Meditation Websites

January 16, 2008

It is strange sifting through all of the meditation websites looking for something genuine. I find that people have created weird meditation guides that you have to buy in order to benefit from them or creepy communities that you are encouraged lovingly to join through paid memberships. Yuck.

Check out my mini collection of meditation websites. I have carefully chosen them because I feel they are representative of ideas and practices that I resonate with.

How-To-Meditate

This website has much to offer. It is well written and provides information for people who are just beginning to learn meditation practices. The information is based upon Buddhist philosophy. I would recommend checking out “Breathing Meditations” and “Loving Kindness Meditation”. When I meditate, I actually do not contemplate. I just focus on my breathing until the thoughts and negative energy have been expunged. I suppose contemplation would bring me to a whole new level? Hmmm…

Mindful Awareness

This website is basically a short essay on how meditation helps you become more fully aware of yourself. The thoughts and daily events you encounter can easily overwhelm your sense of self and inner peace. This is well worth the five minute read!

SimpliKate

(The link to this particular page is all that you should concern yourself with. The website as a whole is strange.)

I titled the link “SimpliKate” because the meditation technique is identical to what I do. I will briefly explain. Simply put, I do not meditate in the manner suggested by Buddhist tradition. I actually lie on my back. When I first began meditating this way, I would become drowsy and almost fall asleep. Eventually, I got better at it with practice. I am not going to get into the details of my routine right now. However, what makes this website’s breathing exercise eerily similar to mine is that I developed a habit of resting my left hand on my chest and my right hand over my navel while meditating. I was really surprised to see this written down somewhere! Ahh, the wonders of collective consciousness. Anyhow, the writer eventually suggests to sit or stand… but I still prefer lying down. I am sure someone will inform me that my energy isn’t flowing properly, but I do not think lying down interferes too much. My spine is still straight. One thing I have learned is I can not meditate while on my side, so you probably shouldn’t either.

The Importance of Breathing

The portion of the website I am linking to is focused on teaching breathing techniques. You have to click through links at the bottom of the page that say “click here…”- which is poor design, but what can I do about that? What matters here are the words. The types of breath are well described and instructions are given. I skipped through the blurb on the “Attributes of Air” due to the use of breathy, whimsical words. I already practice the “vitalizing breath” and the “cleansing breath”. I ended up trying the “cooling breath”, which was new to me. There are also some bits written about life after death, reincarnation, and past lifetimes. I do not necessarily accept or advocate the opinions of the writer.

Meditation Guide

I saved the best for last. This web page is an Amazing introduction to meditation. The site is easy to navigate and full of good information. It covers a lot of material. You will not be disappointed. I wish I had written it myself.

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Posted in Meditation