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just practised my first meditation!

est4elvisest4elvis
edited September 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Well didn't go as great as it could I suppose. I did manage to get in to a rhythm + "go with it" but I couldn't control my thoughts very well. I kept thinking about how it felt + what i could explain to people, then i would go back to concentrating + then the cycle would continue. Is that normal? Prob need more practice? Also i finished after about 5 minutes because i got scared of the silence. Does that sound so stupid? Didnt expect to be frightened + dont know how I will deal with that if it happens all the time. :confused:
Felt very relaxed though even after such a short time! will try again tomorrow.

Comments

  • username_5username_5
    edited September 2010
    it's all normal. you just place your attention on the breath. Experiences will vary. Mindfulness is developed every time you notice your attention has wandered and you bring it back to your breathing. I am assuming you were doing a breath awareness meditation?
  • est4elvisest4elvis
    edited September 2010
    yeah, apparently that's the easiest to start with? but i was meant to do fifteen minutes not five!!!
  • bodhiactivitybodhiactivity
    edited September 2010
    hi est4elvis,

    Very helpful advice for meditation is to keep it short and repeat many times... length of time spent in meditation is not as important as quality is. At beginning, short meditations keep us fresh. And the freshness is very important to keep our interest in the meditation going... the people who really succeed in meditation, succeed because of long-term perseverance... so it is consistency that is more important than how long you can sit in a session. Best to meditate everyday.
  • username_5username_5
    edited September 2010
    est4elvis wrote: »
    yeah, apparently that's the easiest to start with? but i was meant to do fifteen minutes not five!!!

    There is always tomorrow ;) Consistency/perserverence is more important than the length of time as bodhiactivity noted.
  • est4elvisest4elvis
    edited September 2010
    ok well then i will try again tomorrow. cant expect to be perfect straight away! thanks guys
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    edited September 2010
    est4elvis wrote: »
    ok well then i will try again tomorrow. cant expect to be perfect straight away! thanks guys

    that's the most important thing. Not stressing yourself is the most important thing. Don't look at thinking as a sort of enemy which you must defeat through long uncomfortable periods of meditation. Rather try to be unattached to those thoughts and observe them, watching them leave you.
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