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Your first time?

KungaTashiKungaTashi
edited April 2006 in General Banter
When was the first time you meditated and actually felt the release of everything afterward? Or the ability to just be there and not feel or be cluttered with outside noises?

I remember when I was in 9th grade I went on this thing at the local YMCA and it was groups of kids, all putting their heads together to raise awareness of drugs and alchohol with teens. Anyway, I can't remember the guys name but someone came in and actually taugh us meditation. He had the group lay down on the gymnasium floor and get in a relaxing spot. He talked for a while and had us follow his voice. And then he would mention things to focuse on. The clarity after that was amazing.

It took me from then, ummm it was '89 or something, till now to start meditation again. I am horrible at it still, but working on it.

Comments

  • BrigidBrigid Veteran
    edited April 2006
    I haven't really had that feeling of release afterward that you're describing. Actually, nothing much happens to me at all except sometimes when I'm reading about meditation, for example in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, I get an overwhelming feeling of relaxation and calmness. But that never happens when I'm meditating or afterwards.

    The only significant thing I've noticed so far was something that happened once and it was very fleeting. I was just going about my day when I noticed myself thinking. I don't know any better way to describe it other than to say that for a second I recognized my mind thinking. I felt like I had a split second of knowing my mind better than I normally do. It's really stuck with me and hasn't happened again but it was very interesting.

    I just read back these words and they don't describe it properly at all. Maybe I can't put it into words but I knew it was because of meditating and because I had been watching my mind for the first time. It was very encouraging which was something I needed because I haven't had any other insights or "progress" since I really started to meditate. I don't have any emotional things happening when I'm sitting, either.

    That's not a very exciting response, is it?

    But if anything else significant happens I will definitely bring it to the sangha. Unless it's personal or embarrassing, of course. LOL!

    Brigid
  • buddhafootbuddhafoot Veteran
    edited April 2006
    I remember my first time.

    It was out on a farm in Montana. Sunny day, blue skies, green grass. Mabel was looking absolutely darling. She was wearing a tiny bell around her neck, eating grass. I couldn't help but notice the "come hither" look she kept giving me...

    Wait... what are we talking about here? Am I on the wrong subject?

    -bf
  • buddhafootbuddhafoot Veteran
    edited April 2006
    I had a brother who got into TM and I meditated with him for a little bit.

    I can remember those first times as just being very confusing. I was waiting for something mystical to happen - which it never did.

    After reading about Buddhism by folk looking at meditation for something other than a new kind of "high" - meditation seemed to make much more sense.

    I don't have a feeling of "release" - but I do have a sense of calm and it seems like I have a much better focus on things afterwards.

    Maybe it's just taking the time to "be aware" of what is going on around me and calming the "monkey mind" that brings this sense.

    Maybe it's just letting go of all the day-to-day crap that's been pounding upon our mind all day long.

    -bf
  • YogaMamaYogaMama
    edited April 2006
    buddhafoot wrote:
    I remember my first time.

    It was out on a farm in Montana. Sunny day, blue skies, green grass. Mabel was looking absolutely darling. She was wearing a tiny bell around her neck, eating grass. I couldn't help but notice the "come hither" look she kept giving me...

    Wait... what are we talking about here? Am I on the wrong subject?

    -bf

    LOL!! I am dying here!
  • YogaMamaYogaMama
    edited April 2006
    Just the other night, I was telling my husband that I think I am finally starting to "get" meditation. Lately, my meditation sessions have been just different than they were when I first started meditating. I will try to explain it....when I first started to meditate, I thought that I was supposed to not have ANY thoughts at all, which I know now is impossible. Now, I just recognize the thoughts I am having, without clinging to those thoughts, and then just bringing my awareness back to my breath, and letting those thoughts sort of disappear. I do feel much calmer and clearer now after I meditate, and throughout the entire day. It's nice. I am starting to recognize my "true self" rather than letting my thoughts control me.

    I may be way off base on the whole meditation thing, but that's my description of it!!
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited April 2006
    Ah, but have you got to the "I'm hovvering three inches above the ground" bit yet, huh? huh??



    It feels gratifying, doesn't it, YM? :)
  • YogaMamaYogaMama
    edited April 2006
    Very gratifying! :) And yes, I hover each time I meditate. At least, I feel like I do anyways! :lol:
  • BrigidBrigid Veteran
    edited April 2006
    That's the way I clean the cobwebs out of the corners of the ceiling. And how I get the jars down from the top shelf in the kitchen. I used to use the stepladder, but that was so dangerous. ;)

    Brigid
  • KungaTashiKungaTashi
    edited April 2006
    I guess I should have typed a better word than "release" cause I didn't neccessarily mean that, I meant more of a calming effect like you've all mentioned. It was like everything made sense all of a sudden, nahmeen?
  • KungaTashiKungaTashi
    edited April 2006
    buddhafoot wrote:
    I remember my first time.

    It was out on a farm in Montana. Sunny day, blue skies, green grass. Mabel was looking absolutely darling. She was wearing a tiny bell around her neck, eating grass. I couldn't help but notice the "come hither" look she kept giving me...

    Wait... what are we talking about here? Am I on the wrong subject?

    -bf

    This was something I knew woiuld come up the second I posted this thread. I was going to go back and edit the title but decided against it... it didn't take someone long to mention it though, leave it to BF though! hehe
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited April 2006
    BF is our resident friendly comic, and the place just wouldn't be the place without him.
    He's so nutz he makes me look sane.

    I'm grateful for small mercies....!!
  • dkodedkode
    edited April 2006
    I first meditated to willingly induce an Out-Of-Body-Experience.

    I met a lady who attended a local "church" group that focused on spirtuality.

    They were always striving for clarity through meditation and had no real "faith" they all followed.

    The first time I meditated I recall feeling very relaxed and calm afterwards. It was as if I had slept for 10 hours and felt very rested.

    I didn't touch on meditation for about 5 years, until recently (about 2 weeks ago) when I stumbled upon buddhism and began meditating again.

    I realized that almost all of my concentration I had before is still there, just kinda had to "dust it off" to get back into concentration mode.
  • harlanharlan
    edited April 2006
    The first time was the last time. It sucked so bad I never went back. :)
  • FrizzerFrizzer
    edited April 2006
    Brigid wrote:
    That's the way I clean the cobwebs out of the corners of the ceiling. And how I get the jars down from the top shelf in the kitchen. I used to use the stepladder, but that was so dangerous. ;)

    Brigid


    LOL! :grin:
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