Okay gang!  Here we go!

This is our first serious week :)  I've found 2 meditations for us to start with.  The first one belongs to a series of meditation and we can follow the series each week as long as we like them.  It's starts off with an introduction and then gets into the meditation:

http://www.themeditationpodcast.com/episodes/tmp_01.mp3

This one is also available as a iTunes podcast (can't get the link as it's making me download iTunes first...UGH!)  There were other's as well (Pickle podcast and Podomatic.  Edited to add iTunes link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=200323953

I wasn't paying attention to the time.  But, I think it's 15-20 minutes long.  Sorry about that!  When I do it again, I'll put the exact time.  This one is very relaxing.

The second one is a 5 minute meditation.  I liked this one because 5 minutes was a good time span for staying focused.  Here's the link to the second one: http://www.oprah.com/rys/omag/flash_200103/med_beginner.jhtml

Note about the second one.  It only runs in IE.  So, use IE or use the IE Tab on Firefox.

If you didn't see the introductory post with tips, here is the link: http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=102089&ls=

#1 tip...don't try to hard.  Sit for 2 minutes at a time if that works for you.  Build your time up instead of trying to the master meditator on day one :)  You don't want to feel anxious trying to relax.

Post your feedback, comments, questions, tips, etc. below.  Also, what did you think of the two mediations?  Did one work better for you than the other?

I tried the 5 minute one.  That 5 minutes seemed to fly by.  My mind did wander a couple of times but I was able to re-focus and get back on track.   In no time it seemed like she was saying "open your eyes". 

I had actually dowloaded the podcast one over the weekend but haven't listened to that one yet.  I'll give that one a try when I know I have a little more time.

I did check the longer one on iTunes.  there is an intro so I think the meditation itself is about 15-18 minutes.

Malinda, that 5 minute one does go quick.  I've gotten restless at 2 minutes before and this meditation just seems to fly by.

Good morning all

     I'm bill, I've been on a spiritual quest for a while now and practice meditation as well as contemplative prayer daily. I've found when I meditate it works best for me to do it twice a day 15 to  20 minutes each session. As your wonderful instructor points out it gets easier and easier to ignore those intruding thoughts. An important side note on those thoughts, it's impossible to totally block them. They are part of what makes you, you. Never struggle or force them away, then you cease meditating and begin a struggle. A good meditation is the fine art of doing nothing. Allow those ocassional thoughts to play accross your mind as if watching a movie, don't grasp, allow them to gently recede. If I find I'm exceptionally stressed for instance I use a technique for gently focusing your mind on your breath. Count to ten (each inhalation and exhalation is counted as one). When you reach ten, begin from one again, viualizing each number in your minds eye as you breath it. You will find this brings you in tune with your bodies breath rythem, before long all else fades bud the gentle breathing and counting.

       Just a starting point I found helpful that I wanted to share with everyone. The beautiful thing about meditation is that regardless of your religious beliefs, or lack of one, you will find it brings peace and clarity into a sometimes very hectic life.

                                        peace and blessings

                                                             bill

Cool - thanks, Mel.  Will check them out tonight. :)

Bill, thanks for joining us.  You have offered some really good common sense ways to approach meditation.  I hope you'll continue to post and offer us tips as we move along.

Welcome aboard, LG!

I DL the ITunes one--will try it soon.

I would love to get my hands on some Holosync meditational CDs--but they are pricey.

Hi Melody

     Thanks for the welcome,I'm on the road right now in San Francisco taking my wife to the V.A.hospital for some tests. I would love to join you folks and chime in if and when I feels it will benefit. We never stop learning, we never stop loving, we never stop searching.

     One point I just wished to share, and please tell me to mind my own business, I will take no offense at all. All you need to begin all the way to advanced meditation is your mind, a desire, and a quiet place where you feel safe. Meditation CD's. soundtracks etc etc can become a distraction, Sure they help you to be relaxed, but, what meditation is is to look within, embrace the silence and the quiet. By doing so you begin to open that door.................that is the real beginning. Witin us all is locked the secrets of the univers, possibly God, a supra intelligence, whatever you want to call it. After to gain practice with just enjoying the sinlence and controling the length, one of the wonderful things you can look forward to later is insight meditation.....Ahhhhhhhh, another day, another story. Keep your tools simple and your desire sincere....less is more.

                        peace and blessings

                                         bill

Melody, I've used Firefox for a really long time, and I have a question.  What IE tab?

Bonnie, it's a new add on.  I think if you go to the Firefox site you can find it.  It downloaded during my last Firefox upgrade.  When you open a site in the IE tab, it pretends the browser is IE instead of Firefox.

Dagnabbit I thought the thread that started off would be where they would all be posted. I was wondering if everyone had dropped out or something.

At the moment Im too sleepy and would probably fall asleep doing this so I'll try it tomorrow.

Chris, sorry about that.  I thought it would be easier to do each week in it's own thread, so people wouldn't have to search for the links. 

Let's keep this one up another week so everyone can catch up.  I don't think everyone had a chance to do them.

I found out something about myself.  Don't meditate after 9pm!  I did the long one and fell asleep, then I got too much energy and couldn't sleep at bedtime.  I'll go back to my normal daytime meditating.

Melody I knew the discussion would be in a different thread but I thought you were going to put the meditations in the origional so I had it watched. I'll just have to remember to check in here more often.

OK I couldnt get through it. I'm appearently a habitual fidgeter. I got through about 18 minutes of it but the sounds were driving me nuts and sitting still was driving me nuts. I think I might be using the sounds as an excuse for not being able to sit still though.

Chris, don't give yourself a hard time.  I found when I started meditating that I suddenly could not stay focused for more than a minute.  It's like your brain says "So you want to relax???  Well, we'll just see about that!"

How did you do on the shorter meditation?

I always have this weird thing when they say to concentrate on your breath. Suddenly I can't remember how to breath deeply and I'm controlling it rather than observing it. 

I didnt get a chance to do the 2nd meditation. I lost internets for a while and Imjust back on today. I'll check it out later.

Love your avitar Manny.  I've been gone for a while too - sorry.  Been reading the Meditation Bible by Madonna Gauding.  Will have to stop back again later when all has quieted down. I do think this is a great idea Melody and will try to be here more often.   : )     

I did the 5 minute one. I really enjoyed it, but I think I will get more out of it as time goes by. This first time,  I got a bit fidgety, but was starting to focus more at the end. In the beginning, all I was hearing was the clock ticking in my den and it started driving me nuts. Next time, I think I'll do it in the bedroom.

It was very relaxing though, once I could "let go" and go with it.

ETA: Sorry it took me so long to do Week 1. It was a busier week than usual

Melody, Thanks for keeping this one going another week.  I've done the 5 minute meditation, but not the 20 minute one. 

When do you all prefer to meditate?  I mean, what time of day?

I forgot to add in the post above that I think I will like meditating in the afternoon or evening, but eventually I would like to do one session in the morning & one in the evening.

Bill, Thank you for your insight & input.

I did the 5 minute one again, and I noticed that this time I was much more relaxed & did not have as much difficulty sitting still.  When it was over, I couldn't believe it had been 5 minutes.  I tried the 20 minute one right after it, and only did about 1/3 of it.  I bookmarked it, though, so I can come back to it later. 

Melody, Thanks for posting this thread & the meditations.  I appreciate you doing that for us.

You're all welcome.  I'm finding this fun too.  It's nice to hear other people's experiences.

Sheena, I found that afternoon/evening is the best time for me.  If I meditation in the morning, it makes me drowsy and grumpy.  If I do it later in the evening (after 9 ) it seems like I get a burst of energy and then I don't want to go to bed.

Can I post the next meditations on Sunday?  Is everyone caught up and ready to move forward?  How did you like the meditations?

Morning all

    I love reading your postings here. It seems most of the trials and errors are the same for everyone new. One of the main points I could suggest is keeping a regular routine. Every day, twice a day. In time the sessions become easier and easier. Eventually you will arrive at the point where you look forward to your silence almost as an escape. Wonderful when you think about it, an escape from the sometimes hectic world is as close as looking inside yourself.

      I tend to ramble sometimes but I did want to share two interesting episodes with everyone. The other night I was in meditation for a while already, and when in meditation nothing can pull me out such as random noises etc. That night however I felt an instantaneous and overwhelming need to open my eyes. When I opened them my gaze was immediately drawn to a far corner of the room, there was a large moth fluttering on the floor. Being a strict "harm nothing" follower I did what I always do, I got up and cupped him gently and escorted him outside then I resumed. The point I felt afterwards was that some part of me deep inside sensed him there, there was noway to see or hear him, yet I responded. Very interesting.

   2nd item I wished to share happened at another meditation while I was on the coast. I was alone and sitting very quietly in meditation. Sometimes I use a mantra and sometimes I don't. This time I was. I'll skip what the mantra was because it has a religious connotation to it and may offend some. However, while I was deep in thought I felt what I thought was Laura tapping me on my wrist to wake me. I slowly opened my eyes and there on my arm was this adorable squirrel leaning on my arm and looking up at me blinking. He just rested on my wrist and looked at me almost smiling. I guess when you are at peace you send out peaceful or love vibrations perhaps that those intuned to can sense. Just my thoughts. But it was wonderful.

         Keep up the practice everyone. There is sooooooo much awaiting you.

                                         peace and blessings

                                                           bill

Hi, Mel!

Just did the longer meditation and was so relaxed, and also kept drifting off to sleep.  It was a very pleasant experience, but think I will also do it in the morning.  I feel really good right now and feel in control and calm.  Thanks for a wonderful thread, Mel.

Bill, your postings are helpful and full of hope.  Thanks to you as well....

Bill, what a wonderful experience!  I probably would have jumped out of my skin if I looked down and saw a squirrel on my arm.  LOL