Focus Points During Meditation/Yoga?

Question

Hello all,

I had a quick question for anyone who's experienced in yoga/mediation or even mindfulness as I have started these techniques for about a week now and I'm seeing great improvements, others view the positive changes as well. My question for you is during meditation or yoga would it be better to focus on something pleasant and calming such as a flowing stream or a crystal clear beach etc or, would it be better to focus on the things which trouble us, the things which we fear, the things which make us anxious? I have been using the calming method such as quiet peaceful nature scenarios and it's worth while but the thought that crossed my mind to provoke this question is that if meditation is meant for us to seperate feelings and emotions from rational thought and patience then wouldn't it be better for us to learn to calm down while focusing on these various troubling aspects? Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance:)

Answer 1

Please note, the primary objective of any form of meditation is to observe one's true self within the framework of one's body and mind. Unfortunately, our mind over timeless number of repetitive times always reacts causing Karma. Reaction which is the outcome of sensation is the root cause of misery. When I have a happy sensation I react with happiness but when the sensation ends I am sad and miserable.
This is where the basic meditation comes where one observes the sensations without reacting. Breathing is the only action in ones body which can be controlled conciousously and which also takes over unconciously (during sleeping). Observing ones own breath without reacting is observing owns true state and the most effective form of meditation. I have been practicing vipassana for a while where we get far deeper into the framework of body and mind. Please do not use external or artificial states to calm the mind. They might seem helpful initially but are not deep.

Answer 2

Depends on the methods you're using, but meditation can help you deal with the fears and problems... you'll have to enter the tranquil, peaceful parts of your mind first, become comfortable there and then try to make that flow into your fears and troubles - if that makes sense.

It's like diverting the positive energy to soothe and assuage the troubles, and to basically smother the bad with the calming influences. It's like opening a floodgate and letting troubles wash away. I'm sure there's a way to go straight into your fears and live in them, absorbing and dissipating them, but I'm not sure how it would be done.

Since I'm not really a meditation instructor it's hard for me to describe this stuff, but I hope this helps.

Answer 3

if you focus only on the good the bad will always hold you back. If you focus only on the bad it gets a bit depressing.

some say you should focus on the meeting point between the 2.

I like to focus on whatever comes to me at the time. Sometimes it is the good, sometimes it is the bad, sometimes it is something in between. Wherever you focus there are benefits.