How to meditate - Stories relating to the practice of meditation.

Does anyone feel the same?

I was reading a book and completed absorbed by what I was reading and then realized "I'm presently in the moment, right? I'm not day dreaming. But I'm totally unaware of my surroundings"

Like how do I make sense of this? If I'm too focused I'm not present or mindful?

Started meditation 2 days ago, 30 minutes in morning and 30 minutes in evening. Everything is fine but I suddenly wakeup at night 3-4 times & it's annoying.

I do lying meditations fairly often where I put on an audio about transcendence, focus on the words and sensation of warmth and otherworldliness in my body and I am able to drift into a meditative and sometimes dreamlike state for up to 45 minutes. My Oura sometimes picks it up as a nap. Am I napping or does this happen to you all as well?

I always thought being present meant focusing on our external surroundings to get us out of our own head. While this does work I realized that no matter what, we’re always present. Even if you are paying attention to your thoughts, body sensations, or environment. When you take away effort and focus entirely from these things you instantly sink into being, full presence, silence, and peace. I noticed this for myself and I’m curious to know if this really is the key to being present and if so why does meditation teach us to use effort and focus on our breathing? I’d love to hear what you guys think!

Hi, I'm 24 (M) and have never actually tried meditation. I'm extremely neurotic person (98th percentile) and have big problem with avoidance and feeling anxious.

I've always avoided new experiences, even as a kid. I never had a job and even went to college just to avoid it. I failed first course because of my anxiety, panic attacks and procrastination.

My anxiety and stress are NOT chronic. I feel strong stress only in certain situations. I feel dumb and I am terrified of being embarassed. I had mild panic attacks at summer camp and felt anxious all the time. I panicked when I had to cook for friends or clean at friends' house. I was afraid I will make a fool of myself.

I also have a BIG problem with self-discipline and forming new habits. I've wanted to learn a language for 10 years and haven't been able to do it. I also daydream A LOT. I do nothing all days and can't even grab a book or learn a language.

I took IPIP-300 test 3 times and my scores are:

• neuroticism: 98th percentile
• extraversion: 1st percentile
• agreeablenes: 79th percentile
• openness: 3rd percentile
• conscientiousness: 4th percentile

Can meditation/mindfulness help me? And if so, what kind of meditation would be good for me? I tried to meditate, but in extremely steessful situations for me when I panicked and even cut myself so it obviously didn't work then.

So I'll just cut my question quick. I've been meditating almost everyday the last three years (successfully), but the last half year my legs have started to get these spasm I cant just unfocus or ignore. Its like its really creeping underneath my skin.. like ants that stings.

And it has left me not enjoying meditation as much as before, unfortunately.. but I would like to get past this.

I have read about it briefly, but I'm not sure it's the case. It's all from disconnecting chakras or energies getting stuck in sort of a Kundalini awakening. Since English isn't my first language i'm sure I could've misunderstood the meaning.

But idk...

I just want to get back to my meditations without getting these "painful" spasm in my legs, like ants crawling and stinging me. I feel so sad i can't rely on it as before.

Hi i'm new to meditation and I needed some help.

I'm not able to build consistency for meditation. My main reason is that I can not for the life of myself help calm my mind. I can not stop myself from thinking about the littlest things; my tasks for the day, what's left to study, what am I going to this week? My mind keeps wandering over my tasks and the conversations I've had with the people around me. I can not focus on thinking nothing. What do you think during meditation and if you do not think anything at all, how do you achieve that? All this has lead me to procastinate and not show up the next day for meditation.
Even though I play guided meditation in background, I can not focus clearly. I would really appreciate if you drop some meditation related videos or audios or guide me if there's anything I can do to meditate by myself with no background instructions.

Any advice, opinion or suggestion would be extremely valuable. Please help a fellow subredditor out.

I am extremely anxious about fear of death. Any technique helped anyone?

Please help me 🙏

So some meditation groups go on about jhana and talk about it being so amazing. But really, what is the point of it? Does it even exist?

The famous legendary Samurai warrior and philosopher.

Hello everyone! I've been meditating for a few months now, usually every night before I go to sleep, as I find it really helps with my sleep quality. Last night, I planned to meditate for 30 minutes, but I quickly slipped into a meditative state that felt incredibly peaceful, just being present in the moment. When I finally opened my eyes, I realized I had been meditating for around 7 hours. I’m a bit confused about what happened.

Additionally, I’ve been feeling a vibration in the middle of my forehead, almost like it’s pulsating in sync with my heartbeat, along with a similar sensation on the top of my head. I would love to hear any insights or thoughts you all might have on what I experienced. Thanks.

I am a jee aspirant (if you don't know it's a science based exam and it's one of 3rd hardest exam in the world)

I can't focus on anything for 30 min During studying session I get distracted by electronic device When I try to study without any devices day dreaming gets me Like i focused on something then get distracted or started daydreaming I can't control my phone usage Idk why i always shake my legs and my attention span is fucked Mindfulness and hyperfocus like things doesn't exists for me

I've seen people getting completely submerged into what they are doing

Can anyone help how can I overcome this as it's really affecting I think it's ruining potential

Anyway I know this post is going to be either disapproved by mods or get ignored

Is it ok to listen to sleep affirmations during the day perhaps while I meditate even

I’ve tried mindfulness meditation multiple times, hearing about how it brings numerous benefits, yet every time I attempt it, it just gives me self hatred, and depression.

I attempted mindfulness meditation so that I can have better self control, as I’m someone who always seeking control over as much as possible, so I’m always attempting self improvement, but every time I attempted mindfulness meditation, I kept getting angry towards myself not being able to control my mind to focus on my breathe, with that anger towards myself turning into depression(my last attempt gave me the worst depression I’ve ever experienced), so now I’m just wondering whether or not I should give up on the whole practice.

What kind of meditation could help me move my body in a more intuitive and efficient way? I found sometimes weed makes me do that, and also makes me listen to every sound I produce making me aware of the mistakes I do both technically and musically that I am not aware of when sober.

Now I am convinced that with the right mindfulness training I could learn to use my body in a much more efficient and effective way. Does that make sense? And what kind of meditation would you recommend to achieve such goal? Vipassana?

If love is the opposite of fear, is confidence (not arrogance) love?

Or how would you differentiate all of these?

And this quote stood out to me Felt like sharing

For he is the knower, and the knower can know other things ,but cannot make himself the object of his own knowledge,in the same way that fire can burn other things, but cannot burn itself.

I know it may sound a bit insecure or dramatic, but sometimes I genuinely feel that there are forces holding me back, as if growth just isn’t meant for me. I was born into a fairly toxic family environment, and my father’s struggles with addiction deeply influenced me. This pushed me toward meditation from a young age, seeking some peace and clarity. But every time I start to feel a sense of progress, something around me seems to fall apart.

Recently, I began practicing Kriya yoga. Shortly after, I had a dream where a voice warned me that continuing could lead to my death. Quite dramatic, I know, but I kept going — until a huge family conflict arose, and I drifted away from my practice. Last night, I even had a lucid dream where a Hindu deity appeared to be attacking me. (Oddly enough, the previous night I’d asked God for strength.)

I’m a sensitive and compassionate person; I don’t believe I deserve this kind of negativity. So, I wonder, is this due to some karma from a past life? Is there a purpose behind these experiences? Why am I feeling this way? Who is playing with me!?

I did however lucid dreamt of white light originating from my third eye when I was feeling too tired to live my life.

Edit: Thank you for the wisdom guys!

I'm having a terrible time focusing at work. Just awful. I've landed on the notion of short guided meditations that I could do once or twice a day. Can anyone recommend one?

I've been meditating off and on for over a decade. More off than on, admittedly, but in recent years I've committed to making it a regular practice and integrating the results into my life.

The benefits have been enormous, as I'm sure you all are already aware. However, I've found that I don't actually enjoy mindfulness very much outside of meditation? When I'm watching a movie or playing a game, for instance, I find it breaks the immersion. I'm not seeing a fully realized world as if I were living in it - I'm watching all of the little LEDs on the screen flash different colors and observing the way the mind and body react.

And I enjoy the process of getting lost in my thoughts! I like getting so deep into my mind that I forget that I even have a corporeal body. I enjoy dissociation - not only as an escape, but as a means of exploring the illusion of self.

So it occurred to me that maybe there is a way to be fully immersed in an illusion... but with mindfulness? To maintain a sort of tension between the knowledge that something is illusory while still engaging with it as if it were material? To get lost in dissociation while simultaneously observing that feeling without judgment?

Or maybe I'm just misunderstanding mindfulness as a concept. I'm fully open to being told "that's not mindfulness at all," as long as someone can explain why that's the case!

I’m curious to hear if you can explain your best meditation technique for anxiety. My personal favourite is something I learned from one of Sadh-guru’s programs called “Sukha Kriya” which means an inward process for pleasantness. It is essentially alternate nostril breathing and I do it for 40-60 minutes a day. Little boring - but so effective.

Also there is a 20 mins guided meditation called Yoga Nidra by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar which I also find quite effective.

What is your favourite?

I tell you, to be a part of humanity is a profound experience, for when you embrace humanity fully, you are connecting with the essence of existence. Only by becoming truly human do you reach the farthest edges of what encompasses the fullness of life and consciousness.

A yogi relinquishes his senses to the care of the deities that preside over them, and yokes himself in yoga. The senses are associated with the elements and the deities that preside over the senses/elements are given below.

Muladhara (Root Chakra) is associated with Earth element. The beej mantra of this chakra is Lam. The god is Indra. The manta of Indra is Om Lam Indraya Namah. You can see Lam in the mantra of Indra.

Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra) is associated with Water element. The beej mantra of this chakra is Vam. The god is Varuna. The mantra of Varuna is Om Vam Varunaya Namah. You can see Vam in the mantra of Varuna.

Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra) is associated with Fire element. The beej mantra of this chakra is Ram. The god is Agni. The mantra of Agni is Om Ram Agnaye Namah.

Anahata (Heart Chakra) is associated with Air element. The beej mantra of this chakra is Yam. The god is Vayu. The mantra of Vayu is Om Yam Vayave Namah.

Vishuddha (Throat Chakra) is associated with Akasha or Ether element. The beej mantra of this chakra is Ham. The god is Isana. The mantra of Isana is Om Ham Isanaya Namah. “Ishana is the upper or skyward face. It is the Citta Shakti or power of the individual consciousness to realize the universal consciousness. This form is associated with Akasha or ether, and the Vishuddha chakra.”

Ajna (Third Eye Chakra) is associated with the Mind. As mentioned in the sentence above from Mahabharata Mind is given before Space. There was another answer that stated Shiva is the god of this Chakra and Om is the beej mantra. So the mantra for this chakra is probably Om Namah Shivaya. Shiva is also said to be the god of Mind.

Brahman - Purusha/Prakriti - Consciousness (Crown chakra) - Mind (Third eye chakra) - Space (Ham) - Air (Yam) - Fire (Ram) - Water (Vam) - Earth (Lam) - The Mahabharata. There is no mantra for Crown Chakra because it is pure Consciousness/Samadhi/No-thought no-mind state.

For years i have been extremely uncomfortable around people, to the point of being constantly hypervigilant and in a state of fight or flight. I have been mean,aggresive and violent at time from such potent fear that stem of my experiences.

It is so clear to me now that it comes from being bullied, attacked and laughed at so many times as a young innocent and weak child. Time and time again i was too naive too see, too weak to speak up and too scared to fight back.

I've been seeing these traumatic experiences a lot this past week where i get hurt and a group of people laugh at me. Every time i've tried to think about how to get over it i just go back go violence, yet i know it isnt the answer it is the only one ive known for it.

I wish to let go of that pain and i dont know how to addresse that issue of how to get over those memories that are so painfull without going to violence, thank you.

Good morning beautiful souls, I have been getting deeper and deeper into my mediation practice and I am requesting some help on different ways to sit on my mat for extended periods of time more comfortably. At the moment, my most comfortable position is to sit on my feet, knees bent, and a cushion under me. When I sit for too long, my lower back starts to tingle and draw my attention towards it. It’s not necessarily painful but it’s weirdly uncomfortable. Maybe I need to sit through that feeling. Not sure. Any feedback is most welcomed.

I use the Balance app to help me get to sleep. When doing sleep meditation it says to lie down in bed so I do. As part of the meditation it says to lengthen my spine and I feel like I have no idea what they’re asking by that.

Anything I try leaves my back arched or seriously tense, and then I’m uncomfortable and frustrated. When the whole point for me when doing a sleep meditation is to ease tension/stess.

Can anyone explain what they mean or what to actually do to ‘lengthen’ my spine? Thank you in advance, it’s 7:35am now so no sleep for me!

As it says in the title, dealing with some serious stuff and it's made me become more controlling but at the same time feeling like I'm losing more control. It's very frustrating. I mean we have the one life in this world and try our best to provide for ourselves and family, to make future plans, to take care of ourselves, but then things happens that create chaos and you come face to face with lack of control, with suffering, with mortality. I thought simply facing it will make the fear and pain go away but it has not. I have spoken with health professionals but I feel the missing piece is stuff I can do on my own, like meditation that is focused specifically on control issues, that will be helpful.

Appreciate guidance.

Hi guys. I have been depressed and anxious for a very long time. Meditation has been able to improve my mental state on occasion, but recently I've lost my job. After being fired, I've found myself afriad of working life, yet I have money issues and work coaches hanging over my head. It feels like this anxiety is inside me every minute of every day. How can I live in the moment whilst having a genuine need to be anxious of the future?

Hello friends,

Ready to make meditation a habit in your life? Or maybe you're looking to start again?

Each month, we host a meditation challenge to help you establish or rekindle a consistent meditation practice by making it a part of your daily routine. By participating in the challenge, you'll be fostering a greater sense of community as you work toward a common goal and keep each other accountable.

How to Participate

- Set a specific, measurable, and realistic goal for the month.

How many days per week will you meditate? How long will each session be? What technique will you use? Post below if you need help deciding!

- Leave a comment below to let others know you'll be participating.

For extra accountability, leave a comment that says, "Accountability partner needed." Once someone responds, coordinate with that person to find a way to keep each other accountable.

- Optionally, join the challenge on our partner Discord server, Meditation Mind.

Challenges are held concurrently on the r/Meditation partner Discord server, Meditation Mind. Enjoy a wholesome, welcoming atmosphere, home to a community of over 8,100 members.

Good luck, and may your practice be fruitful!