How do you meditate properly?

Answer 1

Meditation is one of four stages. The first is Attention. Once your attention settles on something the next stage is Concentration. When concentration reaches the point where you cease to be aware of any distractions, you are in Meditation. Meditating on anything puts you in touch with the Source of everything. Trying to understand the Source is the stage called Contemplation. The most important ingredient for meditating properly is to be properly motivated. This generation ought to be properly motivated by the fact that life on Earth is in real danger of going extinct from Global Warming and a host of other man-made calamities. After focusing your Attention on that Concentrate on putting the welfare of all sentient beings on Earth ahead of all other concerns. This mobilises your recources allowing you to literally "turn within". Now your ready to meditate. **************************************************************** There are many different meditation practices and techniques among Buddhists. One common technique which is shared by some Hindus, is called vipassana meditation and it calls for sitting quietly and concentrating single-mindedly on your breath. As you sit and pay attention to your breathing you notice that thoughts arise - like 'hey, what should I have for dinner?' - and in this technique you simply acknowledge that you are thinking, and then let go of the thought and pay attention to your breathing again. Other techniques involve visualizing the Buddha or some other person or object, or concentrating only on a single question or concept (analytical meditation). The technique is less important than the result, which is being able to concentrate single-pointedly, without being distracted.