02-01-2011, 08:52 PM
I'll tell you what is probably the simplest instruction on how to meditate, and it was given by my college Freshman Physics professor--not that this source is either good or bad.
We were approaching the end of the Quarter and many students were trying to tease out of him what might be on the Final Exam, so they would be sure to study that. He told us that in a class coming up soon, he would give us the very best advice on preparing for a final. He did this several days later.
He announced that we reached the end of that day's lesson, so we were free to leave at any time. I don't think anybody left. Then he said he would do what he promised, tell how to prepare for exams. He waited as lots of guys got out fresh paper to take notes, and said, "Find a place in your home or out in nature, someplace peaceful. Next, sit with your back straight, pick a tree or flower or rock and stare at it, while thinking of nothing. That's it."
For some reason, this room of engineering students had a lot of puzzled looks on our faces and one or two raised hands. He said, I know this is not what you expected, but I've been on several continents and talked with some some very smart people. They all said, "Stare at a tree." He answered a few questions without saying much more and then the bell rang, ending the class. A large buzz filled the room as the professor got out quickly.
A few guys later said they tried it and thinking of nothing was not easy. Some guys had talked with older students about this, and they said, "Oh yeah, that Elkins is kind of weird, but he's usually right so don't dismiss it."
Frankly, I tried it a little and felt like I failed. Most of the other guys either disregarded the advice or didn't do well with it either.
A few years later, after Prof. Elkins had left the school to be a full-time pilot, I was confronted by a Thermodynamics class which I had virtually dropped out of--I attended the classes and took notes, but didn't study or do the homework. I pondered skipping the final, but decided that this is where to apply the meditation theory in earnest.
I was able to get into the meditation pretty well and so went to the final, but didn't feel like I knew any more Thermodynamics than I had before. The exam was open book and open notes. As I read each exam problem, I kind of remembered something about that in my notes and copied a few equations down on my paper and plugged in some of the problem's numbers. I looked through the textbook and sometimes I grabbed an equation out of there. Long story short, I passed Thermodynamics, barely. Surprised the heck out of me!
The next Quarter I had a similar class, which I also pretty much ignored, called Fluid Mechanics. I had been meditating fairly regularly by then, so I went into the fluids mid-term exam not knowing what to expect. Well, maybe because of all the meditation, my notes were better.
The exam was three problems, and only I and one other guy got two right. The rest either got one or none. Geez, was I convinced by then!
So that was the basics, the rest is just technique. Give yourself about 20 minutes; when you notice yourself thinking, just let it stop. After the time is up, don't think about how you failed or succeeded, just repeat in a day or two. I promise that you succeed every time, whether you recognize it or not.
I am still grateful to that college professor, for this lesson and many many more.
Lee
We were approaching the end of the Quarter and many students were trying to tease out of him what might be on the Final Exam, so they would be sure to study that. He told us that in a class coming up soon, he would give us the very best advice on preparing for a final. He did this several days later.
He announced that we reached the end of that day's lesson, so we were free to leave at any time. I don't think anybody left. Then he said he would do what he promised, tell how to prepare for exams. He waited as lots of guys got out fresh paper to take notes, and said, "Find a place in your home or out in nature, someplace peaceful. Next, sit with your back straight, pick a tree or flower or rock and stare at it, while thinking of nothing. That's it."
For some reason, this room of engineering students had a lot of puzzled looks on our faces and one or two raised hands. He said, I know this is not what you expected, but I've been on several continents and talked with some some very smart people. They all said, "Stare at a tree." He answered a few questions without saying much more and then the bell rang, ending the class. A large buzz filled the room as the professor got out quickly.
A few guys later said they tried it and thinking of nothing was not easy. Some guys had talked with older students about this, and they said, "Oh yeah, that Elkins is kind of weird, but he's usually right so don't dismiss it."
Frankly, I tried it a little and felt like I failed. Most of the other guys either disregarded the advice or didn't do well with it either.
A few years later, after Prof. Elkins had left the school to be a full-time pilot, I was confronted by a Thermodynamics class which I had virtually dropped out of--I attended the classes and took notes, but didn't study or do the homework. I pondered skipping the final, but decided that this is where to apply the meditation theory in earnest.
I was able to get into the meditation pretty well and so went to the final, but didn't feel like I knew any more Thermodynamics than I had before. The exam was open book and open notes. As I read each exam problem, I kind of remembered something about that in my notes and copied a few equations down on my paper and plugged in some of the problem's numbers. I looked through the textbook and sometimes I grabbed an equation out of there. Long story short, I passed Thermodynamics, barely. Surprised the heck out of me!
The next Quarter I had a similar class, which I also pretty much ignored, called Fluid Mechanics. I had been meditating fairly regularly by then, so I went into the fluids mid-term exam not knowing what to expect. Well, maybe because of all the meditation, my notes were better.
The exam was three problems, and only I and one other guy got two right. The rest either got one or none. Geez, was I convinced by then!So that was the basics, the rest is just technique. Give yourself about 20 minutes; when you notice yourself thinking, just let it stop. After the time is up, don't think about how you failed or succeeded, just repeat in a day or two. I promise that you succeed every time, whether you recognize it or not.
I am still grateful to that college professor, for this lesson and many many more.
Lee
![[+]](https://www.bring4th.org/forums/images/collapse_collapsed.png)