Meditation and the Fastlane

[awanrmb]

@aardvarky , Yes I'm indonesian. Living in the west part of Java island. Thanks for the info! I might fly there in Bali in some months

Cheers,
Awan

 

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[santa]

If you find that meditation helps, post here and lets see just how many of us practice meditation. I always meditate for at least 15 minutes a day and find it very useful as a fastlaner. Most of the population has no idea how to even begin to meditate or are meditating in ineffective ways.
Lets share meditation techniques so fellow current and future fast laners could benefit. How did you learn meditation and what resources did you use? Share recommended meditation books/videos/blogs/articles that you find that helped with learning how to meditate effectively.

Great thread and very timely for me!

I've done some forms of meditation and breathing exercises on and off for the past few years. It's one of those habits, I've really missed.

I used to do some breathing exercises that are popular in India from a guy called Ramdev (lots of stuff on youtube), and also a form of sitting chi kung meditation. I did both for about 4 months last year (5-10mins Ramdev and 45mins chi kung), and I was probably at my best in terms of being able to see things clearly, having great emotional stability and general well being.

 

[Tommy92l]

Has anyone here experienced thinking of a word or concept and suddenly you hear or saw something that's related or is an exact match of the word or concept?

Example:
I'm thinking of a laptop then the person speaking on television or radio mentions "laptop."

It can be dismissed as pure coincidence, but when it happens it makes me smile.

THIS. THIS. THIS. I've tried explaining that to people and it is so easily dismissed.

I remember hearing someone say "Think of a number. Don't think too hard, but any number. Keep it in your mind subconsciously and you'll begin to see it more and more. This same principle works with achieving success. Think of who you want to be and it will come into your life".

To this day I am still haunted by the number 14. But really, it does work. And if works on a larger scale, go for it.

 

[Jazzcat]

Great thread! My doctor recommended Japa meditation several years ago. It took me a few months of practice but now it is a permanent part of my morning ritual. I also meditate at various parts of the day when possible. The book he gave to me was "Moving Inward" by Rolf Sovik. The book touches on other subjects including breathing and posture. Proper breathing is such a key component to health and performance and doesn't take any special pill or supplement. Just good technique. I wish I had known this when I was 21.

 

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[Skys]

I have been meditating for over a year now. 20 minutes a day.

What I have learned is that my brain / mind is like a dragon that needs to be tamed. So besides just meditation, I read more books then ever (biographies, philosophy books). I walk 1 hour a day. I do lots of activities that bring me to "now"

Meditation has a major influence on the improvement of my life. My life has become richer. I live my life with more value.

Every day I focus on living more and more in the moment. I start to realise on a very deep level that this moment is all I ever have, and had. You do have a past, but it only exists now, in your mind. The same with your future.

It also made me stop making goals for myself, and focusing on outcomes. There is a difference. I focus on the process.

I have a vision for myself, but at the same time, I focus on this moment. I focus on what I do now. Everything has become more healthier and in balance. My negative thought process has become less and I can handle my emotions better and better. Rare are the moments I am flipping out, compared to my past.

No self improvement book has ever "helped" me like a full year of 20 minutes a day of meditations.

 

[SteveO]

I do lots of activities that bring me to "now"

This is harder to do than it sounds. It is important to stay in the "now". If we are focused on the past and the future, we are likely ignoring what we are telling ourselves to do now.

 

[Skys]

This is harder to do than it sounds. It is important to stay in the "now". If we are focused on the past and the future, we are likely ignoring what we are telling ourselves to do now.

Yes, and eventhough I would really love to be in the moment all the time, I am not resisting when I am not.
There are just certain activities that make it easier for me to stay present then others.
Reading, sports, walking, taking a shower, cleaning the house, talking with somebody, I can stay present
But, when I put on my Xbox, before I know it I am completely in my head blaming the game for being corrupt and blablabla..

Then I get consumed by my mind and don't recognize anymore that I am not my mind.

That's why I try to do things bit by bit that are mentally more healthy to become stronger in the present.

Simple, but not easy. It's probably a lifelong journey. And that's fine.

Meditation is a part of my life. I would not want to become a buddhist monk. It adds on to becoming a stronger person. More grounded.
That, for me, is the most important aspect. Becoming more grounded while getting older. I am 31, so becoming grounded is a part of growing up. But, it's also a proactive act.

 

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[Tommy92l]

I think the hardest part is sticking with it. Just like thinking positive. You find yourself thinking positive for a few days in a row (at least for me), and then I find myself on the verge of screaming at somebody.... and just like that you think... What the hell happened to positive thinking? It's hard because it's basically rewiring your subconscious mindset.

Is negative thinking natural or are we taught it?

 

[Bigguns50]

@awanrmb ... Jeet kune do was the second art I studied. I have the first edition of Bruce Lee's book. Wise and powerful man he was.

We all can see and do so much more than we think we can. When I train in he arts now, I see energy flow... hard to explain but very cool.... and handy. I got out of earning belts many years ago... Glad I did.

Whatever anyone does in life, meditation will improve life.

 

[BobbyPenzero]

I have been meditating for over a year now. 20 minutes a day.

What I have learned is that my brain / mind is like a dragon that needs to be tamed. So besides just meditation, I read more books then ever (biographies, philosophy books). I walk 1 hour a day. I do lots of activities that bring me to "now"

Meditation has a major influence on the improvement of my life. My life has become richer. I live my life with more value.

Every day I focus on living more and more in the moment. I start to realise on a very deep level that this moment is all I ever have, and had. You do have a past, but it only exists now, in your mind. The same with your future.

It also made me stop making goals for myself, and focusing on outcomes. There is a difference. I focus on the process.

I have a vision for myself, but at the same time, I focus on this moment. I focus on what I do now. Everything has become more healthier and in balance. My negative thought process has become less and I can handle my emotions better and better. Rare are the moments I am flipping out, compared to my past.

No self improvement book has ever "helped" me like a full year of 20 minutes a day of meditations.

This is a great post. I'm now approaching a month of straight meditation, and I can't imagine my life without it. Starting out with just two minutes and adding two more each week may not sound like much, but it was enough to get started and build momentum. Even at 8 minutes a day, the differences in my mental state are really, really noticeable - clearer thinking, more motivated, more level-headed and less afraid to speak my mind. It's almost unbelievable, and I can only imagine what 30 minutes a day will be like.

Saying that, I can't start my workday without it now. I really recommend it to 'overthinkers'.

 

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[Skys]

I think the hardest part is sticking with it. Just like thinking positive. You find yourself thinking positive for a few days in a row (at least for me), and then I find myself on the verge of screaming at somebody.... and just like that you think... What the hell happened to positive thinking? It's hard because it's basically rewiring your subconscious mindset.

Is negative thinking natural or are we taught it?

First off, I have been doing it for a year. Didn't miss a day. I had to arrange my 'meditation session' while being on vacation with my girlfriend. I did my meditation in the bathroom, or in the lobby. Not every day is ideal.
I had times where I got home and just had to keep myself awake during meditation. My head literally falling down to wake me up and to get back to meditating.

This is not to say, look how I great I am. It's more a, yeah man.. I understand what you are saying. It's not easy. Especially in the beginning. After some time, it just becomes a habbit. Sometimes I have shit sessions, sometimes really good ones. That's all fine, acceptance is one of the bigger lessons meditation will bring you. "I am not present, Oh well, let's BE not present". And after a while, after you see your thoughts racing trough your head.. you become present.

I experience moments of total calmness, and then some idiot cuts me of on the road while driving. I believe Mike Tyson said something like: everybody has a gameplan until they get punched in the face.

But, I believe if you accept your flippin out session. Or your cranky mood, or whatever the F you are in.. That's better than to be anxious about your anxiousness. Or to be angry at being angry. That's just building up. "I am angry, thats cool. The guy is F*cking jerk. a**hole.. blablabla" ..until you notice your breath again.

About positive thinking. I am not sure. I do believe it's better to think positive then negative. Still, it's just a thought. That's again that non resistance. What resists, persists. So if you keep telling yourself "I need to stop thinking negative", then pretty damn sure you will think negative. It's like telling somebody "not to think of the elefant". It's better just to watch the thoughts when you do notice your thought process (a lot of the time it probably happens unconsiously, and I don't even mean that in a philosophical sense). So when you do catch it, "watch it". I have noticed that thoughts are like waves, or like cars driving by. Sometimes it's really windy and there are lots of waves coming from everywhere. Sometimes the sea is super quiet. But, waves always come up, and always come down.

A bit esotheric for this forum perhaps LOL

 

[Bigguns50]

And after a while, after you see your thoughts racing trough your head.. you become present.

This is a powerful statement.

 

[Era]

"I am not present, Oh well, let's BE not present"

This is very true. By being aware, you are actually being present in the moment.
Meditation is a habit as well as a process.

 

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[WhiteEagle]

Anyhow, I was curious if anyone had any "synchronous" stories to tell in their life ... you know, that one thing that was simply way too coincidental to be a coincidence.

So as you know, I've just joined this forum. On the VERY day that I signed up, I was driving to work in the afternoon and as I'm driving, I see a LAMBORGHINI... I pull into the rest stop for a coffee and THERE IT IS AGAIN, refueling. Seriously? The same day I join the Fastlane Forum?? Honestly, these cars are rare around here, and I've NEVER seen one driven here (Toronto area) in the winter. I was stoked, while at the same time left thinking, "wtf?" They are truly beautiful machines and I envy you MJ. But no stress. For me, the time will come soon.

Here are the two pics, no datestamp but taken on Feb 13th. I also have the original dashcam footage.

Feel free to edit/remove the pics if need be.




Signing up to this forum has already caused far-reaching consequences. I can't wait to see what happens when I actually start posting stuff! I'm still honestly in awe at the coincidence!

 

[Bigguns50]

MJ DeMarco said: ↑
Anyhow, I was curious if anyone had any "synchronous" stories to tell in their life ... you know, that one thing that was simply way too coincidental to be a coincidence.

Probably hundreds.

A couple quick examples:
This one happened several times: I pick up the phone to call my Mom just out of the blue. There's no dial tone. Just dead. I say "Hello ?"...I hear my Mom say "Oh, Hello ?". She picked up to call me ! We'd always laugh when that happened.

Once, I was thinking..."Hmm...I wonder if Home Depot carries those." I call my friend Al because he knows H.D. well and I ask him. He says "I'll tell you in a minute. I'm just walking into Home Depot now."

My DJ walks by me and out of the blue, for no reason the word "Bling" comes out of my mouth. (I don't use that word). He takes a few steps, turns around, and says "Miller, what did you just say ?". "Bling", I said. He says, "Man, you scare me sometimes. At the same time you said Bling, I thought I need to have my earring cleaned."

These are simple ones, but there are so many more.

 

[talentedavatar]

On my way to work, I'll pull the car over and meditate for 10-minutes.
I'll focus on clearing my mind and then just visualizing my future self with my desired results. I'll also repeat my goals for that day.

It puts things in perspective for me.

 

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[DennisD]

I used to meditate. For a year of my life when I was trying to figure out where I stood on religion, I studied a few eastern philosophies and convinced my martial arts teacher into sharing his meditation tips.

i have to say, it didn't really DO anything for me. I find what helps me much much more are these things

• Clearing my head in the shower. No thinking about business, money, love, anything. Let the warm water run over me, inhale the steam, chill out.
• 30 min powernap every day.
• Making tea
• Cooking

Many of these things bring me into a semi-meditative state... but after it's done I don't feel like I have been wasting time.

The tea making is interesting because it's less about the chemical makeup of the tea and more about the 'ritual' of making it.

I boil water, temper my teapot in the hot water, boil more water, measure tealeaves, steep, and have myself 3-4 cups of tea. Nothing else is going on. Nobody to talk to, no music or podcasts... just me and the ritual.

Sure! That's how I did it, there are a lot of ways to achieve lucidity, that's just the way that works for me:

• Always write your dreams on your dream journal first thing in the morning, don't wait, don't go to the bathroom, just write what you remember. At first you will remember some random scene, write it. You don't remember anything? Write "Don't remember", this part is important, you have to create a habit, in a week or so you'll remember a lot of stuff, guarantee.
• Perform reality checks during the day, watch your hands, watch clock multiple times, try to breath with your mouth and nose closed, feel yourself, feel the enviroment, feel alive. If you perform reality checks, after some time you'll perform one in a dream unconsciously, then you'll take control of it.
• Wake up in the middle of the night and do something for 40 or so minutes, something that won't make you think too much, then go back to bed.
  
• Take melatonin, but not before bed, take it after the first time you'll wake up at night.
• Before bed say "I will realize that I am dreaming and I will take control of my dream" and visualize yourself take control of your dream until you fall asleep.
  
• Repeat until success.

I started last year in December, had my first lucid dream three weeks ago, it's not hard but you have to want it bad enough, like everything in life.

Oh, and there's a book, "Exploring The World Of Lucid Dreaming", it's a good book and it will answer all your questions, just skim it and you'll be fine.

Wow... this brings me back.
I was a freshman in highschool when I wrote a 50 page ebook on a process very similar to this.... which I sold on ebay as my first product. My buddy was learning programming so we packaged the book with a 'dream journal' software. Both the book and the software sucked, but the concept was there.

 

[cristian tello]

here are some apps for android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bmt
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=potencialmenteinteresante.meditationrelaxingmusic
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nwalex.meditation&hl=en

 

[Tommy92l]

Maybe this is just lame, but my dream was to acquire a Z/28 or a white on red C7 Vert. Went to the auto show today. Side by side. White, 2014 z/28 Camaro, and a drop to White on Red C7 convertible. Just sayin.

 

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[scratchdisk]

I have tried to start meditating a few times but I never seem to stick with it. I do however do yoga very regularly and love it.

 

[MorgothBauglir]

I have tried to start meditating a few times but I never seem to stick with it. I do however do yoga very regularly and love it.

Yoga is the bomb man. I was skeptical at first but damn, walk out of every class with a buzz.

 

[em1L]

A little of topic since most of you seem advanced at meditation, but do you have any resources to suggest for amateurs? (maybe books etc)

Hi, the easiest way to get started is to download a mindfulness / meditation app on your smartphone or tablet, and try the guided meditations each day. Start with 5 minutes once a day, when you wake up, before bed or in your lunch break. Just the 5 minutes will do great, and whenever you feel like it you can increase to 10, or to twice a day. Whatever feels comfortable.

 

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[em1L]

I am really glad this thread was started, since I had been wondering for some time how millionaires and soon to become millionaires, would think of Quantum Physics or what I call spirituality. - I am glad someone onboard shares some of my own interests in mediation, visualisation and manifesting thoughts. After traveling in Asia I also got an increasing interest in Yoga, Pranic Breathing and Energy Work.

I have always known there was something more to life than just getting an education and working 8-5 in a desk job. And I guess thats also why the Millionaire Fastlane rang such a bell with me.

People that aren't convinced that life, its possibilities and the universe is infinite, just hasn't "woken up" yet, and had their conscience tuned in to the frequencies that is needed to get a broader perspective.

For the ones just starting to realise some stuff about everything that is "going on", it is probably a good thing to start with some of the more westernised material. Basically everything boils down to the same thing, there is just difference in how it is explained, and how much weight is put on spirituality, faith and quantum mechanics.
Here are some recommendations to start with, in no particular order (though the few in the top would make a good start)

Tony Robbins - Talks a lot about positive thinking, and manifesting

The Secret - A movie about the endless possibilities and the law of attraction

Mind Science Kept Hidden -

What the bleep do we know - http://www.whatthebleep.com

Maybe for the more experienced:
Everything by Eckhart Tolle

Einstein - The biography by Walter Isaacson (talks about quantum physics)

Mediation, Yoga and Prana.
http://www.dhamma.org/en/ - Free meditation courses all over the world.

Book: Autobiography of a Yogi (Reprint of the Philosophical library 1946 First Edition)

Living on Energy - Movie about people living purely of Prana, and no need for nourishment.

Astral Travel:
Adventures Beyond the Body: How to Experience Out-of-Body Travel


I can also recommend a simple exercise to do just before you go to sleep, and right after you wake up, it helps your mind to get in a positive state, and attract more positivity in your life, you can easily do this with your spouse.

Right before sleep: Mention the 3 most positive things for the day, and what made you happy. Keep your mind from focusing on the negatives.

Right after say to yourself: "Tomorrow will be a great day when I" : "get that job i wanted for so long" also here mention 3 positive things that you already see happen, and want to happen for the next day.
When you wake up: Repeat the 3 things you want for the day, and start you day with a positive focus.

Since what you think and say to yourself has much greater effect than we think, everything you think and say will effect you in a way. Thats why a positive mantra, works so well for athletes and other people who practice this.
Try creating your own mantra by focusing on certain aspects you want to change.
A positive mantra could be: "I am a strong and successful businessman" - Say it to yourself in the mirror everyday while trusting the meaning of the words, and you will see the difference fast

The ClichéOn a side note, I noticed while becoming more conscious and spiritual, learning about all these things, reading and experiencing things. I also became less materialistic. I still do not want to deviate from my target of becoming a multimillionaire or even billionaire. However the motivation during the years of my "awakening" has changed from the good old "Getting a Lamborghini Aventador" to something like:

"Use my money to make the world a better place for me, and everyone in it."

Since the people that suffer in this world, don't really have the possibility of changing anything themselves. Somebody else needs to do it for them.

I guess what happens automatically with people like Bill Gates, when he is suddenly able to do what the hell he wants, he can buy everything the world has to offer, he then figures out it doesn't really make him any happier, he starts giving back.
I guess being the richest man in the world, made him spiritual when he suddenly had no more material wishes or wealth to accumulate.

 

[Bigguns50]

@em1L. Great post and information !

Thank you for reminding me of some things I've stopped doing.

I suppose you'll be joining the Giving Pledge group. Excellent.

 

[thaboybam]

Meditation is amazing! If anything, it'll clear your mind of useless bs.

Hip Hop mogul Russel Simmons sparked my interest to meditate.

I then read, "Hardcore Zen", by Brad Warner and I was hooked. Great book if you can find time to read it. The book does't really try to sell the concept of meditation,but it does discuss his journey towards adopting the practice.

 

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[em1L]

@em1L. Great post and information !

Thank you for reminding me of some things I've stopped doing.

I suppose you'll be joining the Giving Pledge group. Excellent.

I am just happy the some of the people here that share my goals, also share some of the same interests in personal development.
Isn't this life just one big journey to evolve in as many aspects as possible, I feel it is

I didn't know there was a special group for rich people to join. I do feel that after one has accumulated the riches needed to become independent and create a good life for your and your nearest, it is also ones responsibility to share, and create some balance in the world. Instead of buying 50 super cars, why not go with 1-2 if it satisfies you, and spend the rest where it is really needed?

Luckily this almost happens automatically when people become insanely rich and figure out that the 3 or 4th super car, just doesn't make them any happier on any levels, therefore wondering what does.

 

[yveskleinsky]

I agree with focusing on the moment and listening to your intuition. That is what I get from meditation. There is so much noise in the world and it is nice to have a place to block it out.

Speaking of noise, some of the best advice I've ever gotten came from you years ago. You said something along the lines of "focus in on want you want and realize that the rest is just noise." So wise, and so true.

 

[yveskleinsky]

But that's not how it's perceived, interpreted, or applied by the masses.

Anyhow, I was curious if anyone had any "synchronous" stories to tell in their life ... you know, that one thing that was simply way too coincidental to be a coincidence. I have a story that if you probably put it through a statistical analysis, it would be a 1 in a 10,000,000 shot. And yet, it happened. (Sorry but it's a story I don't want public.)

You're killin' me with suspense over here!

I've had a a couple of times in my life where I've felt other forces were at work--blocking me from what I wanted, to the point it was just crazy how many doors were shutting. I've also experienced other events, but I think those would fall under the category of premonitions. I know both of those categories sound woo-woo, but I don't quite know how else to describe them. However, I don't know if I'd describe any of them as "synchronous". ...Are you talking about synchronous in the sense of serendipity? Can you give an example?

 

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[SteveO]

I've had a a couple of times in my life where I've felt other forces were at work--blocking me from what I wanted, to the point it was just crazy how many doors were shutting.

I personally do not believe that there are other forces at work. We are those forces that close the doors.

 

[yveskleinsky]

For the most part, I TOTALLY agree with you. A phone call doesn't get made due to me slacking or forgetting which has a series of consequences, etc. I'm ALL for personal accountability--I believe that accountability offers the biggest lessons, so I'm always looking for my part in things, as I like examine what I did to contribute to the outcome--but there have been two times I can think of where everything was falling apart to a ridiculous level: people were getting sick, calling were being missed, important voicemails lost, people who were otherwise prompt were oversleeping, vendors losing deliveries. Just a series of unrelated events all leading to one particular outcome not happening. It was to the point where I felt comfortable saying, "you know what, maybe I just need to let this play out on it's own and quit fighting it." ...Which is saying a lot, because when I want something bad enough I fight like hell for it. I know my statement sounds hippie woo-woo, but it's what I've experienced.