What are your meditation techniques?

[Masked Dude]

Where is that Bullett00th? kind reminds me of Asheville.

I miss Asheville. Haven't been there in a couple years. Maybe I'll go again in the spring.

[Bullett00th]

Where is that Bullett00th? kind reminds me of Asheville.

that's in the Grand Canyon. no, not that Grand Canyon. this one is in Crimea

[RevKHyler]

If the weather is agreeable I step outside and take a walk.
It always seems to clear my head which I guess you could consider a form of meditation.
If the weather is not cooperating I put on some Enigma and just close my eyes on the sofa for a while.

[Hominid]

I sometimes use a sound and light machine; something that uses "brain entrainment" with auditory and visual frequencies to induce a meditative state. It brings brain frequencies down quite low, depending on the program you set. It's very effective; I can shave off 2 hours of needed sleep after a 30 minute session.

Then there's guided meditation CDs I listen to that target specific issues I want to address. Anywhere from 8 to 14 minutes per session.  THEN... my wife and I produced (I'm a sound production guy) a ream of CDs she sells as part of her business. I can't use them, cause, well, she's my wife. No disrespect, but listening to your wife doesn't incite complete relaxation.

There's my biz on the subject.

[Synth]

Well, while lighting a J and/or driving is usually a good way of relaxing, I wouldn't sall it my "meditation". Meditation should help clear your mind, these things make my head spin with thoughts, even though it relaxes. Anyway, I want to start meditating, I'd love to hear more from the dudes who do it. Maybe I should buy one of those indian rugs to meditate on, it'd really tie my room together too.

[DudePatrick]

I will chip in.  I had to start meditating because I have totally un-cool insomnia.

I clear my mind (pretty completely) by fixing my eyes on one point (not focusing, that's important...put them on one dot and don't move them).   Then I keep as still as I can, at least until I really get "in the zone," where I have noticed I will rock a little at times.  Sometimes, I stare at my eyes in a mirror.  Someone else's will work too, but that will be creepy.

I have noticed that as long as it's a fixed point, and not blinking or whatever, I pretty quickly start to turn inward.  I find it almost impossible to think complex thoughts and keep my eyes fixed on a spot.  I still think basic sensor thoughts, like "stinky" or "cold", but after a while (and the more I meditate the shorter the time gets) I will start to space those out, until I am deep within a cocoon of no thoughts whatsoever.  There are times I have just stared at a small lightbulb, or a candle flame, or even the blinking light on the watertower.  The blinking, as I said, effed with my head a little.  May not for you.


I know that's a little different than the meditation you might have been looking for.  Clearing my mind is good for me...I cant shut it off well, unless I find a coping mechanism.

[Reverend Curb]

Like so many young men (and women) of my generation I've dabbled in zazen and have enjoyed it at various times.
For structured meditations nowadays though I do a few rounds on the mala when the mind is right.

One of my favorites is to lean back in my chair and just watch the sky and the clouds, the rain and what have you. Maybe pet a cat, cat's are pretty relaxing critters.