If so, how does one do it.
I try and try and my mind still runs at full steam. I think I am there and then find I'm on the train of thought of "is my mind clear yet"?
(Hope I've out this in the right category - 'sprituality' seemed to fit the bill')
2006-07-27 15:12:53 · 22 answers · asked by LadyRebecca 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm going to assume that you are really interested in this, and take the time to answer you. Meditation is an intensely personal, internal experience, aimed at 'quiet mind'. The objective is to silence your 'internal dialog', such that the 'silent watcher' behind your thoughts can experience reality directly, unmediated by the senses.
While there are many different ways to meditate, the simplest for a beginner is the 'counting' meditation. Find a nice quite spot where you can stretch out and relax... the quieter and more comfortable, the better. Close your eyes, and breathe deeply and slowly, in through your nose, out through your mouth. Count each exhalation silently, in your mind. When you get to four, start over...
inhale... exhale.. (1)...
inhale... exhale.. (2)...
inhale... exhale.. (3)...
inhale... exhale.. (4)...
inhale... exhale.. (1)...
inhale... exhale.. (2)...
... etc.
As you do this, various thoughts will pop up in your mind, and you may lose track of the counting. You must gently dismiss those thoughts, and return to your task of breathing and counting... 1... 2... 3... 4...
Your subconscious does not want your mind to be silent, and so it will oppose what you are doing.
As you learn to dismiss these extraneous thoughts more easily, your mind will become more desperate, and you may start hearing auditory hallucinations... voices... strange sounds. They are not real... it is just your mind playing tricks on you. Gently dismiss them, just like the extraneous thoughts.
As your mind gets more desperate, you may experience visions... sort of like waking dreams. They will seem very interesting, fascinating, and you will want to follow them, and focus on them. Do not. Again, it will just be your mind playing tricks on you. Gently dismiss them, and return to your task of breathing and counting... 1... 2... 3... 4...
This will not all happen at once, of course. Do this once or twice a day, every day, at the same time (if possible), for 15 or 20 minutes at a time. As you gain experience, you may work up to around 30 minutes. You will find that it is very relaxing and refreshing, and that after doing it, you will feel very refreshed and alert... recharged. It may take you a few weeks... maybe even a month or two... before you are actually able to achieve 'quiet mind'... but once you do, you will find yourself experiencing a sense of 'connectedness' that will blow your mind. I will not try to describe it for you... you will know it when it comes.
After you have a few months experience with this, get a book titled to 'How To Meditate', by Lawrence LeShan. Or, you might look up 'how to meditate' in Google. Also look up 'satori' and 'kundalini'.
You will find this to be one of most profoundly rewarding experiences of your life. Good luck.
2006-07-27 15:18:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the mind runs full steam at all times.. That is perhaps the only problem !
And like a vehicle which has gone out of control , the mind goes the way it likes, not the way we like !
Applying brakes would not help. Instead turn off the fuel to the mind ! Yes, why not try it , at least for a while, at least to clear it once in a while, something like a 'refresh' click...clearing 'cache' memory, temporary files etc. A very good idea.
Meditation sounds a big term.. unless we are really good at it.
Why not just turn of the fuel to the mind ? The fuel to the mind is our participation in thoughts that occur by itself. Instead just 'watch' the thoughts occurring without attributing any cognition to it. For trying this , it would be better to sit in a quiet place undisturbed, eyes closed (only if needed... open eyes may get focused on something that makes sense to it !), but remaining very alert, yet relaxed.
Do try this, it works very well, and see how it feels. the mind really feels healthy, cleared and fresh.
Good luck and best wishes...
( Yes, the category is right !)
2006-07-28 01:01:09 · answer #2 · answered by Spiritualseeker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
You need a quiet, safe place.
Lie down, on a mat on the floor if you can.
Controlled breathing can sometimes help. Breath in and out and try to get a circular motion, one with no stop or hesitation. One where the exhale becomes a part of the inhale.
The more direct approach is to lie down, close your eyes and just make the world inside your head stop.
Be here now.
Stop all the daydreams, all the music, all the talk and chatter from yesterday.
Start listening to the world. Start feeling it.
Hear the birds.
Hear the wind.
I eventually heard toilets flushing 50 feet away in back apartments!
You eventually hear things hundreds of feet away.
You eventually find the world in your head as stopped completely and you are living in the real world. That Matrix of your own mind is gone.
Just stay there and do this as long as you can.
You eventually find your breathing is shallow and slower, your hear rate has dropped and you feel totally relaxed.
When you finally get up you keep this feeling for a little while and then the Matrix returns.
2006-07-27 22:25:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you use meditative music to help you meditate? Some times the use of music will help clear the mind.
Walmart is our main shopping place, so I know that Walmart has the music I am talking about in the candle section. They usually also have a machine that you can listen to the music in order to pick the one you like the best. One with Ocean Wave or rain might help.
The mind never stops thinking and feeling, when meditating they aren't so up front more in the sub conscience are still aware just not playing attention..
2006-07-27 22:27:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what people have told me and my own experience, I think the problem is the attempt to clear the mind. One wants to remain focused and train the mind to not go racing after thoughts that pop up; however, when they do pop up, I think people would say that it's best to see that as the mind doing its thing and to not be bothered by it. Otherwise, your mind will always be filled with the thoughts of it not being clear or wanting to be clear -- these thoughts, ironically, will mean the mind can't be clear. Accepting whatever happens but with a disciplined attempt to bring the mind back to the breath or whatever seems to be the best approach?
Just my input -- not a real definitive answer:)
2006-07-27 22:19:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is, but from experience it takes much time and does not consistently happen in meditation even after you have achieved it for the first time.
Meditate in the same place so that your mind/body knows to begin trying to leave the rest of your day behind when you begin.
Try and focus on your breathing, slow and deep.
I also found that having some peaceful instrumental music meant for meditation on low in the background helped me to focus.
Some days it is near impossible to get your mind to stop going at 1000 mph, but with time and practice it gets easier.
Good luck with the meditation, if you can stick with it, it is sure to be rewarding!
2006-07-27 22:24:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's possible. It's a little difficult at first. You might try doing yoga. The combination of paying attention to your breathing and the movement help some people achieve a quiet mind. I find that it helps especially when I'm really stressed. It's also a good workout. Oh, yeah, by the way, it's really worth it, so keep trying.
2006-07-27 22:18:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try this. Exhale all the air from your lungs and then hold your breath. You will probably find it easy to stop your thoughts during the time your breath is held.
That particular technique is used by meditators to give them the experience of the inner dialogue being shut off so they know what to reach for during meditation. Since you know what the state is like, you can move toward it more easily.
2006-07-27 22:21:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rebecca the whole aim of meditation is to clear your mind and focus the mind on one thing.
The mind of a normal person is like an uncontrolled monkey jumping from one thought to another. To process all these thoughts a lot of body energy is used. Thus if your mind cease to process thoughts you will be saving a lot of body energy which can be used to cure a lot of ailments in your body. That is why a person who continues to meditate regularly even gets a nice body complexion.
If you sit down and close your eyes you will notice that your mind is jumping from one thought to another. Even though you want to concentrate on your breath you will find other thoughts also coming in between.
You can calm your mind by following every thought that comes into you mind. You must be like a Manager of a Hotel who stands at the entrance and observes the customers coming in. The customers are your thoughts. Without getting attached to the thoughts try to observe them. You will find that a thought comes in and that it goes nowhere and another thought follows it - try following that too - with same results. This way you will find that your thoughts gradually subside. Do not try to force out your thoughts. By following your thoughts you can really 'kill' them.
Of course do not expect results in one or two days. Practise it for at least 40 minutes every day for at least 2 months you find that you have 'killed' your train of thoughts. I have practised for nearly 2 years and still vagrant thoughts come in. But my mind remains clear for a fairly long time.
Thereafter start concentrating on your breath. Notice the breath coming in and going out. You should not concentrate only on the tip of your nose. Notice the breath coming in and thereafter your lungs getting filled and then gradually exhaling the breath. You will notice that you can very clearly concentrate on each movement of the breath - this is because you are not being distracted by other thoughts.
You should be able to get some guidance from the following sites,
1. http://www.dhamma.org/vipassan.htm
2. http://www.meditationexpert.com/ and click on the free articles on yoga meditation - it includes articles on all types of meditations including christian and muslim meditation.
2006-07-29 09:48:35 · answer #9 · answered by donp 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only way to clear your mind is self realization. In other words, the purpose of us living beings in this world. This can be done in two steps. Follow Krishna consciousness or God's consciousness. Go to nearby temple, church, or any religious institute. You should read Bible or Gita to become self realized.
Then follow its process and do yoga to be clear minded.
Trust me, your life miseries will become your solutions in no time.
I tried and now I have no tention or worries and I am able to live each day so happy.
-Andrew (Andy)
2006-07-27 22:21:32 · answer #10 · answered by Andrew 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋