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    Meditation: Weekly Discussion - June 22 2020

    Meditation: Weekly Discussion - June 22 2020


    Weekly Discussion - June 22 2020

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 08:09 AM PDT

    This is a reoccuring thread for questions relating to your practice and discussion around your experiences.

    Questions

    Ask questions relating to your practice, the theory of meditation, various traditions and lineages of thought, or practical tips. If you're new, please read our FAQ before posting, as it contains a wealth of information that all of us should come back to occasionally.

    Discussion

    Also use this thread for a more free-form discussion of your experiences and other tidbits that might not warrant their own full post. Use this space to connect with the /r/meditation community, it won't be heavily moderated.

    Also check out the monthly meditation challenge.

    submitted by /u/AutoModerator
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    Just meditated for three hours by accident...

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 08:02 PM PDT

    I was trying to catch a chicken, as you do, by waiting it out and catching it in a trap. The trap itself wasn't automatic so I had to shut it myself. The chicken wouldn't come back, the annoying little bugger, so I ended up sitting outside for three hours straight. I became so focused that I had no stray thoughts or worries. The only thing going through my mind was my own voice, clear and defined. Other thoughts I shut down easily when they cropped up, like flies, even my own internal voice quieted when I wanted it to. My muscle fatigue vanished and my eyes felt more focused than ever. I could've sat there all night.

    Didn't catch the chicken though.

    submitted by /u/Ruckroo
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    Getting rid of a delusion makes us wiser than getting hold of the truth. – Ludwig Börne

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 04:28 PM PDT

    Mindfulness meditation has allowed me to turn my life around.

    Posted: 23 Jun 2020 12:00 AM PDT

    Hey guys, I hope you're all well. Like many, I have been in a pretty constant state of struggling during this pandemic. I've been living and working abroad for nearly 3 years now, and I'm determined to stay, but I was laid off near the start of March and was without work or any income for around 2 months. During this time, I started meditating.

    It wasn't anything major, just 5-10 minutes a day, but it was all I could muster at the time. Hell, I could barely get out of bed or shower some days, so that was a lot. Gradually, it started changing my mindset, and I started being able to think more clearly.

    When the pandemic started, I was met with a ton of anxiety and dread. Some days I didn't even want to wake up, and my depression and anxiety skyrocketed. However, meditation really helped pull me out of my funk and get things turned around. I started applying to jobs, taking walks outside, and taking better care of myself. Even if nothing else was scheduled for my days, I knew that I had a 5-10 minute period of meditation. That was the one thing I had control over.

    I guess hopefully this post can find someone else who needs a little push right now. I'm doing so much better now than I was before, and I credit mediation with helping me turn things around. I know it isn't a quick fix, but I know anyone can stick with it if I can.

    submitted by /u/bspencer626
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    I feel kinda free. We're still the kids we used to be.

    Posted: 23 Jun 2020 01:57 AM PDT

    Today was my first time meditating with a mantra. I repeated whispering/singing that (title) part from Kanye's song Ghost Town. Lately I have been thinking that I somehow can't remember that much from my childhood. But my mind managed to effortlessly fill a 30 min meditation with different experiences every time I said the kids part. It was mostly good memories which filled about 2/3s of the session with smiling and crying from joy. Mixing it with a general awareness meditation at the beginning and the end made it easier to dive back in the childlike (not childish) state of mind. Having a simpler time with not that many unnecessary thoughts crossing the mind, being more curious, focused, etc. Also, it made me appreciate having the freedom I have right now, the freedom I always envisioned as a kid.

    I look forward to try out some more mantras and hope you can take something from this experience! Have a wonderful day! :)

    submitted by /u/frightenedLamp
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    Profound Quote from Thich Naht Hanh

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 10:30 AM PDT

    "The past is no longer prison for me, the future is no longer prison for me. I know that the future is available through the present. When you touch the present moment deeply, you touch the past. And if you know how to handle the present moment properly, you heal the past."

    -Thich Naht Hanh

    Pulled from Dharma talk at Plum Village. Context of his exhile from his homeland Vietnam which he outwardly states he does not suffer from any longer

    submitted by /u/princesmooth2
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    My job affects my mental health

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 09:31 PM PDT

    My job is to do minutes of meeting and we have 6 meetings per month. I'm the only one who do it. As much as I want to meditate I cannot focus. I want to quit my job. Any pieces of advice?

    submitted by /u/peixjelle
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    Anyone else appreciate getting itches during meditation?

    Posted: 23 Jun 2020 02:27 AM PDT

    Hi all, currently early in my Vipassana practice. Something I noticed is that it can actually be easier to be mindful when experiencing an "unpleasant" physical sensation, like pain or itching or legs going to sleep. I actually appreciate when these feelings come up because they stay and go in a very natural and slow rhythm and are unmistakable and I find that makes it easier to be mindful of them. Anyone else notice this?

    Generally I notice that actually very unpleasant distractions, like a fly in the room or pain, can actually be very effective for cultivating mindfulness

    submitted by /u/LonelyStruggle
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    Being happy all the time is not as great as it sounds

    Posted: 23 Jun 2020 02:23 AM PDT

    People today think they have a 'right to happiness', and we do various things in its name, but how much is this ideal of constant happiness actually not only impossible, but also harmful and out of balance with the psychology of human nature? here is the answer

    We must learn how to desire what we have and come to terms with what we do not have in order to find stability and happiness, the Dalai Lama wrote in his book The Art of Achieving Happiness.

    https://findyourstoic.blogspot.com/2020/06/would-you-like-to-be-happy-all-time-its.html

    submitted by /u/MatijaZ98
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    beginner- anxiety and discomfort?

    Posted: 23 Jun 2020 12:06 AM PDT

    I've been "following" meditation for a while now (reddit, books, youtube vids, word of mouth) and really want to take advantage of the practice as a mental health/growth tool. It sounds so good!! I want in!! I tried the beginner 10 min meditation in the Headspace app (I've listened to the how I built this npr episode by the founders!) but felt VIOLENTLY uncomfortable the whole time. Just very breathless, antsy, and just unsettled. I couldn't get through the guided meditation. The level of anxiety and self-hatred induced just by sitting with myself probably just points to the fact of how in need I am of meditation haha but I have been too scared to do it again. Is this normal? What should be my next step? Should I try silence or some music? Thank you :)

    submitted by /u/jennis101
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    I sweat without feeling hot

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 11:17 PM PDT

    The title pretty much says it all. When I hang out in my room, it's usually nice and cool. But when I meditate, even with the AC on, I sweat. And the thing is, I don't necessarily feel hot when sweating, it's almost internal. Does anyone know of something like this?

    submitted by /u/tbozk
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    Hi, I'm looking for likeminded people to skype with.

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 09:38 PM PDT

    Repetetive movement of the index finger

    Posted: 23 Jun 2020 12:18 AM PDT

    Hi guys,

    quite new here :) I have a somewhat random idea and I wonder what your thoughts are. I guess this is not meditation strictly speaking, but related, so I hope I am not straying too far.

    I found that I can relax and integrate with the experience of my body (and hence relax and reduce muscle tension) by lying down flat on my back, palms of the hands down, and moving the index fingers up and down, one finger at a time.

    Wonder if anybody else thinks this may be a good idea :)

    submitted by /u/FederalBarnacle1
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    Time is a friend not a foe.

    Posted: 23 Jun 2020 12:16 AM PDT

    Time is a friend not a foe.

    Time is a friend not a foe.

    submitted by /u/clairsentientbeing
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    I just complete watching 'Mahabharat'

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 09:56 PM PDT

    I suggest you guys to watch Mahabharat with english subtitles for its dialogues and quotes that are worth thinking. Thank you.

    submitted by /u/Gaurabk007
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    Mudras

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 11:19 PM PDT

    Does anyone use them? Do you feel like they work? What are some of your favorites?

    submitted by /u/leopardonmyright
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    Very helpful tool

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 04:48 PM PDT

    You have been invited to experience the Waking Up app for free. The app is unlocked for one month. Enjoy.

    I love this and am very grateful and thankful to Sam Harris.

    https://share.wakingup.com/b3d220

    submitted by /u/macgyvur
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    Being happy all the time is not as great as it sounds

    Posted: 23 Jun 2020 02:17 AM PDT

    People today think they have a 'right to happiness', and we do various things in its name, but how much is this ideal of constant happiness actually not only impossible, but also harmful and out of balance with the psychology of human nature? here is the answer

    We must learn how to desire what we have and come to terms with what we do not have in order to find stability and happiness, the Dalai Lama wrote in his book The Art of Achieving Happiness.

    https://findyourstoic.blogspot.com/2020/06/would-you-like-to-be-happy-all-time-its.html

    submitted by /u/MatijaZ98
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    Meditation headaches

    Posted: 23 Jun 2020 02:03 AM PDT

    Hi people, I tend to get a clustered headache during meditation either above the left or right side of my forehead above the eyes. Has anyone else experienced this? I can't find anything online. These headaches dissipate soon after meditation so I'm not too fussed, just curious is all.

    submitted by /u/OneRebis
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    Doubt about acceptance vs change

    Posted: 23 Jun 2020 01:53 AM PDT

    I just started out with a meditation app (Headspace) and so far I've found meditation / mindfulness to be quite useful. Not sure if it's just placebo effect because I'm only doing 5 to 20 minutes every day, but still I'm very motivated to keep going! I noticed that my anxiety is a lot weaker.

    I have one doubt about the "ideology" or "philosophy" behind mindfulness as a way to relieve stress and anxiety. Are you just supposed to accept the current state of things or is mindfulness supposed to help you also challenge the status quo and change it for the better?

    Suppose that the thing giving me anxiety is a bad job where I'm exploited and my boss is abusive. This situation will increase my anxiety levels (if I'm already predisposed to anxiety). Mindfulness will help me manage my anxiety by accepting that the situation is causing these negative feelings, but am I just supposed to accept the situation and not try to change it? In other words, is mindfulness just about acceptance or does it also eventually lead to change?

    submitted by /u/ClothesMaleficent176
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    Dealing with traumatic brain injury

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 02:09 PM PDT

    A few days ago I fell down and hit the back of my head against the wall...hard. Really hard. My first thought was that I'd fractured skull because I hit it so hard, but thankfully that didn't happen, and a CT scan didn't show any internal bleeding, so I guess I just have a really really bad concussion.

    It's difficult to really convey the ways in which I feel and am thinking different since the fall...as far as I can tell, it's all frontal lobe stuff. Language is tough (it's taking me forever to write this because the rules of grammar don't really make sense any more...previously I'd say my command of language was extremely strong). I can read social cues but I'm not sure what to do with them. I've had moments where my emotions and thoughts feel bottled up and are unable to be transferred into language. Anger/frustration/fear are difficult to ride out or separate myself from...they're very intense and seem to take me over. My inner voice is quiet and jumbled and confused, and my ability to "muster" myself, to exert self-control or discipline or to think "what's the best choice to make in this moment" or to bring myself back to the moment is severely limited.

    Two things feel completely impossible: meditation, and composing music (my job).

    I know that it's going to take a while to get back to normal. Probably at least two weeks. I've read that this stuff can linger for months.

    I'm just extremely scared of not getting back to normal, not being my normal sharp and fast and quick-witted self, and unable to bring myself back to the present as I was able to do so so effectively before. It's a scary road, knowing that I'm not myself and trying to get back. I'd appreciate any insights or experience with this sort of thing any of you might have. Hearing that someone went through something similar and came out the other end okay would do a lot to quell my fears.

    submitted by /u/ASGTR12
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    When meditating should I concentrate on my breath or my surroundings to 'live in moment'?

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 05:44 PM PDT

    Hi,

    Okay so im 2 months into meditating daily and im seeing a HUGE improvement with my life already. The main thats helped me is learning how to stay and live in the moment and meditating is helping a lot with that. So I want to focus on that as much as I could. My question is, during mindful meditation, to 'live in the moment' more, should I focus on my breaths and what I am doing or should I concentrate on my surroundings and what is going on around me? Or does it even matter? As far as getting stronger at being aware and living in the moment.

    Thanks

    submitted by /u/ChargeItToTheGame420
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    How long did it take you to feel like you were making 'progress'?

    Posted: 23 Jun 2020 01:01 AM PDT

    Hi all

    I have been meditating for a few months now and I my mind wonders very often, perhaps its because I meditate very soon after waking up. I am reading 'The Mind Illuminated' to hopefully gain more insight in meditation. I was wondering how long had you been meditating when you found that you were making good progress, or feeling like meditating was really 'working'?

    Many thanks

    submitted by /u/22vegan22
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    Is Meditation Prayer

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 08:43 PM PDT

    I've gotten into the habit of meditating in the morning for an hour and I considered that my time of prayer aswell. Well today my pastor called me out on my habit and pushed me away from meditation into a more "normal" prayer time of talking outloud to God. I was told to imitate instead of inavate when it comes to prayer. I've never felt close to God while praying out loud, and at the moment im feeling really frustrated and confused. Any advice.

    submitted by /u/KimJungPuntang
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    Being present when blind

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 02:59 PM PDT

    Do most blind people use their minds to walk about when their blind, or do they use presence?

    submitted by /u/Reddavie
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