A warm welcome to Beginners Meditation!

I have always been a fan of mind body disciplines and have ventured into many paths over the years.  Some with mind, some with body, although you really cannot separate the two in such a way.

Meditation is always a key element of these disciplines.  Having experienced the benefits of meditation over the years, I would like to assist newbies wanting to discover and learn about meditation. 

Beginners Meditation is a dedication to those just starting out on the path of meditation.  This site is here to help you with all you need to know to get started with your meditation practice.  Even in beginners meditation the benefits of meditation can be reaped.

All the different elements of meditation will be discussed including the best meditation for beginners, working with meditation sound, meditation mantras and much more.

I hope you enjoy our journey together into Beginners Meditation.

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The mind is the busiest part of the body.  It is always thinking, asking questions, imagining things, and a lot more.  It can easily wander thus hindering you to achieve a successful meditation practice.

So how will you stop your mind from wandering?

First, it would be very advisable to find a quiet place where you can meditate.  A quiet place will free the mind from any form of distractions.  Remove equipments such as cellphones and televisions which can ring anytime and disrupt your practice.

Next, try to find a comfortable sitting position.  You can try sitting on a cushion so you will not feel the hard floor and complain about it.

In addition, you should wear comfortable clothes. Wearing loose clothing enables you to move freely without restrictions when you are doing meditation poses.

You can always try chanting as a form of meditation.  Chanting and sound helps bring the mind back into focus when it wanders.

You can also try having a meditation object.  When your mind loses focus, simply turn your attention to that particular meditation object or subject (i.e. your breathing or a candle) to bring back your focus into your mediation.

It really can take a while to tame the mind when first starting meditation.  It is best if you start with little and often periods of meditation, such as 5 minutes and slowly build up.  It is much easier to start slow and build up, rather than aim to high, crash and burn.

Remember it takes time to learn any new activity, so be easy on yourself but disciplined at the same time.  Hopefully with these tips, you will have an easier time getting started.

Do you have your own beginners meditation tip to share with us?  If so, leave us a comment.

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Before going into that, let us first begin with the basics.  Meditation is a form of mental and sometimes even physical exercise where you can get rid of the daily stress you receive from work and daily life.  It is the art of calming both the mind and body and helps you to achieve inner piece. 

Here are the tips you can use in your meditation practice.

•    Find a quiet space – A quiet space free from any form of distraction will definitely help you.  Distractions can prevent you from fully concentrating and it can disrupt your meditation.  You can even practice in your garden or in your room as long as you won’t be disturbed.

•    Right time – They say it is best to meditate early in the morning before doing any form of activity.  This is the time where you can fully concentrate and your body is not yet stressed out. 

•    Comfortable posture – Your posture can also influence the success of your meditation practice.  You may sit on a chair or perform the lotus pose or derivations.  Just make sure that your back is aligned straight so that the energy will flow freely through your body. 

•    Use breathing techniques – Deep breathing techniques can help meditation easier.  Breathing is really essential in meditation because helps your body relax and your mind to focus and concentrate.  Once your body and mind are orientated the rest is easier.

•    Right clothes – As much as possible, wear light, comfortable, and loose clothes.  Restrictive and tight fitting garments can prevent you from executing your meditation posture.

Employing the top 5 tips in your beginners meditation practice can really make everything much more easy for you.  Just by practicing beginners meditation everyday only for 15 minutes you can receive the benefits it brings.

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Meditation has its roots deeply entrenched in ancient philosophical disciplines. These disciplines such as Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and many others have long been reputed for putting a high value on achieving an elevated state of well-being with the mind as a catalyst and main avenue.

As such, meditation has been considered since time immemorial as a pursuit for internal peace.  This certain internal peace, more often than not, is the primary goal for meditating.  In beginners meditation, this is what many try to obtain, and not necessarily easily so.

Indeed, internal peace is not something that unfolds so easily.  For starters, its pillars are some of the most elusive elements especially in today’s fast paced living.  In beginners meditation, to obtain success, you need to understand the necessity of  commitment.  This is fundamental in order to realize general happiness, an elevated state of concentration and a reduced level of anxiety.

While it is true that meditation is not for everybody, it is important to point out that a decent percentage of those who try it with commitment do succeed. This only shows that given the proper mindset, beginners meditation is something one can be successful in, and given the chance, might even be enjoyable in the long run.

So in aiming for internal peace with your beginners meditation practice, you have to be fully committed and have a sense of purpose if you are wishing for a level of success.  Meditate in a regular pattern and give it the adequate level of seriousness for your meditation practice to pay the dividends you are desiring .

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Duration : 0:4:10

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In the practice of meditation, it is essential for the person to be able to concentrate.  Being able to concentrate will help you to achieve a successful meditation practice.  It can even bring your meditation experience to a higher level.

Concentration techniques are employed in the practice of beginners meditation to aid the meditator in controlling his/her thoughts.  It is really common to sometimes be distracted with an uncontrolled flow of thoughts.  However, if these thoughts cannot be controlled, it can hinder proper meditation.

Here are three effective concentration meditation techniques that can help beginners with their meditation practice.

·         Zazen meditation

This meditation technique is also called breathing meditation.  This is commonly used by the Buddhist tradition.  As the name implies, you should place your concentration on your breathing.  Simply count the number of inhalation and exhalation you make.  By doing so, you can gain control over your mind.  It keeps you focused and would avoid your thoughts to wander.

·         Vipassana meditation

This is also called as insight meditation.  This meditation technique also uses breathing.  However, the difference from the Zazen meditation is that Vipassana focuses on the sensations that arise from your body by breathing. 

·         Concentration using an object

This is the most common concentration meditation technique.  You just focus your attention to an external object that you have selected.  One popular object used is the flame of the candle.  By focusing on the object, it builds your ability to concentrate.

Controlling the mind requires practice and technique. You can try the above concentration techniques to help you develop your concentration with your beginners meditation.

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Duration : 0:8:41

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I have known people who decided to embark on the path of meditation and quit after only a day or two.  The typical complaints were that it was too hard and complicated.  They got frustrated because they failed after their first attempts.

These are the common issues people have when their start with beginners meditation.

But do you want to know what the secret ingredient is for success with your beginners meditation?

I will tell you, although you may not like what you are going to hear.

The secret is actually, consistency.

Yes, you read that right.  As the popular saying goes, practice makes perfect.  Or better still, practice makes progress.

You must really be persistent to learn and later master meditation.  Yes, it may be difficult at first but as you go along, performing meditation becomes easier.  Just like any other thing you try out, starting is the most difficult phase.

Take one step at a time.  Take it easy.

Try not to rush things.  For example, you can start practicing meditation for 5 minutes then increase your time by 5 minutes every week until you reach 30 minutes or even an hour.  By doing so, you strengthen and build your practice.

In addition, having a regular time schedule where you perform meditation can be very helpful for you.  You can practice it every morning before you start your day to day activities or depending on your preference.

With beginners meditation you really have to practice religiously to make progress and reap the numerous benefits of meditation.  Its simple really, you just need to be consistent.

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Duration : 0:4:5

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Learn how to meditate in person by taking our class at the Hazy Moon:

http://www.hazymoon.com/Classes/tabid/63/Default.aspx

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Visit out website:

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This video teaches you how to meditate as taught in the tradition of Zen Buddhism. These meditation techniques, known as Zazen, have been passed down generation after generation from the Shakyamuni Buddha.

Transcript:
Hazy Moon Zen Center: Meditation Instruction
“The Zazen I speak of is not learning meditation. It is the manifestation of ultimate reality.” – Dogen
At the Hazy Moon, we practice classical meditation as taught by the Shakyamuni Buddha and his successors, passed down from India to China, to Japan, to America. The form is simple and enduring.
To begin, you will need a quiet room, comfortable clothes, and a cushion.
Choosing Your Position.
Sit on the forward third of your cushion. The lower body will form a tripod – knees on the ground and the base supported with a cushion, bench or chair. Choose a position you can sustain for comfort and stability.
For the full lotus position, place your right foot on your left thigh, and your left foot against your right thigh.
The half lotus position places the right foot on the left thigh and the left foot on the floor against the right thigh.
In burmese, both feet are on the floor, tucked against each leg.
To sit in the seiza position, set the cushion up vertically. The shins lie on either side of the cushion.
A bench can also be used.
When sitting in a chair, place your feet flat on the ground, and sit towards the chair’s edge to ensure an erect spine.
Whatever position you choose, your upper body will be the same. Place your hands in the cosmic mudra – right palm up against the lower belly. Left atop right, middle knuckles overlap. Thumb-tips lightly touch and form an oval. Use a supporting cushion if your hands fall low or pull your shoulders.
Finding Your Posture
Whatever position is right for you, begin by swaying side to side to center the spine. Elongate your spine by pushing up towards the ceiling then relax. Tip the pelvis forward slightly to encourage the natural curve of your back. Relax the belly and let it protrude.
Ears should be in line with the shoulders, shoulders over hips. Center the tip of the nose over the navel, and tuck the chin in slightly.
Eyes are open, lowered at a 45 degree angle in an unfocused and gentle gaze toward the floor. Look out a few feet in front of you.
Have a relaxed but alert posture. Take time to set up your body correctly every time you sit.
Breathing
Begin by paying attention to your breath. Let it move naturally, without effort. Count each exhale and inhale, one to ten.
Onnnnne, onnnnnnne. Twooooooo, twooooo. Threeee, threeeee.
Breathe from the lower belly, about two fingers width below your navel. Your breath may be shallow at first. It will deepen naturally with practice. Set an alarm for yourself for 10 minutes. You can experiment with longer times. It is best to sit every day.
Count silently from one to ten, one to ten, one to ten. If you lose the count, resume where you left off or go back to one. When thoughts come up, don’t engage with them and don’t suppress them. Just return to the count.
You are now ready to begin.
For information on introductory classes or to sign up for retreats visit www.hazymoon.com

Duration : 0:5:11

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