After reading one of Toshiro's posted answers that mentioned Buddhism, I looked it up on Wikipedia and stumbled on this technique of guided meditation called Analytical Meditation.

I was very excited about the description of this meditation, as I realized it was something that I already do during my normal thinking process, although I have never carried it to its logical conclusion.

Is this a technique that you practice and if so, what have you learned from it, and how have you and others benefited from the practice?

asked 14 Nov '09, 01:41

Vesuvius's gravatar image

Vesuvius
32.7k851201


Since you mention me I thought I'd try to give an answer, although I only have some experience with "mindless" :) meditation.

What I know about the analytical approach is that it's used predominantly in one of schools of Tibetan Buddhism(I think it's the one which has the Dalai Lama as it's leader) and as far as I understand it's the slowest method for reaching enlightenment - it is said that it takes many lifetimes, whereas mindless meditation has the potential to get you there in this life (when the right conditions and a teacher are present). Even practitioners of the analytical school agree with this statement.

Why isn't everybody meditating mindlessly then? Well, it seems people have their preferences. Some want to get to the goal ASAP and others prefer to explore everything they encounter.

That's what I can say off the top of my head. Please take it with a grain of salt since my theoretical knowledge of Buddhism is very limited.

link

answered 17 Nov '09, 14:55

Toshiro's gravatar image

Toshiro
1.9k159

I have been teaching and using guided meditation with my clients for many moons. It is a wonderful modality that works wonders.

link

answered 16 Nov '09, 17:44

Penny's gravatar image

Penny
83925

What sort of wonders?

(16 Nov '09, 18:13) Vesuvius

yes i have but from the link i have read it is very poor to explain the processe. i will explain it to you from my experience: first of all you have to sit down relax fix a point in front of you that is not there focus and stay aware. just keep that state of being and eventually in that point that is not there you will see though and emotion in you pass by it is all the veils of the mind in your windows of perception(all things not solve or ignorance that disturb you or things that you do not want to see and have put some ignore paint on it.) you will slowly perceive them better. then you will slow them down to understand them and you will also see the opposite of it the duality. then you will understand the meaning and put them to rest. they will not be hanging around in your windows of perception. it is a definitive fix. yes it can be long to achive fixing all of those veils of the mind. but you will start receiving rewards each time you solve one and by doing it each day it becomes more easy and natural. once it is all done you will achive the state name dhyana:In the early texts, it is taught as a state of collected, full-body awareness in which mind becomes very powerful and still but not frozen, and is thus able to observe and gain insight into the changing flow of experience.[1][2] Later Theravada literature, in particular the Visuddhimagga, describes it as an abiding in which the mind becomes fully immersed and absorbed in the chosen object of attention,[3] characterized by non-dual consciousness.[4]

The Buddha himself entered jhāna, as described in the early texts, during his own quest for enlightenment, and is constantly seen in the suttas encouraging his disciples to develop jhāna as a way of achieving awakening and liberation.[5][6][7]

One key innovative teaching of the Buddha was that meditative absorption (jhāna) must be combined with liberating cognition.[8]

Just before his passing away, The Buddha entered the jhānas in direct and reverse order, and the passing away itself took place after rising from the fourth jhāna.[9]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism

and if you have no attachement and no fear you can stay in the dhyana state and do the samadhi:Samadhi (Sanskrit: समाधि) in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali.

Prabhupada samadhiIt has been described as a non-dualistic state of consciousness in which the consciousness of the experiencing subject becomes one with the experienced object,[1] and in which the mind becomes still, one-pointed or concentrated[2] while the person remains conscious. In Buddhism, it can also refer to an abiding in which mind becomes very still but does not merge with the object of attention, and is thus able to observe and gain insight into the changing flow of experience.[3]

In Hinduism, samādhi can also refer to videha mukti or the complete absorption of the individual consciousness in the self at the time of death - usually referred to as mahasamādhi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samadhi Enlightenment “entails casting of the bonds of concept (veils of ignorance) in order to perceive directly the inexpressible nature of undifferentiated reality.”

“Enlightenment is any experience of expanding our consciousness beyond its present limits. We could also say that perfect enlightenment is realisation that we have no limits at all.”

“The Ultimate State of Consciousness is universally described in mystical literature as union with the Absolute, where the Absolute is known not as many but one without a second. Further, it is specified that to know the absolute is to be the absolute. It follows that the Ultimate State of Consciousness is itself the Absolute, and thus the ultimate state is not a state of consciousness set apart from other states, not one state among many, but rather one state without a second ----that is to say, absolutely all-inclusive. Hence, the Ultimate State of Consciousness is not an altered state of consciousness, for there is no alternative.”

Nirvikalpa Samadhi: With this union with God, the soul now knows itself not through the mind, but through itself. The soul is now beyond mind. He experiences Being God all the time through his intuition. This self-knowledge of the soul is Self-realisation, which does not come and go. It is permanent. He is enlightened forever. He has at last broken the veil of ignorance—Maya is finally defeated. There are now no limits! This state of God-consciousness is infinite and characterised by understanding, love and happiness. He has entered Eternity!

Thus when one has reached the Ultimate State of Consciousness, one knows with full clarity that one is connected to and is also part of God, and is also connected to everything existing in the universe. This web of interconnectedness is God, One without a second. In this ultimate enlightened state, the individual realises he is God and at the same time, he is in the human form. He also knows that he has three instruments for his usage: physical body, emotions and intellectual mind. These are merely his tools to service mankind and the earth.

http://www.kktanhp.com/ultimate_state_.htm

and the pure of heart will see god.

experience and enjoy.

i have added this to help you out to understand meditation:Witnessing the flow of mind: Witnessing your thoughts is a most important aspect of Yoga practice. Witnessing the thought process means to be able to observe the natural flow of the mind, while not being disturbed or distracted. This brings a peaceful state of mind, which allows the deeper aspects of meditation and samadhi to unfold, revealing that which is beyond, which is Yoga or Unity.

http://swamij.com/witnessing.htm

link

answered 06 Jan '12, 00:23

white%20tiger's gravatar image

white tiger
21.9k115116

edited 06 Jan '12, 23:55

Click here to create a free account

If you are seeing this message then the Inward Quest system has noticed that your web browser is behaving in an unusual way and is now blocking your active participation in this site for security reasons. As a result, among other things, you may find that you are unable to answer any questions or leave any comments. Unusual browser behavior is often caused by add-ons (ad-blocking, privacy etc) that interfere with the operation of our website. If you have installed these kinds of add-ons, we suggest you disable them for this website




Related Questions