Reading, although there are words, is a fairly solitary meditative activity, so reading can help quiet one's mind if you immerse yourself. Playing a musical instrument is great for this too. Making visual art is extremely meditative.
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Originally Posted by Hip Priest
I would seriously advise that attempting to learn from a book or website will either be fruitless or very time-consuming; I reckon just about anyone who has practised meditation would say it's best to learn in the atmosphere of a group with a guide.
My advice would be to join a local group to learn the basics (even for a few lessons), and then go it on your own if you still wish.
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Originally Posted by me
The breathing techniques act as a mantra without a mantra in mind. Using breathing and a mantra together at first seem to be the quickest way to understanding that there are other states of consciousness that can be reached through meditation.
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For the same reason, going with a group session can bring some immediate results (EDIT: on second thought...I think those people were full of shit just acting for everyone else) that give one the impetus to continue, but I eschew groups of this nature. If one can truly find a real guru, instructor, master or yogi or whatever, then good for them. I steer clear of those people.
We have a semi-communal settlement within Charlottesville that is called "Yogaville."
Meditation is about going back to true balance which, if uncovered, does make you an individual (& one just may be a freak), but it's not about living like a freak.
You can't deny the world away just like one cannot deny death away out of existence. It's true that one can alter one's environment through the will, It's just that I think that the people out in "Yogaville" are a lot more like the rest of the world than they now allow themselves to think.