Last summer I had the opportunity to travel to Norther India and install a computer lab in a Tibetan Buddhist Nunnery. It was an incredibly life changing experience to travel to the other side of the world to bring people computers. The Tibetan Buddhist way of life is extremely humbling and I just came across this list of 10 Tibetan Techniques for Chillaxing (that is, chilling plus relaxing) on Elephant Journal and I found them to be extremely accurate to what I witnessed in India. I hope you all find them useful!
- Have confidence in yourself. Release your self-doubt, one day at a time.
- Meditation is natural. By closing your eyes, and allowing your body and mind to relax, you can experience inner stillness. 5 minutes is great, but so are three, deep breaths in and out with your eyes closed.
- “The best water is rocky water. As water flows over rocks, its quality improves and is purified. So the best meditation is one that is flowing and free, with nothing to hold on to, for once we hold a position, we are brought to a standstill by our grasping.” –Tulku
- Daily life, every bit of it, is a path to higher wisdom. Look for the meaning within yourself, within your own heart. To search external will create turbulence, problems, and drama.
- What is your motivation? What are your true intentions? Other people will found out, one way or another. So it’s always best just to be straight up and honest in the first place.
- Inspiration can show you the map, but you need to take the initiative.
- Release your culture, religion, career, and habits for 10 slow, deep breaths every day. Release everything that you think that you are, to create space, truth and stillness. This will help us to detach from problems that we “think” that we have.
- Listen to your inner guidance. The more you reject it, the harder it is to find again.
- “Truth is like gold. The more it is burned and beaten, the finer it’s quality becomes.” –Tulku
- Emotions are contagious. What are you spreading around? Negativity and arrogance? Or compliments and smiles? These are not goals for some later date. They are for you, right here, right now.
i dont agree with a second phrase of closing an eye to meditate...i believe meditation refers to the relaxation of mind specifically and can be done without closing an eye also...i do it myself sometimes closing an eye and sometimes without...meditation is just a thoughtless mind..a mind thinking nothing is to relax...whereas for body relaxation is achieved by resting it or sleeping
ReplyDeleteIf you think meditation is a thoughtless mind, you haven't done much meditation! Meditation: it isn't what you think it is.... Vipassana is about seing whatever is arising, sometimes that simply being aware of thoughts as they arise and pass away.
Deletethere is a difference between meditation and relaxation.
DeleteAnonymous : that's not meditation you do with eyes opened ,its just a relaxation technique only , but no use other than that .meditation produce long lasting neutrality ,increase spirituality , divinity and take you more close to god and if done properly can help you realize yourself
ReplyDeleteI agree, eyes open 'meditation' isn't meditation at all. Meditation is looking within... opening your eyes and focusing on the outside world is the opposite of meditation. It is indeed a relaxation exercise.
ReplyDeleteNone of you guys can say how to properly meditate, there is no wrong way if your finding your inner peace
DeleteEvery act done consciously and totally can be meditation. That's what Zen is all about.
Deleteagreed.. meditiation is to free your mind of "ways" of doing things.
ReplyDeleteWhen you meditate properly.. u reach nothingness. Dats my best explanation.. reaching blank space.. in ur mind..
ReplyDeleteI have to partially disagree with everybody who has posted here so far and spoken about meditation.
ReplyDeleteDo you really reach nothingness? Perhaps that's a way of looking at it. IS there a definite path to follow? Perhaps not. Do you have to keep your eyes closed? Well, why stay still then? Why can't you move and meditate at the same time? You can, actually.
Meditation is a state of mind where you are Aware, in every sense of the word. You are in the moment and this may be interpreted as not having any thoughts. But at the same time, thoughts may arise and, as anyone experienced will tell you, they will flow away if you let them. Like diving into the sea, floating deep into the endless ocean of peace itself.
It is the realisation of the true self, of timelessness, in a sense.
Thanks for letting readers post anonymously. :)
I agree, any act can be a meditation. You don't have to be sitting in a certain position, or with your eyes closed..it's really up to the individual. Everyone is unique. You can meditate while in the shower, doing dishes, going for a walk...etc..it's all about centering your awareness in the eternal NOW <3
ReplyDeleteYes meditation is about letting go and entering the gap in between your thoughts. There are several techniques and everyone must find their own way.
ReplyDeleteT'ai Chi is meditation in motion and so is Yoga. I am surprised they were not mentioned. Back to the first comment,I don't think meditation is very effective with eyes open. By closing your eyes you are creating a blank space to work from to gain stillness minus external distractions. I have meditated with eyes open and it didn't work as well. The closed eyes allow your mind to think you are seeing/ looking within versus looking at the same wall in your living room, etc for the time you meditate.
ReplyDeleteIdiotic asses..why dont you just chillax
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me the users comments reflect one of the main issues facing us today. Someone took the time to post a beautiful and thoughtful message, intended to inspire and help people, and instead of appreciating it and commenting on the positive message, the focus of the comments seems to be around the need to argue over the correct form of meditation. lol. Most of these posts seem to disregard the message the poster was trying to convey in #10... it might be more helpful to read the message, accept the insights that apply to you and try utilize the knowledge. : ) Namaste
ReplyDeletei think everyone has different ways of meditation. I , with my eyes close. it helps. It doesnt mean i cant move. I just became aware of what i am doing. I move my hand, and it felt like i was moving in slow motion. The stillness was still within me as I was moving and sometimes it feels like i can just lift myself away from my body. is it weird?
ReplyDeleteStrange sensation pass through me, and its like im in the universe with nothing else around me. My mind seems to magnify into my mind (im sure i lost you there) and some sort of pressure around my head. I haven't learn much about meditation. I just empty my mind , and become aware of the thoughts and mind.
When gazing at (example): The sun, a flower, the moon, a candlelight and so on I am in complete state of meditation. I am able to be one with whatever object that I am gazing at. Meditation is being present with whatever and/or however method works for each individual. There's no right or wrong way to meditate. If it works for you then BRAVO!!!
ReplyDeleteno post
ReplyDeletean opionion is just that..an opionion...not true or false...blessings
ReplyDelete