What zaps our concentration and attention span. Why do we have to meditate to keep energy.

[Kuhnada29]

Meditation and One-Pointed Concentration practices are amazing. The results are undeniable and almost magical. Higher self-esteem, higher confidence, focused mind and abundant energy to get things done, increased attention-span, increased memory ( even dream-memory ), well-being, divine inspiration, your pretty much like the guy off of the movie Limitless who took the NZT pill. Why must we maintain our practices to keep this energy. It's like if you stop meditation or concentrating for even a day or two, we fall back asleep ( unconsciousness ) and misery, stress, and depression set back in. What makes us so low on energy. Sometimes I start to think it's the t.v's and Internet screens. Not that I'm against those things, I'm actually waiting for battlefield 3 to come out this November. I read that it's possible t.v's and technology are the cause of broken attention spans, but why would it...if your watching a movie, your concentrating on it. What makes us so out of touch with our inner-stillness. Discuss.

[nina]

Why must we maintain our practices to keep this energy. Well, where do you think that energy comes from? We feed ourselves everyday so that our bodies can convert that food into energy which drives our cellular processes and allows us to continue functioning. You don't question why you need to eat everyday. You know that you need to feed your body & mind, or they will begin to deteriorate. Activities like meditation feed your soul. It is the fuel which energizes your spirit, and it is subject to the same physical laws. You can't continue to operate at higher vibrational frequencies unless you are continuously re-energizing yourself. Otherwise, you will simply fall back to your base level. It's extremely easy to operate at base level, it's what we've been doing our whole lives, and it takes no effort. If you want to live at a higher level, then you need to make that commitment and realize that it's probably going to involve major lifestyle changes, behavior modification, and take an enormous amount of dedication and persistence. It's like if you stop meditation or concentrating for even a day or two, we fall back asleep ( unconsciousness ) and misery, stress, and depression set back in. What makes us so low on energy. Sometimes I start to think it's the t.v's and Internet screens. Not that I'm against those things, I'm actually waiting for battlefield 3 to come out this November. I read that it's possible t.v's and technology are the cause of broken attention spans, but why would it...if your watching a movie, your concentrating on it. What makes us so out of touch with our inner-stillness. If you aren't feeding your higher self, your spiritual body and mind on a regular basis...then it becomes starved and shrivels up into a state of quiescence. There are plenty of reasons why people are so out of touch, as you put it. Just think about this...we are constantly taking in pollution. Physical pollution in the air we breath, the water we drink, the food we eat. Mental pollution from the things we see, the words we hear...even spiritual/psychic pollution, from the people we interact with. Our modern society does not facilitate a life of inner stillness. Which is why most people who are serious about such things end up leaving society, at least for awhile.

[StonedApe]

I just ate way too much food and am tired so this is sloppy writing just to warn you. TV(and the internet and video games(but less so the internet) is the cause of people not being able to interact with each other. Then when the are in a situation with real people who aren't robots like TV characters arises they don't know what to do, get scared or some other emotion happens and it draws them out of the moment. It creates resistance and suffering wasting energy. The reason why you must keep up the practice is that if you don't you aren't living in the moment. If you aren't fully living right now then things happen, some problem, you don't deal with it now and it comes back again. So instead of dealing with it right away you resist it, create suffering for yourself(which takes energy) and the problme comes back, often worse. It's not really any one particular thing that causes it, not TV or anger or even addiction. It's just resistance to what is. I think it's mainly that if you do practice you don't create suffering(resistance to what is) which takes a lot of energy. Really, we put so much energy into convincing ourselves we should be unhappy, it truly is insanity. When you fully meet what is, every action gives you more momentum. When you resist what is and think, "Oh if things were like this, then I could live fully in the moment" you create suffering, you lose momentum, or energy as you put it. EDIT: I was just thinking, another thing that zaps our energy is projecting past experiences onto the present one. I guess this still falls under the catagory of resisting what is but it's slightly different, more extroverted and less introverted or something. We go into a situation and try to kill it or beat it when theres really nothing there but you and your own assumptions. I dunno, my thoughts were much more lucid on my bike ride.

[Codename]

Jesus people on the Inner Sanctum section really know how to make a post.

[Kuhnada29]

Our modern society does not facilitate a life of inner stillness. Which is why most people who are serious about such things end up leaving society, at least for awhile. Why do you think this? You don't think it's possible to live in stillness in this society? You could get rid of your t.v. or just stop watching, and instead sit on the porch as ONE example. It's just that if your mind is still, you see everybody else is suffering with their selfishness, egotism, hypocrisy, lazyness. I think this is the most painful thing of all. Seeing other people suffering, and the worst part they don't even know their suffering. When you fully meet what is, every action gives you more momentum. When you resist what is and think, "Oh if things were like this, then I could live fully in the moment" you create suffering, you lose momentum, or energy as you put it. This makes perfect sense. We all want things to do our way. We get mad when things don't go "according to plan". What do you think about patience in suffering..or even "relaxation" in suffering? I think people attach to external things to give them contentment like television, video games, drugs, alcohol, sex, material possessions. Nothing wrong with these things, it's just the attachment to these things that is the problem. Have you ever just realized that you are suffering and miserable and just actually accepted it. You know your suffering and you kind of get used to it. You might think I'm talking about depression, but this isn't the case, you start being overcome by a strange peace. An "oh, "well f**k it" attitude, or "dang, i really wanted this or that to happen, but it didn't work, so what's next"

[saltyseedog]

I meditate everyday. It makes me feel amazing. Its like loving yourself. I don't stress or anything when I don't meditate everyday. But often I'll feel this hate or sadness or other emotions seeping out from deep within and it helps let them flow and be released I guess. It gives you clarity. It makes your body feel better. It makes focusing easier. Its pretty cool.

[nina]

Why do you think this? You don't think it's possible to live in stillness in this society? You could get rid of your t.v. or just stop watching, and instead sit on the porch as ONE example. It's a lot more than just television. As I already said, society surrounds us with that which pollutes or bodies and minds and has us operating at low vibrational frequencies. Also I don't know where you live, but the energy in the USA is nothing short of neurotic. If you spend a few months somewhere in Asia like Thailand where the energy is so much calmer, strong, and steady...you'll become a different person. So, of course, it depends on the society. But American society definitely does not facilitate a life of stillness, when even the energy here infects everyone with neuroticism, paranoia, and anxiety. It's just that if your mind is still, you see everybody else is suffering with their selfishness, egotism, hypocrisy, lazyness. I think this is the most painful thing of all. Seeing other people suffering, and the worst part they don't even know their suffering. Not sure I agree with that.

[saltyseedog]

What I was thinking today..... people don't believe that they are animals. They are so freakin convinced they are human. This idea of human is very unnatural. This belief of being human, it often keeps you from flowing naturally. When you don't flow naturally you become unhealthy. Animals flow with spirit. Humans often don't. Flowing allows yourself to heal.

[StonedApe]

It's a lot more than just television. As I already said, society surrounds us with that which pollutes or bodies and minds and has us operating at low vibrational frequencies. Also I don't know where you live, but the energy in the USA is nothing short of neurotic. If you spend a few months somewhere in Asia like Thailand where the energy is so much calmer, strong, and steady...you'll become a different person. So, of course, it depends on the society. But American society definitely does not facilitate a life of stillness, when even the energy here infects everyone with neuroticism, paranoia, and anxiety. The cool thing is that if you can see the neuroticism as neuroticism it doesn't infect you, you can even transform it sometimes if you act accordingly. You can be still even when the world around you is in total disarray. It can be hard to do, but hard things like this are very satisfying when done. It's definitely more than just tv, and you can even watch tv and still be still, but you probably won't because tv is kinda boring compared to real life. But you really have to make an effort to be aware of all of your actions and the motives behind them if you want to find stillness. You have to find your own way of eating, you have to food that nourishes you, not just greasy salty corn syrup soaked junk(although that stuff is certainly alright on occasion). I'd recommenced not listening to music when you drive. Even not talking while you eat is really great, but people sometimes will think your impolite or have a problem with them if you do this, so just do it when you can. But don't just take recommendations from me or anyone else, really see what it is you are doing and why you are doing it. Is it hurting anyone, yourself most importantly(because we have the greatest tendency to abuse ourselves without noticing, and if we can stop doing that we can usually stop hurting others)? Is it motivated by ambition, aggression, anger, fear? The first step is to stop doing harm, but that's only a small part. To really find stillness you have to do good, more than good, your best, in every situation. You also have to help others, they desperately need it. Sitting practice is a good start but if you want to find stillness you must practice 24 hours a day(and that doesn't mean sitting 24 hours a day, it means doing everything with mindfulness and fully meeting each moment).

[Kuhnada29]

you guys are some of the most intelligent and wise people I've come across on the internet.

[nina]

What I was thinking today..... people don't believe that they are animals. They are so freakin convinced they are human. This idea of human is very unnatural. This belief of being human, it often keeps you from flowing naturally. When you don't flow naturally you become unhealthy. Animals flow with spirit. Humans often don't. Flowing allows yourself to heal. I'm not sure where I stand on the whole humanity issue...but for the most part I agree with you. You know, it's amazing...animals are born without prejudice. A mother dog will adopt and nurse a lion cub, and raise it as one of her own. Each year polar bears come from hundreds of miles away to the same spot to play and bond with their beloved friends...sled dogs. Humans assume that the polar bears would attack the dogs...but instead, they form extremely close bonds with the dogs and play with them as though they are cubs and even protect them from juvenile bears who haven't encountered the dogs ever before and could be a danger to them. These animals share a language and an understanding. A human could not walk up to a polar bear and expect to befriend it. Humans have lost that ability...those animal instincts, and body language, somewhere along the way. Humans can learn the correct body language to bond with chimps or other apes, but that's about it. I'm curious if an ape could bond with a wild polar bear...that would be interesting to see. I guess what I'm getting at has to do with what you said, "people don't believe that they are animals"...it's true...and to be honest...I don't think they are in a lot of ways. Sometimes I can't help feeling like an alien species on this planet. To really find stillness you have to do good, more than good, your best, in every situation. You also have to help others, they desperately need it. So very true. I've chosen to help animals (and by extension, their human owners)...and this is the first time I've ever felt truly happy and fulfilled with a job. To the point where I really look forward to going into work every night. As I was driving home the other night, it occurred to me why all my other jobs had been so unsatisfying. It was because I was only doing it for me...I was never really helping anyone or anything that was truly in need. Now I can't imagine ever going back to a job where I wasn't saving animals lives on a daily basis.

[Kuhnada29]

You have to find your own way of eating, you have to food that nourishes you, not just greasy salty corn syrup soaked junk(although that stuff is certainly alright on occasion). What foods do you eat normally? I stopped drinking sodas for a little while because I'm prone to kidney stones, I think you start to become more sensitive to energy when you do this. Like if you stop drinking sodas, then you try to drink a soda likw a week or 2 later, the soda tastes more sweet and sugary than normal...REALLY sweet and sugary..almost like a rush...like an actual mini drug high....and I know refined sugar is supposed to be an actual drug or something

[StonedApe]

Lately I've been trying to eat mostly food I make myself from fresh things, mostly fruits and veggies. Lots of bean veggie and rice combinations. And I've been making bread with the bread machine, using honey instead of sugar. I've been trying to stay away from sugar and dairy as much as I can, but I don't worry about it if I eat them at the same time. I ate a snickers even 2 days ago. I've been experimenting making my own jelly. The mulberry jelly turned out awesome, the marmalade was total crap, and Of course I had 5 times as much of that. I'm also digging this whole grain hot cereal stuff with flax seed and a bunch of other stuff, like 9 grams of protein in a 3rd of a cup, but it cooks up to much more than that. I don't usually drink soft drinks, only when I can't really avoid it. Mostly water and tea, juice when I can get it. But I try to only drink the 100% juice stuff.

[Codename]

you guys are some of the most intelligent and wise people I've come across on the internet. Umm refer to my other post?

[nina]

I think you start to become more sensitive to energy when you do this. That's probably not a result of becoming more sensitive to energy, just more sensitive to the sugar. The only thing I drink is ice cold water. I see no reason to drink anything else, as it's the only thing that quenches my thirst, and I hate soda because it burns my mouth and throat and leaves a syrupy film in my throat that makes me even thirstier. Same with juices. But I eat tons of organic fruits and veggies. Whole wheat pasta, whole grain rice/bread/cereal. But I do have a really bad sugar addiction.

[ReachingForTheDream]

I think that it has to do with our desensitization to just about everything, and how we're taught to live. When sitting in front of a TV, generally, the person doesn't feel anything. Yes, they're watching what's going on, but they aren't feeling what's happening in there, nor are they focussed on it. If a gust of wind blows, you don't actually feel it, though you're seeing it on the TV screen. I think that this sort of desensitization just leaks into the rest of our life. Suddenly, we don't feel lucid in just about anything we do. I think that this roots in the way of life we're taught and used to. With the TV example, we apply that mindset to everyday. When we watch something, we genarally aren't paying attention to ourself as well. How many people, while watching TV, think about how plush and wonderful the couch feels? Do they feel how sensual the fabric is against their skin? Do they hear anything but they TV? Do they taste the saliva in their mouth, and feel its odd heat spreading among their tongue and teeth? Probably most people won't. Maybe people like us, who focus on these things, will. But who else will, especially if they're not taught to do so? They won't know that they can feel that if they've never been shown. The fact that the nothingness of focussing on that TV is pleasurable also adds to it. Maybe not as pleasurable of being self aware, but they don't know that. This kind of ignorance can be applied to many things modern. Video games, internet, ect ect. Don't get me wrong; they're all great tools. But they affect us like this, and I guess most people don't acknowledge that. And plus, we don't see the need to be aware, so why should we bother? I think this sort of thing can apply to just about anything. The soda example you guys are talking about is like a material version of it. Suddenly we're taught to just drink it, maybe it's the only thing around, or the only thing we think we like. But once you're weaned off it isn't the same. I've experienced this sort of thing with just about all food when I stopped eating so much junk. Some food just didn't taste good anymore; sometimes it tasted commercial. Some food was enhanced; everything seemed so much more intense and pleasurable, especially because I'm no longer gorged with it. Some food physically makes me sick now. And yet, I can look at people who were raised to eat all of that and never thought to make a change (or maybe did but didn't go through with it). It's like they're trained to do just that. They eat and eat and eat and eat stuff that is bad for them, and there I am gaping in awe at how they could possibly eat that and not feel sick. I also fail to understand how people never seem to be thirsty; I ALWAYS have water, and I can't really drink anything else without feeling dehydrated. Now, of course, feeding the soul doesn't pertain simply to meditation. It can be something you personally enjoy a lot. For me, it's art and music. Even when not meditating, art and music can feed my soul. When I am playing I am lucid. I think while I'm playing. And the things that art and music do fascinate me. They make me question the world around us, and wonder. And, I suppose, any wonderment like that will cause you to be lucid. And I can see it in the people around me. I'm still in high school. The majority of people are unmotivated, lazy, and don't take care of themselves. I mean, yes, obviously I like to have fun and do stupid things too once in a while. But these people have no passion, no goal, no nothing. They just want to party and be lazy. Do you know how many people don't pass classes simply due to their laziness? They complain all day and night about it, whine because the work is "too hard" because they simply just don't want do it, and then cry about it once they're sent to summer school. It's not hard to pass a class. Passing a class means getting over 50, not 90. It's not hard. And people have to do shit all the time that they don't like; just have to suck it up. But anyways, the point I was getting at - they have no idea what they want. They have nothing to aim for, and therefore nothing to work for. Except maybe for partying, but that just requires money, and making money often isn't about doing something that you can enjoy and feed your soul with. And, so, most people just simply don't know. They don't know how amazing it feels to feed their soul, nor do they know how to. Maybe they desire that fullness and move on to other things, thinking it will give them that effect. I guess a lot of them might resort to things that they think feeds them. And I think most of those people fall into the stereotypical party scene. Don't get me wrong, I like to party, but I've experienced it - and it doesn't feed my soul at all. Rather, I feel unaccomplished and hollow if I do it too much. I also feel that, though more particularly in the Western culture, most people won't discover this because of the face of the media. Among teens my age, meditation is "lame", "uncool", "weird", ect. In the media meditation is made fun of. When I was young people would reenact meditation with the whole cross-legged sitting thing and the "ohhhhm" and the fingers touching and whatnot. It's seen as silly, funny, stupid, and a hippy-new aged/spiritualist bullshitter activity by the media. If I tell any of my friends that I just meditated they'd probably either laugh or say "wtf?". This doesn't help either. They don't know, and they have no idea how it can help. That also ties in with the fact that it doesn't seem like it would do anything. To the average person, meditating looks like just sitting there and doing nothing. To the average person, it probably is just that too. You have to have a certain desire to know the unknown, to seek the experiences other people talk about, and also a strong self awareness and motivation. Most people probably won't even acknowledge that sitting there and focussing for 10 minutes might clear their mind and help them as a whole. They don't know that, they aren't trained to think so. The desensitization just feeds the lack of insight on everything, and suddenly nothingness is pleasurable. And no, meditation is not nothingness. Meditation is everything from and about yourself.

[saltyseedog]

You are so right reachingforthedream. I feel all of that. It really sucks. I have nobody thats like me. My mom even thinks that meditation is satanic. people are really stupid. Everyone believes I am crazy. Nobody likes me. I hurt nobody. I just want to love. I want to love and be free. The expectations and conditioned love of others gets in the way though.

[ReachingForTheDream]

You are so right reachingforthedream. I feel all of that. It really sucks. I have nobody thats like me. My mom even thinks that meditation is satanic. people are really stupid. Everyone believes I am crazy. Nobody likes me. I hurt nobody. I just want to love. I want to love and be free. The expectations and conditioned love of others gets in the way though. That really sucks man I've been in a situation where I was hated by a good portion of my environment (though not to such an extent as to my family O.o). I'm not sure what I can tell you because I guess the only way to get out of that sort of condition is to move out. All I can say is, keep up the meditation if it keeps you happy. And maybe find something that you love to do. In my post I was talking about art and music being my other sort of form of meditation. If you can find something like that it will help you feel more fulfilled and happier. Unfortunately, I think social fulfillment is also a huge part of being a happy being though. Maybe try to find others interested in your interests, or in meditation as well.

[Kuhnada29]

That's probably not a result of becoming more sensitive to energy, just more sensitive to the sugar. The only thing I drink is ice cold water. I see no reason to drink anything else, as it's the only thing that quenches my thirst, and I hate soda because it burns my mouth and throat and leaves a syrupy film in my throat that makes me even thirstier. Same with juices. But I eat tons of organic fruits and veggies. Whole wheat pasta, whole grain rice/bread/cereal. But I do have a really bad sugar addiction. that's good...sounds healthy...I've never heard soda doing that to someone, that's probably because you don't drink sugar drinks like that and not desensitized to the the sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, you make me want to stop drinking soda..lol Imma get like you Nina and drink strictly ice cold water. Did you used to drink sugar sodas a lot? did you notice more energy when you stopped drinking the sodas

[ReachingForTheDream]

that's good...sounds healthy...I've never heard soda doing that to someone, that's probably because you don't drink sugar drinks like that and not desensitized to the the sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, you make me want to stop drinking soda..lol Imma get like you Nina and drink strictly ice cold water. Did you used to drink sugar sodas a lot? did you notice more energy when you stopped drinking the sodas I've had the same experience. I used to never drink water, only drank juice and pop. Now I can't even drink juice without feeling dehydrated. It just becomes gross. The only things I drink are water and tea, and the occasional coffee. I don't know if I really felt more energized when I stopped, as it was quite a while ago I decided to cut it out, however I certainly felt a lot "cleaner" if that makes any sense. When I drink sugary things I just feel so gross. It's hard to describe but you'll know it when you start feeling it. Oh, and I wouldn't suggest ice cold. Well, I mean, if you like it go ahead. But I find that water that's not too cold is easier to chug. I find if it's too cold I can only handle a little bit, and then I don't actually want to drink it (for a while I was actually drinking lukewarm water xD). Then I end up forgetting about it. Oh, and, also prepare to take a water bottle wherever you go. Invest in a good one if you start this. I literally can't go anywhere without water now; I have to take two water bottles to school and usually finish a litre before school ends. And, well, the same thing happens with food too. Ever since I've started eating healthy, I can really only handle small amounts of sweets before I feel bloated and grossed out. Commercial foods are out of the question, they're just plain disgusting most of the time. It's also certainly more energizing and whole feeling. I also eat a lot less in general now because it's simply so much more satisfying. And hell, now I'm craving vegetables instead of cake and chips.

[Kuhnada29]

And, well, the same thing happens with food too. Ever since I've started eating healthy, I can really only handle small amounts of sweets before I feel bloated and grossed out. Commercial foods are out of the question, they're just plain disgusting most of the time. It's also certainly more energizing and whole feeling. I also eat a lot less in general now because it's simply so much more satisfying. And hell, now I'm craving vegetables instead of cake and chips. Yea most healthy foods have an alkaline-base and give you more energy, commercial foods ( GM Foods ) are everywhere where I am, there's no escape from it lol, and it's marketed to you so much you want it, I don't even watch t.v. much anymore

[StonedApe]

That's probably not a result of becoming more sensitive to energy, just more sensitive to the sugar. The only thing I drink is ice cold water. I see no reason to drink anything else, as it's the only thing that quenches my thirst, and I hate soda because it burns my mouth and throat and leaves a syrupy film in my throat that makes me even thirstier. Same with juices. But I eat tons of organic fruits and veggies. Whole wheat pasta, whole grain rice/bread/cereal. But I do have a really bad sugar addiction. How much sugar do you eat? At what point is it an addiction? I've been cutting back on sugar a lot but it's in almost everything. I've basically been making everything I eat from scratch, which has been really great. I love juice as long as it's 100% juice. Got tricked into drinking corn syrup yesterday...