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What is Meditation? How to meditate? [Video]

King Sidharth — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:38:59 +0000

This is first video we did for Meditation Blog. People you will see in this video are: Aryana Vala, Neha and King Sidharth and there is just one voice you will hear from behind the camera, he is Tubb (our cool friend and camera man)

Please pardon the bad lighting and my super tired looks (It was a hectic day, you see) and my school shirt. We will improve as we go.

Same video from Vimeo if you have issues with YouTube (might be blocked at some places:

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Here is a bit of what we talked in video:

What is Meditation?

Meditation is disconnecting from body, thoughts feelings and everything else and in that moment realizing that you are none of them. You are far beyond that what you see and think…

How to do it?

A simple method that we discussed in first post…
Can I meditate in school bus? Is listening to music Meditation too?
Yes! And Yes. Doing anything that pleases you and relaxes you is first step of meditation. Listening to music that inspires you are raises your vibes/lightens your mood is most popular form of meditation.

Do I have to wear orange clothes and stuff? That sucks!

Not at all! Think of meditation as breathing. Most of what is true of breathing is true of meditation too…

Here is what to do after this:

Tell us how you liked the video in comments. Tell us what questions would you like to get answered; what are you views about meditation?

Why not record your own video and post them as video reply? Do comment about how you liked the video and what would you like to see in videos in future. Crazy ideas are always invited!

5 Obstacles to Meditation and How to Overcome Them

King Sidharth — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:19:44 +0000

When idea of writing this post came to my mind. I thought, “Boy, this is gonna be an endless list” but it was not. Obstacles might seem too big or too many to start with. Once you genuinely start doing it, all obstacles are lost. Here are 5 of my all time favourites:

I don’t know how to!
Who’s got the time dude?
It’s boring stuff!
When I close my eyes, I feel so bad!
I can’t concentrate, I just don’t have patience

But How?

This is so human, we want to know ‘how to do it’ before we could actually do it, otherwise sounds illogical to us. But I don’t remember how I breathe or how heart beats, but still I am breathing and my heart is beating. Meditation is natural, it comes from inside.

For starters, to make it easier for you, sit with eyes closed, relaxed body and focus on your breathe. Feel yourself breathing in and out.

Methods like Zen Meditation etc. are some developed ways of meditation which can enhance your own or can help you reach a specific state of mind. But the way you meditate is as personal to you as the way you walk, talk, breathe and live.

Finding Time

This was my favourite excuse. I have school, friends, homework, parents and yes the movies I always wanted to watch (this was the biggest one) and why not, if meditation is all about good, then (I thought) watching movies will do me more good. But little did I know what good it could do.

I kept on writing ‘Meditation’ in my to-do list, sometimes I did sit down (only to get up getting bored – we will cover this in next heading). Finally I stopped putting it on list, and stopped bothering myself and found myself sitting in solitude, silence, closed eyes, clam mind and deep silence. I was meditating.

I stopped thinking of it as a task, and it happened. Try breathing intentionally, you can’t do it for long – you will get bored. Most important things in life like breathing, heart-beat are natural and happen automatically. So is with meditation, let it happen to you. Don’t force it and all time will come.

Boredom – Oops! I slept

I try to motivate my friends to meditate, and most of them try (Yeah! I have good friends). Many of them complain about getting bored and many of them say that they dozed off to sleep. And guess what? It’s a good sign!

It might seem boring in beginning, stay on the line… you are headed in right direction. In time you will find, in this boredom, the treasure – yourself. Put on some light instrumental music (not Bon Jovi!) on very low volume to help a bit.

Emotional Storm

As soon as he closed his eyes, all his extreme good or bad moments replayed in his mind. Emotions started to surface and soon it was a storm. This is story of my friend who was going through a lot in life and whenever he meditated, often cried or laughed loudly.

Are you experiencing something similar? Does your mind suddenly becomes an emotional chaos and you just want to leave the world?

If this happens during meditations, it’s good. Meditation is providing a safe outlet to all that emotional energy. Let it flow out… in time you will learn to direct your emotions, in the direction you want!

Can’t Focus / Can’t Concentrate

Once in a month I make a group of people who are interesting in exploring meditation and invite them to a park or garden. We sit there and talk about meditation and then, obviously, meditate. Having learners by your side helps a lot when you yourself are learning; schools also function on same principle (don’t they?)

This time a friend’s friend got excited and joined us. He was so excited that when all of them were meditating (and I was guiding if you are wondering) he kept on popping up with questions.

It happens to the best of us. Sit in meditation and mind starts making grocery list, or the important phone call we always forgot to make and we almost forgot about the assignment which is due tomorrow.
The biggest mistake people make here is to get frustrated, blame themselves for not having being able to concentrate or simply give up.

Think of your mind as a little kid whom you take out with you (walking on road) that child is excited and wants to get in middle of road. The child doesn’t know where to go and what to do, but you know. So you lovingly and patiently hold his hands and tell him, “Not that way dear; come this way (we have cookies!).”

Do same with mind. Remember to be patient and loving, “Not that way dear; come this way (we have abundance… of cookies!)”. Dare you shout on a child, and he will tell you what hell (frustration) is same is true for your mind.

Are there any obstacles you have? A new all time favourite that you would like to share (I will try my best to answer it), then just let me know (use comment section below or Contact Page). Well at least you could tell us how you liked (or unlike) this post.

Beyond the wall by Giuseppe Bognanni, on Flickr

Bored by HotDirt21, on Flickr

Samael by SAMAEL TRIP, on Flickr

How to start meditating? You are already doing it!

King Sidharth — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:05:42 +0000

Do you think you don’t meditate? Well think again! What happens when it’s your favourite track playing on iPod? When you feel so good petting your cat? When you love spending time with your best friend? When you just take a quick nap? You are meditating! No, really you are!

Meditation is as Natural as Breathing.

You don’t have to sit in some yoga poses wearing orange clothes to meditate. Think of it as breathing. Do you take out time to breathe? Do you make any extra effort to breathe? Do you wear special clothes to breathe? No! Same is true for meditation too.

Don’t do anything to begin. Either follow the simple meditation process I talked about in earlier post or just do any of following:

Plug-in your iPod: Just put on your favourite inspirational music. Love songs do the best.
Paint: Even if you think you can’t. Just paint for the fun of it, not to show it to anyone… just for your soul.
Write a Poem: Let your thoughts flow, forget the rhyming scheme or book on ‘How to Write Poetry’ just be with the flow.
Watch Sunset or Sunrise: It’s wonderful, do it with someone special and now it’s really special.
Travel: You are not living your life id you are not traveling.
Pet your cat: or whatever pet you have (if you have one)
Play with a baby: it really teaches you a lot.
Play a music instrument or Learn to play one.
Watch Comedy Shows: Well that’s easy

What’s on your list? Add to the list! Let’s make it grow. (Use comment section)

None of these sound like traditional meditation, do they? Well that’s what this blog is all about: new simple, easy or crazy ideas.

These simple things will allow you get more control over your thoughts. They will start flying in formations. You will begin to change your feelings deliberately. You will start living by heart. This is meditation. Just let go. Be at ease and let it flow. Now, you are at peace.

Share your experiences, problems, questions or simple/crazy ideas in comments. I’d love to hear them all!

Meditation? What is that…?

King Sidharth — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:57:33 +0000

When I started talking to my friends about meditation, I discovered that many of them think of meditation as a chore, a supplement pill that you could take daily or as a religious ritual. But it is none. Meditation is something as natural as breathing.

Meditation is all about calming your mind’s chatter, letting your body relax, letting your thoughts go and discover the real self in that moment. It is a realization that you are far more than your body, mind and conscious. In fact, most part of us is non-physical and vibrational – soul. It is like going on a treasure hunt, and finding the treasure –you.

What happens next, no language in world can describe. It’s a sleep deeper than sleep and awareness beyond what we know as conscious.
Why should I do it? Why it’s cool?!

“Meditation is pure awesomeness.”

There are loads and loads of reasons. I’ve written the main ones and divided them in sections.

Cool Meditation = Cool Body

Improves body’s general state of health
Maintains healthy Blood Pressure
Increases blood flow to every part of body (especially to heart and brain)
Increases patience (you don’t loose your temper so often)
Fast Healing: be it post-operational, wounds, injuries or anything.

And there are many more. If you have a scientific mind (like me ) then an article from my favourite science magazine New Scientist :

“Meditating does more than just feel good and calm you down, it makes you perform better – and alters the structure of your brain, researchers have found.”

Meditation Builds up the brain | Nature

I’ve read articles in Nature magazine too, but you need to pay to read them.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v456/n7219/full/456170a.html

Cool Meditation = Cool You

Improves concentration: That’s a big one! Very helpful for, both, students and people at work. Make most out of your time, even if kid next door loves rock music!
Reduces Stress: Tired of looking tired and exhausted? Well, not anymore!
Boosts Self-Confidence: We know it’s priceless
More control on thoughts: So when mind tries to procrastinate you can have your control back.

I suggest that mediation breaks the illusion that mind runs the show. We began to realize our true potential and respect & love ourselves even more.

So, where to being?

I will give you some easy steps for starters. Wear easy clothes (you don’t want to keep adjusting that funky jeans, do you?). Now what you need is a comfortable place to sit in. Yoga postures do help, but to start sit in whatever way you like. Just make sure that every part of your body is relaxed. Ease out any stress. Here are steps:

Close your eyes
And take a deep breathe in and out ( 2 times)
Now focus on your breathing, feel yourself breathing in and out.
Let thoughts come and go, let feelings come and go… just focus on breath.
If your mind goes on your favourite scene from LOST, lovingly and patiently bring it back and focus on your breathe

Your mind might doze off to sleep or something similar (it’s relaxing finally, you see) let it be. Just focus on your breathe.
That’s it go for as long as you can. Maybe 5 min in beginning and as you will begin to explore and get more comfortable. You will automatically want to do it more.

So how was your experience? Let me know in comments:
Photo by ODDSOCK via Flickr