I'm going to disagree with the sibling comment that it doesn't matter what meditation you do. I'm a scientist at heart and my science of interest is exploring things like meditation and consciousness, and have been doing it very actively for a decade. You can apply as much mysticism to it as you want, but there is nothing inherently "magical" about any of this anymore or less than there is when eating toast.
I've tried many different meditations with many different teachers and guides and books, and the ones that I have found most effective for me personally and for people that I have taught, in order of how I'd suggest them:
• Zazen is a simple but hugely impactful meditation, and you can do it anywhere with any length of time as it doesn't require "zoning out". It can be very helpful to sit to do it until you get the hang of it, though. (read Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, it's an easy but meaningful read).
• the practices in The Mind Illuminated book - neuroscientist + meditator modernizes and de-mysticizes older paths. Anytime you get stuck, this is a great way to get unstuck. Find where you are in the journey, and start practicing what he suggests for where you are. It makes a big difference.
• Neti Neti meditation (any thoughts or experiences that arise in meditation, you think "not that" as in "if I can think it, I am not that"). This doesn't need any "lead in" so if you only have a couple of minutes to sit this can be a great way to be impactful during a short time.
• the Brahmavihārā https://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/wheel006... this is the best practice I've found for bringing the inner work you do out into the world as a more kind and uplifting human. I think this is best done when you have a while to sit; I have found that the longer you do it in a session, the more densely it gets integrated.
Side note, if you want to explore your inner experience in a more active way, try finding a local meet up that does shamanic drumming with a guide. I know this sounds weird, but our subconscious is all about symbolism, and if you can play along it's basically a short and gentle drug-free psychedelic trip in a good setting that can be very rewarding.
> Side note, if you want to explore your inner experience in a more active way, try finding a local meet up that does shamanic drumming with a guide. I know this sounds weird, but our subconscious is all about symbolism, and if you can play along it's basically a short and gentle drug-free psychedelic trip in a good setting that can be very rewarding.
I am really intrigued by this (and I don't find it excessively weird). Would you have any material to recommend if one wants to understand how it works and why before actually trying it?
I've tried many different meditations with many different teachers and guides and books, and the ones that I have found most effective for me personally and for people that I have taught, in order of how I'd suggest them:
• Zazen is a simple but hugely impactful meditation, and you can do it anywhere with any length of time as it doesn't require "zoning out". It can be very helpful to sit to do it until you get the hang of it, though. (read Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, it's an easy but meaningful read).
• the practices in The Mind Illuminated book - neuroscientist + meditator modernizes and de-mysticizes older paths. Anytime you get stuck, this is a great way to get unstuck. Find where you are in the journey, and start practicing what he suggests for where you are. It makes a big difference.
• Neti Neti meditation (any thoughts or experiences that arise in meditation, you think "not that" as in "if I can think it, I am not that"). This doesn't need any "lead in" so if you only have a couple of minutes to sit this can be a great way to be impactful during a short time.
• the Brahmavihārā https://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/wheel006... this is the best practice I've found for bringing the inner work you do out into the world as a more kind and uplifting human. I think this is best done when you have a while to sit; I have found that the longer you do it in a session, the more densely it gets integrated.
Side note, if you want to explore your inner experience in a more active way, try finding a local meet up that does shamanic drumming with a guide. I know this sounds weird, but our subconscious is all about symbolism, and if you can play along it's basically a short and gentle drug-free psychedelic trip in a good setting that can be very rewarding.