[DavidQD]

I just now meditated for the first time in probably around a year. I didn't know exactly how I was supposed to meditate, so I looked up how to meditate as a Buddhist on google.

I found a neat article that was a how to about beginning meditation. I took the information from the article and when I breathed in I counted to 1. With every in breath I would count. I counted from 1 to 10 for every set of breaths. Once I got to breath number 10 I would start over. I didn't do it close to perfectly though. Sometimes I messed up and counted wrong or counted over 10. I took deep breaths in and out.

I have some back pain when I sit and that made it harder to relax. I kept moving around a bit every now and then during the 10 minutes that I meditated. I was trying to just focus on the breathing.

I don't know a lot about Buddhism and meditation yet. Any advice about meditating would be greatly appreciated.

At first I hated the feelings I was having with my eyes closed and I was feeling uncomfortable. I hated the meditation at first but started to like it more and more as the minutes went on. Is it common to hate breathing meditation at first? After I felt so much better. I opened my eyes and felt like I had taken some anti anxiety medicine. I feel more alert. It is a really nice feeling. Now I love the breathing meditation because of the affect it has had on my awareness and mood.

Also, I live with my parents even though i'm an adult. I can't drive, because I can't afford car insurance. I don't have a job. I can get my dad to take me places on his days off. He is off two days a week.

My parents are both devout Christians and would probably be very uncomfortable taking me to a meditation and or Buddhist meeting. My mom doesn't even know that i'm learning Buddhism. My parents wouldn't understand, so I am not tatlking to them about it. It makes it hard though because not only would they not be happy for me most likely I live in a small town. There is not much opportunity to meet Buddhist people. There was one group I spoke with about a year ago when I was interested in Buddhism before. However, this group from what I heard seemed to believe in an immortal soul that is reincarnated and I couldn't believe that. I don't get how you can have an immortal soul and still be impermanent. If i'm wrong please correct me. I honestly mean that. If there really is a Buddhist teaching of a soul then i'm open minded about it. I hope to get some advice on that if anyone would like to tell me about it. I would really appreciate it.

I am going to try to read if not today then tomorrow about Buddhism. I want to find the book by Ajahn Sumedho, "The Way It Is"

I have also listened to and read along with the "What is Buddhism" thread. I took Aloka-D's advice.

I hope everyone is doing well.

[baxodrom]

David,

Having shifted completely from Zen and Zazen -the meditation system of Soto Zen- into Anapanasati, I am not skilled in Breathing meditation yet, but this can be of some help to guide you into Breathing Meidtation:

A speech given by Ajahn Chah with some guidelines for Breathing meditation:

Q: Can we focus on the tip of the nose?

AC: That’s fine. Whatever suits you, whatever you feel comfortable with and helps you fix your mind, focus on that.

It’s like this: in teaching meditation, if we get attached to the ideals and take the guidelines too literally, it can be difficult to understand. When doing a standard meditation, such as anapanasati, first we should make the determination that right now, we are going to do this practice, and we take anapanasati as our foundation. We turn our attention to only focusing on the breath, at three points, as it passes through the nostrils, the chest, and the abdomen. When the air enters, it first passes the nose, then through the chest, then to the end point of the abdomen. As it leaves the body, the beginning is the abdomen, the middle is the chest, and the end is the nose.

We merely note it. This is a way to start controlling the mind, tying awareness to these points at the beginning, middle, and end of the inhalations and exhalations.

Before we begin, we should sit and let the mind relax first. It’s similar to doing something like sewing on a machine. When we are learning to use the sewing machine, first we just sit in front of the machine to get familiar with it and feel comfortable. Here, we just sit and breathe. Not fixing awareness on anything, we merely take note that we are breathing. We take note of whether the breath is relaxed or not and how long or short it is. Having noticed this, then we begin focusing on the inhalation and exhalation at the three points.

We practice like this until we become skilled in it and it is going smoothly. Then the next stage is to focus awareness only on the sensation of the breath at the tip of the nose or the upper lip. At this point we aren’t concerned with whether the breath is long or short, but only focus on the sensation of entering and exiting.

There may be different phenomena contacting the senses, or thoughts arising. This is called initial thought (vitakka). It brings up some idea, be it about the nature of compounded phenomena (sankhara), about the world, or whatever. Once the mind has brought it up, the mind will want to get involved and merge with it. If it’s an object that is wholesome, then let the mind take it up. If it is something unwholesome, stop it immediately. If it is something wholesome, then let the mind contemplate on it, and gladness, satisfaction, and happiness will come about. The mind will be bright and clear as the breath goes in and out, these initial thoughts appear, and the mind takes them up. Then it becomes discursive thought (vicara). The mind develops familiarity with the object, exerting itself and merging with it. At this point, there is no sleepiness.

Found here: pages 6 to 9
or this one, where you are guided step by step so to get started:

"Anapanasati" by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

Or this one, that has been recommended here too:

"Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond" by Ajahn Brahm

With metta,

[jeraveike]

Also David,

You can explore this thread and go directly to post # 2 where Element left us some guidelines:

Restlessness in Meditation/High of realisation

[arrasleds]

Thank you Kaarine, I will read look into the information you have shown me.

[arrasleds]

BWB has this introductions to meditation too David,

Meditation

[DoctorAlexandro]

Hi David,

It's ok for you to sit in a straight-backed chair if you get back problems. and it's fine to only do about 5-10 minutes to begin with. (That's what I was taught to do myself when I first started meditating)


Just keep it simple.

I recommend the Ajahn Jayasaro Buddhist Meditation videos mentioned by Kaarine #5


with kind wishes

Aloka

[EmxATW5m]

When I meditate I sit in a normal upright chair (I also have a bad back) and close my eyes. I put my attention on my breathing, watching the breath in and the breath out. I don't count, I just focus the mind on my breathing. When you do this other thoughts will come into your mind, this is not something to judge and its not a failure either. You just notice the thoughts without judging them and return your mind to the breathing. Each time you return to the breathing you are reinforcing a pattern in you mind that will help you not to get carried away by thoughts in your mind and allow the mind to be more centred and over time this develops equanimity.
You do not meditate once and become a different person, meditation calms the mind slowly over time and to benefit you need to practice regularly.
I have been meditating for about 6 months on a regular basis and it's changing the way my mind works. Even when things are not going well my mind still feels like a balanced and safe place to be.



The best book I've ever read on Meditation is called "Mindfulness in plain English" by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. and is only £5 on Amazon at the moment.

[Cersdog]

As already said by others, please listen to Ajhan Jayasaro's series. I think it is the best on Buddhist meditation I have so far found on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd7a9Ur2x0o

I think you have got pretty sound advice above - "You do not meditate once and become a different person." There can be times things look more hopeless than they do now. If in case it does, point is not to give up.

I second Kaarine's recommendation of Ajhan Brahm's book: "Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond." It covers just about everything on meditation and in very simple language. Highly recommended for a beginner. You can google and download the first few chapters free but if you can please buy the book.

There is no soul or reincarnation taught by the Buddha. To get an idea about Buddhism in general while you are doing meditation, The four noble truths and the 8-fold path are good places to start:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/a.../waytoend.html

[poonnassunlix]

The best book I've ever read on Meditation is called "Mindfulness in plain English" by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. and is only £5 on Amazon at the moment.

...Or free download here: http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/mindf...in_english.pdf

[Bletlemof]

Thank you Kaarine, Aloka, Karma, and Deshy. I will look into some of the resources that have been presented to me. I want to be honest and say that i'm honestly a little overwhelmed. I feel like I need a guide or a teacher, but I live in a really small town and I don't have any money. My parents pay for everything. I also take prescription medication because of my anxiety disorder. Is it possible to progress in Buddhism without a personal guide? Is it bad that I take perscription medicine? I unfortunately seem to need it. Will that affect me ever being "awake". I am sorry that my response was more delayed today. I am not sure that I need a teacher, but I guess i'm just worried. I hope that my worries don't affect any of you. I don't want to be negative to others or to myself. I know I need to try to let go of this worry. I appreciate everyones input. Thank you.

[AmfitNom]

Hi David,

It certainly isn't bad that you are taking the medicine which has been prescribed for you! There is no need to worry about not having a personal guide or not being "awake". You are doing fine, please be at ease with this and gently let yourself relax with your breathing....

There's no need to rush or get overwhelmed by being given suggestions for too many resources. As I mentioned before, just keep things very simple and take your time because there's no hurry.

Don't worry about not having any money for books.

As you inquired about meditation, the Ajahn Jayasaro series of short Buddhist meditation videos are all you need to focus on for the moment ..... when you have a little time to relax and watch them.

With lots of good wishes to you,

Aloka

[ForumMasta]

I also take prescription medication because of my anxiety disorder.

David, keep taking your prescription.

It makes things easy for you and for your further practice of Buddhism and meditation, please.

Is it possible to progress in Buddhism without a personal guide? Absolutly YES!

Many people like you or me do not have the great teacher at hand.

So, that do not mean that we can not do well in our practice of what Buddha taught and getting skills in meditation.

Is it bad that I take perscription medicine? NO

I unfortunately seem to need it. Hopefully you can get that medication. And that is fortunate.

Will that affect me ever being "awake". No David.

I am not sure that I need a teacher, but I guess I'm just worried. The very best teacher is Buddha. He left compassionate instructions to make your life happier and joyful.

Just follow them.

That is all.

I hope that my worries don't affect any of you. Don't worry David. As Aloka told you... be relaxed.

You have a LOT of material. Enough for getting started.

So take your time, bring together the meditation material that has been given here and...

...start with the videos of Ajahn Jayasaro.

Don't rush yourself.

Thank you. You are welcome David,

[9mm_fan]

Wow thanks a lot Aloka and Kaarine. You are both very kind to me. I really appreciate it. I will defnitely keep taking my prescription meds. I honestly don't have much of a choice, because when I don't take them I feel really bad. At least that is the way it seems. I really appreciate the support and advice. I will use the meditation material that has been suggested. I will probably focus the most on those videos. I have an easier time learning from videos than written words. I don't know why. Thanks again though. The online support is great to have.