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Meditation Points
ThailandTom
Veteran
Those who know me well enough on here know me and meditation haven't had a good relationship over the past few years. A few minutes ago I spent around 30 minutes meditating which happens to be the longest I have ever gone. Now a few things happened which I would like to bring up, but first I don't really feel this session has done anything much. I am still approaching meditation with a wrong intention? Anyhoo these points.
- Firstly I have noticed in meditation sometimes my heart seems to beat harder, not exactly faster just harder. It feels like it skips a beat or a beat in particular may be a thud.
- I realized how my mind wanders so easily, but this time it did not wander to what I need to do or the past/future, really random things like PG-tips, a black waterfall in my vision and some kind of purple evil grin behind a cape to name a few.
- I find focusing on the abdoman to not help keep my mind centred too well, I feel better focusin on my actual breath going in through my nose and into my lungs. Still this doesn't seem to work that well. Everytime I realize my mind has wandered I make a mental note and return.
- The pins and needles, I always get them in my legs. I change my legs around now and then and when I do I make a note to what I am doing, 'uncomfortable' 'moving legs' that kind of thing.
- Firstly I have noticed in meditation sometimes my heart seems to beat harder, not exactly faster just harder. It feels like it skips a beat or a beat in particular may be a thud.
- I realized how my mind wanders so easily, but this time it did not wander to what I need to do or the past/future, really random things like PG-tips, a black waterfall in my vision and some kind of purple evil grin behind a cape to name a few.
- I find focusing on the abdoman to not help keep my mind centred too well, I feel better focusin on my actual breath going in through my nose and into my lungs. Still this doesn't seem to work that well. Everytime I realize my mind has wandered I make a mental note and return.
- The pins and needles, I always get them in my legs. I change my legs around now and then and when I do I make a note to what I am doing, 'uncomfortable' 'moving legs' that kind of thing.
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Comments
I've meditated over ten years usually each day. The wandering thoughts will never go away. In fact meditation would not work if they did not happen. If your thoughts were under your control that would be proof that the mind is not empty of self-nature. My lama talks of the letting go of thoughts as e and when a clarity happens as Vam. eVAM.
Something apart and letting it be.. Then VAM. Both times you can sharpen the awareness by not fighting against the mind.
By the way @person, I already sit in that position and not the lotus, I still get pins and needles and dead legs lol... Not good.
The important is not to stress, and vary your routine.
I don't know if focusing on the abdomen or nostrils really matters. It's the observation of the arising and falling of sensations that matters.
Do you use a cushion? If not, I'd recommend it. Some say it's a "crutch," but having a screwed-up posture and painful legs is more a hindrance to meditation than having a cushion under your butt to allow you to get a better posture, IMO.
The approaches to meditation are many and varied, so it's good to explore them. For me it's a progression, initially some focus on the breath to calm the mind, then observation of arising and ceasing.
Or to put it more simply, the practice is called "mindfulness of breathing", not "mindfulness of the abdomen".
Ready for this? Lean close. We don't want everyone to know I'm giving away the secret.
There is no correct way to meditate. You do whatever works for you.
That's all any of those great Masters did. There is no right and wrong way to meditate. There is no big secret technique that only they can teach that unlocks the benefits. All that is our attempt to make this seem like a huge, important and difficult tradition.
If Lotus posture doesn't work because your legs fall asleep and distract you, then find some other posture that still keeps you sitting up fairly straight. Heck, if standing on your head feels better, do that. If only walking meditation seems to work, then start a walking meditation practice. If counting breaths isn't working, find something else to focus on. Focus on your left toe, if it helps. Get some beads, if it feels more comfortable for your hands to be doing something. Count the number of times you chew as you eat. Whatever works.
Just keep trying different things until you find what works for you. The one that works for you is your correct way. Meditation has two rules, and only two. First, you have to be awake. Sleeping doesn't count. Second, you have to be mindful. You're meditating, not watching television.
We'll let this be our little secret, though.
just sit comfortably, close your eyes, try that your 5 senses get cut off with the external world(may be leaving the external sounds), have your natural breathing as your object of meditation, then try to be mindful of your natural breathing. whenever any thought arises in the mind, just let go of that thought and bring the attention of the mind back to the natural breathing by having sati(mindfulness) of natural breathing as your object of meditation.
what would happen anyway? after a month you would be physically non dependent. and believing you need something is only a thing you create.
I mean what makes you so special you need valium and I don't
but Its your life. don't let me tell you what you want
But just so you know you don't really have to worry about your legs and can just let them be uncomfortable if they are.
Of course it is.
You have accomplished masters, gurus and yogis who can sit with their ankles round their necks, for all I care.
Some positions just do me more harm than good.
So?
So don't adopt them.
Simple.
There are no dos, do nots, musts, or must nots in any branch, sphere, practice or aspect of Buddhism.
Why constrain yourself here?
remove these concepts of sitting more than 30 min from your mind, there is nothing great to happen if you ever sit for 31st min in meditation.
meditation is not about achieving something - meditation is only about letting go of whatever is there in your mind. meditation is about training the mind, not the body. so wherever and in whichever position, you feel comfortable - just sit in that comfortable position and try to be mindful of your object of meditation - be it your natural breathing or any candle flame or anything else, but it should not be the clock which shows you how much time has passed
When I asked Ajahn Brahm about this, he said, "What are you afraid of?" After a lot contemplation I realized that what I was afraid of was that I couldn't "control" my own mind. I didn't think I was trying to control it, but I was. The trick is just to let it be and observe it. Be prepared to laugh at yourself and not take it too seriously. Start with 5 minutes of meditation and don't increase it until you can do it without the palpitations. You may find that meditating with a group works better. If all else fails, try "Buddho" instead of regular meditation.
AFAIK, correct sitting posture is only necessary for samatha meditation, not vipassana. I use a chair all the time because of knee problems. You can still get good results.
I think it's good to keep a straight back.