When it comes to Zen meditation, many people find that it is not as easy as it looks. In fact, most people that try Zen meditation will admit that it is a very difficult thing to master! However, all you have to do is allow yourself to want to meditate!
Before you start Zen meditation, there are some important things that you will want to do. In fact, one of the most important things is to allow your self to be in a very quiet and comfortable room/spot; where it is not too cold or hot or bright or dark. Also, if you have any type of telephone around you; you will want to shut that off, as well. Once you are in complete silence, you will then be able to get your meditation cushion, bench or mat and put it on the floor (if you don't have any of them, a regular couch cushion will work also). You will then want to sit on the cushion in a proper Zen meditation posture; which are in a full-lotus posture, half-lotus posture, quarter-lotus posture, Burmese posture, kneeling/seiza posture or sitting in a chair. No matter which posture you choose, it will keep your spine straight and your hands close to your body (which is very important). It is very important that you allow your body to be relaxed yet tense at the same time. If you are on a mat, there should be no space between the knees and the floor; and if you are sitting in a chair then your feet should be flat on the floor and your legs slightly apart.
If you have never had the experience of Zen meditation, then it is suggested that you count your breaths (as you taking deep breaths allowing your lungs to fully expand in every breath). While breathing, you will want to let all your thoughts out of your mind and focus only on your breathing.
Along with knowing how to breathe properly, it is also suggested that you only sit for a short period of time when you are first learning. Usually, it is only recommended that you meditate for 10 minutes and as you learn you can then go up to 30 minutes at a time without a break. If you are one that does not want to take a break, then you may be able to meditate while walking, during the break.
For some people, they are not sure of what exactly the point of Zen meditation is; however, for many it is a way of how they see true nature, and how it enables them to live in a life that is awakened. In fact, they think of themselves as being "pure".
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Many times when people decide that they want to start practicing yoga meditation, they are not sure of how to do any of it. In fact, many people will do meditation completely wrong for quite some time; until someone is able to help them.
When it comes to yoga meditation, there are a few different things that must be followed in order to have the meditation work correctly. In fact, there are four yoga meditation steps that are usually used for the proper meditation practices. Besides following certain steps for meditation, there is usually a specific amount of time that should be followed; which is usually an hour length of time.
As for the steps to follow for yoga meditation, there are also a few things that should be done before following the meditation steps. Some of the things that should be done for practicing yoga meditation is bathe your face, feet and hands, empty your bladder and bowels, as well as setting aside a regular time and place to practice the yoga. The first step that should be done is stretching. The main purpose of stretching before yoga meditation is to allow the body and muscles to become limber; so that they do not get stretched or pull improperly. Next what you will want/need to do is get the body relaxed (relaxation). The third step to yoga meditation is making sure that you're breathing correctly. Not only will you be breathing normally, but you will also be breathing with your diaphragm as well spinal breathing. Once you learn to breathe correctly, it will eliminate and jerks and pauses which allows your mind to begin meditating.
Once you have the first three steps down, you will then begin the last step; which is meditation. When you're meditating, you are allowing your mind to become still while you are you breathing throughout the body. While meditating, many people will focus on a certain object in the room, or even a word of some sort. After you become good enough at meditating, you will/should be able to examine the unconscious while you are uninvolved with any of the present.
Whether you are a beginner at meditation or have been meditating for quite some time, it is very important to learn and follow certain steps to yoga meditation. In fact, the very most important step that one should learn right away is the process of breathing; as you can not meditate without learning it. Even though yoga meditation seems as if there is a lot to learn, it is definitely worth learning it; especially once you are able to clear your mind!
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