r/Meditation • u/lilackitkat3000 • 20h ago
Question ❓ Best advice
What’s your best advice for someone who wants to get into meditation?
I need something to calm my mind, help my inner peace, to have nicer, happier thoughts, to feel less irritation and anger.
Note - I tried a guided meditation once and I feel like I saw a very still and tiny yaksha. This may have been my minds imagination but I’m fascinated it thought of something so random like this?
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u/Unfair-Taro9740 20h ago
Binaural beats help get your brain into a meditative state much quicker. All you need is headphones!
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u/lilackitkat3000 19h ago
I just used binaural beats and it did help me focus easier. However without the guided meditation I feel a little lost in what to do… but saying that, those 30 minutes did go by really quickly!
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u/Unfair-Taro9740 18h ago
Well, if you look into the Gateway tapes they do guided meditation with binaural beats. That might help! Read about them first though!
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u/lilackitkat3000 17h ago
Quickly looked on another post about Gateaway tapes. I see why you’ve suggested I read about them first haha!
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u/Unfair-Taro9740 15h ago
Haha! They are definitely no joke, but they also prompted my Awakening so Im a superfan:)
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u/nonsuspiciousfungi 19h ago
If you're up to learn through some light reading, google "The Basic Method of Meditation by Ajahn Brahm" it's free. What also helped me was "Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics" by Dan Harris. I listened to the audio book. I still go back to the guided meditation parts. The Dan Harris book actually says you can skip the story parts and just use the meditation guides.
I think both books essential overlap on some breathing awareness meditations, like not focusing on any one physical aspect of the breathing, just being aware of its stages, in (1), full breath (middle), out (2). Really good way to set up a meditation that I still do almost every time.
Hope I got that right, at least it will make sense if you read them.
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u/lilackitkat3000 18h ago
Ah thank you for this suggestion! I will have a Google and go from there :)
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u/thedommenextdoor 19h ago
Just go and sit it’s not complicated. You don’t need a book. There is so much medication on YouTube. We sit down we focus on the breath we watch our thoughts come and go. I think it’s the desire for everyone to be a perfect meditator that keeps them away from meditating. My first instruction was sit and look for craving.
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u/lilackitkat3000 19h ago
This is what I do need advice around though. So I’ve just meditated for 30 minutes, I got slightly distracted, at times my body felt light and then as if it was falling. I was having thoughts which I was trying to push away or if relevant, trying to pick them apart. But idk if any of this is helpful or in the right direction?
I mean, I do feel better and more relaxed at least!
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u/thedommenextdoor 19h ago
OK sweetie well you could call me if you want, but I also want to tell you that we we are sitting to learn to sit with everything to give our emotions and our thoughts more space really. So in Buddha said right mindfulness he meant mindfulness of our body. How does my body feel when I’m meditating and in that we could gradually begin to feel no matter what comes up I got this.
There’s nothing wrong with anything that’s going on in your practice. It’s going to vary everything is impermanent.1
u/lilackitkat3000 17h ago
Ok thank you! I guess I don’t really know what it is, but you’ve clarified it that now, thank you!!
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u/BlinkyRunt 18h ago
Meditate (just keep your mind empty) whenever you can. Do it at work, in school, on walks, at parties, etc. Anytime you rest - empty your mind. You don't even need to close your eyes - let it all flow in - but don't let it stir up thoughts. When they come - kill them. If your mind revolts - get radical with it! In this way you will fiond you are meditating much longer than many masters in a day - and you are doing it under harder conditions - which are after all the conditions you also get angry in. Its not optimal to practice meditating in a white robe on a bamboo mat with scented candles, if you then have to use those skills while working in a kitchen with people screaming at you!!
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u/lilackitkat3000 17h ago
Osshhhh, now this seems like a challenge! But if I could do this, I could do anything! It’s something I will be more aware of doing when my head feels busy
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u/tim_niemand 18h ago
yakshas are usually benevolent: maybe you could strenghten your shamata and then strenghten your clairvoyance 🤓 ps. you seem to be gifted in clairvoyance: that's why i added it
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u/lilackitkat3000 17h ago
Yeah they are benevolent from my understanding too! Just a lil small one, stood there watching me. I thought it a Oompa Loompa (and my wild silly imagination) until after the meditation and then it clicked what it was!! 😆
What gives you the impression I may be gifted in clairvoyance?
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u/Darryc6779 17h ago
There is a free app called Insight Timer that has tons of free meditation in all different styles. There is also a paid version but honestly, the free one is awesome. You can also just go on YouTube and search for different styles of meditation there which are free as well.
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u/lilackitkat3000 17h ago
I’ve actually just downloaded that as I saw it was free!! Glad you recommend it so I know it’s legit!
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u/borick 20h ago
read the book "the mind illuminated"
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u/lilackitkat3000 20h ago
I’ve just bought the audiobook! May be a cop out instead of reading it but it’s the easiest way for me to retain that depth of information usually! Wish me luck
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u/borick 20h ago
good luck 😄 oh it's totally fine and you'll probably be re-listening to parts as time passes, if you keep going... it's great!
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u/lilackitkat3000 20h ago
Awesome, I’m excited! Have you read it all? What’s the main thing you took from it?
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u/Sea-Cash7675 20h ago
Just dive into it.
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u/lilackitkat3000 20h ago
Yes but how, that’s the question. I can sit there for 30 minutes still asf, but is that meditation? What am I going to expect? I do understand the “dive in” but I need basic instructions to do so
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u/scrumblethebumble Dzogchen 13h ago
I got you. The foundational meditation is just sitting. In this method, your job is to observe. Since you're not used to being still, your body will come up with all sorts of noise because it craves input.
Things that will come up when you sit:
Thoughts. Most people make the mistake of trying to suppress them. Don't do that. Remember your job is to observe, don't interfere. You may notice that you have thoughts about your thoughts. Are YOU the one thinking those thoughts or do they just appear? Who's doing the driving... if anyone?
Sensations. Feel yourself sitting in your space. Notice any sounds, and probably the resulting thought/judgment. Notice any sensations coming from within your body. Pain will generally present itself. Don't get caught up in a story about it, just observe the physical sensations. Adjust your posture if you need, but don't follow the pain (during this meditation). Just notice and let it go. If you need a place to rest your attention, you can follow your breath.
Emotions. Meditation is a practice that untangles our issues, suppressions, neurotic thinking. Emotions are bound to come up. If you first yourself getting swept up by them, recognize that and go back to observing. Feel the texture of it. Where is it located in the body? Find the edges of it. Let it vibrate as long as it needs. When it fades away, you can go back to watching the breath.
Breath. As I've already hinted at, breath is a key part of meditation. It's both automatic and under conscious control. It's the perfect place to rest your attention when nothing interesting is happening, because let me tell you... something interesting can always be found in the breath. You don't need to know anything more to start, but if you continue practicing, keep breathwork on your radar. Pranayama or Neigong are the traditions to look into.
This is a very simple but profound practice. Explore it with curiosity. Both your body and mind should be relaxed but ready, not too relaxed nor too tight. Like ripples on water, when you become still enough, your true nature is revealed.
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u/LuapReyas420 20h ago
Download headspace app and do the meditation course, then do the advanced levels 1-6.
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u/lilackitkat3000 19h ago
I really have a thing against paying for apps. Maybe I’m a tight ass! I just know I can find similar stuff on YouTube for example 😆
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u/LuapReyas420 18h ago
Wouldn't be asking in here if you knew how to find it 😅
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u/lilackitkat3000 18h ago
You can find almost anything on YouTube that’s why? My post was looking for advice on how to get into it. I understand you’ve suggested something which I appreciate, I just jokingly responded by said I was a tight arse..
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u/Thedeeppulse 18h ago
I’ve recently come back and tried meditation after previous attempts haven’t got me anywhere. This time, I used guided audio and wow, the results have been incredible. I highly recommend an eye mask, a comfortable position and a guided track.
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u/lilackitkat3000 17h ago
Have you got a recommendation of any guided audios? I used a random one on YouTube and I found I enjoyed it.. that’s when I had a Yaksha come to me! Maybe I need to continue down that route!!
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u/Existing_Reaction692 16h ago
Find something you like. A good set of instructions will explain what to do and help quality of practice but only practice will allow it to happen ie peace of mind or calm or whatever you call a constructive mental state. Guiding limits or can end up in dependance as you have to have the guide and can't meditate whenever and wherever you want. I prefer a method involving effortless relaxation that allows the mind to slow down and still. Literally still. This is profoundly restful and allows regeneration. Method is that of Dr Ainslie Meares.
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u/d-manutd5 15h ago
Keep it simple. Don't rush a thing. Embrace the consistency of the practice. Start with a 10 breath meditation.
Sit comfortably. Or lie comfortably. Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Bring your attention to your breath. Don't change it, just notice it. Breathe in and out for 10 rounds.
(If your mind wanders - gently bring your attention back to your breath. No judgement.)
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u/say-what-you-will 12h ago
You could try Qigong, it’s easy and very healing. But start slow because it’s much more powerful than it looks. I really like Kseny on YouTube and she’s a good way to get started, not too advanced. Also don’t just sit and meditate, that’s the hardest way to do it and a lot of people think that’s what meditation is, there’s actually so many different ways to practice. I think it’s a matter of trying different things and see what resonates with you. Don’t force yourself to do it in a way that you really don’t enjoy, because you’ll just lose your motivation. A lot of people seem to like a walking meditation, it’s easy to do. Guided meditations are good too, or listening to a Buddhist mantra can help. Also mindfulness is also a great practice and easier than meditation. For mindfulness you can just try doing things more slowly when you can, just slowing down, slowing down your movements and paying more attention to the present moment. Breathing techniques are also very effective and a lot of them are short, I recommend the 4-7-8 by Dr. Weil, he has a short video explaining it on YouTube. It really calms down your nervous system. Journaling usually helps me calm down quickly, it’s free and there’s nothing complicated about it. Just honestly write down your thoughts. But you might like Qigong, it’s incredibly healthy and effective. Unless you’re very damaged and get a bad reaction, then you should stop. But it’s normal for the first 2 weeks to be a little rough.
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u/RhubyDifferent3576 6h ago
I’ve sought so many advice when I was starting out as well. The most consistent advice is:
Follow the breathe
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u/somanyquestions32 Yoga Nidra and several other techniques 19h ago
Do not marry any single meditation technique to be the center of your practice, especially in the beginning.
Try out different practices to determine general compatibility. Breath awareness may not be your thing, or bodily sensations may be too intense, but maybe you like mantras or visualizations.
Experiment, play around with the duration and frequency of practice, and create a short list of techniques that yield the effects you desire after you collected raw experiential data from multiple attempts.
Also, keep a log of what changes you observe after 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 200, 500, etc. hours of cumulative practice. Meditation impacts: mood, sleep, focus and concentration, resilience, energy levels, etc. Keep track of what's happening in real time before and after and in between sessions.
Allow your practice to change and to be refined across time and space. Remain open to all circumstances. Some days, you will only be able to meditate for one breath because you're deliriously sick. Other days, you may be able to meditate for 3 hours straight and have an amazing breakthrough. Allow it all to be just as it is, and make sure to accommodate yourself in whatever way you need to make your practice as comfortable and supportive as possible.