/r/Meditation
This community is for sharing experiences, stories and instruction relating to the practice of meditation.
Please keep the discussion clean and neutral. If you are part of a particular school of Meditation/Yoga then please disclose this and keep an open mind - there exist many forms of meditation, and experience of Truth is subjective by definition.
Please do not post your personal blog, pretty pictures, or videos, there are many other subreddits for them. If your post is removed, it is most likely because it contained: audio, video, link to YouTube, or blog, or some sort of promotion or recruitment. Please understand these will be removed.
Images may be posted over at /r/meditationpics.
Meditation music and guided meditations may be posted over at /r/audiomeditation. Audio tracks consisting of teachings are OK to post here.
Short inspirational quotes or texts should be posted as self-posts.
Please don't use URL shorteners when submitting links! They will be caught by the spam filter, and users like to see where they're going.
Any recruiting, spam or uncivil behaviour is forbidden, and may be banned. Beware of scam artists!
If you see a post that is doing/not doing any of the above, and is breaking the subreddit rules, please report it!
Meditation research in Reddit - Scientific papers on Meditation
INOS Meditation research- Search for any researched topic on meditation.
Meditation Related on Reddit
Meditation Pics - for meditation-related images.
Thanks to Radicalem for the great logo!
/r/Meditation
Hi, I've been trying to open my 3rd through meditation. And today I saw a purple dot while I was meditating, a few moments later a green dot appeared. Do these dots have any connection with 3rd eye or spiritual awakening?
I think for me it may partially be due to my proprioceptive/body awareness issues. But no matter how much I try to “feel” a certain part of my body, I get convinced that I’m not “really” feeling it. That I need to concentrate more so I can really be aware of that part of my body. It’s almost like for me, whether I’m feeling through that body part or not is more of a nonlinear, flowing thing, not a concrete truth.
I have heard of “be aware of how you’re aware” and “center your attention first, then let go of your effort/just be until you get distracted again.” And those things have helped, but not completely.
Also, I’ve noticed that I can be aware of how a body part feels without being aware of its position in space, be aware of its location without feeling it, or be aware of both or neither. It’s kind of interesting.
I strive, while definately not perfect, to be an upbeat and positive person, going to the gym regularly with cardio, weights, swimming, stretching, hot tub, cold plunge, and sauna. I feel very fortunate to have access to all of this in my building and I feel like it would be a wasted opportunity not to use these great facilities.
I see health as a trifecta: exercise, sleep, nutrition. In no particular order, if I am ignoring or abusing any of these it will start to take a toll on the others. With a solid foundation, we can build.
In terms of finding inspiration:
Georges St Pierre's audiobook for mental health and exercise
Steve Jobs audiobooks for mental clarity and focus
Brendan Brazier's audiobook for nutrition and exercise
Sam Harris' audiobooks and Waking Up app for mental health and meditation practice
Marcus Aurelius on the practice of stoicism
+ many more
How do you prevent yourself from comparing: (Wow, look at how much they have done, I don't think I can ever equate to this in a million years)
Compared to finding inspriation: (Wow, look at how much they have done, what a great blueprint, I will borrow from this to go forward in life)
I see mental strength as finding the positive in any situation. Setting goals, being punctual, both of which are great practices.
But in terms of ego, would you say that vipassina and meditation teaches us to disconnect from our ego and only focus on the present this very moment and nothing else? (Anapana breathing exercise, just feel sensations given naturally by our lifeforce)
With the monkey mind there is no escaping ego entirely, this might be humany impossible. So maybe I should look at meditation practice like a defragmention of a hard drive? Good to do for optimal performance and awareness.
Curious to know what others thoughts and opinions on this are: the act of finding inspriation versus the act of comparing towards others. And how the ego and meditation can be used for a higher awareness: to not let the ego get out of control and to not be scared of the ego either. As the way I see it, both can push us forward in life. Or is it the "we" that push them forward? (The act of practice itself is the push forward)
I was just meditating, and about 20 minutes in the light spots behind my eye lids suddenly changed to a giant white spot, my heart rate shot up and things felt extremely intense. It felt like my mind started to prepare for something but my heart rate slowed, and it went away when it got harder to focus.
The only thing that changed was I currently had all I was feeling in my awareness and accepted what I was feeling and thinking, and then all my thoughts stopped and this began. Is there a name for what just happened or is this par for the course
When you tuck in your tailbone, you can feel it push your belly forward (lumbar). When you push your belly forward, you can feel it push your shoulders back (thoracic). When your shoulders are pushed back, you can feel it push your jaw forward (cervical). Then you can lift your head naturally.
All of this together might take some time depending on your level of kinesthetic awareness. But if you start with tucking in the tailbone and feeling that interaction with the lumbar, you can work your way up. It’s a good way to start your meditation to help have a productive session.
Hi I’ve been meditation for almost a year. I typically do either guided, focusing on breath, or mantra. I was reading meditation can increase endorphins. I have been dealing with chronic pain and used to be an avid runner for the endorphins, which I can no longer do. Do you know if ALL types of meditation stimulate beta endorphin or just particular kinds? Thanks!
Sometimes when I meditate I see a horizontal whorling circular vortex which looks like a beautiful jeweled web of undulating sparkling violet coloured wet fabric with a portal in the centre of it which turns into a tunnel which I can 'travel' through. I'm still a meditation newbie. Recently I noticed the sensation of my body spinning around with the vortex or floating up or down depending on the direction of the flow of the violet maelstrom. WHAT is this? Someone in another sub mentioned the concept of 'nimatta' from Buddhism but after looking it up, it doesnt seem to quite explain what I am experiencing.
Hello! I wanted to share a recent experience I had with meditating that surprised me in a very big way.
Four days ago I decided to do an exercise similar to what I think transcendental meditation or mantra meditation is and I found that it was really effective. I was able to focus on the made up word in my head and allow myself to sink into a deep meditative state. I was sitting very comfortably in my computer chair and after a while I noticed my neck start to straighten out into a good comfortable position.
At first this was nice but I noticed pain in my shoulders and the sides of my neck from sitting this way but not in a bad way. It was a muscular type of pain that I knew was the result of not sitting well over the years. I decided to continue through the pain and after a while it started to go away.
After a little bit of time passed, I noticed that my head wanted to fall forward a bit but I resisted thinking that this good posture was better for me. Finally I decided to let my head lean forward. It was a very slow and gentle stretch. My head went down and my neck maintained control the whole time, like it was stretching a muscle out gently. It went down until finally it held at what felt like the end of a very good stretch.
And then, to my absolute shock, my head gently lifted back up to the position it was at. Except now it flowed to one side, rotating my head as it moved - pulling another muscle gently in my neck until stretched. It continued to do this going from side to side, all while I remained deep in a meditative state of mind.
I want to emphasize that I was not consciously moving my head. I was not thinking, "Oh this feels nice, I'll stretch my right side now". It simply happened as if my body knew intuitively exactly what I needed to correct itself.
This continued for about 30 minutes until one final big stretch that pulled my head straight back and extended my spine. After, I felt amazing. It felt like I had gone to the greatest chiropractor ever who knew exactly how to adjust my neck. Except in this case there were no pops or anything just fluid stretches.
It didn't end there though. I felt like there was more to do so I went into the bedroom, laid down on my back, and relaxed into a good calm state again. In hardly no time I felt my body wanting to continue. And what followed was about two hours of only what I can describe as perfectly custom yoga.
I want to preface this by saying I don't know jack about yoga. I've seen a few of the very common poses but couldn't name them and certainly have never tried it. The only stretching I've ever done has been a couple basic leg stretches before working out.
This did not matter at all because without any effort and while staying in a good meditative state - I let my body go from one amazing stretch to the other. It felt like I was watching it work, noticing the reasons for one position or the other. At times it tried a position, went until there was pain, and then switched to another - only to come back to that original position to check the progress of the stretch.
So far I have worked my shoulders the most and after that my hips. I didn't even realize how immobile my hips were until this but they really were terrible. And it's because of that, I feel like sharing this with you guys. I'm not in that bad of shape at all but I've realized how much damage I've done to my body from going through this and I know that a lot of people have hard labor intensive jobs that force them to be in bad positions. I've seen harsh chiropractor videos of people struggling to even walk.
So to wrap up, the next time your deep in a good state of mind and you feel your body wanting to move - this might be why. Hopefully this helps some people relieve tension or pain like it has me. Thanks for reading and have a good day!
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and I've been trying to meditate for 20 years. Lately I ran across a post recommending trying for longer periods if you have ADHD and I've been trying it. It's just excrutiating! I've tried several different types over the years, and I almost never feel better. Half the time I think about something else because I don't know that I've drifted away from the breathing. I don't bear myself any acrimony for drifting thoughts, that's what I'm used to, but whether it be guided meditation or just a repeating tone, eventually I'll start ignoring it unconsciously. I just focus on what I'm thinking about too deeply to remember or notice anything else. Anyone else feel like this, maybe found workarounds?
Do you visualise being at a favourite place or a beloved childhood memory? Like a beach, your childhood home, the park you loved growing up or even your treehouse (if you had one)
I've ground my teeth since I was little, so much that the bone holding my teeth is deformed. I've always held my jaw too far back, too tightly. I recently took a singing lesson and the teacher said I had a lot of tightness in my throat.
I've recently discovered a visualization technique that helps me relax my jaw: I stop thinking of my jaw as part of my head, and start thinking of it as part of my lower body. I think of it as more attached to my chest than my head. I let the tube that is my digestive tract divide my lower and upper body. When I move my head a little left, up, or down, I let my jaw float somewhere between my upper teeth and my sternum.
This relaxes the muscles connecting my jaw to my head, which in turn makes me feel relaxed inside and all over.
I had a really profound & intense experience during my second floatation therapy sesh last Friday morning. This experience was nothing like my first float several years ago, which left me feeling deeply relaxed & calm, this session was extremely different…
I’ve been practicing meditation for 15 years, so I thought floating again might help with the stress I was feeling lately & help me reach a deeper meditative state. A few mins into the float, I entered a deep meditative or dream-like state. I’m a visual & creative person & I started seeing incredible vivid visions in my mind, almost like a dream mapping visualization. I was living my ultimate dream life & I was with everyone I deeply love & care for. The beauty of these images moved me to tears & I began crying uncontrollably without fully understanding why.
THEN my phone alarm went off (just terrible lol), so I needed to get out of the tank to turn it off. When I returned to the float, the crying & vivid visuals continued…it felt like I was in a dream that I didn’t want to leave. The float was about 45 mins.
After the session, I showered & I was getting ready to start my day. I felt euphoric but also deeply unsettled—like I was detached from my body? It frightened me because it was so intense. I thought I was going to pass out. For the entire day I felt completely out of it: fatigued, unable to focus, & with a persistent headache, despite staying hydrated.
By Saturday, things escalated. I started experiencing chest pain, difficulty breathing, coughing, yawning uncontrollably, discomfort in my arms & neck, along with dizziness & intense brain fog. The symptoms felt like a heart attack, so I cancelled my plans & went to the ER. I thought my blood pressure was too low, but all the tests came back normal & they referred me to a cardiologist, but I had a strong feeling this was more emotional or mental than physical…like a panic or anxiety attack
That night, I was hit with an overwhelming wave of grief about my dad, who passed away tragically almost 3 years ago. We were very close & I was with him when he died. I thought I had worked through a lot of that grief & trauma already, but this experience cracked something open. I spent the night lighting a candle for him, revisiting special gifts & photos, writing to him & speaking outloud to him. It was deeply cathartic, but also exhausting because I was crying so much.
The next day, I kept crying while listening to soothing music, feeling like I was cycling through the stages of grief again—sadness, anger, & everything in-between. Now today I’m still emotionally sensitive & easily moved to tears, though the physical symptoms like chest pain & coughing have thankfully subsided. I still have some lingering anxiety, headache, & that weird “disconnection from my body” feeling coming & going.
I’m left wondering: can floatation therapy trigger such intense emotional releases? I’ve been to sound therapy before & I’ve experienced uncontrollable yawning during & after a sound therapy sesh. The sound therapist told me I was “purging” - is this a real thing? I know the purpose of float therapy is to promote deep relaxation & stress relief, but I didn’t expect it to surface so many suppressed emotions? It felt like I was hit with an uncontrollable wave of anxiety & grief.
I’d like to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience. How did you cope with the emotional aftermath? Any insights or advice would help a lot as this is the first time I’ve ever experienced something like this before. I’m terrified to float again & I won’t be going back.
Edit: it’s been about 4 days and now my dreams while sleeping are vivid & easy to remember. I can’t usually remember my dreams. I’m doing dreamwork journaling this morning because I experienced 4 nightmares within a few hours. It’s been so overwhelming. Headache continuing.
TLDR: Float session triggered intense emotions, grief, trauma, scary physical symptoms, and vivid dreams/nightmares. Anyone else experienced this? How did you cope? I’m terrified to float again & I won’t be going back.
Issues Im hoping meditation might help with
68f havent had a normal night's sleep.....ever?
I'm a fall asleep in an hour or so. On a good night sleep hard for 1.5 hours, wake pretty fully then get decreasing snoozes till 3:30 or so when I am just fully awake. Nothing touches it. Cortisol, anxiety, heat whatever. There are a ton of people with this specific sleep profile, no fixes that I know of.
As I've aged Ive developed, I guess?, a very strong internal monologe or voice. It's like a little monkey that just talks constantly. Mostly about things that need to be done,anxious things but also talks what I'm typing, reading. It just does not shut up. I'm talking to myself basically.
Social media has destroyed my focus. I have always lived alone and am a huge reader by day and enjoy tv at night. But I'm struggling with both. Maybe Im slipping cognitively idk but obviously hoping not.
I have other issues like procrastination (I think about things so much its like Ive already done it 10x but not), making decisions, anxiety.
None at a life crippling level just negative impacts because I don't actually get to where I feel enjoyment. It's been a long time I've enjoyed anything even when traveling and doing things I like.
So last few nights I've been trying the breathing thing while in bed and awake at 3.
I googled types of meditation and think adding in a simple mantra sounded like a good idea to give my internal voice something to do besides flit all over the place. Just, I am good (as in safe ok) or I am safe (never not been safe, I don't have horrible trauma).
I forget but am trying. I have never been, nor care to, get into the whole spiritual thing.
Is there a specific reason not to do this when I can't sleep which is every night? Why do you have to be sitting?
Do you think this will help with focus and enjoyment? I feel like I really need to get out of my head but don't want to be left empty when my voice is gone?
Have you ever noticed how time just flies when you’re totally immersed in something? For me, it happens when I’m watching a really good movie or reading a captivating book. I’ve seen others experience it while playing games, creating art, or even when they’re in love.
But it got me thinking when I read this quote by Sadhguru: "The only way you can taste life is with involvement."
It made me wonder—how can we bring that level of deep involvement into everything we do? Whether it’s small daily tasks like working, eating, or even walking—what if we were fully present and alive in each moment?
Have you found any activity where you get completely involved? How does it make you feel? And do you think it’s possible to bring that level of focus into everyday life?
I just experienced something special I guess. During my meditation session right now the usual thoughts appeared, of work, friends, partners and so on. I decided to look at these thoughts more closely when suddenly I felt a rush of I can only describe as a feeling of love. You know, when you‘re head over heels and think about your crush kind of feeling. But I didn’t think of anyone or anything. It was felt strongest in the middle of my chest but I could feel it over my whole upper body. I don‘t know how long it lasted, at some point some more thoughts appeared and the feeling started to diminish. Has anyone had a similar experience?
After enlightenment...
I live a self-destructive lifestyle, i.e. I don't like to work. I don't care about the future or life at all.
What's more, sometimes I have big problems with work, that one day I won't even be self-sufficient, because I don't want to work or live.
After enlightenment, will the self-destructive lifestyle come to an end, or will it simply be okay to continue like this, and in the end I will still function as a time bomb for ignorant humanity?
If there will be no problems after this state, I will not climb out of it just because, if there will be no problems after enlightenment... then the self-destructive lifestyle will not continue to be a problem, nor will starting the time bomb?
Consistency is King
When I began my meditation journey, I was experimenting with mindfulness on and off. Once, I faced a difficult situation with a friend and felt really upset. I tried to meditate, thinking it would help me feel better.
But I couldn’t focus on the meditation. I was so upset, and on top of that, I was disappointed that meditation didn’t help.
As I started to meditate regularly and deepen my practice, I came to this realization: we practice daily in ordinary circumstances, and that builds our ability to handle extreme situations better.
Exploring Awareness
I was shocked to see how difficult it was to focus on my breathing for even a few minutes. I’d tell my mind to focus on my breathing, and suddenly I’d find myself caught up in fantasies about the past or worries about the future. The crazy part is that sometimes my mind would replay tough situations that caused me even more anger or anxiety.
It occurred to me that a lot of our suffering is self-inflicted by our own mental loops. Pain is inevitable, but we often amplify it by replaying it in our minds, creating unnecessary suffering.
The Movement of Letting Go
When we meditate consistently, we’re working directly on strengthening the “muscle of letting go” in controlled, “laboratory” conditions.
We try to focus on the breath, then a random thought pops up, and we completely forget what we’re even trying to do. Over time, we start paying more attention to this process. Each time it happens, we notice it, let it go, and gently come back to the breath. By doing this hundreds of times, we gradually let go of our attachment to thinking. That same ability can be harnessed in the midst of more powerful emotions.
Just Be
I personally started meditating to better handle stress and anxiety. I had my own agenda and wanted to improve something in my life. But here’s the interesting part: my mindfulness journey introduced me to another option.
Instead of wanting my anxiety to “go away,” there’s another game to play. Maybe, in the midst of experiencing a difficult emotion, I can just be with it. I can explore it, be curious about it, and focus on the raw sensations themselves, just as we do in formal meditation.
This approach gives me more freedom in tough situations, allowing me to respond thoughtfully instead of automatically reacting. Paradoxically, this also helps me deal better with whatever circumstances I'm facing—not as the primary goal of mindfulness, but as a side effect.
So, lay back and just enjoy the ride of being in the present moment!
I can think or act without using language. A result of meditation practice. I don't even visualise. Just raw intention to do something.
In this technique, I begin by sitting down and meditating as usual. However, instead of letting my thoughts pass by unnoticed, I immediately focus on the first thought that arises in my mind. Rather than dismissing or ignoring it, I start by questioning its origin or the underlying stimulus that triggered it. I continue this process by delving deeper, questioning the origin of each subsequent layer of thought or stimulus. I repeat this process, progressively exploring deeper layers, until I reach a state of nothingness or find comfort in the natural flow of my thoughts. This method allows me to understand the root causes of my thoughts and achieve a sense of nothingness or a comfort with my thoughts as I go deeper down the levels or layers. Also , the more deeper I go , I can find myself tracing it to evolution / DNA biology as well sometimes as well, it's fascinating honestly.
*Level 1*
* *Thought*: "What if I fail this meditation?"
* *Stimulus*: Insecurity about failing the meditation and not being able to achieve the desired state.
*Level 2*
* *Thought*: "Why am I worried about failing this meditation?"
* *Stimulus*: The belief that meditation should be effective immediately, and if it’s not, it’s seen as a failure.
*Level 3*
* *Thought*: "Why do I believe meditation should be effective immediately?"
* *Stimulus*: A learned belief that things of value must show quick, visible results; perhaps from past experiences where success was measured by immediate outcomes.
*Level 4*
* *Thought*: "Why do I believe everything should show immediate results?"
* *Stimulus*: Growing up in an environment where efficiency, productivity, and measurable results were highly valued. The idea that time spent without visible progress was wasted.
*Level 5*
* *Thought*: "Why do I fear that I won’t be accepted unless I achieve results quickly?"
* *Stimulus*: Deep-seated fear of rejection or inadequacy from childhood experiences, where love and approval were conditional upon success or achievement. The belief that if I’m not productive or achieving, I am not worthy of validation.
Does anyone else use a similar method or have any insight into what this might be called? Is it a recognized technique, and what are it's benefits , is this safe ? I am looking for insights as to what it is that I am actually doing and which subset of meditation does it fall into ? Can anyone share some insights ?
I am taking a 8 day meditation course next month and we are required to sit in ardhasidhasana during our meditations, which starts to put a lot of pressure on my knees after about 20 minutes and I can't hold the posture for much longer after that. I don't want to be in pain the entire meditation course. Maybe I am future tripping and making it a bigger deal in my head than it needs to be but it is something I think needs to be addressed. It really hurts.
Does anybody have any remedies they use to reduce knee pain? I'm sure ibuprofen will help but I want to make that a last resort, as I fear it could interfere with the meditation process in some subtle way. I would also like to try to address the cause of the pain rather than treat the symptoms.
I have also realized through my preparation that I have knots in and around my knees I didn't even know were there. I though my knots were mostly in my upper back and neck. These knee knots probably have something to do with the pain.
Are there any exercises or postures that anyone has used that can relieve knee pain or stiffness? Any kinds of gels or creams that can relax the muscles? Or even any dietary suggestions?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Namaste
I practiced meditation to improve my inner world and bring peace into it. Now I actually feel more peaceful. I cannot say I am happy with my life but there is a sense of inner calm. This makes me more self absorbed as other humans seemingly lack this inner calm. They might be happier than me but they are in a state of excitement which repulse me away. I have no friends and lonely but still it doesn't feel as bad as trying to get friends and be obsessed with someone else's validation or love.
Also meditation is like a hobby for me. I also have other hobbies like gaming and exercise mostly push ups. Meditation is something I do most of my day. Also I feel more energetic and exercising harder to build muscle tone and hard muscles. Earlier I didn't have motivation for exercise and mostly spent on gaming or internet.
It’s been spoken in so many texts that the sound om comes naturally in deep meditation, so to those deep meditators, do you hear om?
Hi, I've been meditating twice a day for a year, and I had amazing results. Then I had some health problems and stopped for about 1-2 weeks. After that, I’ve struggled to get back into it. Please give me some motivation to continue meditating. I’m trying, but I can’t seem to sit still.
I'm 22, and I hear myself in my head almost all the time. I'm always living there—thinking, analyzing, replaying situations, conversations, and everything I say before, during, and after it happens. Even when I'm alone, it's the same. At night, I overthink everything.
I feel like this constant thinking consumes so much mental energy and robs me of the ability to enjoy moments, connect with people, and just be. Yes, I know this might be tied to anxiety, and I’ve worked on avoiding negative self-talk or spiraling into negativity. It helps a bit, but the thinking itself doesn’t stop, and honestly, it’s exhausting.
I’ve also been battling a porn addiction, and I don’t know if that’s somehow contributing to this state of mind. I feel like it messes with my brain and my ability to be fully present, but I’m still figuring things out.
I tried meditating—it works for an hour or two, and my mind calms down, but then the chatter comes back. The only time my mind completely shuts the f*** up is when I smoke pot. And oh god, how beautiful life feels in those moments—just being there, fully present, aware of everything around me. My social skills skyrocket too; I’m funnier, wittier, and just alive in the moment. I don’t smoke anymore, but I can’t forget how real and connected life felt then.
Here’s the thing—I remember a time, maybe before I turned 20, when life was like that naturally. I didn’t overthink so much. I enjoyed moments, felt hyped about life, and had real, present conversations.
At the same time, I know I’m still figuring out a lot of things in life, and maybe it’s normal to feel anxious and lost at this age. I just wonder if there’s a way to quiet the mind without substances and get back to that place of being present, enjoying life, and really living instead of constantly thinking.
So my question is: Does anyone relate to this? How do you turn off the constant thinking without substances? Is this what “normal” people experience—just being there without living in their heads all the time? Is there a way to get that back sober?
Would love to hear your thoughts !
I'm not just sharing this but mostly asking to more experienced meditators if this makes sense, since I'm a begginer.
Recently I have started to use the sounds of my environment as the object of samatha meditation. Here I also have a question, is it truly samatha if I'm focusing on every sound that comes up (in my case the sounds of the street outside my closed window, so mostly cars and other vehicles passing by) or do I need to pick a single sound "excluding" eventual other sounds?
Anyways, during my first attempts at this method I struggled greatly because I would try to hear as many sounds as possible, including those that seemed distant and/or low. It felt difficult because there were a lot of sounds coming inside and my attention would be grabbed by the loudest ones, mostly cars coming and going away, and me going away with them ahaha. It felt like I was "chasing" the sounds.
Then I read about the concept of non-duality and reflecting on that made me realize that all the sound I could have heard I was already gearing them. I could not try to "hear better" or try harder tho hear the smallest sounds. I just had to be aware of what I was already hearing. The following session was my most successful of every meditation session of any type I've ever attempted. I could actually focus way better and for longer on the sound, (which became sound into which all sounds were melted, rather than multiple sounds captured individually). It felt like it came from within, like it was a specific layer of my mind that I could observe and also keep observing while I whatched the thoughts that came up along the way.
I then implemented the same thinking into other types of practice.
For example, when focusing on the breath, or any other object of meditation, prior to this switch, my goal would by to keep the attention on the breath for as long as possible and then when the mind wonders bring it back.
Would instead be correct to impose myself as a goal to be aware of what my mind is perceiving while I try to focus on the breath? Like being aware of what my whole existing experience comprehends in that moment while I try to be mindful of the breath?
Like, not being aware of what you're looking at, but be aware of what you're seeing and how you're seeing it, and what your mind is doing while you see it.
If I think about it in this way, I can concentrate better and for much longer, because If I am aware of HOW I concentrate on something it's like I do it effortlessly and I just have to try to be aware of it as long as possible, without forgetting.
Is this the way to go? Also could this same method be used in every moment in daily life? Just being aware of of I am experiencing the present moment.
I don't know if this way of thinking is correct, and I apologize if it is actually common knowledge, it's just that meditation has never been presented to me in this way, and as simple as it may be I think it's overlooked as a concept.
Im new to meditation and I’m just curious if mudras really effect the meditation, do you guys make use of mudras?
It's so scary when pain is chasing you. But you don't need to be scared. Pain doesn't want to hurt you. It just gets out of control sometimes, and it just needs you to give it a hug. So please stop and give your pain a hug. Sometimes it's so out of control that at that initial moment of contact you get roughed up for a bit. This is when you may cry. But you're willing to go through this, because you love your pain. Your pain then feels the profound extent of your love. Your pain calms down.
You ran away from your pain because you thought if it catches you, you become it. When you see things clearly, you see that if you give love to your pain and hold it in a warm embrace, even if it takes some time for your pain to calm down, you still don't become your pain. You're still the one providing nurturing love to your pain. Your pain feels your love. Your pain calms down.
I just started meditating again after a few years off because I’ve become sort of numb. I can’t even transcribe my thoughts anymore it’s just gibberish at this point. Now that I’m meditating again (breath focused mindfulness) it’s like I can focus on my breath and be “thinking” at the same time. I’m not sure how to approach this since I remember last time I was consumed in thoughts and had to return back to my breath. It was great and took some effort like building a muscle in my brain. I’m not getting that this time… I’m focused on my breath and the gibberish in my head is playing 24/7 anyways. I can’t make it stop, it’s as though I’ve become so good at running on autopilot the past few years I can get things done but my main priority is still my head. Any tips please?
Edit: I think labeling might come in handy for this? I’m trying to start over on my HeadSpace app and it said to make sure I feel confident and comfortable with this basics before moving on
Hello! I hope this isn't an annoying post or anything.
For the past several years, I've been casually practicing stilling my mind, often when I'm going to sleep or when I can't sleep. At first it was really difficult to still my mind at all, let alone sustain that. Now, though, I can pretty much do it at will. It helps mute stress, worry, or any other negative emotions. At this stage, I can effortlessly still my mind, and easily sustain it. It feels like I drift away from myself and all those negative things in my life fall out of earshot.
Lately, I've discovered that very interesting things happen when I stay out there for long periods. I could almost say I completely forget who I am. Shapes, faces, places, and coherent phrases pass through my mind on their own, completely unbidden. It's very interesting to watch. I'm aware of the concept of equanimity, and for these things I have no difficulty.
When I sustain that long enough, however, a new phenomenon has started happening. An eye appears, as though I'm looking at it sidelong. The pupil is a black hole, and it brings with it a sense of power and potential. My equanimity falters, because I want to engage with it. I want to enter it. As my desire disrupts the experience, I can literally watch the pupil slowly close. All the way until it closes completely. It's like an old TV turning off in slow motion.
Thank you for your time.
Background - I have a casual mindfulness/meditation practice. I don't practice daily, but maybe 2-3x week, anywhere from 2-15min. I have done some meditation and yoga workshops as well as John Kabot Zinn's Masterclass where I have meditated for 1hr+ and had more profound experiences. I am trying to deepen and lengthen my practice but like most people lack the "time" to prioritize it. When I pressed for time, I would prioritize my daily exercise, journaling, or even hot tub/cold plunge over meditation.
So I'm looking for recommendation on whether I should do a meditation/silent retreat or Gestalt workshop (at Esalen). Based on my available dates thoses are my options. I've talked to the Esalen folks and Gestalt incorporates a variety of mindfulness practices including meditation in a more integrated approach, which sounds appealing. However, for this retreat, I'm looking for less theory and classroom lecture and more doing - or even better "being".
I wanted to get some insights from people that have done both.