Religion!

[aoeu]

I've been looking into becoming Buddhist, and I meditated for the second time today. It worked. Inner peace. It was the first religious experience of my life, and it was amazing.

Look into this, seriously. Buddhism is not like any religion out there - I considered it because it did not require a conviction in the scientifically impossible to achieve the feeling.

 

[Phoenix1985]

Buddhism is not like any religion out there - I considered it because it did not require a conviction in the scientifically impossible to achieve the feeling.

That's why I find it so appealing

I've been looking into Buddhism since June, has been very slow going, especially with not being able to find enough time to sit somewhere quiet and really get going.

I wish you the best of luck with your endeavours into Buddhism :hug:

 

[aoeu]

A further comment that comes to mind is that it wasn't a particularly profound moment. I didn't have a Great Enlightenment of my own. My inner peace was accomplished thinking about There's Something About Mary. I didn't realize what was going on until my alarm went off to rouse me... "Wait a minute! Nooo! I just found inner peace!" It was too late by that point as I had lost my concentration and re-entered the real world. Next time I'm only interrupting that after an hour, and I might stop sooner if I feel like it.

 

[aki]

That's cool. I might try buddhism, it's always appealed to me.

How did you get into it, like learn how to meditate ?

 

[aoeu]

Edit: Site isn't very helpful. I have to go to bed now. I'll try to find better information tomorrow.

 

[black-dragon]

What kinda Buddhism? I find that Zen and martial arts go together quite well. Same for Taoism. But with Zen there's no need to read huge books to get into it:wink:

 

[aoeu]

I'm actually thinking that Zen is most appropriate for what I'm looking for.

http://www.freemeditations.com/zen_meditation.html

One problem, though, is that Zazen [the meditation technique] is steeped in ritual and symbolism. I like the Zen idea of knowledge through meditation.

Basically, what I'm doing is a slight butchering of a bunch of different ideas.

I sit in a position that's comfortable for 20 minutes at a time. I breath normally, and focus on my breathing, counting inhalations and exhalations.
Inhale: 1
Exhale: 2
Inhale: 3
Exhale: 4
etc.
Once I get to 10, I start over. If I lose track because my mind has wandered, I start over, and try to focus again. Once I've done this for 20 minutes, I stop focusing and just sit. This is the beauty of it that I've seen. Just sitting afterwards, with a perfectly clear, perfectly blissful mind, observing every thought that runs through my head.

The basic aspect of meditation is concentration on a single object, therefore clearing the mind. The counting method is said to be the easiest for beginners, so that's what I'm doing. As you advance, you count only every breath cycle, and then later, you stop counting and just listen to your breath. The idea of specific positions is, I believe, to prevent interference from the body. I don't think the specifics are altogether important, but the things advised are to make it easier.

 

[Hae-Gi]

Meh... why not invent your own religion, instead? Like me... mine is a completely odd religion that mainly revolves around sex, true love, virginity, youth, beauty, suicide and having a Master/slave relationship. It does have similarities to other religions, however, but it's pure coincidence... I haven't been "inspired" by them. My religion holds the truth, but it could never become a large religion, due to obvious reasons, not to mention that it cannot be preached but has to be realized.

I really tried meditation, several years ago. Even took a cold shower, before, since that was supposed to help in succeeding with it. It didn't help at all. :/ I doubt I'll ever try again... I just felt silly trying it out. Won't be needing such a release, soon, anyway.

 

[aoeu]

It doesn't work if you try it once. I tried it a bunch of years ago, too, and was actually quite pleased with the result, but then I just stopped. The point of Zen Buddhism is that it can not be preached, but must be experienced through meditation; it sounds like everyone gets a different Zen Buddhism.

Edit: Also, I'm not sure if I can do the proper zazen technique, on account of the fact that I don't have a quiet space.
Further edit: Man that's fun. Despite the men working in the adjacent room, it was quite a productive session. I was unable to find the same bliss as last time, but I'm still pretty happy.

 

[aoeu]

Hmm, it seems to actually be getting harder. I can now count my breath without paying attention to it, and I distract too easily to not count... Maybe I'm just agitated. I don't know.