In my head
In my head
I am very new to meditation and buddhism. I have been trying to allow myself a set time to sit down and truly meditate. Today while I was meditating I pictured myself sitting on a lake and with every breath ripples would come from my body and flow out. It was very calming. My question is "Should I be allowing this to happen"? From what I've read, I should be clearing all thoughts from my head. ON the other hand this was a very pleasing experience.
Re: In my head
It does sound nice. No problem. You are learning how to relax. That is important for any spiritual path.timmy113 wrote:I am very new to meditation and buddhism. I have been trying to allow myself a set time to sit down and truly meditate. Today while I was meditating I pictured myself sitting on a lake and with every breath ripples would come from my body and flow out. It was very calming. My question is "Should I be allowing this to happen"? From what I've read, I should be clearing all thoughts from my head. ON the other hand this was a very pleasing experience.
Clearing all thoughts from your head is not part of Buddhism. What are you reading? What are you interested in?
I think the kind folks here will have some good books to recommend for you.
Re: In my head
There are many types of meditation; sounds like the one you did is a relaxation-type meditation.
In Buddhist practice, meditation is often focused more on learning about and taming one's mind.
Here is a good explanation and some basic meditation instruction.
Enjoy!
In Buddhist practice, meditation is often focused more on learning about and taming one's mind.
Here is a good explanation and some basic meditation instruction.
Enjoy!
- PadmaVonSamba
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Re: In my head
don't hold onto it and don't force it away. let it come and go on its own, and just go back to watching your breath.
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EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
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Re: In my head
The meditation that you developed is a very nice visualization; these visualizations can be very useful in meditation practice. One suggestion might be, however, to do as the other posters suggested, and develop a meditation practice with the help of of a teacher and sangha. Books and sutras can be a guide. Some experienced meditators have said that they started with a book or a guide, established a foundational practice, and then over time developed practices (breath centered, shi-kan, body scan, samatha-vipassna, zazen, tonglen, Metta, etc, etc. ) that worked for them individually.