[LadyShadow]

Hey everyone!

I have been doing fairly well lately in getting my life together. I have adopted a strict sleeping and eating schedule that I follow rigorously every day. I know that I have bursts of hypomania, because I can feel when they happen, (believe it or not, my pdoc said that is perfectly alright, God he's the best!)

Anyway, I noticed last night that when I felt my mind going into overdrive, I basically counted from 1-10. (touching each of my ten fingers as I did this), an then did it backwards. Backwards and forwards, touching each finger, 1-10, till my mind slowed down a bit and my heart stopped going so fast.

As great as that was, I still want to improve on that a bit. I am curious to learn about different ways to meditate, and instead of just Googling till Kingdom Come, I figured I would ask my friends here on PC.

So, do you guys have any tips or ways you meditate that you can share with me?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

I meditate. I don't really have a practice right now. My goal is to sit on my "meditation cushion" once everyday, even just for 20 seconds. I'm still working on getting myself to actually do it. I enjoy it, so I don't know why I find it hard. I also go to a meditation group, which I love.

Anyway, when I meditate, I focus on my breath. Sometimes I count my breaths, to 10, then start back at 1. Kind of like what you did with counting your fingers. I don't try to make my breathing deeper or more shallow. I let it be what it is, and just notice it. If my mind wanders off, which it does, a lot, then when I notice that it has done that, I kindly and gently bring my mind back to my breathing. Then it wanders off again. Then I bring it back. And so on, and so forth. This is the nature of meditation.

I think it's great that you have found something that relaxes you, and that you are interested in meditation. There are some wonderful apps out there for meditation, too. One is called Headspace. You have to pay for it though. I think there are bunches of others, that are probably free. I haven't checked them out though.

[CepheidVariable]

I've only done a little meditation, but I found the following audio guides to be a nice start.

Free Guided Meditations - UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center - Los Angeles, CA

They're generic mindfulness guides that mainly focus on the breathing, so they should be broadly suitable to a lot of people.

They helped me in that they made it clear not to try and force anything, but to just gently experience and not treat it as an exercise.

[*Laurie*]

I began meditating when I was 17 in 1979. My first experience with meditation was TM (Transcendental Meditation). Some years later I began to study Zen Buddhism quite intently. I sat zazen and used the "just notice" meditation practice....focus on breathing and just notice thoughts, feelings, and images as they pass through the mind.

These days I still basically use the Buddhist meditation technique; I meditate by following my breath.

[LadyShadow]

Originally Posted by starrysky

I meditate. I don't really have a practice right now. My goal is to sit on my "meditation cushion" once everyday, even just for 20 seconds. I'm still working on getting myself to actually do it. I enjoy it, so I don't know why I find it hard. I also go to a meditation group, which I love.

Anyway, when I meditate, I focus on my breath. Sometimes I count my breaths, to 10, then start back at 1. Kind of like what you did with counting your fingers. I don't try to make my breathing deeper or more shallow. I let it be what it is, and just notice it. If my mind wanders off, which it does, a lot, then when I notice that it has done that, I kindly and gently bring my mind back to my breathing. Then it wanders off again. Then I bring it back. And so on, and so forth. This is the nature of meditation.

I think it's great that you have found something that relaxes you, and that you are interested in meditation. There are some wonderful apps out there for meditation, too. One is called Headspace. You have to pay for it though. I think there are bunches of others, that are probably free. I haven't checked them out though.

Thank you so much for your suggestion starrysky! It was really helpful. I love finding some peace through meditation, but like you, my mind often wanders when trying to either concentrate on my breathing, or focusing in on the moment. I took a look at HeadSpace, so thank you for the suggestion. There were some great tools there for free that I plan on taking advantage of. Thanks again!!

Originally Posted by CepheidVariable

I've only done a little meditation, but I found the following audio guides to be a nice start.

Free Guided Meditations - UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center - Los Angeles, CA

They're generic mindfulness guides that mainly focus on the breathing, so they should be broadly suitable to a lot of people.

They helped me in that they made it clear not to try and force anything, but to just gently experience and not treat it as an exercise.

Great advice CepheidVariable! Thank you for the link to that meditation audios site. The problem I am having is, I find the audios a bit distracting. Do you understand what I mean? Like I know the whole point is to sit and relax in the moment and listen, but my crazy brain is going "shut the hell up!! TOO much noise!!" I know its totally weird, and I am aware that could be all that nonsense mania in my head, so I guess I need something more down to Earth and a bit simpler.

The idea to make it clear to not force anything is a real golden piece of advice because I really suffer from that. It really isn't simply screaming at your brain to "1-2-3 meditate NOW GO!!" I am realizing that I really need to relax and just calm down.

Thank you for sharing either way, it was very helpful!

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

I began meditating when I was 17 in 1979. My first experience with meditation was TM (Transcendental Meditation). Some years later I began to study Zen Buddhism quite intently. I sat zazen and used the "just notice" meditation practice....focus on breathing and just notice thoughts, feelings, and images as they pass through the mind.

These days I still basically use the Buddhist meditation technique; I meditate by following my breath.

Wow Laurie, you've been meditating for a LONG time!!! Honestly the first 38 years of my life have been so damn chaotic, I am hoping that the next 38, (fingers crossed), won't be so stressful and messy. Thank you for the wonderful advice though, I have always been interested in Buddhist practices and meditation techniques, so I will definitely take some time to look into it. Thanks again!!

[*Laurie*]

You are very welcome. You probably know that there are tons of books on meditation, also videos on youtube.

I've actually been feeling like revisiting TM, but there's no teacher in my region.

[LadyShadow]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

You are very welcome. You probably know that there are tons of books on meditation, also videos on youtube.

I've actually been feeling like revisiting TM, but there's no teacher in my region.

I have to say, the TM you are talking about kinda scares me. Don't get me wrong, meditation is an EXCELLENT practice, but something about it worries me in regards to my bipolar disorder. This statement that I read about it:

"TM seems to turn on the whole brain and make it function as a holistic unit. This is a common feature of those people who report peak-performances in business, art or sports."

This statement about turning your whole body into a unit to produce your "peak" performance, is dangerously close to what it is like when I am manic. You have seen some of the things I wrote on other threads Laurie, I have a REAL problem with drawing the line between my mental illness and a healthy spiritual experience of the mind. So many things were thrown at me, (from doctors, psych wards, pills, pills and more pills), and then thrown at me from the whole OPPOSITE direction, (the power of prayer, deep guided meditation to find your inner "self," even what monks put themselves through with sleep-deprivation and malnutrition to achieve eniightenment).

As you can see I am being pulled in two COMPLETELY opposite directions when I am trying to find peace, and as AMAZING as TM sounds, I might get sucked into another trip to the psych ward. As paranoid as that may sound, it is a REAL possiblity for a person like me, especially with the experiences that I have had in my life.

Oh, and the fact that there is a TM teacher a few miles from where I live, is a little unnerving.

But, that's not your experience though, because you have benefited from it. So even though it might be a bit dangerous for me, (in my opinion), and I will have to try and find more basic practices, it doesn't take away from the fact that I wholeheartedly appreciate your input!

[mote.of.soul]

Hello LadyShadow. I practise, almost constantly, a kind of mindfulness thing where, if I feel my mind drifting and causing negative feelings, I put my concentration and awareness onto three things; sight, sounds, and also my breath, simultaneously. This has a way of evaporating the train of thoughts and allows me to regain some focus and composure. It's a bit like treading water in the middle of choppy ocean, and it doesn't always work properly, but it's better than losing myself, within myself. I see it as a form of meditative practise, yes.

I like your technique of counting and touching the fingers. I might try that as well.

[*Laurie*]

Hmmm. That is a rather odd description of TM, at least from my experience back in the late-70's (!!). When I learned TM it was very calming, extremely grounding.

I also have MAJOR problems with healthy spirituality and mental illness. That's especially true if I'm depressed or manic (obviously). You put that so well. Yes, I fully understand. That was what attracted me so strongly to Buddhist meditation. Just breathe and notice all the "stuff" - the "monkey-mind" - as it floats by.

As for sleep deprivation and all that - in all my years of studying Buddhism, going to retreats, staying at the Zen center (a gorgeous place, so peaceful, right next to the ocean), I have never once met a teacher or monk who did what I call "parlor tricks". I don't believe that any of that "wearing a hair shirt" stuff has to do with a healthy meditation and spiritual practice.

Anyway, back to TM - honestly, if I revisited it nowadays I would do so just to check it out...kind of, as an experience. A healthy diversion, of sorts. I wouldn't even take it that seriously. Besides, TM instruction used to cost $50. Now it's $1,000! Yikes. There are scholarships, good, because no way do I have, or would I pay, that kind of money for a TM course. Or any course. It's no wonder rock stars practice TM these days.

So. If you're really interested in being in a meditation practice, I highly recommend a basic Buddhist practice. No bells and whistles, just breathing and grounding yourself.

[LadyShadow]

Originally Posted by mote.of.soul

Hello LadyShadow. I practise, almost constantly, a kind of mindfulness thing where, if I feel my mind drifting and causing negative feelings, I put my concentration and awareness onto three things; sight, sounds, and also my breath, simultaneously. This has a way of evaporating the train of thoughts and allows me to regain some focus and composure. It's a bit like treading water in the middle of choppy ocean, and it doesn't always work properly, but it's better than losing myself, within myself. I see it as a form of meditative practise, yes.

I like your technique of counting and touching the fingers. I might try that as well.

Thanks mote, that sounds like an awesome way of meditating! You know the whole putting concentration on sight, sounds and breathing. I have to say, my little technique, (of counting and touching each of my fingers back and forth) has been REALLY helpful, you know, more than I thought. What you describe there as your technique of practicing mindfulness when the negative thoughts come in, is really similar of how I am handling those kinda of thoughts too. So in a way, we are practicing the same thing, but just going about it in different ways. I like your technique though, so I will give yours a try as well. Thanks for the advice!!

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Hmmm. That is a rather odd description of TM, at least from my experience back in the late-70's (!!). When I learned TM it was very calming, extremely grounding.

I also have MAJOR problems with healthy spirituality and mental illness. That's especially true if I'm depressed or manic (obviously). You put that so well. Yes, I fully understand. That was what attracted me so strongly to Buddhist meditation. Just breathe and notice all the "stuff" - the "monkey-mind" - as it floats by.

As for sleep deprivation and all that - in all my years of studying Buddhism, going to retreats, staying at the Zen center (a gorgeous place, so peaceful, right next to the ocean), I have never once met a teacher or monk who did what I call "parlor tricks". I don't believe that any of that "wearing a hair shirt" stuff has to do with a healthy meditation and spiritual practice.

Anyway, back to TM - honestly, if I revisited it nowadays I would do so just to check it out...kind of, as an experience. A healthy diversion, of sorts. I wouldn't even take it that seriously. Besides, TM instruction used to cost $50. Now it's $1,000! Yikes. There are scholarships, good, because no way do I have, or would I pay, that kind of money for a TM course. Or any course. It's no wonder rock stars practice TM these days.

So. If you're really interested in being in a meditation practice, I highly recommend a basic Buddhist practice. No bells and whistles, just breathing and grounding yourself.

Wow thanks Laurie for sharing your wisdom with me! You know, I am probably being completetly paranoid for thinking that TM would be harmful or bring on a manic episode, maybe the its the word "transcendental" that scares me you know? Like "transcendence of the mind" sounds like a real out-of-the-world experience that I KNOW I have felt before, but of course "medical professionals" were quick to slap the mania label on top of all of that.

I am glad you understand where I am coming from. Believe it or not Laurie, I totally stumped my therapist on this same subject - he simply had no answer to give me on the whole " what is spirituality, and what is mental illness" argument that I keep having with myself these days.

But you're right you know - I will take out the bells and whistles, and just breathe and ground myself while noticing the "stuff" that is blocking me from experiencing the present moment.

Wow, $1000! Oh geez. You know, I saw the list of fees on the website of the TM course/teacher near me and its four monthly payments of $240!! I mean like WOW! And you said it was once like 50 bucks? Boy times have changed. BUT, this place seems to want to work for you. They had this statement on their site: "Our goal is to make the TM technique available to everyone. Each local TM center offers a payment plan, as well as income-based grant support for those with financial need."

So who knows? I am going to give it a shot and email them and ask them some questions about the course and a payment plan. This might actually work out and be really beneficial to me.

Thanks again Laurie!!