What do you think about during meditation?
One common problem my followers report is that during meditation they can sometimes find it difficult to clear their minds. They say that they struggle to switch off their brains, that even if they are alone, relaxed, in a quiet or calm environment they cannot consciously stop making pictures and images in their heads or talking to themselves, chattering away with their internal dialogue. They ask me, how do I clear my mind?
If you are a regular reader you will have seen this article which offers three basic meditation techniques, the Hindu method, the candle induction and the dark-side meditation. if you haven't seen that please check it out. choose whichever method will suit your needs and style best:
If you are struggling to get into a trance like state because of external noises then you can use them to your advantage. Focus on each noise, try and flow with its rhythms and this will help you achieve a deeper trance experience. Some times though the noises and distractions can be internal rather than created by an outside source.
This isn't always the case though, sometimes even in an environment where you have little to no sensory input your brain will automatically attempt to entertainment itself. These types of thoughts can be distracting during meditation and there are a few techniques you can use to silence them.
The first thing you need to consider is the content of these distracting thoughts. it is possible that your subconscious is making you think of these things for a reason. If it is an issue in your life that is bothering you or a problem which needs solving then you should use this meditative time constructively. You often hear people say they 'will meditate on an issue' or 'sleep on a decision'. This is because the subconscious is a great problem solver. Rather than trying to block these thoughts you should embrace them, think through the issues and resolve them.
Are you Visually Minded or Auditory Minded?
If you are a more visually minded person then your distractions will most likely be in a video like form, you imagine what you might do tomorrow or re-experience a memory from history. Again use this to your advantage. Make a picture in your mind of looking down on yourself from above, like an out of body experience. Keeping your eyes closed, visualize all of your surroundings in as much detail as you can. Slowly zoom the image out in your mind as if you are gradually flying away. Slowly let the outer edges fade away into blankness. The further you zoom out the more the picture disappears until you can see nothing but blankness.
A person who is more auditory minded could be distracted by the little voice in their mind, who talks to them. The voice that we hear inside our heads, our consciousness, life force or soul, or whatever you personally call it. These people would benefit from the use of a mantra. A mantra is when you repeat a word or phrase over and over. These have been used for centuries in meditation from the ancient Ohm to Hare Krishna. Repeatedly saying a word or phrase will stop your conscious mind from talking to you during the trance state.
The main point to be taken here is not to ignore these thoughts that you have. Generally there is a reason why your mind says "hey, think about this". You may have sat down to open your third eye or something but if you solve a personal problem or have an epiphany moment then that can be equally rewarding. If your brain is working against you then you can use those things to your advantage. Its your brain, we all experience the world and meditation in our own ways. Do what suits you and your way of thinking.
No comments:
Post a Comment