Unable to meditate?

[Yggdrasil]

Hadn't noticed I typed so much. The gist of what I'm saying is in the last paragraph though, in case you're inclined to skim over the rest of my post.

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Anyhow, the idea of gaining more insight about myself and how I think and perceive things is one that interests me, and I thought that maybe by practicing some meditation I could better cope with stresses from life. but I've had a very difficult time getting started.

Before beginning to meditate, I had read a book by a Buddhist monk in which he talked about and explained the form of mediation he practices— insight meditation— and then explained how to actually practice that meditation.

This form of mediation involves an instrospection and analysis of your own thought processes— basically you sit and focus your perception on an 'object' (The sensation of air going in and out as you breath, the rising and falling of your abdomen, etc). As other thoughts, ideas etc arise, you 'focus' on them momentarily, and then are supposed to let them vanish out into nothing, afterwards returning to your object of focus.

This, I find, is a herculean task for me. I attempted to meditate about three times after first reading the book, and my eagerness dropped off after that. I found it hard to focus, and I couldn't really tell whether I had dozed off or not.

After a couple of months, I attempted to meditate again today, and had a very disappointing time. On my previous attempts I had managed to somewhat maintain focus for the amount of time I had allocated for the meditation (20-30 mins), but today I stopped after about 10. My mind was wandering to such an extent I didn't even know where to begin organizing my thoughts. It was just thoughts wandering everywhere; I tried typing out some of the shit that was flying through my head, but it reads like schizophrenic drivel.

Does anyone here have any advice on how to deal with wandering thoughts during meditation? Do you guys know of some different mediation techniques, maybe? Posture is also another problem I've encountered when trying to meditate, but definitely the wandering thoughts are my biggest problems. When I sit there, supposedly conducting self-introspection and awareness, my mind feels like it's picking up radio static, to such an extent that I can't really carry on with the meditation in a meaningful way.

[crazzyass]

Originally Posted by Yggdrasil

Hadn't noticed I typed so much. The gist of what I'm saying is in the last paragraph though, in case you're inclined to skim over the rest of my post.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————— ———————

Anyhow, the idea of gaining more insight about myself and how I think and perceive things is one that interests me, and I thought that maybe by practicing some meditation I could better cope with stresses from life. but I've had a very difficult time getting started.

Before beginning to meditate, I had read a book by a Buddhist monk in which he talked about and explained the form of mediation he practices— insight meditation— and then explained how to actually practice that meditation.

This form of mediation involves an instrospection and analysis of your own thought processes— basically you sit and focus your perception on an 'object' (The sensation of air going in and out as you breath, the rising and falling of your abdomen, etc). As other thoughts, ideas etc arise, you 'focus' on them momentarily, and then are supposed to let them vanish out into nothing, afterwards returning to your object of focus.

This, I find, is a herculean task for me. I attempted to meditate about three times after first reading the book, and my eagerness dropped off after that. I found it hard to focus, and I couldn't really tell whether I had dozed off or not.

After a couple of months, I attempted to meditate again today, and had a very disappointing time. On my previous attempts I had managed to somewhat maintain focus for the amount of time I had allocated for the meditation (20-30 mins), but today I stopped after about 10. My mind was wandering to such an extent I didn't even know where to begin organizing my thoughts. It was just thoughts wandering everywhere; I tried typing out some of the shit that was flying through my head, but it reads like schizophrenic drivel.

Does anyone here have any advice on how to deal with wandering thoughts during meditation? Do you guys know of some different mediation techniques, maybe? Posture is also another problem I've encountered when trying to meditate, but definitely the wandering thoughts are my biggest problems. When I sit there, supposedly conducting self-introspection and awareness, my mind feels like it's picking up radio static, to such an extent that I can't really carry on with the meditation in a meaningful way.

First off, thirty minute sessions are way too much for beginners and even for regular practitioners, it would be a lot after a few months off.

Try one minute. Seriously. One minute of good meditation with perfect form. If it's easy, good. Don't go for more. Take a a few seconds off. Walk around some. Shake it off. Maybe bounce around a bit to get your heart rate elevated. Then try for another perfect minute. Do this as long as you want, but don't try continuous meditation for more than a minute. Ever. Ever ever.

Alright, by ever I mean give it like two solid weeks of the above. Then go for two-three and see how it goes. If it's effortless, bump it up some, but if you wander off even once, go back down to the next level and stay at it.

Secondly, don't try to just blank your mind. When a thought invariably appears, give it a moment's consideration and then calmly file it under "for later" and go back to your meditation. Works better than you think.

[Yggdrasil]

I'll try again tomorrow morning with a much shorter session and see how that goes, thanks for the pointer! Hopefully that'll resolve the brain vomit problem. The book I read talked about what you mentioned, about analyzing thoughts in an individual manner, shelving them off to the side and returning to your object of focus, but this really breaks down for me when my mind is receiving just a torrent of thoughts. Let's see how tomorrow goes

[crazzyass]

Originally Posted by Yggdrasil

I'll try again tomorrow morning with a much shorter session and see how that goes, thanks for the pointer! Hopefully that'll resolve the brain vomit problem. The book I read talked about what you mentioned, about analyzing thoughts in an individual manner, shelving them off to the side and returning to your object of focus, but this really breaks down for me when my mind is receiving just a torrent of thoughts. Let's see how tomorrow goes

No problem. And hey, if a minute is too long go for thirty seconds. Seriously, 30 seconds of perfect meditation is pretty damn hard. And going much more than a minute is like training for a 5K race by doing a 26 mile marathon, you know what I mean? And more importantly, it's not a race.

30 minutes of meditation is what I would consider intermediate-advanced stuff if it's really good...I've been doing it for about seven years now and I rarely go past twenty to thirty minutes unless I'm doing a special session.

[The Pat-Man]

everyone has wandering thoughts, its basically the objective of meditation, that is to take complete control of your mind unforcefully.

[ArmsMerchant]

Don't forget, there are literally dozens of different types of meditation. Shop around long enough, you are bound to find somehting that works for you.

Patience is key, however--I'd give any any sort of meditation a few weeks before deciding whether or not to keep it up.

[sepht]

Focusing on a single object is way too boring for an average person who is used to television and books which offer amazing views into parallel worlds.

So I found it easier to practice this by flooding my bored brain with thoughts which will distract me from brain chatter.

Simply make up a character. It can be yourself if you have no originality or it can be some mythical being or animal. Make up a time and setting to put your character in, then make your character do things. It doesn't matter what it does, so long as that world in your head distracts you from brain chatter.

You'll find the more complex the world is, the more brain power is required to form it. So start off simple and work your way up from there. You'll eventually realize you have created a parallel universe where you are God.

[Obbe]

Wholeness - YouTube

Wholeness - YouTube
Video: click to display

Check this out, may help you.

[nshanin]

http://www.falundafa.org/eng/home.html

The exercises are accessible and the teaching provides a path to wholeness through virtue. It emphasizes mindlessness (it is said the postures and virtue training allow benefit and 'cultivation' of mindlessness) and specifically that you should not think bad thoughts and it is better that you think good thoughts; it is best if you have no thoughts at all. A potentially-powerful teaching that is related to the Chinese Communist Party in the same way that Christianity related to the Roman empire in its early years. Do some due diligence beforehand and be sure to read the book and practice for a while before 'joining this cult' of 'truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance'.

Alternatively, I recommend hypnosis or sometimes listening to and participating in Baba Ramdev's Yoga for Meditation episode which is good simply because it's packed with content. Typically, one would find a teacher and this too might be useful for an overview without commitment, perhaps someone has already mentioned. Often, psychic channels have great advice on meditation.

[sexually vulnerable CPR dummy]

If you have a kitty, focus on petting the kitty on your lap as you meditate. Make sure it's a good kitty and doesn't move! Make that kitty meditate with you.

[Haiti's Space Agency]

ummmm.....dont mean to be rude here but meditation is quite simple and easy. in fact its one of the easiest things to do in the world and welll....to be frank if you are unable to do it at this point There is really no reason to bother. Also, how old are you? It is better to start young it is much more beneficial if you are below the age of 16 (from your post you sounds about 15-16 so that is good) but if u are past the age of 20 there really is no actual benefit you are better off making money.

[crazzyass]

Originally Posted by a224

ummmm.....dont mean to be rude here but meditation is quite simple and easy. in fact its one of the easiest things to do in the world and welll....to be frank if you are unable to do it at this point There is really no reason to bother. Also, how old are you? It is better to start young it is much more beneficial if you are below the age of 16 (from your post you sounds about 15-16 so that is good) but if u are past the age of 20 there really is no actual benefit you are better off making money.

OP, I assume you're smart enough to ignore this. ^ Keep practicing son.

[rustyshackleford420]

I didn't read everything, but I recommend you shoot ultimately for a completely clear head. I know that's kind of what you said. I like to focus on my breathing in the beginning to achieve a meditative state. It takes a supreme amount of will and concentration. It is a difficult task to clear ones mind, because the very act of thinking about it means you're not doing it right.

Keep trying. A good sesh feels like getting stoned only better. Also I meditate until I snap out of it. I don't know how to explain, but when you go deep into it, it becomes increasingly intense and my mind knows when its had enough I guess. Usually around 5-10 min does it for me. Quality of Quantity.

Also I like to focus conciously on slowing my breathing, and that typically helps me enter the state as well as I begin to unconciously breathe very shallow.


I want to meditate more, haven't been doing it much recently.


Edit: You got racing thoughts son? Yeah that's a problem I face too, just tune them out as they come along. You learn a lot about how your mind works just from the difficulty in shutting down that process. It is always a process for me, it feels like a while, but when you start slipping into a meditative state sometimes that will make me excited enough to slip back out of it. You have to fully detach.

[A$AP Weed Smoker]

meditating is made up. its called relaxing and it does nothing.

i enjoyed it in this jail ass rehab i was in where you could not take naps but you could meditate though

[rustyshackleford420]

Originally Posted by Weed Smoker

meditating is made up. its called relaxing and it does nothing.

Travel the depths of your mind, its the last uncharted territory.

[Yggdrasil]

Well, I found that I carried on much better without the mental burden of thinking I had to go on for, say, 30 minutes, and though I did opt for a longer session than what you recommended, crazyass, but overall I had a good experience today; I was at it for about a 10 minute long period. My mind meandered every now and then, naturally, yet I found that as thoughts and perceptions arose, I was much better able to be insightful of them and detach from them and return to my breathing. A positive experience for sure

[Haiti's Space Agency]

When I first started (8 years old) I was first able to only meditate for 3 hours but got better as I got older.

[crazzyass]

Originally Posted by Yggdrasil

Well, I found that I carried on much better without the mental burden of thinking I had to go on for, say, 30 minutes, and though I did opt for a longer session than what you recommended, crazyass, but overall I had a good experience today; I was at it for about a 10 minute long period. My mind meandered every now and then, naturally, yet I found that as thoughts and perceptions arose, I was much better able to be insightful of them and detach from them and return to my breathing. A positive experience for sure

That's awesome man. Pressure can kill a session. Good to hear it's going better.

[Ethan]

The goal of meditation is not to eliminate wandering thoughts, merely to notice them. When meditating, even when focusing on something in particular, many things are observed.

It makes sense that zazen translates to "just sitting". Don't expect anything exciting or romantic to happen when you meditate, cause nigga, you just sitting.

Also, 30 minutes is the minimum amount of daily meditation required for physiological changes to occur in the brain. Meditating for any length of time is a stress reducer, however. Anything short of physical pain is not an reason to stop meditating. I presume you have the same exact excuse in mind every time you decide to stop meditating early. This is one of many obstacles of willpower you face as a seeker.

[RealGangstaAssNigga]

I've recently just started getting into meditation (I've been trying twice a day for the last 3 days). I've been working with a very basic breathing meditation for 5-15 minutes each session, depending on how well I'm able to meditate that day. So far I love the way I feel after meditating, and I can only see it getting easier/better.

One thing I read that may be useful for you to keep in mind is this: there is no such thing as wasted time or unsuccessful meditation. To paraphrase the paragraph I read--"even if all you accomplish in your entire hour is to repeatedly lose your focus and gently bring it back, you have still accomplished much in learning to meditate." Keeping this in mind is the most useful advice I can give based off of my very limited experience. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your focus. If it happens again, don't get exasperated or discouraged, as just the process of reestablishing your focus is itself a form of meditation.

I've been told by everyone I talk to that meditation is definitely something that gets easier and even more rewarding over time as you practice. For reference, I started a 5-day program to build up to a basic breathing meditation. The first two days are 2 minute guided meditations, and by the 5th day it's only reached a 10 minute guided meditation.

[sexually vulnerable CPR dummy]

Isn't the point of meditation to get your mind ready for the very first stages of sleep without falling asleep? I ALWAYS FALL ASLEEP!

[Ethan]

Originally Posted by sexually vulnerable CPR dummy

Isn't the point of meditation to get your mind ready for the very first stages of sleep without falling asleep? I ALWAYS FALL ASLEEP!

With meditation, it is possible to witness all stages of sleep, though pure land meditation is just as much about becoming consciously aware of all states and how they arise.

[Haiti's Space Agency]

what does sleep paralysis feel like

[Ethan]

It feels like being a nearly frozen Stretch Armstrong. I've shaken myself loose from sleep paralysis. Its like fighting gravity, and if I don't stand up for a couple of minutes I'll go right back into it. The scariest time was when I didn't have conscious control of my breath, but I wasn't in any danger. Also, if you decide not to move, its a really peaceful nap-time feeling, at least for me.

[sepht]

I tried meditating while on 300mg of DXM and 2mg of vitamin B12. I could easily block out all thoughts and have an empty mind because of the DXM but that's not what was interesting.

On rare cases I would start to see a pin prick of orange light appear just above my eyes. As I turned my eyes up to focus on the orange light I could see it pumping bigger and bigger like my heart is pumping orange liquid into my view. Eventually the blackness of closed eyes would be overwhelmed with bright orange light.

I thought I was having a seizure or something so I opened my eyes to discover I was simply sitting in a lotus position with my back perfectly straight. I assumed it was of no concern so I closed my eyes again and turned my eyes up toward my forehead to look at the orange light which now flooded my closed eye vision.

I then started having a feeling my body was falling, falling, falling to the side even though I was still sitting upright. I then started seeing all sorts of shapes and felt like I was in another world.

After a while I got bored and decided to go play some video games. Curiously I was doing amazingly well for about 30 minutes before my brain went back to normal.

[Built To Last]

This whole New Age, Health and Wellness, Mind, Body and Spirit craze that has gotten everyone practicing meditation inaccurately portrays meditation as "relaxation". Let us not forget that meditation was originally an ASCETIC practice. What fasting is for the stomach, meditation is for the mind. The ascetic lives in a state of inaction. In other words, he seeks to do actions that have no effect or result. Its the accumulation of these results, our attatchment to them, and a general dose of fear and ignorance that keep us bound in the transient world.

[rustyshackleford420]

Originally Posted by sexually vulnerable CPR dummy

I ALWAYS FALL ASLEEP!

Even if you are sitting upright?

I take a while to fall asleep so I can meditate in bed without falling asleep. For that reason I tend to prefer lying down to meditate, but if you fall asleep easily it'll defeat the purpose somewhat. Unless sleep is the intention.

[Zanick]

Originally Posted by Built To Last

This whole New Age, Health and Wellness, Mind, Body and Spirit craze that has gotten everyone practicing meditation inaccurately portrays meditation as "relaxation". Let us not forget that meditation was originally an ASCETIC practice. What fasting is for the stomach, meditation is for the mind. The ascetic lives in a state of inaction. In other words, he seeks to do actions that have no effect or result. Its the accumulation of these results, our attatchment to them, and a general dose of fear and ignorance that keep us bound in the transient world.

I wouldn't say new thought promotes it as relaxation necessarily, but then again there isn't really a central doctrine there. Conventional medicine--more specifically psychiatry though--certainly writes off meditation as a method of 'lowering blood pressure' at best. You're right on though, this is a symptom of exactly the kind of cut-to-the-chase, impatient, result-oriented mindset you're talking about.

[Obbe]

Do any of you meditate while walking, or exercising, or anything other then sitting?

[crazzyass]

Originally Posted by Obbe

Do any of you meditate while walking, or exercising, or anything other then sitting?

I used to do walking meditation a lot, but I've drifted off from it a bit.

I still use it for certain kinds of exercise to improve my performance.

[sexually vulnerable CPR dummy]

I've always had more success with underwater meditation, that's of course if you could even call it a success, I think I was meditating :/

[TheSexyBeast821]

Originally Posted by Obbe

Do any of you meditate while walking, or exercising, or anything other then sitting?

I try to maintain a meditative mindset, or a state of grace, at all times.

[SoulButter]

OP- I am in your exact same position, and I too feel a little discouraged to continue with this. After reading all this great advice I'm going to try and get the ball rolling again today, and maybe even later tonight as well. Thanks posters for actually helping create a helpful and productive thread for once.

[RealGangstaAssNigga]

This website is offering a free 21-day meditation program, which starts on July 16th. Many spiritual gurus are offering free guided meditations, which is a great opportunity to explore different types of meditation to find what you like. Check it out:

https://www.chopracentermeditation.com

[Danger]

Originally Posted by Obbe

Do any of you meditate while walking, or exercising, or anything other then sitting?

I used to try and clear my mind all day, to see how long I could go before the ego came back.. tbh, lately i've been slacking on my meditation.. Partying/working too much & I havn't had a lucid dream in months.. I definately need my my vision back.

I thought about getting a tattoo, on my hand to remind me to do, what I know I need to do.

[Thetakishi]

Here's a link for those of you that think meditation is useless or is just glorified relaxing.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/765894

Its a study, and relaxation is the control group. Meditation (at least the kind they studied) promotes brain health.

[09373472]

If your mind is a gentle stream, thoughts are like little bubbles floating along. Notice them, but let them go past -- don't actually 'focus' on them, y'know? Just let them flow past after noticing them.

Stay in the moment; don't worry about the results or length or anything. If your mind starts coming up with thoughts of, 'this has been a long time' or 'this isn't getting anywhere' or whatever, treat them like any other thoughts and let them flow past; just drift away. Stay in the moment and on your focus.

When you notice your mind latching on to a thought, take note of that, not consciously, but just notice it (don't berate yourself (more thoughts!)) and go back to your focus (whatever it may be; personally, I choose to focus on the small feeling of air moving in and out of the nose as I breathe).

Focusing on results is very counterproductive. It should be very passive; just stay focused to the focus, and let everything else drift past.

At least, this is the way I do it. Hopefully this helps!

[moron]

Originally Posted by crazzyass

don't try continuous meditation for more than a minute. Ever. Ever ever.

forever? forever ever? forEVER ever?

I'm sorry miss Jackson - Outkast [lyrics] - YouTube

I'm sorry miss Jackson - Outkast [lyrics] - YouTube
Video: click to display