Reply #12: Yeah. I've meditated for 30 years.

[Jackpine Radical]

I also teach simple forms of it to many of my psych patients.

I do various kinds of meditation. Any kind is better than not doing it at all.

The simplest method I can think of is breath meditation. First, learn to do diphragmattic breathing, which some call "belly breathing." You can use the belly breathing in various ways. You can just be aware of your breath going in and out. You can do counting to pace the breathing--count 4 on the inhale, 6 on the exhale for example. In yoga they make a big deal of using various simople counting schemes to either energize you or relax you.

Or combine the belly breathing with a simple mantra. maybe "Om" or "Peace." Do the mantra (quietly, to yourself) on each exhale.

Vipassana meditation is a little more advanced. Some call it meaningfulness meditation. Essentially, the idea is to learn to watch your mind in operation as various thoughts and emotions flit through it. You learn to distance yourself from the mental chatter.

The most important rule in any form of meditation is to keep at it & don't worry about whether you're doing it "well" or if you're doing it "right." When you find that your thoughts have wandered off just gently return yourself to the meditation. Don't worry. This happebns to everybody. Maybe in a 20 minute meditation session you will only be meditating a total of 5 minutes, and the rest of the time obsdessing on something or woolgathering or thinking about sex. That's OK. It happens to everybody. The thing that counts is that you stuck with trying.

Start out with however long you can stand to do it. Maybe 5 minutes. Work up to 20 minutes. If you do 20 minutes a day for the rest of your life, the quality of your life will improve in various subtle ways. You'll be calmer, more centered, less stressed-out.

It is particularly pleasant to meditate in small groups. I belong to a group that meets once a week. I go when I can, maybe 2 or 3 times a month. If you can't find a group, start one. Run an ad in the paper or something.

I hope this comes somewhere near to answering your question.