Meditation: Meditation is like giving the monkey mind a warm hug |
- Meditation is like giving the monkey mind a warm hug
- So happy that I cried
- Guys i was meditating of being aware of awarness and... i experienced the INFINITE SPACE inside of me.
- Meditating while hugging a pillow/plushie?
- My journaling has changed
- I see a lot of experience seeking on this sub
- Sudden urge to sleep after pranayama
- How do I stop being mindful?
- Hi I’m new to this meditation stuff. But I have a question
- How many times a week do you meditate and for how long?
- Could someone briefly explain what inner smile meditation is?
- Meditation has changed my life after 18 years of struggle
- For the first time in what feels like YEARS, my brain was completely silent and rid of any/all thought.
- I meditated for 4 hours straight last week
- We need to have a discussion about the anti-spiritual, hyper-scientific rhetoric on here. I know that we are capable of being more tolerable of different beliefs than what I see here.
- First time meditation experience (30 min session)
- What's a good way to start meditation?
- How could I use meditation to help me fill the hole in my heart?
- Relaxing 1 Hour 30 Mins of Storm in Tropical Garden
- Advice and Help for novice meditator
- "As you begin your practice, think something like“breath, the door of my heart is open to you no matter how you feel, no matter what you do.”You will soon be looking at your breathing with compassion, embracing it as it is instead of finding fault. -
- Blindness, and the center of awareness?
- Scary image came into my consciousness when meditating high
- New to Meditation. Looking for pointers
| Meditation is like giving the monkey mind a warm hug Posted: 22 Aug 2020 11:41 AM PDT The ego (monkey mind) is constantly jumping place to place here and there, latching on to different thoughts. I had a realization today that meditation is the place where you can spend time with your monkey mind without judging them, and give them the love they desperately desire. You don't have to disavow or disapprove of your monkey mind, because they will always be a part of you. Nor do you have to agree with every single idea the monkey mind notices. Give your monkey mind a warm hug of acceptance during your meditation. The love you feel for yourself will be immense [link] [comments] |
| Posted: 22 Aug 2020 07:43 PM PDT I'm pretty new to meditation and I've probably meditated less than 50 times. I downloaded Sam harris's app and I was listening to the very first practice episode and I was digging it even though it was really short...at the end he started talking about looking up at the sky and seeing stars and suddenly behind my closed eyelids I could see a night sky full of stars, as if I were as under one of those big inflatable tents that they project constellations onto and it was so great....that's never happened to me before, obviously I enjoy practicing alot but I've never had a literal vision or anything like this happen to me and it remained there all the way until I opened my eyes. This probably isn't very interesting to anyone but I just wanted to share that with everyone. It made me so happy that I started to cry a little bit and throughout the day I cried a few times for a few seconds at little things that made me really really happy. [link] [comments] |
| Posted: 22 Aug 2020 07:27 AM PDT i was asking bunch of question while meditating like.... Who is having these thoughts and my mind said "your mind is having these thoughts and i asked okay but how do i know that my mind said "your mind is having these thoughts" i mean "who is aware of it" I kept asking all these questions to myself and suddenly the answer came that i am actually "perceiving" all these thoughts. And then suddenly my thought became very very tiny. And i can literally see them come and go at a trillion time faster than usually. I was literally able to see my thought from far away from an empty space. I was so so so peaceful. I cant even explain in words. I was meditating like an 45 mins ago and i thought i should defiently share with you people. Update : After last night experience i have been feeling numb. I feel dead. Idk why but when i was in that state it was just amazing i cant even put in word but after 2 hour or soemthing i started to feel emotionally numb. I woke up and its like nothing inside of me. Just wanted to update. [link] [comments] |
| Meditating while hugging a pillow/plushie? Posted: 22 Aug 2020 04:11 PM PDT Is this something anyone's ever tried? Would it be counterproductive? I'm asking because I'm on the autism spectrum, and hugging a pillow or plushie usually helps me relax. I think it has to do with the sensation of having something soft in my arms and/or close to my chest. I'd love to hear your input. Thanks in advance. 💖 [link] [comments] |
| Posted: 22 Aug 2020 11:54 PM PDT Im a total noob 6 days into meditating and trying to listen to myself But my journal entries have changed from a very "they made me feel" or "i need their love." To more of a "I feel" and "I am angry/sad/lonely." Its not LIFE changing or anything but ive bee trying to do that for years. Its a struggle but im trying to get over my past truama, and I need to take charge of myself. [link] [comments] |
| I see a lot of experience seeking on this sub Posted: 22 Aug 2020 11:19 AM PDT A lot of people going "oooh i experienced {insert learned concept here}" and then people having a big circle jerk about it. Fortunately most I imagine are placebos, someone meditating asking themselves 'who am i' repeatedly until the mind vomits up some Eckhart toll or buddhist quote 'you are the observer' 'you are nothing' 'you are love' etc and then whooo time to write to reddfit about my enlightenment and get some sweet sweet internet points. I say fortunately because this is relatively harmless and we nearly all do this when we start out meditating. I don't think these peiple should be met with 'No you didn't you unenlightened ape' but 'Woah bro 5th Jana right there' doesn't help either. For the few who do taste something beyond thought and write about it with whatever term their mind memory supplies to describe it the response of this sub is largely irresponsible. All the great meditative traditions explicitly warn of the dangers of 'experience seeking'. When one has a taste of something but allows the mind to grasp and attach on to it, at best its a 1 step forward 2 steps back situation. At worst it can lead people into recklessness searching to find that mystical something again. Might I suggest that we try and meet peoples accounts of their experiences with equanimity? No need to label it as one thing or another, as we cannot possibly know what the person actually experienced and if it relates to what is being described in a particular tradition. Encouragement to use the pleasant experience as motivation to meditate without getting attached to it or confusing it as 'the point' of meditation would be a nice attitude to expound. The moment you call infinite love, infinite love, you have made it in fact finite. The moment you call infinite space, infinite space, you have made it finite. The moment you label an experience you have lost its true meaning. That's why the meditative traditions advise people not to pay importance to these impermenant experiences. Some even make rules against discussion of them outside consultation with a teacher. This is because as one progresses experiences can get more and more intense, strange, mystical or outlandish and have more and more capacity to 'trap' you within them. If you get enchanted by a thoughtless moment for months and months then how long will it take you to break the enchantment of a blissful one? Bit of a rant, much love, let's help eachother progress with awareness. [link] [comments] |
| Sudden urge to sleep after pranayama Posted: 23 Aug 2020 01:04 AM PDT Has this happened to anyone? Yesterday I accidentally napped for almost 1.5 hours after a pranayama/breath work session but I definitely remember not being tired before laying down on the mat... [link] [comments] |
| Posted: 22 Aug 2020 10:29 PM PDT I got into mindfulness and meditation about 2 years ago, I've found meditation really helpful for my anxiety and symptoms of bipolar. But the mindfulness side of things has sort of backfired. It's good to be aware of your thoughts and feelings, the things in your environment influencing you, and your effect on your environment in return. However, this state of mind is backfiring on me, putting my brain into an obsessive spiral. I'm constantly aware of my thoughts and feelings. I never stop analyzing my thoughts and feelings as they come to me. I can't simply go through life like a normal person, it's as if there's someone in my head reading my thoughts out loud. It's not only exhausting, but it makes daily life difficult. Humans are meant to fall into routines, for example they get used to doing something at the same time every without thinking about it. They just go through the motions. That's just what is natural. However, in my state of "mindfulness", I never stop thinking about why I am doing something at this time. Since I'm aware of the routine, my mind questions it. And I get the urge to break out of the routine, even if it is a healthy one. I can't get my mind to just go on autopilot and do what I want it to do. I thought constant mindfulness would be more of a "zen" state of mind, but for me it seems like a really unhealthy habit! Anyone else experienced this, or know how to stop it? [link] [comments] |
| Hi I’m new to this meditation stuff. But I have a question Posted: 22 Aug 2020 11:52 PM PDT I started meditating to ease my anxiety and I wanted to know if I meditated to a song or melody that I've made could this little tune help me every time it plays when I'm having an anxiety attack? [link] [comments] |
| How many times a week do you meditate and for how long? Posted: 22 Aug 2020 09:49 PM PDT After returning from a several month break from meditation I'm trying to seriously get back in and so far things are going well. I kind of feel that I went at things perhaps a little to intensely in the past and I want things to be a little more flexible and to be done with more self compassion this time. For a full year and more I meditated for 30 to 40 mins a day without missing a single day. But towards the end I struggled to maintain things as I dealt with intrusive thoughts and had to do a lot of shadow work etc. I went down to 20 mins a day then I stopped. I've been doing a fair bit more self work and feel I'm in a good place again. This past week I have mediated every day 25 mins a day. This does feel like a good compromise. Also I may take a day off per week and meditate 6 days a week. What is your routine? [link] [comments] |
| Could someone briefly explain what inner smile meditation is? Posted: 23 Aug 2020 01:22 AM PDT |
| Meditation has changed my life after 18 years of struggle Posted: 23 Aug 2020 01:20 AM PDT I'm 32 now, I've been depressed and lost on and off for probably the last 18+ years. I've had a lot of personal struggles and abusive experiences in life that placed thoughts in my head which controlled my perception of myself. I started consistent meditation for the last 3 months and I already feel changed. My anxiety is not controlling me, I am dealing with dependency and abandonment issues that have always plagued me and I am so grateful for the experience. You can't control what you don't know, and I think by meditating and looking introspectively, I've been able to know myself better and choose how I react to others and myself. To anyone contemplating starting, please do give it a try. [link] [comments] |
| Posted: 22 Aug 2020 12:30 PM PDT All I did was breathe. I have been mediating for years and I would meditate and physically relax but I still would few thoughts flow within me, around me, scatter me, sometimes even suffocate me. I never had a complete mental shut off like that. It was like being blacked out but COMPLETELY AWARE & OPEN to everything going around me, outside of myself. (If that makes any sense) I just breathed in and out. Crossed legged position, and thumb to first finger. Not even thinking about the action of breathing- just doing it, without thinking about it, I was able to completely clear my head once and for all, during a mediation. I just kept up with the motion, felt how relaxed I felt but didn't even think about the relaxation. I didn't think about or dwell about or became anything, I just took in the feelings of what felt like zen or nirvana, and let it flow through me. In the end, I felt so much vibrations throughout my whole body. It was so surreal. I use CBD also, before I mediate, and I think it helped. I love mediation so much. 🙌🏾 This felt like a breakthrough. [link] [comments] |
| I meditated for 4 hours straight last week Posted: 22 Aug 2020 10:19 PM PDT I usually only meditate 30 min when I wake up and 30 before I sleep which is typically enough. I've done one hour before but 4 hours just felt unproductive. I've read of people meditating for an entire day not even eating or using the restroom. 2 hours into it I felt like I wasn't going anywhere with it but i kept going just to see how I'd feel. It just made me not want to meditate for a couple days. I didn't have any different expectations I just meditated the same way I always do. What benefits are there to meditating for multiple hours? [link] [comments] |
| Posted: 22 Aug 2020 08:31 AM PDT I get that some people aren't spiritual and still meditate. They take the viewpoint that it's a purely scientific process attributable to mental processes. But meditation is a practice that has been spiritual in its essence for almost 7,000 years. To say that it is not is completely backwards, and shouldn't we be more accepting of others beliefs as a meditation subreddit? I'm not saying it's inherently spiritual. "Spiritual" is just a categorization for those things that make us feel closer to the divine. Some people claim that that connection doesn't exist at all, so meditation is not spiritual to them. They're right. But millions of people believe meditation is a spiritual thing because it has those spiritual qualities. I think those people are just as right, because again, it's just ascribing categorization to feelings and qualities. If millions call meditation "spiritual", then it must be possible for meditation to have spiritual aspects to those who focus on them. But this sub seems to be heavily anti-spiritual. Someone from any walk of life, whether they just discovered meditation or have been a "practitioner" for 50 years could make a post on this subreddit talking about something spiritual and many loud voices on this subreddit are quick to spout how: • Meditation doesn't produce any benefits • You shouldn't be meditating with an end goal in mind, there isn't one • Meditation is purely mental and has nothing to do with the metaphysical, spiritual, esoteric, etc. • Crystals, talismans, charms, frequencies, healing music, prayer flags are all just new age BS • There is no kundalini, chakras, etc. That's all your opinion though. Back it up with all the anecdotes and data you want, that's still their opinion too. There's a whole other side of the fence with a different opinion, and if there's such a mass consensus on both sides, we can't truly know which side is right (hint: both sides are) What those of you with these beliefs might not realize is that because you choose not to focus on any of this stuff, you definitely won't see any of that come to light. Your focus determines your reality, and if you tell yourself that crystals don't heal and kundalini isn't real, then it definitely is not to you and you certainly will never see any fruition of those concepts. Yet thousands, millions of people preach about their successes and the validity of meditation for their spiritual journey, the great benefits that came out of it that they went into with the intention of getting, etc. Are you to say that they're delusional or a liar, just because you haven't experienced what they did? Just because you've never seen the hope diamond, or the great pyramid of Giza, it must not exist then right? Because you haven't seen it? Or if someone doesn't know how to read, they could be certain that books don't contain any knowledge because they don't see it. But they're clueless in reality, while the millions of people who know how to read see what they're missing. The same applies for spiritual practices. Nobody gets to say that something did or didn't happen to a person except for that person. Because millions of people entertain many of these thought/belief systems, I think it's likely that there is some validity to them. Nobody can know for sure unless they try it out themselves. It pains me to see a novice come on this subreddit and get shut down about how their crystals they just bought won't do anything for them. Wow. What a mindset to feed that person with. There's millions of people who love "crystal healing" and claim its benefits, whether you see it or not. These people have an improved quality of life, even just a little bit, because they believe these crystals are doing stuff for them, and some people on this subreddit take it upon themselves to get rid of this mindset. Now that novice will never believe their crystals work and just wasted their money because some people changed their mindset about it. In another analogy, there's no need to tell a child who wants to sell lemonade to raise money to help cure cancer that the $5-20 dollars he makes in proceeds will realistically have no effect on cancer research, and that people donate thousands-millions of dollars every day so his measly donation is worth even less. Think about how hard that would be on a child who is just trying to help fix the world in any way they can. As a meditation subreddit, instead of forcing anti-spiritual beliefs into others, would you all agree that it would be more in alignment with compassion to be accepting and tolerable of others beliefs? You don't have to buy into what they do, but you can just accept it and let them live their life. We have to remember that every person on earth has different beliefs, and nobody is just going to accept yours. Everyone creates their own, and we have to remember that we can't bring everyone to our own belief systems. [link] [comments] |
| First time meditation experience (30 min session) Posted: 22 Aug 2020 08:37 PM PDT Hello everyone, I hope you are well. I just wanted to verify if I'm doing that right. I tried sitting on my bed in lotus position, but it seems my legs are not flexible enough as they were hurting when i tried it. So I lied on the bed with my back flat on the wall. I set my timer for 15 minutes. I closed my eyes, relaxed my jaw, watched my thoughts and brought my attention to my breath whenever I got distracted by a thought. I even let a mosquito sit and sting my nose for quite a long time. I didn't really have alot of thoughts, it was a rather calm, silent experience. At the end, I was getting restless and bored with a "then what?". I did not stop and tried to continue meditating. Those 15 minutes passed very slowly and I was getting impatient thinking when is this alarm going to ring? I finally grabbed my phone and called it quits, and saw that the alarm rang 15 minutes ago on silent mode so I effectively meditated for 30 minutes. Yes I felt calm after the session, but that is how I feel all the time, so what's the point? I have no intention to offend anybody, but I'm curious about what people love about meditation that I am somehow not able to see (yet?) Should I try to go for 1h30 minutes and see what happens? I would like to get insights on my life, seeing jhanas, get to know my past life, open my third eye, have out of body experiences, lucid dream, astral dream, and I thought meditation could help in that? What do you think? Thank you so much [link] [comments] |
| What's a good way to start meditation? Posted: 22 Aug 2020 07:36 PM PDT Hey all, I really want to start meditation and I am at a loss for a starting point. Does anyone know any good youtube videos and/or blogs to help a newcomer? [link] [comments] |
| How could I use meditation to help me fill the hole in my heart? Posted: 22 Aug 2020 01:53 PM PDT I'm a senior in college who has never had a partner, which has wrought havoc on how I think and how I feel. I feel like less of man, less of a human being, and like I'm doomed forever. I feel like there is absolutely nothing I can do to make myself feel better. Positive thinking is wearisome and I cannot stick to it. I've been smoking so much weed to cope with these feelings that I cannot sleep past 4:30 in the morning anymore. I am desperate for anything to help me. I feel that meditation is a valid and probably very good option, so I would like to see how I can tailor it to my specific needs. Thank you. [link] [comments] |
| Relaxing 1 Hour 30 Mins of Storm in Tropical Garden Posted: 23 Aug 2020 01:10 AM PDT |
| Advice and Help for novice meditator Posted: 23 Aug 2020 12:36 AM PDT I've been meditating for about 5 years now. Most of my experience and training has been with the use of apps and various guided meditation tracks. I've listened to and worked through some Sounds True programs like MBSR, The Power of Awareness, and am currently working on the Insight Meditation Course. The apps I've used are Headspace, 10% Happier, and currently I am working with Waking Up and Imagine Clarity. I have never had formal training with a teacher directly, and no meditation retreats, but only through apps and courses. I've read various books on mindfulness, meditation, Buddhism, neuroscience and psychology related to meditation and mindfulness (this is what lead me to start meditating). So, I know enough to kind of find my way when meditating. As I continue in my practice, it seems at times like I am making some "progress" when I discover some insight about my experience, or come to a deeper understanding about a concept I have learned about. But, for about the past year or year and a half, it just feels like I am kind of stuck and not really going anywhere. I realize that there is no real "destination" when it comes to meditation, since the process is what is key, but it seems like I should be at least coming to more clarity in certain areas of my life by this time. Moreover, when I learn about a new concept related to meditation, my grasp of the concept becomes clearer, but I sometimes wonder if I am truly understanding what is being brought to my attention. To put it bluntly, when I meditate I become aware more and more of the fact that my mind is totally out of control, and what does come to mind is not really under my control much of the time, e.g. thoughts come into awareness from which I have little idea of their origin. But, that's about it. No really deep insights about my life. No real significant aspects to speak of besides this recurring realization during each meditation. I tell myself that there is no destination and the process is what matters, but should it feel like I am getting somewhere more than I currently feel I am? Is my experience normal for a novice meditator and someone who has been meditating for around the same amount of time as me (I realize this question probably sounds naive)? Or am I on the right track and just need to forge ahead and continue doing what I am? Most of my training has been in the Vipassana tradition, so should I try other types of meditation, e.g. TM, till something "clicks"? Should find a teacher to meet with in person and work with them directly? Should I go on retreat? Has anyone out there had a similar experience that they can attest to and help me to bring some clarity to my situation? Any suggestions, thoughts, or question to clarify aspects of all of this are more than welcomed. I will do my best to answer what I can and I will consider all suggestions seriously. Thanks. Edit: In looking over my post I forgot to mention something relevant. I should probably add that I started meditating largely due to working with my own problems related to depression, and meditation and mindfulness have greatly helped with that aspect of my life. I am better able now to let the thoughts come when they do, and recognize that they are thoughts, and then I am able to refocus and connect with what is happening right now, instead of lingering on the past or thinking about the future. [link] [comments] |
| Posted: 22 Aug 2020 08:11 AM PDT By adding kindfulness to the process of awareness, you have no expectations,since the breath seems more than good enough."
[link] [comments] |
| Blindness, and the center of awareness? Posted: 22 Aug 2020 11:55 PM PDT People's visual sense typically accounts for much of one's brain activity, and when they typically describe where their consciousness or "self" is, they'd point to either their eyeballs or the space behind it. This stands to reason as the eyes are the point from where they look out and see the world But, are there any anecdotes from clinically blind people, meditators or otherwise, who when asked to point to the center of their awareness, would convincingly choose a different physical space, because their visual sensory input doesn't dictate their day to day as much? They might believe their own interaction with the world is through their ears or fingertips, and therefore might perceive the "self" as being at these extremities I asked this as someone who is still trying to defect from the notion that one's origin of awareness lies behind their eyes. Any insights greatly appreciated [link] [comments] |
| Scary image came into my consciousness when meditating high Posted: 22 Aug 2020 07:56 PM PDT I got a little stoned, only like half a joint and was doing some high yoga as well as meditating and reflecting. I saw normal stuff, my thought train, my present, the universe, etc. But then as I was thinking this image of a grandma & child in a framed painting came up, my thoughts quickly skipped over it, but then something in my subconscious was like, hey what is that I've never seen that before. So I thought about it again, brought it to the forefront of my mind and looked at the painting of the child and grandma, and for some reason I felt scared. And then I looked more and the child's eyes got bigger and bigger and then went like demonic & I felt absolutely terrified and tried to skip forward and think about something else. All night it kept flashing in my mind. When I was high I was worried it was a demon or something trying to get me, but now after a sleep and sober I'm just like, my subconscious? I'm not sure but nothing like that has ever happened to me. Any thoughts? Thanks [link] [comments] |
| New to Meditation. Looking for pointers Posted: 22 Aug 2020 11:13 PM PDT Do you listen to anything? Use any apps? Where do you prefer to sit? How long/often for a beginner? How to approach it? What environment works for you? Very new to Meditation, I may have tried it once or twice before. Although I'm not sure what to expect or exactly how/where to start. I am mostly looking to gain a deeper understanding of myself and my thoughts separately, I guess. Any small tips would help. [link] [comments] |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Meditation. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
No comments:
Post a Comment