hello, i have been interested in yoga/meditation for more than three years. I've read many books, taken some meditation sessions and practised almost all sort of meditations but the problem is i am very irregular. I start a mediation, do it for 15 days and discontinue it. again, I get interested in other one, start it and leave it likewise after 'seeing no result'. This has been a habit of mine and i know it's to be eliminated but i don't know why i'm unable. I am now practising a meditation called-'practising the presence' which resembles somewhat like mindfulness meditation. IT is described in a free online book at 'www.realhealing.com'. IT is a very basic one but it starts in a very boring manner. This is one of the main reasons why i quit meditations after few days. Although it has been described as a powerful one and able to bring results in few days, I'm not seeing any results. Due to lack of time, I've to do this meditation around 10 pm when I feel tired and mentally stressed(due to the past and future worries). Also, I'm attacked by many thoughts which i cannot avoid easily and get drifted by these, especially the thoughts are-what i've been thinking about just before meditation, the past regrets, future worries,the duration i've to sit for meditation etc. Now, my questions are - Should i continue with the meditation i described or switch to other if i do not see any changes? What should i do to best avoid worries/fears/troubles/ irrational thinkings during meditation? How to have enough perseverance to sit for a given duration daily when the meditation becomes monotonous and just appear as a waste of time? Can I do another meditation after I finish the meditation and retire to sleep(in sleeping posture). If I can, I need one as soon as possible because i'm having a stage program after about 4-5 days and I need to avoid stage fright. Do you have any effective suggestions? The above lines may seem very boring to you all but i need an effective solution very soon (if possible by tomorrow) mainly to avoid the stage fear and next to employ meditation for some effective change in my life. IT would be the greatest help by anyone in my life except the God.
Well, first, stop meditating for results. Just meditate to meditate. If something happens, good, if not, well, at least you're taking some time out to sit and breathe. That, no matter what, is relaxing and healthy. What are your habits like? Do you have a designated time and/or place to meditate in? How long are your sessions? I see meditation like going running. The hardest part is to get yourself out the door, but once you're out, all you have to do is run. Same with meditation. It's so easy to say "i'll do it later" or "well, i'm tired, too tired to meditate. I'll just go to sleep and do it tomorrow." If you can get yourself to sit down (discipline) you've got it made, the hardest part is just sitting down to do it. I have the same problem as you. Even when I do get results: the other day, after only 2 days of meditating again and only 2 minutes of sitting that day, I felt something...indescribable. It was great, I was in total touch with my breathing. You'd think that would make me keep meditating, but I haven't in 2 days. There's just so many distractions in life. You (and I) have to decide that it's important and worth doing, and just do it. Anyways, maybe you can keep a journal recording experiences, and a schedule of every day, what time you'll meditate for and for how long (I suggest starting out with short sessions, work into it so you don't get discouraged or burnt out).
I advise you don't try to meditate at 10. The point of being mindful is that you use it in everyday life. If it's something that you only use for 20 minutes a day in a secluded situation, then you're wasting your time. The point of meditating for mindfulness is that it spills over to the rest of your life. I've found that sitting meditation is definiatly not for me and I'd be surprised if it's for many people. Instead my meditation is in my guitar practice. When I'm doing something I love then I really focus on doing it and reached states that are far more medititative than anything I've done via sitting meditation. I suggest a general practice of mindfulness in daily life and this will help you doing meditation. Blessings Sebbi
I have never made a point of meditating but there are various points of my time when my thoughts are clear. These times are usually whilst enagaging in some activity, like previously stated; guitar playing, running, playing football or even taking drugs and dancing to house or techno music.
Don't ever try to stop your thoughts. Instead watch them. Observe their patterns, the way they dance around your mind. Understand that you are separate from them, that you are only a witness, you are not the mind, the thoughts, the body etc. You are the pure conciousness. Don't try to stop the thoughts. It is the dharma of the mind to have thoughts, it willnot be stemmed so easily. Only with many years of regular dedicated practise can that silence be achieved. Also try to channel the thoughts towards divinity. Use a mantra, chant a name, repeat a prayer. Focus your mind as much on that as possible.
