The Meditation Thread

I wasn't sure if this should go in The Vapor Lounge or Medical Discussion, so if you guys feel it would do better there, or anywhere else, feel free to move it.

I'm curious to hear about everyone's personal experience with mediation, as well as any knowledge or opinions you guys may have about it.

Personally, I'm not the most experienced with meditation, but I have given it a shot (mostly 10-15 minute sessions with either calming instrumental music, or no music at all), and I definitely feel like it is beneficial for my mental health.

I tend to meditate when sober (it's great, right before vaping, as it puts you into a very calm and introspective state of mind), and have read that it is best to meditate this way, but I am interested in Cannabis assisted meditation as well. Perhaps, the goals/effects are different?

I am trying to make it a habit to meditate for at least 10 minutes of meditation, every day.

If I am not meditating in complete silence, I like to put on some zen background music, to help keep my mind from wandering as much as it tends to do. One of my favorite meditation songs is "Kindred Spirits" by Deuter (there are a lot of gems in the album).

EverythingsHazy said:

I wasn't sure if this should go in The Vapor Lounge or Medical Discussion, so if you guys feel it would do better there, or anywhere else, feel free to move it.

I'm curious to hear about everyone's personal experience with mediation, as well as any knowledge or opinions you guys may have about it.

Personally, I'm not the most experienced with meditation, but I have given it a shot (mostly 10-15 minute sessions with either calming instrumental music, or no music at all), and I definitely feel like it is beneficial for my mental health.

I tend to meditate when sober (it's great, right before vaping, as it puts you into a very calm and introspective state of mind), and have read that it is best to meditate this way, but I am interested in Cannabis assisted meditation as well. Perhaps, the goals/effects are different?

I am trying to make it a habit to meditate for at least 10 minutes of meditation, every day.

If I am not meditating in complete silence, I like to put on some zen background music, to help keep my mind from wandering as much as it tends to do. One of my favorite meditation songs is "Kindred Spirits" by Deuter (there are a lot of gems in the album).

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I am a huge fan of meditation. Generally i like to go to a meditation class because i have a hard time disaplening myself to do it at home. I love to eat a fat edible and go in, boarderline psycedelic sometimes.

I have found it transformed my anxiety for the short term at first. The more i went the longer the axiety would subside. You learn to control your emotions with your breath. Which is extremely usefull.

For the past 4 years, twice a week i do a 90 min Bikram series yoga class at 105 degrees f. Its fucking HOT! This is the best thing for my mind and my scoliosis. Totally melts away the negative in your life.

If I don't "meditate" at least once a day, I find I can never quite get on track. But, I put meditate in quotes as I don't strictly do it the way many do, I just do the basic self-hypnosis talk with counting down and sequential tensing and relaxation. Basically, I try to melt into the floor.

So, for me, I focus on the physical nature of the relaxation response and not the mental process of removing thoughts. Music tends to distract for me, as does cannabis use, and I find I am not as successful at getting as deep a relaxation under the influence of either.

Vape_Or_Die420 said:

I am a huge fan of meditation. Generally i like to go to a meditation class because i have a hard time disaplening myself to do it at home. I love to eat a fat edible and go in, boarderline psycedelic sometimes.

I have found it transformed my anxiety for the short term at first. The more i went the longer the axiety would subside. You learn to control your emotions with your breath. Which is extremely usefull.

For the past 4 years, twice a week i do a 90 min Bikram series yoga class at 105 degrees f. Its fucking HOT! This is the best thing for my mind and my scoliosis. Totally melts away the negative in your life.

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I've yet to try edible Cannabis, though I hear it can be more psychedelic than inhaled Cannabis. It sounds like it could definitely make for a profound meditative experience.

It's interesting that you do hot yoga, because I like to chill myself before meditation (cold shower). I feel like either method of forcing yourself out of your comfort zone pushes you to into somewhat of a meditative state. I've done 140F dry sauna meditation for 10 minutes, too, though I prefer normal or cold meditation better, atm.

OldNewbie said:

If I don't "meditate" at least once a day, I find I can never quite get on track. But, I put meditate in quotes as I don't strictly do it the way many do, I just do the basic self-hypnosis talk with counting down and sequential tensing and relaxation. Basically, I try to melt into the floor.

So, for me, I focus on the physical nature of the relaxation response and not the mental process of removing thoughts. Music tends to distract for me, as does cannabis use, and I find I am not as successful at getting as deep a relaxation under the influence of either.

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I've actually been looking into the Progressive Muscle Relaxation technique recently (flexing and then relaxing each muscle group).

Do you do your routine in the morning?

When i ingest cannabis before yoga or meditation it can definitely come with some struggles. Sometimes my mind races like crazy at first. I've found that its ok to let your mind wonder. Just try not to not acknowledge it. Lay down and go for a ride, wherever it takes you.

Visuals and out of body feelings come easier with cannabis consumption in meditation. Sometimes i feel like i am slowly twerling through the universe like a astronaut that fell out of the space station. Nothing scary, kind of peaceful to let go like that.

EverythingsHazy said:

Do you do your routine in the morning?

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Mainly, yes. I get up very early and it works out for me. I think if I did it in the evening, I might just go to sleep.

We used to call the Progressive Muscle Relaxation technique, the "The Relaxation Response". I read the book back in the 70s and, looking around the web, the search string is still comes up with useful results.

Edit:
Here's the first study published by the Dr. that wrote the book I'm talking about. It is about the basics of the physiological response to meditation.

https://www.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajplegacy.1971.221.3.795

Vape_Or_Die420 said:

When i ingest cannabis before yoga or meditation it can definitely come with some struggles. Sometimes my mind races like crazy at first. I've found that its ok to let your mind wonder. Just try not to not acknowledge it. Lay down and go for a ride, wherever it takes you.

Visuals and out of body feelings come easier with cannabis consumption in meditation. Sometimes i feel like i am slowly twerling through the universe like a astronaut that fell out of the space station. Nothing scary, kind of peaceful to let go like that.

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That zero gravity floating/flying/freefalling feeling is the best, once you are experienced enough with Cannabis to stay calm. So relaxing!

OldNewbie said:

Mainly, yes. I get up very early and it works out for me. I think if I did it in the evening, I might just go to sleep.

We used to call the Progressive Muscle Relaxation technique, the "The Relaxation Response". I read the book back in the 70s and, looking around the web, the search string is still comes up with useful results.

Edit:
Here's the first study published by the Dr. that wrote the book I'm talking about. It is about the basics of the physiological response to meditation.

https://www.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajplegacy.1971.221.3.795

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Awesome. I would like to eventually get into a routine of meditating once in the morning and once at night, first, to set the tone for the day, and then, to unwind for sleep.

Ever try an isolation tank/float tank? Edibles recommended here as well. These tanks make it so much easier to ease into great relaxation

Vape_Or_Die420 said:

Ever try an isolation tank/float tank? Edibles recommended here as well. These tanks make it so much easier to ease into great relaxation

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No, but I've always wanted to try one!

Ramahs said:

No, but I've always wanted to try one!

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I've always wanted to try dosing myself with a massive amount of psychedelics and then go into a sensory deprivation chamber, to explore my own mind in ways that I haven't had the luxury of doing in normal reality.

Ramahs said:

I've always wanted to try dosing myself with a massive amount of psychedelics and then go into a sensory deprivation chamber, to explore my own mind in ways that I haven't had the luxury of doing in normal reality.

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Read "The Deep Self" by John C Lilly. He is the guy that invented the isolation tank. He used to do experiments with psycadelics. Might motivate you to try one. The beautiful thing about an isolation tank is that you don't really need drugs but it doesn't hurt

I'm going to go against the flow here. In my case and from what I've been taught meditation doesn't really go with drugs. I know about plenty of people who have though, (Ram Dass and others) but I have to think its a different kind of practice. In my meditation the object is make my mind blank, to turn the thinking off. When its racing from any stimulant that makes it nearly impossible for me.

I used to meditate twice a day for several years. When I started medicating, my meditating gradually went away. However I can still draw on some things I've learned, and do from time to time. I have asthma and do breathing exercises I learned, as an example. I think I can calm my mind better now as well.

I was taught in the yoga tradition and eventually found AYP, advanced yoga practices. And loosely followed things I learned there as well. Just in yoga there are several sub traditions, the self realization fellowship being the biggest I think. Met some awesome folks at a local center loosely associated with the fellowship. Attended lectures, workshops, and group meditations with them, but never became a full member. In the end its all a personal deal but it doesn't hurt to learn new things. If your curious, find a local center and check it out. They usually have some new age type events and others like drum circles, yoga exercises and what not.

shredder said:

When I started medicating, my meditating gradually went away.

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Mine too. I was learning to meditate before I picked back up with cannabis. I loved it. It saved me in some ways. Cleared me psychicly. Scratched off thick layers of bs. Very restorative. The only reason I stopped is because I picked back up with cannabis and while cannabis doesn't do exactly the same thing for me, it allows me enough 'centeredness' (along with other things) to be able to forgo the meditation, which, let's face it, is a time commitment, even if it's only a half hour of meditation a day. You gotta set up, and come down. Ideally, you have a peaceful place to do it. There were enough extras involved that since I went back to the way of the weed, I haven't returned to meditation. And I never got the idea of doing it with others. Maybe when I'm retired and super jonsing for company (just kidding I'm sure it's cool).

GetLeft said:

And I never got the idea of doing it with others.

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I didn't either, expecially a four hour or longer meditation. But it goes fast and there's an incredible energy you can feel from the group. If your already meditating, it goes fast. If you didn't meditate it would be difficult.

A few years ago I had the good fortune and the privilege of participating in a group meditation with the Dalai Lama in person.

First of all, I wonder, what is meditation?

after years of study I came to my personal deduction that everyone has their own way of doing it.

It is not necessary to stand cross-legged and eyes closed in a calm place.

You can also meditate sitting in the car in the middle of traffic on Christmas days ...

Like for everything else, what matters is our attitude ...

You have to listen to yourself and indulge yourself.

To pray is to speak to God, to meditate is to listen to the answer.

I am not surprised that there is a strong propensity for meditation among cannabis users ...
It is a sacred plant, an entheogen.
It puts you back in touch with the inner divinity.

I like the idea of meditating but I'm bad at it. I've tried "traditional" lotus pose 'om' meditation, doesn't work for me. I've tried guided meditation, doesn't work for me. I've tried meditative yoga, I'm not stretchy and balanced enough for it. What I've found works is a getting a nice cup of hot tea, and turning it into a meditative experience. Inhaling the vapor of the tea can really calm and clear my mind, and any time I get off track I return to that bit. Then just slow sips, savoring the sensation. It's a very relaxing ritual.

I would add one more thing ...

Life itself is a meditation.

It all depends on our approach.

The only thing about meditation that I regret is that I did not start earlier with it. I practice daily since last May and it already made my whole life so much better... Love it.

I really like the Modern Cannabists episode about meditation. Troy did a great job explaining mindfulness meditation. MM is the only thing that works for me but I am bad a keeping to a practice.

hayduke said:

I really like the Modern Cannabists episode about meditation. Troy did a great job explaining mindfulness meditation. MM is the only thing that works for me but I am bad a keeping to a practice.

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I totally agree. I wish the conversation got a little deeper but I don't think some were ready for that. MM is what helped me get into meditation. It helps me sit still for 10 minutes. I really hope you give meditation another shot, keep it short and get lifted if you want. do it for 15 days and you will see the benefits and you can decide if you can keep it up. Life changing stuff my dude!

Ive been meditating more or less every day for 3 months now, for a minimum of 20 min. I practice metta and vipassana using the Waking Up app which I have found blows the competition out of the water. Eventually I want to work up to a SN Goenka vipassana retreat

Hope you all have been remembering to meditate!! It's more important now than ever.

I've been meditating since my teens but have never read a book, taken a class or heard a lecture. But it all started in my childhood when I would frequently go out in the bush and just sit, listen and breathe. First hearing about meditation in my teens it already sounded familiar but it's association with foreign religion more or less kept me from seeking it out initially. I suppose I practice more eastern meditation of emptying ones self. I don't find these mindful/guided meditations useful, they are to rigid, to listen to me and do what I say but I guess they really work for others. I meditate several times a day, off and on weed, for as little as 15 minutes to a couple hours. I wake up early, hours before the rest of the house so I meditate in my lazy boy with my eyes closed in the dark, staring by clearing my mind and focusing on my breathing listening to the crickets chirping and the wind through the leaves of the trees until I'm no longer thinking of my breath and I'm just existing in the moment just part of my surroundings, free from thought and any neuroses about my life. I'll typically keep that up until the morning chorus of bird songs, open my eyes and watch the sunrise then vape. Daytime meditations are usually shorter, I frequently do it with my eyes open, looking out the window at the swaying trees or watching my dog sleep and breathe along with her. At night in bed I scratch my dog and focus on my breathing until I just fall asleep.

I could never get to the state where you no longer focusing on anything and you are just one in time. Just could never get to that point. Always find myself fixating on something. Or my thoughts wandering. It’s real bad.

I know when my girl massages me and puts on calming music I get lost in that time and then I’m asleep. But I don’t think that’s really meditation though.

Many people myself included benefit from some form of stimulation. It can be auditory like nature sounds or music, scents or even something physical or any combination of things. I've used many things over the years like bonfires or my cat sitting and purring on my lap. In the silence of the winter with windows closed I can struggle to get in that moment. Nature and rain soundtracks on YouTube are helpful.