Hey:

I am new to this site..I have been trying to meditate now and than..I think it would help all this tension in my neck ease up..When I tried it I just sat in my recliner in complete silence and went---HUMMMMMMM----. It worked somewhat. I was hoping to learm more on this discussion but you guys sound like professionals and use words that I have not heard before. Can someone explain to me in plain words how to start. I can work up to the big words. I don't know about smiling as "southerbl" mentioned in her post. I pray a lot but it would probably would feel good to relax my mind.

Welcome to both southbrl and dotcom,

Sitting gently upright with eyes closed, remain perfectly motionless, draw no conclusions on your experience or the content of your mind.

That’s it.

Every other instruction in meditation

is an unnecessary complication of conditioning.

Start with 10 minutes every morning, working up to an hour or so.

The following is a summary of the instructions for stillness meditation.

1. Sit comfortably on a chair or on pillows.

2. Breathe normally.

3. Keep your back straight yet not taut.

4. Remain totally motionless (this is very, very important).

5. Eyes closed or partially open.

6. Release all objects, mantras, sounds, prayers,affirmations, techniques, and mindfulness routines.

7. Draw no conclusions about the quality of your meditation.

8. Just sit still and be who you are.

When I teach this, I will save the last two instructions for later in the day, so that people can hear them with experience but here they are:

9. Observe who is aware of your thoughts.

10. Realize who is observing no thought.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!!

Thanks very much, dotcom, and Mick Quinn, for your thoughts regarding meditation. Also, Mick, in gratitude, I have also been taught several of the helpful meditative steps that you listed, and do practice them.

Have you ever simply sat in complete stilness, then practiced slowly, deeply, breathing in, then, smile, as you exhale, and repeat this practice three times? It begins to spread light and joy within you and then, outward!

Perhaps I do this because I am much like my beloved dad, who freely gave the gift of his radiant smiles, even when he was feeling down. I have found beautiful, transformative healing and peace with the power of a heartfelt smile.

Hi dotcom,

Yes, I do. I will often begin a meditation in the way you mentioned. I find that counting, breathing, and smiling are good ways of creating an infinite context for practice while you are learning to just call that 'space' up on demand... so to speak :)

After a while though, when awareness of the mind, the emotions, and the body eases, so does any idea that you are counting, breathing or smiling. Your body may very well be, but You are not concerned with such activities.

Alot of Catholic churches host Taize. It is open to all faiths and people.

A lot of churches have websites and if they do Taize, would list the schedule.

I live in SF Bay Area and where I go it is the first Friday of the month. It is done in darkness, the only light is above the sheet music for the orchestra, not all churches have instrumental music. Where I go it is held in the chapel of a convent.

Taize consist of prayer, meditation and chanting (not Gregorian).

There is also a labrynth and gardens for meditation.

Hi all, i have interest on this particular topic. My cousin recently recovered from such a chronic disease like food allergy. I have insomnia but got suggestions from http://rvita.com/home.html . Its works for me. Now i want to know more about meditation. And let the others to know more about alternative therapy. Plz join with us there too, so that we can expand our criteria.

Thanks a lot.

I too use meditation. I cannot always sit up to do it though, and I don't find it matters if I am sitting or not.

I also use guided meditation, or relaxation, using cds. I do just regular deep breathing exercises as well.

I find all these help me to some degree.

I am always interested in new tips.