Bolder Creek California- smoking a litte herb helps put the mind and body into a receptive state

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I'll have to give this one a try too Clovisman. Lately I've been looking inward to see what's been stressing me so much, and there's a huge amount of negativity. That's not to say there's not a huge amount of compassion and other good things, but I feel I need to cleanse myself of this bad energy in my subconscious. I will hence give your method a try today.



BTW, I also have a problem with being really introverted around other people. I feel this constant need to shut others out and not let anybody know anything about me intimately. I think it's a defense mechanism, and chronic pain has been reafirming this defensive mindset. So does anybody know a good meditation for extroverting ones self?

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Originally Posted by Inferius

You read don juan, what he's saying isn't just about the ability to think, but to completely re-wire your brain so that all the bullshit loses it's hold and you can understand everything. There are other worlds. Magic is as real as anything else.

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Yes, i did read... but even if i try to believe that everything that is said there is real, im still a scientist, with a skeptical mind, so for me thats still only a book, until i have enough evidence...
Of course, in my everyday life i noticed that LOTS of things mentioned there are actually real, but, for me, disobeying the physical laws is just something too good for being true, and thats why i ask if it actually works...
But, if you say so, i feel more inclinated to believe, until i do it myself.
And thanks for the link! :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Gandalf_The_Grey

BTW, I also have a problem with being really introverted around other people. I feel this constant need to shut others out and not let anybody know anything about me intimately. I think it's a defense mechanism, and chronic pain has been reafirming this defensive mindset. So does anybody know a good meditation for extroverting ones self?

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Man... im much like you in this aspect... im very introverted also... but may ask you, are you unhappy because of this?
I say that because, in my case, i dont speak to people because i dont want to... i have very little interest in people, thats why i dont make many efforts in socializing... if they talk to me, good. if they dont, better.
If you want be more extrovert, you must have interest in people, so your attention will be more atracted by people than by your own thoughts...
I would also suggest to read about don Juan's "controled folly". For me its the best way for dealing with people, and weed certainly helps me with doing that...


PS. Somewhat off topic, but your saruman's quote always makes me LOL! :S2:

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Originally Posted by Coelho

Yes, i did read... but even if i try to believe that everything that is said there is real, im still a scientist, with a skeptical mind, so for me thats still only a book, until i have enough evidence...
Of course, in my everyday life i noticed that LOTS of things mentioned there are actually real, but, for me, disobeying the physical laws is just something too good for being true, and thats why i ask if it actually works...
But, if you say so, i feel more inclinated to believe, until i do it myself.
And thanks for the link! :thumbsup:

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Coelho you and I have some very similar ways of thinking:thumbsup:. I'm a major skeptic about everything, my father raised me to be a critical thinker and I'm sure some genetic play their part too. I believe in having an open mind, but I don't belief that entailes throwing logic to the wind and "just believing". To me an open mind is one that consideres everything, never writes something off, but never believes something until every possibility has been considered. Even then one has to consider the possibility that there's something you failed to consider in your analysis, hence leaving all options open even after coming to a conclusion. Good to have another like-minded member here:thumbsup::jointsmile:

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Man... im much like you in this aspect... im very introverted also... but may ask you, are you unhappy because of this?
I say that because, in my case, i dont speak to people because i dont want to... i have very little interest in people, thats why i dont make many efforts in socializing... if they talk to me, good. if they dont, better.
If you want be more extrovert, you must have interest in people, so your attention will be more atracted by people than by your own thoughts...
I would also suggest to read about don Juan's "controled folly". For me its the best way for dealing with people, and weed certainly helps me with doing that...

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Hmmmm, that's an interesting question. I'm not really interested in making meaningless small talk, but I also realize how miserable this attitude has made me at times because of the social isolation. At first I just went totally introverted in highschool because I was bullied all to hell, and when I became invisible they left me alone. Then by the time I was out it just became conditioned habbit. So right now I'm trying to reprogram myself, part of the reason why I'm going into business administration tomorrow because it's the antithesis of my nature.
What you said really interested me though. You're right in that I have to take more interest in the person I'm talking to. I do to a degree, but most of the time I feel it's up to me to think of things to say. And considering most of the time I'm thinking about intellectually heavier stuff like politics, biology, philosophy, or just reading, my social skills could definately use some work. I'll take what you said in mind though, and try to center conversion around the person rather than intellectual crap nobody else wants to hear about lol. Thanks man.

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PS. Somewhat off topic, but your saruman's quote always makes me LOL! :S2:

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Glad you enjoy it!:D

BTW everybody, here's a re-post of my Huna Meditation guide. This is definately the easiest to get quick and significant results from in my experience, definately worth a try.

Instructions:

Sit somewhere quiet in a comfortable possition. I preferre cross-legged on the couch, since it gives all the back support and I can fully relax. But it's ultimately up to you and what makes you comfortable.

Now, calm your thoughts as much as possible, but don't beat yourself up if you can't, it'll come on it's own. Have no expectations, just appreciate what comes.
Look upwards, so you can see your eyebrows in your vision, and hold your eyes there. Focus on the point at the centre of your upward vision, then gradually shift your awareness so you notice your central and peripheral vision equally (but don't move your eyes to look directly at everything you're focused on.)
Now while in this possition, open your mouth and keep it open (comfortably, not wide). When you breath in, close the airway to your throat with the back of your tongue and breath in through your nose, getting full, slow, and deep breaths. When you exhale, breath out through your mouth taking twice as long as it took you to breath in. While exhaling, do a semi-loud breathing sound of "Haaaaaa" all the way out.
Repeat this without breaking the method, and you'll notice the effects relatively soon (like a minute or 2, maybe only 20 seconds). Your eyes may cross or shift in some way, mixing up your vision, which is fine. Don't worry about the results during the practice, just relax and keep going as long as you want.

Gandalf, i did post a response in your thread in the lounge, about conversation skills. I did think that thread was more apropriate than this one.
I still need to write my meditation technique, but not now... the sunset is near (4.50 am here) and i didnt smoked yet!
Also, today i experimented a new technique and had some weird results, so i will try it again before write here.

Cool Coelho, I just tried a new one myself!

I'll post mine anyway, look forward to hearing yours!

I came across this one some random meditation site, which they called the "Star" meditation for some reason:wtf:. Basically the theory is tap into the flow of energy theat binds the whole universe, and use this "cosmic energy" to energize ones self as much as needed. I tried it and honestly it worked wonders.

So, here's what you do:

Stand with legs shoulder width apart and arms strait out. I've tried this sitting and with my arms more relaxed and it works too. turn your left palm upward and your right palm downward. Focus on feeling the energy of the whole universe all around you, feel it flowing through you (you won't feel it instantly, but just stay focused). Once you feel it, picture it flowing in through your left palm and filling up your solar plexus. After doing this a few minutes you'll feel that your core has been very energized. Once it is, then focus on continuing the energy through your left arm, into the solar plexus, then have it flow our your right. Bring it in with a deep breath in, and send it out with a slow breath out.

This practice was extremely energizing for me. A couple notes I found in this practice:

1. I find it very energizing just to let it fill the solar plexus and not actually bother flowing it out the right arm. The outflow is more for achiving a state of harmony, the initial fill is more for gaining energy.

2. You really do have to make your arms relatively strait. I tried this with my arms centered on my lap and just couldn't get it to work.

This has definately become a new favorite of mine.

Well... first of all, im much of what Don Juan calls a "lyric sorcerer", meaning one who knows much theory and few practice... im too lazy and unmotivated to follow anything seriously, and thats why i never had many success with meditation and such.

Anyway... my 1st technique i learned when was 15, and it was called "autogen training"... the idea of the book it was achieve acid-like effects using just the mind. That was the first time i read about any relationships between psychedelics and meditation... so i think i can say that it was the beggining of my journey.

The first step was lay down, or sit in a confortable position. (i, lazy as i am, always lay down... and almost always fall in sleep...)
Then breathe deeply and concentrate in the weight of the body. Try to imaginate the body submerging in the couch, or melting, or anything which makes you aware of its weight.
In the start, keep repeating formulaes like "my right arm is heavy... my right leg is heavy... my left arm is heavy..." helps to feel the weight.

After mastering the feeling of body weight, when you can feel your body like a heavy mass of jelly, the next step is concentrate in the feeling of warmness in the whole body.
Formulaes like "my right arm is warm..." and so may help the begginers.
When mastered, those 2 techniques works wonders in matter of relaxing. The body feels like if you were in a warm bath, floating... its very pleasurable... and if done during 15-20 minutes can provide a very effective rest. I used to do this, and after this 20 minutes i would feel like i had slept several hours, and awoke well refreshed and disposed.

Note that after doing this relaxation, its not good just jump up from the couch... even because sometimes its almost impossible. The body is very relaxed, and it needs to become used to tension again. So, when you finish the relaxation, you must "re-awake" the body very slowly. Move the fingers of one hand, open and close them. You will notice that there is a need of great effort for doing so, it seems you became weaker... then, after it, move your hand, slowly. Then, slowly, move the arms, then the toes, feets, legs, neck and head. After it, its very good and pleasurable to stretch all the body... i think its what most resembles the feeling of had slept a lot.

If this exercises were done for more time (30min-1h), the final effect is much like a indica stone. When you finish, you feel very slow, peaceful, happy, and so... in fact, the first time ever i did use weed (ate some raw weed), i described the effects i had (a light body stone) as "the same of 2 hours of relaxing".

But that are only the two inicial steps. After being deeply relaxed, heavy and warm, you must concentrate in the breath. Try to feel the breath, and forget anything else. You must be all breath, and nothing else.
Again, formulaes like "im all breath..." may help.
When mastered, you feel like the breath is the only thing that exists... its hard to describe, but its very pleasant also.

After mastering the awareness of breath, you must concentrate in the heartbeat. When you were breathing calmly and relaxed, focus your awareness on your heart beating. Feel the beats of it. Feel them propagating throught all the body. It was an interesting feeling... i could actually feel the heart beat, and then the wave generated by it run through my body, i could feel the beat going down to my legs until the toes, going down to my arms until my fingers, and going up until the head... it was weird, but very nice.

That 4 techniques were the only i actually mastered. For me, the pleasurable feeling i got with them were enough, at that time, so i never went further with this techniques. Anyway, the next steps are:

Concentrate in a heat coming from the solar plexus. Try to feel it like if there was a small ball of fire in it, which radiates heat for all the abdomen.

Next, you must feel your forehead confortably cool. Again, it is accomplished by imagining the feeling of coolness in the forehead.

An interesting use for this relaxation techniques is somewhat caled "positive thinking", "self-hipnosis" and such. The idea is keep repeatedly a thought into the mind while the body is relaxed during the practice. Like, after feeling your breath, heart, heat in the plexus and cool in the forehead, concentrate in a thought like "i will achieve good grades", or "i will stop smoking cigarretes", or anything you wish. If repeated enough while the mind is relaxed, it can have amazing results.

Anyway, this are the body techniques. The next step are the mind techniques.

After having you body relaxed and having accomplished everything above, you must visualize some color. You must see a color with your eyes closed. I really dont know how, as i never mastered it and am a very poor visualizator. Im only translating the book, but im sure lots of peopls can do this, after enough training.
The eyes must be looking to the "third eye", a point in the forehead somewhat above the between the eyes. When mastered this technique, the people must be able to see a uniform field of a color in front of the closed eyes. The author call the color you see as "personal color". It says that is not a previously choosen color, but rather the color you see when the eyes are closed. (I see black , as my eyes are closed :p, but as i said, im not a good visualizator.)

Mastered this technique, you must visualize any color you wish, at your choice. Choose the color, relax the body with the techniques, and then visualize the choosen color.

Next step is to visualize concrete objects. After relaxing and visualizing colors, you must try to visualize an object. Anything. You must practice it until you actually "see" the object as if you were looking at it.

After visualizing concrete objects, the next step is visualizing abstract things, like "justice", "happiness", and such. The book says that after mastering this, many people feels like tripping... they see things, or hear things, or whatever...

The book continues, and the next step is visualizing some feeling. You must concentrate in the feeling that comes to your mind, and visualize it.

Mastered it, you must visualize a choosen person. It helps to visualize persons that you have not stong feeling toward they, as this feelings usually hinders the visualization. When mastered, this technique allows to feel what are our real feelings towards the people visualizated.

And, at last, you may use it to ask questions to your inner mind. After mastering all the prevoius techniques, you may be able to ask a question while your mind is in this "alterated state", and watch what are the responses.

Well... after almost one hour of heavy translating/typing, i discovered a site that covers all the body techniques i described above... If i knew it, it would have saved me a lot of time... anyway, the explanations there are more detailed, so the link is:

Autogenics -- A self-help training schedule

Well... later i will post the another techniques ive tried... even cause its the longest post i ever wrote.

Another "technique" i use... not exactly a technique... its more a help for concentrating the mind.
I go for a walk, and try to concentrate all my attention in hearing the sounds outside me. As you know, we humans have a tendency to speak to ourselves all the time. But, for meditating, is good to keep the mind silent, what is very difficult (at least for me), because of this constant flow of internal talk.
So, i try to move my attention from this internal talk to the outside sounds. I found that walking helps doing it. With practice, you can hear a lot of sounds of the things surrounding you, you may almost "see" only hearing the sounds... like... i cross many streets without looking, just hearing if there is some car near or not.
I noticed that being stoned out of my mind helps a lot, cause i need to keep walking and acting normal, even if my mind is racing, so i MUST concentrate all my attention in the task of walking "normally" and hearing, and doing so, there isnt any attention left to the internal talk.
When you master it, you become able to shut up the internal talk at will, just focusing your mind in another thing.
I think that was the technique most useful for me until today, cause stopping to talk with myself always was (and still is) my biggest problem.
Who would imagine that walking stoned in the streets would be a meditation technique? :p

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Originally Posted by Coelho

Another "technique" i use... not exactly a technique... its more a help for concentrating the mind.
I go for a walk, and try to concentrate all my attention in hearing the sounds outside me. As you know, we humans have a tendency to speak to ourselves all the time. But, for meditating, is good to keep the mind silent, what is very difficult (at least for me), because of this constant flow of internal talk.
So, i try to move my attention from this internal talk to the outside sounds. I found that walking helps doing it. With practice, you can hear a lot of sounds of the things surrounding you, you may almost "see" only hearing the sounds... like... i cross many streets without looking, just hearing if there is some car near or not.
I noticed that being stoned out of my mind helps a lot, cause i need to keep walking and acting normal, even if my mind is racing, so i MUST concentrate all my attention in the task of walking "normally" and hearing, and doing so, there isnt any attention left to the internal talk.
When you master it, you become able to shut up the internal talk at will, just focusing your mind in another thing.
I think that was the technique most useful for me until today, cause stopping to talk with myself always was (and still is) my biggest problem.
Who would imagine that walking stoned in the streets would be a meditation technique? :p

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I actually do this all the time Coelho, it's a huge stress reliever, it creates a remarkable and clear perception, and helps me feel happy again. Personally though I don't find being stoned helps for any kind of meditation, in fact it hinders it.
But anyway you're right, you can train the brain to be able to control thought processes, with any meditation technique really. I've learned to shut the thoughts off completely or make them race at will now, it's very handy and makes bus rides more enjoyable:thumbsup:

in rewiring your brain, well the science school of this is just beginning to emeger in pni whihc is psycological nureal imumiology and nureal kinetics. which is exactley that, rewiring the brain. look it up its well interesting

no worries gandalf hope it helps you feel enegrised

peace

Interesting to read about your "star technique"... even more interesting is that in the same day i had read (in that link posted by Inferius) some techniques for extracting energy from things, and had tried it too. Coincidence?

My first attempt was toextract energy from the Earth. I lay down, relaxed, and started to visualize a flow of energy coming from the Earth and entering my back (as i was lying down)... i dont know if it was because i was focusing all my mind in this thought and therefore concentratingvery well, or if the technique works even in the first attempt... anyway, i felt VERY good... i wouldnt say i was "energized", but i felt a great well-being, and achieved a very deep relaxation.

Next day, i went to uni, stoned of course. My home is somewhat far from there, so the bus i take travels a lot until arrive there, and during the traject it goes near the sea. Then i tried to extract energy from the sea, and from the setting sun.
The bus was going westwards, so the sun was in front of me, and low in the horizon. Then i visualized the "energy" coming from the sea below me (i was in a large bridge) as small drops of water, rising, and passing through me. Also, i visualized the sun shining through me, and lighting this small drops, so they would reflect the light and shine, like small drops of transparent silver... it was a very beautiful image... and when i arrived at the uni, i was feeling very, VERY peaceful. It was a peacefulness different from i feel when i just smoke, so i know it wasnt caused by the weed. It was deeper, like if my innerest soul were calm and peaceful... it was very good and pleasurable.
And the mind image of rising drops of water, lighted by the setting sun was beautiful indeed...

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Originally Posted by Gandalf_The_Grey

Personally though I don't find being stoned helps for any kind of meditation, in fact it hinders it.

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Well... in this specific case, i use the mind confusion caused by the weed as a help. If i were sober, walking would be a very normal thing, i would not need to think to walk, it would be an automatic thing.
But, as im stoned, i MUST concentrate to keep walking normally. So, i use the confusion as an way to force myself to concentrate.
And also ive noticed that weed enhance my senses, so its easier to pay attention to the sounds and such. Like someone said, its a bit of "cheating", but nevermind...

I've began to use these methods while sitting in the bottem of the shower.

Try it, it's fantastic xD

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Originally Posted by Coelho

Well... in this specific case, i use the mind confusion caused by the weed as a help. If i were sober, walking would be a very normal thing, i would not need to think to walk, it would be an automatic thing.
But, as im stoned, i MUST concentrate to keep walking normally. So, i use the confusion as an way to force myself to concentrate.
And also ive noticed that weed enhance my senses, so its easier to pay attention to the sounds and such. Like someone said, its a bit of "cheating", but nevermind...

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That's so true! Weed makes you analyse all the little things, the very nuts and bolts of the workings of life, and it makes you appreciate those tiny little bits of sensory input you wouldn't otherwise notice. You know I just might try it stoned again but only for walking meditation, this time applying it to the senses and not so much on the perception (which will come of it's own accord I"m sure).
I also like your idea of drawing energy from specific sources. i was just trying to draw from the general "fabric of space-time" if you will, but I'm going to try it your way as it'll provide a more specific source.

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in rewiring your brain, well the science school of this is just beginning to emeger in pni whihc is psycological nureal imumiology and nureal kinetics. which is exactley that, rewiring the brain. look it up its well interesting

no worries gandalf hope it helps you feel enegrised

peace

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Interesting, I'm somewhat familiar with re-wiring the brain but I've never actually heard of the school of psychological neural immunology (you're sure this is the name right?). Meditation has been shown to rewire the brain though. I read about some brain scans they did on buddhist monks experienced in years of meditaiton and found some really interesting differences:

1. Most people would show the most energy around their frontol lobe (where thought originates) and a few other small areas of the brain. With the monks the readings consistantly showed that the energy was dispersed evenly throughout the brain.

2. The area of the brain that enables awareness, I'm not sure which part that is, was shown to be more developed and a bit bigger.

and

3. The parts used for emotional and impulse control (is that the hypocampus?) was a bit more developed as well.


That's what I really love about meditation, it has infinte potential for strengthening any part of the brain. So many people just think of the techniques and what you can accomplish with them, but I've realized that you can focus extact types of thinking or perception and significantly strengthen that part of the mind.


Speaking of which, I had one method that I've only tried a few times but I may continue. I was attempting to increase my ability to multi-task, split my attention between multiple things. I did this by meditating while picture a single light in a black void flying around randomly. I'd focus on it till it had my attention 100%, then I'd add a second light flying around and focus on them both, then a third, a fourth, and so on. Pushing it as hard as I can to focus on as many at once as I can. Something to try anyway.

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Originally Posted by Iambreathingin

I've began to use these methods while sitting in the bottem of the shower.

Try it, it's fantastic xD

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Thats a good idea! I would think i am under an waterfall... and that would be an excellent place to meditate!
(It reminds me the training of Dragon Shiryu in the cartoon Saint Seiya... :p)

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Originally Posted by Gandalf_The_Grey

I also like your idea of drawing energy from specific sources. i was just trying to draw from the general "fabric of space-time" if you will, but I'm going to try it your way as it'll provide a more specific source.

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Well... its not my idea... i did read it in that link that Inferius posted...

And i dont know if it does any difference from where you extract the energy... like... if you extract "pure" energy, it wouldnt matter from where it comes, as it is just energy.

But if you extract somewhat different, or if there is several "kinds" of "energy" (if any of my physics teachers heard me talking like this... they would be VERY disappointed... :p), then would be nice to try to feel if there is any difference, like, the energy from water should be more "cool", the energy from the sun more "hot", the energy from the Earth more "earthly"... and so... much like the four elements theories (air/water/fire/earth)...

Or it also may be a complete absurd, but, anyway, i think its worth a try...

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Originally Posted by Gandalf_The_Grey

That's what I really love about meditation, it has infinte potential for strengthening any part of the brain. So many people just think of the techniques and what you can accomplish with them, but I've realized that you can focus extact types of thinking or perception and significantly strengthen that part of the mind.

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And i would add that if you can keep your mind in a state of inner silence, if you can shut up your internal talk at will, then the path of Power is open for you... you have not idea (or do?) of all things that are possible... like Inferius said, what we call "magic" is real, if you know how to do it. You, that have a large experience in meditation, alterated states of mind and so, would actually became an wizard like the original Gandalf the Grey...

Have you ever did read some book from Carlos Castaneda? Or tried something like Astral Projection, Out of Body experiences and such? I think you would like both... it would be very useful for you.

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Originally Posted by Gandalf_The_Grey

Speaking of which, I had one method that I've only tried a few times but I may continue. I was attempting to increase my ability to multi-task, split my attention between multiple things. I did this by meditating while picture a single light in a black void flying around randomly. I'd focus on it till it had my attention 100%, then I'd add a second light flying around and focus on them both, then a third, a fourth, and so on. Pushing it as hard as I can to focus on as many at once as I can. Something to try anyway.

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Damn... thats crazy, man! I cant even visualize a black void... adding lights to it is completly impossible for me... anyway... i think its a very good idea for training the multi-tasking... it may also be related to the way that martial arts practitioners train for fighting several enemies at once...

Anyway, nice techniques, and lets keep it going. Always its nice to find someone with the same interests and talk about it! :thumbsup:

I'm having some trouble.

My mind works at 100mph as I'm sure many of yours does, but it's getting harder and harder to shut it up when I'm not stoned. I've been smoking only home grown (Which I prefer so much to skunk I can't explain it) once a week since I started studying again. Generally the weed acts a like..a focs drug. I can only focus on a single thing at a time (which is why I often forget what I'm doing/saying while high) but my brain just...I dunno..

I play the mind games. I can turn what seems like a distraction into a tool, but it's getting seemingly more difficult to empty my head since I've started to look into buddhism at great depth with some very close friends of mine. It's somthing I can't really describe in a post, as I'd need to get an idea of how you percive each point to understand how to go about getting what's in my head across as clearly as possible...but perhaps you have some idea of what I mean...

*cry* I'm not even sure if that makes sense anymore >.<

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Originally Posted by Iambreathingin

I'm having some trouble.

My mind works at 100mph as I'm sure many of yours does, but it's getting harder and harder to shut it up when I'm not stoned. I've been smoking only home grown (Which I prefer so much to skunk I can't explain it) once a week since I started studying again. Generally the weed acts a like..a focs drug. I can only focus on a single thing at a time (which is why I often forget what I'm doing/saying while high) but my brain just...I dunno..

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I think i understand what you mean... my mind was somewhat like yours when i started meditating, and it was VERY difficult to shut it up.
I also noticed that smoking help a lot, mainly indica ones... it seems it slow down your thoughts, so its easier keep the mind empty... or concentrate in only one thing at a time.
Thats why i posted the "technique" of walking stoned.

BTW, a note of caution for anyone who try it. BE CAREFUL while walking stoned, and do it in safe places. I dont want to hear that someone was run over by a car while following my suggestion... It would be very bad...

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Originally Posted by Iambreathingin

I play the mind games. I can turn what seems like a distraction into a tool, but it's getting seemingly more difficult to empty my head since I've started to look into buddhism at great depth with some very close friends of mine. It's somthing I can't really describe in a post, as I'd need to get an idea of how you percive each point to understand how to go about getting what's in my head across as clearly as possible...but perhaps you have some idea of what I mean...

*cry* I'm not even sure if that makes sense anymore >.<

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Man... i know how it feels... as im having increased trouble in keeping my mind concentrated... it seems almost like if there were an outside influence trying to keep me from emptying my mind...

Some days ago, the first time i tried "extracting" "energy" from the earth, i entered in a state of deep relaxation, and have an weird and somewhat shocking realization... it seemed like i had two minds... like... my "conscious" mind, the one that i control, was completly quiet, empty, and just percieving (listening, feeling and so).
And there was another "thing" into my mind, that i had no control over, and this "thing" keep talking, much like i talk with myself most of the time. I noticed that this "thing" could keep talking non-stop, without any control of my part. I would only choose to listen it or to ignore it.
It felt much like the fight between Gollum and Smeagol, in LOTR.
Anyway, it takes a lot of effort to ignore this annoying "voice" or whatever it may be, and it always comes back... aaargh!
So, I dont know what to suggest, as im having the same problem myself... maybe try some indica... (who seems to help to "shut up" this "interference")

And if anyone can help us, please! :thumbsup:

Reading before hand might help quiet the mind since it makes you focus on what you're looking at and shut out the other thoughts. I haven't tried it though so I don't know.


Just a note, I hold no assumptions about whether or not I'm actually extracting or channeling any energy. I'm sure a lot of the feeling comes from manipulating ones nervous system. I've always suspected "Chi" was a primitive explanation for the nervous system actually.
So is there energy, is it all placebo, or is it the nervous system? I don't know, I'm betting on nervous system though. Either way, I'm all for channeling energy no matter what the source as the imagery induces the result. I just don't like to make conclusive assumptions based on experience, and not actual hard data.

Wow. I read a lot of this thread but not all. Very interesting.

As far as getting high is "cheating", well that idea is ridiculous. Weed wants you to meditate when you get high, or you want to meditate when you get high, right? Then do it. I think it's cool to meditate high or sober. There is a reason it's called getting high. It makes you feel high, doesn't it? High up, off the ground, and you're smiling, just like in your flying dreams. Am i right? And we all know flying dreams are spiritual. Not to mention wicked fun. And we all know fun rocks.

Anyways, the way I meditate is usually laying in bed with crystals in my hand, and I do astral projection. Sometimes, I sit up cross-legged. Sometimes no crystals. I may do a bit of scrying beforehand with my pendulum. I also ask my spirit guides to help me in my vision quest.

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Originally Posted by angry nomad

Wow. I read a lot of this thread but not all. Very interesting.

As far as getting high is "cheating", well that idea is ridiculous. Weed wants you to meditate when you get high, or you want to meditate when you get high, right?

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Some people can some people can't. Well, what I mean is, it's something everyone can do, but some people are more sensitive then others. I used to meditate while stoned all the time. Then one day I had what's known as a Kensho, a temporary peak into enlightenment. I was fully in the Self, felt no desire for anything whatsoever and had the biggest Buddha smile on my face and felt this incredible energy radiating off of me. I was also on adderall at the time (prescribed, not abused, well I did take a bit more because of finals that day). It was the single most profound thing that I've ever experienced. I truly believe in Enlightenment and everything the East talks about. It's not that mediating high is bad persay (that experience was amazing), but it's that I was far too inexperienced. That usually happens to advance mediators, not novices like myself.

The technique I use is Vipassana meditation where I focus on the breath and try to become one with it. I also chant Om and when I feel really focused I stop the breath completely and just be in the moment. It's simply and extremely effective.

Try this: 'Cannabis & Meditation - An Explorer's Guide', it shows how to meditate and create the kinds of states talked about above. Headstuff Books | Cannabis & Meditation | About

MelT

The place that I meditate is in the woods....now before everybody gets their panties in a wad, one of my favorite relaxation activities is long range(200yards and longer) target shooting.

I get everything set up, and have an old comforter that I lay on in prone position.. I lay there and clear my mind....totally relax with my eyes closed and breath long slow deep breaths. It takes me a few minutes for stress and everything else to fade away. I drop a round in the chamber and close the bolt.....then my total focus is through the scope on the red dot in the center of the target downrange. I keep a relaxed grip on the weapon and when it feels right, slowly squeeze the trigger....Every time the rifle fires, it surprises me, but that bullet has found the red dot in the middle of that 1 1/2 inch 10 ring thats 200 yards away. I might not fire the next round for 10 minutes....or it might be in 30 seconds...just depends on how long it takes me to get back to my relaxed state. After firing some rounds, then making the walk downrange to check the target(s)..and actually *seeing* the woods. not just the trees and stuff, but the whole cycle of life in the woods.

I went out to the woods yesterday and was able to hit an orange at 400 yards.....think 4 football fields or only 40 yards shy of 1/4 mile.

FWIW, my weapon of choice yesterday was a Remington 700 ADL Synthetic with 24 inch barrel in .243 with a Simmons 5.5 x 12 40mm scope and a bipod. Was using 95gr Winchester Supreme ballistic silver tip rounds

If it wasn't for my meditation and relaxation techniques, there is no way I would be able to shoot like that.

You would be amazed to see all that is happening in the woods....and none of it seemed to be bothered by my being there..... even with me making noise the way a dumb human will. That was very kewl.

Some time ago i started to try (while stoned of course :jointsmile:) a meditation technique which focus in the feeling of being high. It can make the high feels FAR higher...

But im having some problems... whenever i reach a certain level of highness my limbs start to twitch incontrolably... first the toes, then the feet, then the legs, and it keeps spreading through the body... i can stop it if i wish, but it takes some mind effort. If i let myself go, the twitching spreads to all my body, and i shake like if i were having convulsions... also, i (or rather my mouth alone) starts to talk weird sounds repeatedly, like "meh-heh-leh-meh-heh-leh-meh-heh-leh"... its weird, but at the same time strangely pleasurable... i would like to let myself go, but all this shaking and talking makes me feel like if i were "possessed" by some evil spirit, and its not a thing i want to... so i end forcing myself to stop.
Ive read about kundalini rising, which has some similar effects, but i doubt very much that im skilled enough to do this...

So, does anyone knows what the hell is it, and how i can stop it, or if i can let it go without any worry about it?

Sounds like your speaking in tongues or something. It probably is related to Kundalini, but I'm not too sure. You don't have to be "skilled" enough for it to rise. Another sign of a kundalini awakening is a warming sensation around the back, mainly the lower back rising up through the Chakras. Did this happen? Kundalini can just happen. Be careful with it though. It's a beautiful thing, but it's also quite the devil if you let it get to you. If I were you, I would chill out with mediating while stoned for a while. Maybe just do some yoga poses and mediate sober. I never experienced anything like what you have, but it's different for everyone. I know I've reached very high states while stoned and even sober. I find it best to do it naturally, just because it's safer and you don't go too high too fast.

But by all means don't take my advice. I'm no expert.

Well... i actually feel some sensations in my lower back... its isnt exactly an warming, its more a sort of... how can i describe it? Somewhat like if i were being tickled... its much like the feeling one gets when tickled, that feeling that makes one laugh or contort the body... and its this tickling-like sensation at my back that makes my body twitch.

Sounds like it is the start of a kundalini awakening. I had something similar happen while stoned. It was more of an intense warming sensation. My best advice is to just lay off meditating while stoned for a while. If you really want to do it while stoned, then your best bet is to just limit yourself to maybe 15 min sessions. If it's not that big of a problem for you then by all means continue. Again I'm no expert, but it does sound like something spirtual is happening to you but remember to not pay too much attention to it. Let it be and move on.

Well... my only problem about it is the fear that it were signs of being "possessed" by some evil spirit... if it werent the case, i will let myself go with it... as its strangely pleasurable... even if its a bit scary sometimes...

Well, I don't think you have to worry about that. Before you meditate, surround yourself with pure white light. Just visualize yourself being shielded by a sheet of white light that goes all over you.

Early days yet, it's just opened, but this forum is pretty much solely about weed and meditation. Some interesting threads in it:

Headstuff Books Discussion &bull; Index page

MelT