Music stuck in my head during meditation

shays860

I have a feeling this is a very common problem. If I'm counting my breaths but there is music playing relentlessly in the background of my mind for my whole twenty minute session is that session still fruitful. I hear that you don't try to stop thought you just don't engage it. But ceasing to actively engage music doesn't seem to deter it...

TreeLuvr87

Any session is fruitful. All sessions are practice. Just be patient with yourself :-)

shays860

Thank you treeluvr

happyjourney

i sometimes have this problem. i just listen to my ipod when i can't get a song out of my head. it's not actual music though. i downloaded a few a tracks when i was first starting which are meant to help meditation. they're kind of ambient trance-esque instrumentals.

charirama

a teacher once said to me that thoughts or other potential distractions during meditation can be like horses running around and past you - you know they are there but you do not get on or ride them - just let them go

andyZ

I have the same problem from time to time. I just live with that and not pay attention. By the end of my 20 mins of meditation the music is usually gone.

Cinorjer

Is it the same tune? Actually, many people play some soft chanting or non-melodic music in the background to help in meditation. It's kinda neat to think you might have your own private background music to meditate to. Normally all I get is the sound of my own subvocalized thoughts.

andyZ

For me it's not the same tune. It's whatever I was humming to myself that morning then it surfaces during meditation. I do most of my meditation in the morning, however, when I meditate in the evening – it's all quiet . I guess my mind is more active in the morning.

shays860

lol no. it's just whatever i was recently listening to. That day i had just been listening to a bunch of beatles music for the first time and it's all super catchy so it wouldn't go away. I had music in my head from time to time during my session last night but it didn't bother me nearly as much so now at least i know i can overcome it. The distraction almost makes me just want to stop listening to music entirely though... any thoughts on that matter?

MindGate

This is why monks are not allowed listen to music.