Comments on: How to Meditate

By: Breathe Meditation Studio

Breathe Meditation Studio — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:26:00 +0000

Wonderful post!

One important factor to consider when meditating daily is physical comfort. It is difficult to focus on breathing and equanimity when you have body aches due to bad posture! A good cushion can help you achieve the proper posture. These Organic Meditation Cushions can enhance daily meditation due to the physical support they provide.

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Also, I just realized today that the Huffing Post has an entire page devoted to Meditation related news. How cool is that!

By: Svein Olav Nyberg

Svein Olav Nyberg — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:46:10 +0000

Shikantaza is not “just sitting” as in how we imagine we would sit if we sat our butts on a chair and let things flow, either. To make sure in my assessment, I lent the CDs to the local Zen priest to hear his opinion, and Adyashanti is indeed describing Soto Zen’s shikantaza technique (“but in sooo many words” according to the priest).

But I think Adyashanti does a good job of making shikantaza accessible without the extra trappings; the technique is the same. It might very well be that other works describing shikantaza does a less good job of it. I have no trouble recommending Adyashanti’s instructions, in a any case.

The same technique is described under yet another name in a very interesting book by a Tibetan lama, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche: “The Joy of Living” (highly recommended, btw, as it links meditation and neuroscience).

By: Joshua Zader

Joshua Zader — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:50:16 +0000

Not sure that’s true, Svein, based on your description. “Just sitting” can be an ambiguous practice that gets far less results for many people than following Adyashanti’s instructions of letting go of control and allowing everything to be as it is. Perhaps it is a subtle difference of emphasis, but based on your description I’d be uncomfortable saying they’re merely the same thing under another name.

By: Svein Olav Nyberg

Svein Olav Nyberg — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:23:34 +0000

Adyashanti’s “True Meditation” is simply the Sotozen technique of Shikantaza under another name. It is an object-less meditation where your goal is “just sitting”. It is easy-difficult, and I think it is a good idea to do breathing meditation for a while before embarking on shikantaza.

By: Joshua Zader

Joshua Zader — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:05:12 +0000

David,

Good question. The answer is no. I wrote this essay many years before discovering Adyashanti’s “True Meditation.” Until I can write a new “how to meditate” essay with my updated thoughts, my top recommendation would be to buy his audio CDs of “True Meditation” and follow his instructions.

Good luck!

Joshua

By: david

david — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:19:38 +0000

Is this the gist of what Adyashanti teaches about meditation as well; that is, what you have written. I am starting to read and listen to all things Adyashanti. Haven’t heard his meditation instruction yet, but noticed you posted something on his meditation CD.

By: k

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:58:01 +0000

awsome technique and well written

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:27:14 +0000

I will find a quiet rock:)

Meditation always seemed too rigid for me, almost making it too hard for me to achieve any sort of effective result. These guidelines seem doable, like they may actually yield the solace I so need at the moment.

I’ll give it a try.

Pamela

By: Christina Dean

Christina Dean — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 12:36:41 +0000

Hi Joshua,

Many thanks for this very simple and very helpful insight into a techique for finding inner peace. As long as I can remember, I’ve been looking for a simple way to achieve a state that is calm, clear, focussed and ok with the world as it is, and with me as I am – Many Thanks.

By: Lily

Lily — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:09:43 +0000

I’m just learning how to meditate and find that after about 5 or 6 minutes I feel a little dizzy, and sometimes start, as if I’m falling asleep. I’ve tried sitting on the front edge of a chair and on cushions on the floor.

Thanks, Lily