Meditation. Is it really so hard?

Question

I tried to meditate myself so many times but i'm really not successfull in this case and i hate this. I went to a course in my city(Izmir/Turkey) but it was to expensive and it was something like money-trap. I tried to learn it from books but no success again. What's wrong with me? Is there any website which can be useful for me. Or some personal experience to share with me. I don't know, i don't like to give up so easily but i really get bored to gain nothing everytime.

Answerer 1#
What is "ADD" ? Sorry i really don't know this:(

Answerer 2#
Thanks. You are so kind and positive:)

Answerer 3#
I respect all beliefs, believers and holy religions. But i don't like an holy(!) invitation as an auto-message which is prepared before just for unlogical missioneristic reasons. Wake up and shake yourself. Be right for your own after-life. >:|

Other Answerers#
Very good answers and ideas. All of them are useful. Really. Thanks.:))

Answer 1

One should not pressure themselves to meditate if the mind is not readily prepared for it. It is okay to not meditate if you cannot. I too have a hard time focusing on meditating. I've been studying under my Satguru Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi "Amma". She Herself has given a brand new, powerful meditation technique called "Integration Amrita Meditation" IAM. I've yet to learn it because I'm mentally not ready. But I will when the time is right sometime soon.

She talks about how we should go in this order on our spiritual growth: bhakti (devotion), concentration and then meditation. What bhakti does, when we give our devotion towards God/Guru/form/diety, it purifies our minds to think nothing else but of our focus on the form. The concentration is when we go deeper with that focus. And then once we mentally achieve greater focus through devotion, japa (mantra repitition), thinking of our Beloved/Form while doing regular chores, driving, working, etc., then meditation can become easier.

Amma says that when we meditate, we need to focus on a form internally. My lack of meditation experiences did not diminish how fast I've been growing spiritually. Since I've been initiated by Her with a personal mantra, it feels like I've been on an express train. I dream so much about Amma, receive a lot of Grace, have learnt and changed so much in so many ways.

So do what feels good and right for you right now. It should be effortless, not something that feels like a chore or forcing it upon yourself. Also those who teach a technique should not do it out of greed and overcharge it. It speaks volumes about their principles and values. The IAM technique is taught for free.

If you have more questions feel free to email me.

Answer 2

Yes it is hard. I don't know what you are expecting but going into a semi hypnotic state is not meditation. Meditation is a mental exercise much like lifting weights is an exercise for muscles.

Breath counting is a good place to start. It sounds simple but is difficult. All you have to do is get comfortable. breath in an out and count that breath. Just that. You should be doing nothing but counting your breath. You could try counting Ten breaths.
Sounds simple. The thing is that if you think about other stuff you have to stop and start over again. If you think as you are inhaling about how fresh the air smells or how you can feel the hair in your nostrils moving it is back to breath one. Give me a shout when you can concentrate on just counting your breathing to ten. Remember that asking yourself how much longer or thinking about how silly it seems are distractions too. Your job is just to count your breath without doing anything else. Good Luck.

(After years of trying I seldom make it all the way to ten. And spending time counting to four or five can be discouraging. That is what makes it hard. As you develop you will start to change in your ability to stop the internal chatter of your mind, and find yourself becoming less distracted)

Answer 3

There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Meditation is not an easy thing for everyone. Some people, myself including, have a very hard time settling the body and letting the mind focus on one thing - or nothing.

Something that might help is to put some soothing music on in the background. I find it to be centering. Another thing is to take a text (for me it would probably be from the Bible) and read and read it and read it again, closing my eyes and trying to put myself into the words between each reading.

The best thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong. Some days it might feel like hitting a brick wall; others, it might be a relaxing, freeing experience. It is what it is - the important thing is that you took the time.

Answer 4

Here's zazen instruction:
http://www.mro.org/zmm/teachings/meditation.php

Start by counting the breath (1 on inhale, 2 on exhale, 3 on inhale, etc. up to 10). When a thought comes up, go back to the breath. If you get distracted and follow a thought, go back to counting 1. The important thing is that this will develop concentration (you then go from counting to becoming aware of the breath and then when that's mastered you just follow the breath). Key: your mind WILL be distracted. Being ok with that and training to go back to the count of 1 is the training -- become frustrated, wanting to quit, having expectations that aren't being met -- all of these are thoughts that are good to see and then see if you can just treat them as simple thoughts that you watch and let go and then go back to the breath. Having and then watching these thoughts are part of the training -- especially the thoughts that seek for some ideal of being a 'good meditator' -- just keep going back to the breath.

Following book may be helpful: Meditation for Dummies.

Answer 5

i think you are finding it hard because the mind keeps getting in the way, right? you keep thinking things and lose the attention on the inner body.

it does take a while to get into it, and to feel any progress for some. i suggest keep practicing and try to fund a meditation that works for you. a guided meditation might be good. listening to someone tell you what to focus on can be very helpful.

or just pay attention to your breathing. follow your breath, in and out. it may take a while and you many need to build up the time you do this. it will get easier, and the more you do it, the better you will feel.

also mediating in a group setting is more powerful. find a group that feels right to you.

some prayers that are great mediations are-
the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_Saint_Francis
or the great invocation
http://www.thegreatinvocation.org.uk/home.htm

new link, the last one was too loud, this one more peaceful-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNqg6iLPNDU&mode=related&search=

Answer 6

Well, someone wise told me about the 'bubble' technique.

Begin meditating, and visualise yourself underwater, sitting at the bottom of a still lake. Do not try to force thoughts out of your head. However, each individual thought you get, you must visualise as a bubble, floating slowly to the top of the lake. Gradually you will start to feel detached from these thoughts and get what I feel is a meditation kinda feeling - a concentrated kind of emptiness.

Good luck x

Answer 7

it is very hard at first
but like anything ... it gets easier with practise
so dont think you cant do it when your mind starts thinking about things again ...
just acknowledge those thoughts then refocus
concentrate on breathing , or listen to soft music ( whatever works for you , trial and error )
in time , you will not need aids to just let the silence flow

a few moments in silence is worth more than you think ... so dont think you have to be at it for hours either

ADD is attention deficit disorder or hyperactivity

Answer 8

To still the mind from the daily noise, is to break a deeply embedded habit. Listen not to what you are thinking, listen for the silence there in. Expect nothing.

Answer 9

I would encourage you to forget the psychic and turn to truth. Mediate on the Bible and all that you do will prosper.

Psalms 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Answer 10

thirty days will make a habit. Start with the simple breathing exercises.