Meditation Frustration

[TikiXxXRocker]

I've begun initiating in a lot of things that require or are bettered by meditation, but I've got a prettyhuge problem at this point- I just can't meditate! Rawr! Haha. I need to be able to achieve the right... er... state of mind (i guess might be the right way to put it) to continue on with any of the various things I hope to participate in. These are mostly out-of-body experinces or things very similar, but also I know that meditation helps with lucid dreaming. I very much want to have more frequent lucid dreams, so I was hoping I could get a few tips. =] So please, if you've got any suggestions to help me become better at meditating I'd very much appreciate if you shared them with me, or even some encouragement. Thanks so much for your time. =]

[Slick]

I also need some advice for Meditating. Where do I start?

[Abra]

There's nothing particularly difficult about meditation. There's no real way to fail. If you think you must "ignore everything," or be "empty-minded," you are mistaken. Relaxation isn't necessary, but it is helpful. Focus on the moment. Focus on the sights (if you have your eyes open) and sounds around you. Be mindful of your breath. And here, take this: meditation guide.

[Xetrov]

TikiXxXRocker and Slick, it totally depends on what you want with the meditation. There are meditations for all kinds of purposes, from mentally focussed ones to totally spontaneous meditations. I usually do the latter, and meditate whenever I feel like it and I do it in a way that I feel fits my situation best. So if you tell me what you want to do with it, then I could give a more specific advise.

[Slick]

I just want to know how to do it, lol. Any simple basics would be good, I guess.

[TikiXxXRocker]

@Xetrov Well I first tried it, or i guess it's at least similar to meditation, when I wanted to learn more about psychic abilities and to see if I could develope any. I tried staring at a red pen til i could see and aura thing, mybrother said he could do it. I just could not concentrate, haha. Then I wanted to start doing because I started mega research on faeries and related magic. And I also want to do it to enhance my dreaming abilities. I don't know if that's what you meant by what i want to do with it, but I'm willing to provide more info and try my hardest if you're willing to help. =] Like Slick said, I think some basics might just help, idk. I've already read a lotof tips and stuff, though. Maybe I'm over-thinking it, oor I'm just misunderstanding the concept. ??? Oh and thank you! =] @Abra Thanks so much for the advice! I'll look at that link tomorrow, it's a little late right now. =]

[Xetrov]

Well I can tell you a very basic form of meditation that is useful to me. It is about becomming the witness of your thoughts. Maybe some of you can use it to your benefit, if you dont already know about it . To me, the greatest merit of meditation is insight into the self. Insight into your mind, your thoughts, your cravings, your will, etc. When I meditate, I use it to observe and learn about myself. This is a meditation where you become the witness of everything, and through it come to deeper understanding. The meditation itself is actually pretty simple. Just sit in any relaxed position, and set your intention to witness your thoughts that come and go all the time. Realise that these are thoughts, and that you are not your thoughts. Just let the thoughts come and go and dont force anyting, just witness. In this way you will create greater awareness of what is occupying your mind. You will see that while you witness your thoughts, you are not the thought that arises, but the witness, that which observes the thoughts. This meditation is useful since many people mistake who they really are (the witness) with their thoughts and their mind. Once you realise you are not your thoughts, thought will slowly cease to be the driving force of your existance. You might even experience moments of no-thought. To me these are very special because they allow for deeper insights and empathy, since there is no mind to scamble everything. I hope this was any good, and if not, too bad

[TikiXxXRocker]

@Xetrov Thanks, I think I get it... it just doesn't seem very possible. Lol. Cause if I have a thought then... I can't just let it sit... like thoughts change and it's affected by myself... so... hahaha, i'm easily confused, rofl. Ah well, i'll give a try, maybe I'll surprise myself. =] Thank you so much for your advice, I appreciate it.

[toucantango]

Xetrov, thanks for your post - I really like that idea of meditating. I always feel when I first get started like I'm waiting for something to "happen" or like I need to force myself not to think about anything. Your description of being the witness and allowing your thoughts to come and go without trying to affect them resonated with me instantly. Definitely going to try that out. Tiki, if it helps, maybe try putting on a fan or some ambient music while you get into your meditating - I find when I'm first starting out that it helps me to get into and stay in that kind of "detached awareness" state.

[Spliph]

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?" Awesome quote Epic moment in the book, and very well related to the forum. Props

[toucantango]

Epic moment in the book, and very well related to the forum. Thanks, and agreed! I was pretty excited when I came upon that chapter!

[Xetrov]

... it just doesn't seem very possible. Lol. Cause if I have a thought then... I can't just let it sit... like thoughts change and it's affected by myself... so... That is ok. Meditating is a process of learning about yourself. Dont expect the deepest result over night. Start with it and see what happens. Anything is ok. There is no "I have to do this or that". The only thing you need to set, is your intention to do it. An additional advise I can give is, use someting during meditation to focus on. You can do this if it feels right for you. For example focus on a so called "mantra", which is a short sentence. Or focus totally on some music you have playing, or on an image you imagine in your mind. Another good one that I use, is focus on breathing in/out. But stay aware when you do this, dont let yourself merely slip into it without awareness. The benefit of this focus is that it will silence the mind/thougts while sharpening your awareness (this is why it will also positively affect your ability to LD).

[Kamilii]

you took my catchphrase..rawr...

[ConsciousnessObserver]

Theres lots of different ways to meditate, the only success I have found(not saying there is only one right way) is meditation by observation. If you even want to call it meditation, for me its just a different state of being and varies from time to time. But through true observation of thought, you might find that thoughts cease. Or by truly obeserving a plant, the way the leaves flutter in the wind, the veins in the leafs, all the little details... you might find thats its not a plant your looking at. But rather the word "plant" is a simple, dead and near-usless way to describe something. I'd say pay attention to everything at once, but only start a little at a time. Starting inward: Thoughts, feelings, sensations, emotions, breathe's ect. And going even further outward: all your surroundings. See if the simple act of complete observation can empty everything out for a moment and clear the mind. Whatever you do, never look for a means to an end, or you've already defeated yourself with hope which is nothing but a thought in the first place. And if you do, at least try to be aware what your mind is doing the moment your mind is doing it. Meditation to me is like seperating yourself from your mind, which is filled with a bunch of conditioning, ideas, opinions, prejuduces and illogical logic. If you can observe the source of all this material from a different perspective the material becomes nothing more than a self-created image of who you are which is false. Hope you find something that helps. EDIT: OOPS, didn't see xetrov's post. Right on the money right there.

[Baron Samedi]

You know, I have been meditating for years, or attempted to, and I would get so frustrated. For one year of my life, all I did was go to work, read books, and practice astral projection. I used to always want to go up and out, out-of-body, up into the cosmos to externally gain some kind of infinite wisdom, but more recently I have been going in and down, into myself, grounding down into the earth. There are many different methods of meditation, and I think it can be a means to an end, but if you are focused on the end, you will get frustrated. Meditation is more about being, existing, being in the moment, being human, being who you are. All those thoughts and emotions you feel as you meditate are actually part of the process. It's your lower chakras spinning. Just accept that, and let it go. Let it go. Any frustrations, just let it go. Focus inward on your breath. I like to sit in lotus, close my eyes, and focus on my third eye. I also lay down in yoga corpse mode (on your back, closed eyes, palms facing upward.) Ashtanga yoga has helped me a lot with meditation. After doing ashtanga, my whole body is heated internally, so warm and relaxed. The mental focus that yoga requires helps you to be in the present. The purpose of yoga is to help you meditate. When your body has muscle tension, and your mind is buzzing, it's a lot harder to relax. You can be in any position, doing anything and meditate. The easiest is sitting or lying down for most people. Make sure you have good posture (even lying down), and your chakras will be lined up. Becoming vegetarian has helped me meditate, because my insides are a lot calmer, and my mind is clearer.

[yuriythebest]

youtube is your friend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tIBYxed16s

[The Cusp]

I've got a prettyhuge problem at this point- I just can't meditate! Rawr! Haha. I need to be able to achieve the right... er... state of mind I'm in the same boat, so when I say the following, I'm really chastising myself. Quit being so lazy! You know damn well that's what it is. Waiting until you're in the right state of mind is just a bullshit excuse. The whole point is to be in control of your thoughts, not have them control you. Don't wait for the right state of mind, create it. There's no excuse for not meditating other than nobody else does it, and that's no excuse at all. You know exactly what you need to do, so grow a pair and do it already. I'm going to meditate tonight before bed, and you had better do it too! But I do know how easy it is to adopt a what I term a "civillian" lifestyle, where you forget about that kind of crap. That's why I expect you to PM me with updates on your meditation progress. I'm going to PM you with updates on mine to rub it in your face and get you motivated.

[TikiXxXRocker]

Thank you so much everybody! I really feel motivated to meditate now! Haha. It all really did help a lot! =] I think it's safe for a moderator to come lock this thread now. Again, I appreciate your help- SO MUCH!

[TikiXxXRocker]

Oh and @The Cusp UR ON! lol

[ConsciousnessObserver]

I dont want to tell you whats wrong and whats riht tiki, but if your going to take Xetrov's advice, and its great advice as far as meditation goes. Don't do meditation for anything but the sake of meditation. Don't observe, or try to raise yur awarness to preform certain psychihc feats, or even to better your self. Raise awarenesss simple for the reason that you can. And THEN, move on from there as you will. But what Xetrov said about periods of non-thought is true, achievable and calming to say the least. So instead of saying I am oing to meditate so I can do this or that, more so just follow Zetrov's advice and see if you can't find something you have forgot throughout time.

[Slick]

So to get to your point and summarize everything you guys mentioned, just relax and let your mind focus on your thoughts, breathing and self-awareness etc? Lol, I guess I kind of get it. I'll try what I can. I've been listening to some Ambient/Subliminal music I've downloaded off this site, don't know if that still counts though lol.

[The Cusp]

Oh and @The Cusp UR ON! lol Dammit, I've only meditated once since I posted that, and that was only because I was waiting for my LSD to kick in. I'm hopeless...

[bushi]

Dammit, I've only meditated once since I posted that, and that was only because I was waiting for my LSD to kick in. I'm hopeless... Have you ever meditated while waiting for the LSD and had a wicked lucid trip, while still in the meditative state? That would be interesting.