Meditation: Accept reality as it is, not as you want it to be.

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• Accept reality as it is, not as you want it to be.
• Benefits of Meditation from a Neuroscience Perspective.
• when you are aware of yourself internally and aware of your external surroundings simultaneously, you have no room to think, but to only be present.
• Noticed my first benefit from meditation!
• A few observations about meditation.
• You guys are under the delusion that there is this "person" present in your life
• Why do I feel Im not doing it right?
• Why do we get into a meditative state in life or death situations, f.ex. the moment before a car crash ?
• How many of you use background music / sounds during your meditation?
• over 1 hour
• Be like buddha
• What do Buddhist live for, if not good feelings?
• NPR conversation on Wednesday May 13 about Meditation
• Dr Joe dispenzas breathing and meditation techniques
• The mind makes fear, doubt and resistance appears when you are coming close to recognize the true nature of the self
• What in the world did I just do... is this feeling of euphoria temporary?
• Can’t sleep through affirmations while sleeping
• Question: why is it suggested you sit upright when you meditate?
• Pain during meditation
• Approaching a difficult decision with mediation
• Be the self, let go of the mind
• Need advice
• a few questions
• Weird "helucination"?

Accept reality as it is, not as you want it to be. Posted: 12 May 2020 03:40 PM PDT That's all. Much love. submitted by /u/meditatively [link] [comments]

Benefits of Meditation from a Neuroscience Perspective. Posted: 12 May 2020 03:22 AM PDT Neuroscience of Meditation 📷Academic This is a summary of findings from a scientific review article on the neurobiological correlates of mindfulness meditation practices. Source: The Neuroscience of Mindfulness Meditation (2015) published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience Learning Objectives Identify and understand the brain region and it's basic functions Identify consequences of regional dysfunction and/or diseases associated with abnormalities Identify the structural and connective changes observed in the region following mindfulness meditation Understand the clinical or behavioral implications of mindfulness-induced alterations Key Brain Regions Discussed: Insular cortex Prefrontal cortex (PFC) Hippocampus Amygdala Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) Corpus callosum Corona radiata Putamen (of the striatum) Caudate (of the striatum) Thalamus Relevant Definitions: Grey matter: The darker area of the brain and spinal cord, composed primarily of neuronal cell bodies and dendrites White matter: The lighter colored tissue of the brain and spinal cord, composed primarily of myelinated axon tracts. Neuron: Neurons are the brain cells which process information through electrochemical signalling. For a better understanding of a neuron, see this helpful webpage. Myelin: A fatty substance which covers neuronal axon tracts, acting as an electrical insulator (in the same way that rubber materials are used as insulators for telephone wires). Axon: A long, thread-like portion of a neuron, along which an electrical signal is carried. Signals are sent from the neuron, down the axon, to the next neuron. Cortical thickness: Thickness of cerebral cortex, the outermost part of the brain (the part you see, all the groovy folds and divots). Cerebral cortex is involved in many higher processing functions, such as decision making, social processing, and higher reasoning. Grey-matter volume: Grey matter consists of neuronal bodies (neuropil; contrasted with white matter, which consists of myelinated neuronal axons). More volume, more brain cells, good happy. Grey matter can decrease with age, lifestyle habits, degenerative disorders/illnesses, drug abuse, and trauma. Grey-matter density: Like volume, but instead of measuring the total volume which the region occupies, it's a measure of the density or concentration neuronal bodies within a given space (i.e., 100,000 cells/mm3 ) Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI): A technique for tracing and measuring activity of white matter tracts (white matter is the axons which signals travel along, very similar to telephone wires carrying electricity) using the diffusion of water Mean (axial) diffusivity: Diffusivity of axons (axial diffusivity) refers to the way which axons/synaptic connections are organized and packed together. More diffuse organization are more disorder, while less diffuse networks are more tightly packed and organized. In the brain, decreased axial diffusivity is associated with improved function Anisotropy: The property of being directionally dependent, implying different properties in different directions. Antonym: isotropy Isotropy: The property of uniformity (or relative uniformity) in all directions, without differentiation of properties based on direction. Antonym: anisotropy Fractional anisotropy (FA): a scalar value between zero and one that describes the degree of anisotropy of a diffusion process. A value of zero means that diffusion is isotropic, i.e. it is unrestricted (or equally restricted) in all directions. (i.e., higher FA means signals are more strictly directed along specific paths; lower FA means signals are free to diffuse more randomly) Atrophy: Degeneration of neurons or synaptic connections between neurons. Progressive damage or decline in ability which results in decreased functional performance. Anterior: A directional term meaning "front," or closer to the face/chest side of the body. Antonym: posterior (towards back) Posterior: A directional term meaning "back," or closer to the back side of the head or body. Antonym: anterior (towards front) Medial: Directional term, meaning 'middle' or towards gut, in between lungs, or center of head. Antonym: lateral Lateral: Directional term, meaning 'side(s)' or closer to sides of head/near ears, or sides of body near arms/outer legs The Neurobiology Normal Function Dysfunction Observed Changes Following Mindfulness Meditation Practice Clinical Implications Insular cortex Involved heavily in awareness of self, and the integration of emotional and cognitive input into awareness of self. For related reasons, also involved in compassion, empathy, social cognition and interpersonal experience. Insular damage has been associated with addictive tendencies, as well as deficiencies in the functions to the left. Psychologically, this is related to feelings of social isolation, poor emotional processing, and lack of self-awareness. These features effectively worsen addictive patterns, and are seen in addicts; likewise, engaging in addictive patterns may worsen insular performance. increase in cortical thickness; increase in grey-matter density Increased cortical thickness and grey-matter density implies improved functioning of the insula. This manifests as a decrease in addictive tendencies, increase in feelings of social connection, improved emotional processing and improved self-awareness. Prefrontal cortex Involved in diverse and highly associated executive functions. A high-level (top-down processing, sits at the top, more higher consciousness activity) filtering mechanism that enhances goal-directed activations and inhibits irrelevant activations. Integrates the outputs of many lower brain regions. (Executive functions: attentional control, cognitive inhibition, inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility, intelligence; judgment and planning) Damage to the PFC may result in a wide range of executive function disorder, such as impairments of short-term memory, declarative memory, rule learning, planning, and motivation, among others. enhanced activation; increased connectivity to amygdala; increase in activation associated with anxiety relief Increased PFC activation in these studies is correlated to an increase in executive functioning, resulting in enhanced goal-directed activations. This neural activation translates to doing more productive tasks which require motivation and strong cognitive abilities. The PFC may also suppress irrelevant activations, such as mind-wandering and distraction, so as to improve focus and mental acuity/cognition. Increased connectivity to the amygdala allows for improved top-down regulation of the fear/anxiety response. Hippocampus The hippocampus is largely associated with memory formation and consolidation. Hippocampal dysfunction can be caused by chronic stress, and results in impaired memory consolidation. increase in grey-matter density; increase in hippocampal volume; trend towards less hippocampal atrophy Increased grey-matter density would be correlated to improved mnemonic ability. Decrease in hippocampal atrophy/degeneration also results in relative improvements in memory, and suggests a slower rate of loss of memory function with age Amygdala Primary brain region underlying fear/anxiety responses, fear-associated memory consolidation and fear-related emotional processing Dysfunction of the amygdala is central to anxiety-related disorders, including PTSD, general anxiety, social anxiety, and OCD. Overactivation of the amygdala brings about a heightened experience of anxiety. decreased activation (in response to emotional pictures in non-meditative state); decreased activation (during reacting to negative self-belief statements); decreased activation (when viewing emotional pictures in a mindful state in beginner but not expert meditators) Activation of the amygdala usually results in increased fear and anxiety. These studies show that amygdalic activation decreases with meditation and mindfulness in response to emotionally salient stimuli (pictures, negative self-belief statements). Therefore, the result of this amygdalic inhibition is a reduction in fear and anxiety responses. Anterior cingulate cortex Complex and poorly understood functions in error detection, social evaluation, and learning (based on error detection & subsequent rectification of error). The ACC is also associated with conscious experience – ACC activation correlates to improved emotional awareness. It is further evolved in registering emotional reactions to physical and psychological pain. Lesions to the ACC cause inability to detect errors, emotional instability, inattention, and akinetic mutism. Dysfunction of this region has been implicated in schizophrenia, ADHD, OCD, and social anxiety (through connections with the amygdala). increase in cortical thickness Increased cortical thickness would suggest improved error detection and general functionality, allowing for increased emotional stability, concentration, and learning from mistakes. Posterior cingulate cortex The PCC is a highly active brain region whose function is poorly understood. It works at a metabolic rate 40% higher than average across the brain, and is highly interconnected with other regions. It is a central node in the default mode network (DMN). Decreased PCC activity is associated with lessened introspection (or mind-wandering) and increased focus on external stimuli; increased PCC activity associated with memory retrieval and planning. The PCC may play a crucial role in controlling state of arousal, the breadth of focus, and the internal or external focus of attention. Abnormalities of the PCC are complex and are observed in a range of disorders, including Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, depression, autism, ADHD, and anxiety disorders. deactivation during different types of meditation; increased coupling with ACC and PFC; reduced connectivity between (left) PCC, PFC, & ACC at rest; enhanced (right) PCC activity at resting state Deactivation of the PCC corresponds to deactivation of the default mode network (see link above), which is associated to increased mindfulness and focus on one's immediate environment. Increased coupling with ACC and PFC suggests general improvement in function, as this cross-communication between regions is important for maintaining stable networks. Corpus callosum The corpus callosum sits vertically in between the left and right brain hemispheres. It is the primary point of communication between the hemispheres. When cut or damaged, communication between hemispheres may be diminished or entirely absent. See this article on split-brain epileptic patients for a fascinating detour into the historical understanding of this structure (scroll down in article for a video). This will not necessarily inhibit an individual's ability to function, but may change how the brain processes information. decrease in axial diffusivity; increase in fractional anisotropy In the brain (opposed to spinal cord), increased axial diffusivity is often associated with pathologies which imply axonal damage. This is not always true, and there is variation. These studies suggest that a decrease in axial diffusivity (or an increase in the organization of axonal fiber tracts) is associated with improved function. Axial diffusivity describes the organization or packing of axons/neural connections in a region. The more diffuse the axons are, the more interconnected they may be – but also, the more disorganized. Lower diffusion means axons are packed more tightly and organized more densely. Corona radiata A collection of vertically ascending and descending (information sent from outer brain regions to deep regions and back) axon tracts that serve to connect the cerebral cortex to deep brain regions. These tracts continue past the brain stem and into the spinal cord to form the corticospinal tract. The corona radiata is composed of white matter tracts, which are myelinated axons. Diseases affecting these tracts include demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis and leukoencephalopathy. Impairment of the corona radiata may result in global detriment to intellectual, social, and emotional functioning. decrease in axial diffusivity; increase in fractional anisotropy Mindfulness meditation practice corresponds to an increase in fractional anisotropy (FA) and a decrease of axial diffusivity, both of which suggest increased organization of axonal tracts. Because the corona radiata innervates many regions of the brain, improved organization of its widespread pathways is conducive to more efficient processing. Putamen (of the striatum) The putamen is highly interconnected with many brain regions and neurochemical systems (i.e., dopamine, serotonin, GABA, acetylcholine, glutamate). Involved in motor skills, including motor planning, learning, execution, motor preparation, specifying amplitudes of movement, and movement sequences. Plays a role in several types of learning. Degeneration of the putamen and other structures within the basal ganglia (which contains the putamen) seem to play a role in the motor degeneration of Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. increase in grey-matter volume; enhanced activation Like the prefrontal cortex, the putamen is a site of high density informational associations – an information hub (or association hub), like a post office, is where a lot of information comes from many places and is sorted/organized in some way before being projected downstream. Association hubs are highly integrated into many neural pathways and thus can have broad effects when damaged or enhanced. Mindfulness and meditation were found to increase grey matter volume and activity. This likely boosts the functional performance of the brain region, allowing for improved learning and memory, as well as overall physical wellbeing. Caudate (of the striatum) The caudate is involved in motor control and goal-directed action (defined as "the selection of behavior based on the changing values of goals and a knowledge of which actions lead to what outcomes." The caudate receives direct signals from the amygdala, and both the caudate & amygdala have reciprocal connections to the hippocampus. The caudate has been associated with responding to visual beauty and is suggested to be involved in 'romantic love.' Like the putamen, and other basal ganglia structures, dysfunction of the caudate nucleus is associated motor dysfunction, neurodegenerative disorders, schizophrenia, OCD, and bipolar disorder type I. increase in grey-matter volume; increase in grey-matter density; enhanced activity at resting state; decreased activation during reward anticipation Increased grey-matter volume and density improves functionality. Enhanced activity at resting state and decreased activation during reward anticipation, following mindfulness meditation, seems to align with the motor & goal-directed functions of the caudate. Thalamus The thalamus acts primarily as a relay hub. All sensory signals, such as visual, auditory, etc., are relayed through the thalamus, where they are processed, further integrated, and projected to the appropriate cortical areas. For example, visual information from the retina travels first to the thalamus, which then projects the signal to the primary visual cortex of the cerebral cortex, where the information becomes accessible to conscious experience. It is also involved in regulating sleep-wake cycles. In fatal familial insomnia, there is a progressive degeneration of the thalamus, resulting in an inability to sleep and, inevitably, death. Strokes may cause damage to the thalamus, disrupting one's perception of sensory stimuli, often on one half of the body. Korsakoff's syndrome is also resultant of thalamic nuclei degeneration. decrease of axial diffusivity Decreased axial diffusivity, again, suggests increased order to the thalamic networks, implying greater efficiency in sending particular signals to specific destinations. Summary Recent research suggests that a host of neural networks benefit from mindfulness meditation practice, demonstrating the holistic healing potential of these practices. Neurobiological results show: Enhanced communication between functional brain regions (PCC-ACC-PFC connectivity, PFC-amygdala connectivity, thalamic connectivity) Enhanced intraregional (within a single region/structure) functioning (seen in the amygdala, insular cortex, ACC, caudate nucleus, putamen, hippocampus, and PFC.) Increased order throughout neural networks (seen in the corona radiata, corpus callosum, and thalamus) Significant Take-Aways Increased order (or decreased entropy) of global fiber tracts: The higher degree of organization observed in the corona radiata, corpus callosum, and thalamus suggests global improvements in neurological processing. The corona radiata carries information vertically, between higher processing areas (the cerebral cortex, PFC) and deep brain structures (basal ganglia, brainstem). Individuals who practice mindfulness meditation report heightened clarity of mind and improvements in top-down modulation of psycho-emotional patterns. An individual may experience increased order throughout the corona radiata as general clarity and stability of mind, as well increased synchronicity between one's unconscious emotional patterns, conscious state, and outward emotional expression. That is to say, there is less internal tension, and less of an experience of hiding or suppressing one's inner emotional patterns. What one feels internally matches what one feels on the surface, which matches how one expresses themselves outwardly. There is increased balance between the brain regions, allowing the individual to feel more holistically balanced. The corpus callosum carries information horizontally, connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Similar to the concepts above, enhanced functionality of this region allows for improved communication between brain regions - in this case, the hemispheres. The subjective experience of such a change may also be a deeper sense of balance, although perhaps qualitatively different from that of the corona radiata. Enhanced communication between the hemispheres may also be conducive to creative ability, allowing uniquely right-brain associations and uniquely left-brain associations to interact with more complexity. The thalamus receives a large amount of sensory information, filters out unnecessary information, and sends signals to the proper sensory cortices in the cerebral cortex. Increased order within the thalamus would allow for more efficient processing and filtering of sensory information, furthering one's sense of presence or serenity, and eliminating distracting stimuli. PFC-amygdala connectivity: Increased connectivity to the amygdala allows for improved top-down regulation of the fear/anxiety response. For example, when you are startled by a loud bang, the initial startle response arises in the amygdala. Once the individual realizes that there was no real threat - that the bang was nothing to worry about - the PFC communicates this new information downward to the amygdala, essentially telling it to quiet down. Inability to exert this top-down, PFC-amygdala control may contribute to persistent anxiety- and stress-related disorders. Therefore, mindfulness meditation practices improve one's conscious ability to regulate and control the fear response Enhanced insular functioning: Research into the insular cortex has gained popularity in recent years. It appears to be the primary brain region involved in self-awareness. Self-awareness initially precedes experiences of thoughts or emotions, as the cerebrum and limbic systems integrate into the insula subsequent to initial generation of awareness. Further, this awareness involves physical awareness (proprioception), awareness of immediate environment, and awareness of self within a social context. Related to its function in self-awareness is the insula's role in compassion and empathy. These states are likely constructed as limbic (emotional) and cognitive information is integrated into the insula, extending awareness of self to include not only one's immediate environment, but increasingly distant people and places. It is here that awareness of self and awareness of other blend together, quite intertwined as one emergent process, to nurture compassion for all that one identifies as being part of oneself. As this inner awareness becomes more complex, integrating more information, it includes at first only oneself and one's immediate environment (childlike perceptions); an expanded sense of self evolves as increasingly complex information is integrated within the insula: an expansion to include people nearest to you and near, but non-immediate, environment; further expansion to include those more distant, such as a larger community, and places more broad, such as a state or country. This research supports the notion that quieting the cognitive and emotional parts of the brain through mindfulness meditation and focusing one's mental energy on one-pointed awareness allows for the expansion of compassion for oneself and for others by means of physically enhancing insular function. List of Changes in Brain Regions Observed Following Mindfulness Meditation Practice Insular cortex increase in cortical thickness increase in grey-matter density Prefrontal cortex enhanced activation increased connectivity to amygdala increase in activation associated with anxiety relief Hippocampus increase in grey-matter density increase in hippocampal volume trend towards less hippocampal atrophy Amygdala decreased activation (in response to emotional pictures in non-meditative state) decreased activation (during reacting to negative self-belief statements) decreased activation (when viewing emotional pictures in a mindful state in beginner but not expert meditators) Anterior cingulate cortex increase in cortical thickness Posterior cingulate cortex deactivation during different types of meditation increased coupling with ACC and PFC reduced connectivity between (left) PCC, PFC, & ACC at rest enhanced (right) PCC activity at resting state Corpus callosum decrease in axial diffusivity increase in fractional anisotropy Corona radiata decrease in axial diffusivity increase in fractional anisotropy Putamen (part of striatum) increase in grey-matter volume enhanced activation Caudate (part of striatum) increase in grey-matter volume increase in grey-matter density enhanced activity at resting state decreased activation during reward anticipation Thalamus decrease of axial diffusivity FULL DISCLOSURE this post is originally by u/0imnotreal0, from r/neuroscience. I couldn't cross post it because it included media originally, not sure how else to credit people properly etc I'm still new to reddit, but I found this really interesting and wanted to make sure it made its way to r/Meditation. submitted by /u/alexandelion [link] [comments]

when you are aware of yourself internally and aware of your external surroundings simultaneously, you have no room to think, but to only be present. Posted: 12 May 2020 10:39 AM PDT submitted by /u/meditating_deity [link] [comments]

Noticed my first benefit from meditation! Posted: 13 May 2020 02:14 AM PDT I know that meditation generates passive benefits but today i woke up pretty anxious and stayed anxious for a couple hours untill i decided to do a quick 10min meditation, after that my anxiety left me, for real. I wasnt feeling anxious which felt kinda magical. Im gonna start meditating everytime i feel anxious! Also i meditate daily so it will add more "meditative time" to my day haha submitted by /u/martincxz [link] [comments]

A few observations about meditation. Posted: 13 May 2020 01:20 AM PDT Hey. So I've been meditating for a while—seven or eight years, at least—and there are a few things that have often struck me that I rarely read about. At any rate I thought I'd share them in case they're useful. First, the most important thing when starting to meditate or returning to meditation is to build a habit. Don't worry about the length of time to begin with. In my experience, and counter-intuitively, meditating for a long time one day can lead you to believe the next day or the day after that that you don't 'need' to meditate, in part because you meditation is so effective that you feel relatively at ease. And so you break the habit. It's better, then, to take a little-and-often approach until meditating becomes 'automatic', like brushing your teeth. Secondly, the way in which we perceive the passage of time changes depending on what we're doing. The feeling of awe, for instance, can expand our perception of time availability. So don't be intimidated by longer meditation sessions, and allow that irritating thought—'Oh, God, how long have I got left?'—to drift on past you like a cloud across the sky. If you sink into the practice, your perception of time will change. In other words, an hour won't 'feel' like an hour, so take confidence from this when building up to longer sessions. Lastly—I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels they have all their best ideas while meditating. And because each arising idea is interesting (well, interesting to you, at least), it's tempting to latch onto it. There's also the fear that you'll forget it if you let it pass you by. But know that you never do forget it, and that the mind will work on that idea even when you're not thinking about it, just as it will while you sleep. So if these kinds of thoughts, rather than unpleasant thoughts, are or have become a main distraction for you while you meditate, trust that they won't go anywhere, but will become more mature and fully formed by the time your practice is over. Thanks for reading. submitted by /u/heelsandliterature [link] [comments]

You guys are under the delusion that there is this "person" present in your life Posted: 12 May 2020 06:22 PM PDT There is no "person" in life, there is only life alone, looking at an appearing idea of a "person" but that person doesn't exist. You are not that person. You are that life which is looking at an appearing idea of a "person". Snap out of it, you can't be a person. You can't be any idea in your head. You can't be any appearing thought, You can't be any appearing emotion, you can't be any appearing sensation, you can't be any appearing problem, you can't be any appearing sadness, any appearing insecurity, any appearing phenomena ever because you are that ever-present awareness which perceives it! That is your life, yes! Just turn the attention inward on that which perceives, and be the perceiver of the perceiving. You are THAT! submitted by /u/redditKeyy [link] [comments]

Why do I feel Im not doing it right? Posted: 13 May 2020 02:00 AM PDT Theres so many thoughts,pictures images appearing is this suppose to happen?how to meditate? submitted by /u/Homie122 [link] [comments]

Why do we get into a meditative state in life or death situations, f.ex. the moment before a car crash ? Posted: 13 May 2020 01:16 AM PDT submitted by /u/henz333 [link] [comments]

How many of you use background music / sounds during your meditation? Posted: 13 May 2020 01:06 AM PDT Just curious as I can't seem to stop my mind racing with something in the background. There are thousands of them and probably all exactly the same, but I find these great, the tibetan singing bowl. https://youtu.be/x8L4-rUozXs submitted by /u/saulgoodman444 [link] [comments]

over 1 hour Posted: 13 May 2020 12:30 AM PDT hi everyone just meditated for over 1 hour. submitted by /u/finnishboy666 [link] [comments]

Be like buddha Posted: 12 May 2020 08:36 PM PDT Meditation is all about realising that life is not perfect , there are ups and downs , joy and sorrow , pleasure and pain and going through all this with utmost calmness whatever be the situation. submitted by /u/bhaviaadesara97814 [link] [comments]

What do Buddhist live for, if not good feelings? Posted: 13 May 2020 12:05 AM PDT submitted by /u/khuranadhruv18 [link] [comments]

NPR conversation on Wednesday May 13 about Meditation Posted: 12 May 2020 06:04 PM PDT I'm a producer for the NPR show 1A and a novice meditator (I've been at it about 5 weeks). I put together a conversation for Wednesday 5/13 about why more people are meditating amidst the pandemic and what we know about how it helps people. The guests are podcaster/former monk Jay Shetty, neuroscientist Amishi Jha and Headspace chief science officer Megan Jones Bell. We'll also hear from Vicki Kennedy Overfelt, a MBSR instructor who had coronavirus and used mindfulness to get through the experience. If you are interested to tune in, please let me know your thoughts! You can stream the conversation live at 11 am ET/ 8 am PT on the segment page: https://the1a.org/segments/breathe-in-breathe-out-why-more-people-are-meditating/ We'll be reading comments from listeners while the show is live. You can participate by emailing [1a@wamu.org](mailto:1a@wamu.org) or tweeting (at)the1A. submitted by /u/ajcwadup [link] [comments]

Dr Joe dispenzas breathing and meditation techniques Posted: 12 May 2020 11:53 PM PDT Does anyone, or has anyone here used his technique? He has a breathing technique where you do reverse breathing- you breath in while pulling up on your genitals and pulling in your stomach. You then hold the breath. I'm having trouble figuring out how to do this. Can anyone help? submitted by /u/T44497 [link] [comments]

The mind makes fear, doubt and resistance appears when you are coming close to recognize the true nature of the self Posted: 12 May 2020 11:50 PM PDT The mind tricks you to believe very quickly that "You will be unable to relate to people" and that "You will lose relationships" and "You will lose a lot of important stuff". That is simply not true. You literally must just realize this. These are all thoughts perceived by you. You are that which perceives, and even that presence that is ever-presently perceiving can be perceived. When thoughts like that appear they are simply perceived, they are seen for what they are; thoughts trying to lure you back into that unconsciousness, back into that claustrophobic sense of being which is the "identity mode" in which you are not in recognition of what you truly are. It is because you are so close to the truth that the mind brings up all the anxiety, it knows that it is going to perish! It knows that there will be no mind. Don't worry, you are not the mind and it is not keeping you bound in the first place. It is just this belief in the mind that stops you from simply recognizing that which you already are. Once it is perceived that anxiety, resistance, doubt come, they simply dissolve into the emptiness. Nothing to be scared from, nothing can happen, you are not doing anything wrong, truly you are completely safe and you can simply recognize that which is ever-present, that ever-present awareness, that ever-present consciousness that is ever-presently in your life. You had not one moment in life in which this ever-present consciousness was not. Most people don't understand that this "ever-present consciousness" is what you truly are, and you can simply "tune in" and be that, simply by perceiving that which is perceiving. submitted by /u/redditKeyy [link] [comments]

What in the world did I just do... is this feeling of euphoria temporary? Posted: 12 May 2020 01:37 PM PDT I really don't know anything about meditation, but I've had my own personal method to deal with anxiety and ADHD; when my mind is all scrambled I pause, kind of visualize lifting the back of my head (and has the added benefit of fixing my posture) and I feel that area get all tingly, then listen for the feint tinnitus that I can only hear if I focus inwardly enough. But when I do that, I feel much more relaxed, and it clears the brain fog. I have no idea how universal it is or if it even makes sense, but regardless it's been extremely effective for me. Anyway, I was just did that last night, in the silence and dark of my room, and the ringing sound kept getting louder and louder, until it was all I could hear, and then it kind of phased out. I felt warmth move all throughout my body, my eyes were fluttering and my temple was twitching madly, I think because I was fighting to keep them closed so I could continue whatever the heck I was doing, it felt like I was spiraling inside myself or something, and then at some point it stopped. After a few minutes of laying there like "what the fuck was that?" I got up, and I was completely shaking. I went to drink a glass of water and my teeth were chattering against the mug. All around my body, especially my upper back, which previously had some slight pains after a workout, still had that warm tingling around it. And then all at once the shaking stopped, and I've been in a state of euphoria since, and it's been about 12 hours now. I'm dumbfounded that it continued through my sleep and onward. But it's great, I seriously a little bit more (actually a lot more) "awakened", which sounds a bit pretentious but it honestly is the best way to describe it. It's like that head thing I was doing earlier, but I'm stuck in that state, which I'm all for because my anxieties feel like they're all but entirely gone. The only people I could talk to about this will either instantly dismiss this as bullcrap or say I've been "visited by an angel" or something. I'm looking for an answer that has some nuance and history behind it, because I can't be the first person to have done that. And while it started completely unprompted (I was literally just working on a cover letter to an Amazon internship - one of the most unenlightened thing one could be doing) it was still something I "did" to myself, and I really want to know how I can do it again or if there's a second step. And please, if you could, explain it to me in layman terms, I'm not at all familiar with this subject. Oh wow, hadn't realized how much I wrote TL;DR I focused really hard on the ringing sound in my head, and it caused me to be shaking for about 10 minutes, and now I've been in a state of euphoria for the pats 12 hours. Wtf. submitted by /u/BobTehCat [link] [comments]

Can’t sleep through affirmations while sleeping Posted: 12 May 2020 10:58 PM PDT Can't get through affirmations * Hey everyone, I would like to know if anyone else experiences this. Lately I have been listening to positive affirmations while I sleep. These affirmations are generally 8 hours long, and I always check them out prior to sleeping to ensure they are consistently positive messages. I have pretty shaky self esteem to say the least and really want to work on that. Last night for some reason I just could NOT sleep with the affirmations on. It woke me up about twice an hour all night. I played with the volume, I tried other affirmation videos, I switched to just music that helps with your higher self and my brain wasn't having it. The moment I turned everything off, I got some sleep. It wasn't the most peaceful or deep sleep, but I didn't wake up as frequently. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this normal, if there is such a thing in regards to meditation. If anyone has advice, it is welcomed. Thank you. ✨✨ submitted by /u/Realsadgirl [link] [comments]

Question: why is it suggested you sit upright when you meditate? Posted: 12 May 2020 02:06 PM PDT Sorry if the question sounds silly, I'm somewhat new and just curious if there's any other reason than it stops you falling asleep. submitted by /u/woah_woah_woah_chill [link] [comments]

Pain during meditation Posted: 12 May 2020 03:07 PM PDT Hello! I have been practicing every day for about 10 months. I typically sit for 30 minutes and sometimes more throughout the day. Today, I sat for an hour and it was an improvement in every way. I plan on hopefully extending my sessions. I ran into discomfort/pain while sitting. It was intense. I tried out what I read in "The mind illuminated" and focused on the pain once I couldn't stand it anymore. Thankfully, I made it through the meditation. The pain was on my upper legs and bottom. Here is what I use when I sit: Cushion I sit on it with my legs in lotus on the ground. I think it comes with the territory of sitting longer than usual but I would like to get any tips for future sessions. Is there anything you can recommend to deal with this discomfort? Thank you for your help. I appreciate it. submitted by /u/Mikethebassist [link] [comments]

Approaching a difficult decision with mediation Posted: 12 May 2020 10:36 PM PDT Does anyone have any... thing to say on this? Any practice of using mediation as a tool for making better decisions? You know, inside of the freedom that is our natureless nature. I know like, in true intimacy with the present, we discover the space that the story of ourselves exists inside. And we find space from realising the present doesn't exist either. But, how is a decision made from there? Does anyone understand what I mean? Am I trying to put something where it will not go, so to speak. A square peg in a round hole? It 'feeeeeeeels' like it. My articulatory capacity isn't really honored in this post but I very much hope it brings some wise minds to think and explain here. Its seems unnecessary, to be in a fingertrap, fighting donkeys with Foyan looking on amused. If I could pass myself a torch, I would just see there's nothing to see right. I just need to stop trying to pass myself a torch? submitted by /u/alexandelion [link] [comments]

Be the self, let go of the mind Posted: 12 May 2020 10:12 PM PDT What happens when you let go of "control" is you pretty much let go of the mind. You have no need to do anything, everything happens completely spontaneously, everything happens happens in freedom, its like you are just one with the universe, completely in-sync and flowing with its rhythm. What actually happens, is that you drop thought, you drop all attachments and what stays, is the presence that you are. Thought can't be without presence. Presence is there before thought, now, when we, presence, observe the presence that we are (because it is observable), what happens naturally is we are in a place of perceiving which is naturally extremely lucid, clear, peaceful, joyful, loving, compassionate, serene, it is completely impersonal. The way to experience freedom is literally to observe what you are, because yourself is already free. The problem is most people are caught up with thoughts and attachments, identify themselves as thought, you managed to consciously let go of thought which is absolutely beautiful, you experienced yourself, and how wonderful you are, absolutely blissful. That is truly yourself, you simply did not know you can experience life as the self. You were conditioned to believe you are not worthy, it is not possible for you etc, it is all bullshit. God is alive and you are that. You are the consciousness in which all experience is perceived. What you are is not bound by thought, doubt, fear. They all appear within the consciousness that you are. ​ Now that you are aware of presence, be aware of the awareness which is aware of presence. That is your true place as the infinite source. You are complete and whole and are ever-presently the source of the universe itself. There is nothing that can touch you, you have infinite wisdom to your assistance, you have the presence of god himself as the one living this life. This is gods play, you are both the player and the witness of the play.Once we simply stop identifying with the mind, all of this is crystal-clear. There is no doubt, because doubt appears in that which you are. You are free and completely pure, timeless, infinite and vast, and so divine. That is your true self. submitted by /u/redditKeyy [link] [comments]

Need advice Posted: 12 May 2020 06:04 PM PDT How do one keep the mind from replaying a decision make and then get worried about the consequences of the decision ? Is happening to me every morning and throughout the day. I tried meditation and watch some Dhamma talks but it will only settle the thoughts briefly and it keep coming back. I am heavily burden mentally with this issue now. Hope you guys can show me some light. Thanks, D submitted by /u/DKHome [link] [comments]

a few questions Posted: 12 May 2020 05:45 PM PDT i just joined today, and i have a few questions regarding technique. 1)how should i be breathing?(nose/mouth, deep/shallow) 2)how should i be positioned? 3)should i be trying to eliminate all other noises, light, etc? thanks:) submitted by /u/1mn0tg4y15w34r [link] [comments]

Weird "helucination"? Posted: 12 May 2020 09:23 PM PDT Hi all, today I started doing meditation daily about 2 months ago and today something weird happened. I was doing a guided meditation for managing stress, and one part of the meditation was to try to bring a situation where I felt stressed and see how I feel about that. Surprisingly I was able to Remeber one particular situation and I actually felt the stress in my body as if I was in the situation. And here comes the most interesting part, after a while where I was trying to keep the feeling, it was like I saw a dream, a faded dream, not very clear, I was hiking in some green field, but my view was a bit lower that usual, almost to the ground level, and suddenly I "looked" down and it was like I was falling from the sky, like sky diving and I was watching the earth coming closer. The whole thing it was like seeing it with 50% opacity , a big faded and gray, but I saw it and simultaneously I was feeling this "stress" feeling that I described above. Anyone else had any similar experiences? submitted by /u/snoot_dog [link] [comments]

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