@InnerAthlete - internet is my teacher unfortunately
@davekin thank you
Your welcome…Nothing wrong with the internet being your teacher. I use it all the time and have drawn much strength. Because of my learning disabilities, I do struggle with well intended intellects & some of the technical information, however there is much fuel to burn the desires within each of us, willing to make the effort to learn and apply it to our lives as best we know how.
The internet is my teacher as well 
You can be given mantras by your guru and it is said that it adds a special depth and meaning to reciting them, but, you can recite a mantra even if you don’t have a guru.
If you feel strongly about that why don’t you try an english affirmation? (I am one with the world or I am filled with Joy)
“Om”, “So-Hum” or “One” works for me or even humming on your out breath.
I feel totally out of place attempting a mantra in another language that does not come natural to me. I find if I am to get any benefit from mantras, I must use the language in which I grew up with. Don’t just repeat words for the sake of them. You must have a real feel for the words you are saying.
I go more for the sound and the vibration, rather than any meaning. IA is correct in that it’s best with an experienced guide, but meditation is not rocket science. Like anything, it takes practice and gets easier with time. I am both blessed and cursed with a creative mind. Along with fun imagination comes an overactive mind, so learning to sit still and breathe, repeat “ram” and just let my thoughts come and go without judging is pretty tough for a guy like me. But I’m getting a lot better at it to the point where my day isn’t complete without it. Meditation has been around for this long for a reason - it works!
[QUOTE=danciu;43902]hello all
i started meditation two weeks ago…read a lot of books and topics form this forum…
i first stared with following my breath that went well for 2 days, then i tried counting and following my breath that went well just once, but since then i can’t focus enough, i tried with following the candle light, music (brainwaves, ocean waves) walking meditation but still no results.
i was thinking about trying with mantras, but i read that mantra is given to you by somebody and it’s not something that you search for it online:).
can you help me out
Thank you[/QUOTE]
Patanjali Yoga Sutra
That cat may have a few helpful tips and tricks.
Don’t try to focus the mind with the will at this point. Pick an object with which to focus the mind.
Have patience. When you notice the mind going astray or running away just take it back to the object of meditation.
Have some more patience. Gradually . . . slowly . . . and only by practicing the art will you develop the mind in object meditation.
Pick whatever object you like.
The Pranava is good. 3. Om japa.
Patanjali gives it some serious threads . . . i wonder why?
il tell you what friend, study, find one that means your goals and stick with it. patience patience patience. look at this as a lifestyle change. and remember, if you push to hard, your mind and body will rebel, ask often but ask nicely.
my personal preference is meditation on the breath and here is why.
- you breath all day long.
- you can judge the state of your bodymind by the consistency or texture of your breath.
- the breath is the great bridge to the subconscious because it is both, in relation to your nervous system unconscious, and conscious in that it will happen naturally or you can will fully override it.
keep it simple. your mind will tell you something is missing. let it. just gently bring yourself back to the object. you will stagnate sometimes, perfectly normal.
hope that helped.
good hunting
kavon
I found Bikram’s Orange book helpful in this regard.
If I was Bikram I’d be meditating on a full head of hari.
[QUOTE=The Scales;46154]If I was Bikram I’d be meditating on a full head of hari.[/QUOTE]
His crown chakra is just too active for hair (just like mine!) 
Danciu,
It seems that you are far too greedy for immediate results. Regardless of the method one is using, what is important is to remain with one method and take it to it’s very end, one’s energies cannot be wavering here and there - a certain one-pointedness and consistency with the discipline is needed. This is something which grows over time, and in the beginning it can become very easy to become frustrated. The work of meditation is cumulative, there can be no quick fix for it. And that is natural, because the mind is coming with a whole history of conditioning and programming behind it, it will want to resist the process at almost any cost. That is why most people find it almost impossible to experience meditation in the beginning. All of the various different methods in the yogic sciences - the various postures, breathing exercises, mudras, bandhas, kriyas, are just for this - to initiate a thorough physical and psychological purification and create a certain inner atmosphere which is prepared for meditation. You can try and start meditation immediately, there is no problem with it. That is what Buddhists have been doing. But one will have to dissolve various psychological obstacles and hindrances which are preventing oneself from coming to the experience of meditation. In either case, consistent practice is needed. And part of the consistency is not just practice, but the right kind of effort which is flowing through the practice. The right kind of effort is that kind of effort which is not in the least bit interested in the benefits, when your action can be so involved in the present without any consideration for the outcome. This is often the greatest barrier for meditation - the desire to cling to an outcome. In fact, meditation is not something that can be done as an effort of the mind, it has to arise as a force of it’s own. That is not that effort is not needed, immense effort is needed, not for meditation, but just for creating an inner space which is prepared for it. And once you have become a vessel which is ready for it - it blossoms spontaneously by itself.
Hi,
Let me add my two bits worth.
Spend some time thinking about the mind. The 'mind" is just a continous series of thoughts -mostly random ones. When all the thoughts are on one subject your are focussed…eg you are solving your math paper. But mostly for the non meditator /amateur meditator these are random thoughts. As you focus your mind the random nature becomes less. . the more focussed you are, the less external influences reach you - when you are deeply focussed on a math problem - you do not hear the cars outside or even the sound of the a/c in your room. Thought is the substance the mind is made up of- so you will have thoughts all the time - the effort of all concentration (dharana) is to focus the mind - sufficient practice and concentration moves the mind into focus on a single thought- an unbroken train of thoughts on one subject /object(this is called dhyan in the technical jargon of yoga)- deepening dhyan moves you into the zone of no thoughts - this is samadhi (self realisation).
Good Theory. You ask how to implement this ? You can use two methods during meditation
(1) Concentrate on a mantra - you can use any one -It need not be Om or Om Nama Shivaya -it need not have an Indian origin. The normal prayer which you are used to can be your mantra. If the prayer is too long use your favourite line- ideally not more than two or three lines.Keep repeating this with concentration- you will find your mind wandering. The moment you realise this gently coax it back into repeating the mantra with awareness.
(2) When the mind feels focussed (you can identify this by a feeling of peace within you ) , focus on the space in front of your eyes (with your eyes closed) - this is called Chidakasha. Keep watching that space and you will be able to see the thoughts rising- just watch the thoughts-without any reaction, without labelling them bad or goodm without like or dislike. The thought will fade away (the mind does not like to be watched !) and the next thought will arise. Keep the process going.
Alternating between these two techniques in meditation should give you a fair amount of progress in decent time. Once you are able to sit in meditation for forty minutes or so daily, you will find that you look forward to it on most days.
Cheers:p
[QUOTE=danciu;43902]hello all
i started meditation two weeks ago…read a lot of books and topics form this forum…
i first stared with following my breath that went well for 2 days, then i tried counting and following my breath that went well just once, but since then i can’t focus enough, i tried with following the candle light, music (brainwaves, ocean waves) walking meditation but still no results.
i was thinking about trying with mantras, but i read that mantra is given to you by somebody and it’s not something that you search for it online:).
can you help me out
Thank you[/QUOTE]
i feel i have to give you guys an update
first i want to thank you all for your messages
i am taking it slowly, step by step, and by now no great results.
i found a course in my city with -the Art of living (founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) - do you know anything about them?
i googled a lot but few things camed up
thank you