I. Can't. Meditate.?

[Leo Gura]

1 minute ago, Judy2 said:

@Leo Gura how would you rank lsd?

Below those 3.

But still very cool if you got nothing better.

[Consilience]

29 minutes ago, Judy2 said:

@AsEyeAm The habit is already there, but it always ends the same way with me daydreaming or worrying.

Try splitting up techniques. If you're doing a 30 minute session:

Minutes 0 - 10: Mantra or focus on breath sensations at the nostrils or breath counting

Minutes: 10 - 20: Open Awareness or do nothing or noting 

Minutes: 20 - 30: Metta or Gratitude or Forgiveness Meditation

Find a technique sequence you resonate with, and stick with it. 

If you're wanting to do an hour sit which I'd highly recommend, just repeat this cycle 1 more time to get to 60 minutes. 

This approach has uniquely powerful benefits for beginners. If you're interested to hear more feel free to DM me.

I'd caution you with taking on Leo's perspective of how ineffective meditation is. Long term practice with a powerful contemplation/epistemology practice leads to crazy results, especially if combined with psychedelics and meditation retreats. 

Give the technique a shot, you may surprise yourself. 

[Jodistrict]

I have meditated  for over 20 years without much results.  And that includes doing Vipassana 10 day retreats.  There is a reason why in the East traditionally only monks would meditate.  Because taking it seriously is a full time occupation.  Shinzen Young teaches Vipassana but that is not how he became enlightened.  He was in a Japanese monastery where he had to meditate for 6 months straight during a Japanese winter.  Every morning he would have to pour ice cold water over his body to start the day.  Enlightenment by torture.  Westerners want it easy so don’t get results.

[Gili Trawangan]

Just now, Consilience said:

focus on breath sensations at the nostrils

This. Just this one.

You need to develop your concentration. Focus on the sensation of the breath as it enters and exits the nostrils. Keep it there. After a while you will notice sensations that are more and more subtle. If you get lost in thought, notice that and bring your attention back, gently, without frustration.

Keep at it, start with 10 minutes and bring it up to half an hour. You WILL notice your concentration getting better and better. Then you can change up the technique. 

[Barna]

Sounds like you're putting too much effort into it. Do the opposite.

Meditate as if meditation was a relaxation exercise. See your identification with thoughts as effort, and just continuously let go of the identity. With every disidentification you'll become more and more effortless, more and more relaxed.

[Judy2]

@Consilience Yes  having a sequence of different techniques could be helpful. I used to try doing 60 minutes but it's probably more effective to start with 30 minutes until it goes better:)

[Yali]

8 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

But still beautiful substances.

very beautiful substances indeed. Which do you prefer? @Leo Gura

[Deadpixel]

@Leo Gura What are your thoughts on phenethylamines?

[Judy2]

@Gili Trawangan Got it! ?

@Barna i thought so too, but i was told that to get rid of the effort of doership, you first need to put some effort into noticing it...

[Loba]

@Judy2 Cool!  Give it a shot, imagining that future for yourself, and the next time you meditate then send that unconditional Love, just, like... 'out', and sending that out is aligning your spiritual compass as well - with the heart open like that, and then you just practice it as much as you can.  It brings the right things into one's life, aligns the heart and mind so you know what you're feeling, too.

 

[Leo Gura]

1 minute ago, Deadpixel said:

@Leo Gura What are your thoughts on phenethylamines?

Not a fan. They give me heavy body load.

Beautiful visuals though.

[Leo Gura]

2 minutes ago, Judy2 said:

i was told that to get rid of the effort of doership

If you tell that to an untrained ego-mind it will just endlessly daydream. That is not meditation and it will not produce serious results.

[Judy2]

@Loba Beautiful picture?

[Yali]

7 minutes ago, Jodistrict said:

I have meditated  for over 20 years without much results.

Do you see value in a daily meditation practice even if it doesn't take you to the highest states of consciousness? @Jodistrict

[Judy2]

4 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

If you tell that to an untrained ego-mind it will just endlessly daydream. That is not meditation and it will not produce serious results.

@Salvijus did you hear that??

[Nahm]

@Judy2

‘I can’t meditate’ is the content of thought.

Awareness Of Thoughts meditation is specifically tailored to the distinction between the content of thought(s), and the awareness of thought(s). 

At first, this can be emotionally triggering or engaging. If so, this can addressed with Grounding Meditation. 

 

*The suggestion with these meditations, is experiencing them from top to bottom. Not per se in one day or sitting. (Noting this, as Grounding comes before Awareness of thoughts, potentially making the practice(s) much easier.)

[cetus]

@Judy2  What would happen if you dropped your sense of location for even a moment?

[Hello from Russia]

This thread reminds me of clickbait fad content titles that are rampant right now - "Is Meditation Still Good In 2022???"

[Judy2]

@Nahm yes of course. But "i can meditate" is also the content of thought, right? 

2 minutes ago, Nahm said:

@Judy2

‘I can’t meditate’ is the content of thought.

Awareness Of Thoughts meditation is specifically tailored to the distinction between the content of thought(s), and the awareness of thought(s). 

At first, this can be emotionally triggering or engaging. If so, this can addressed with Grounding Meditation. 

 

*The suggestion with these meditations, is experiencing them from top to bottom. Not per se in one day or sitting. (Noting this, as Grounding comes before Awareness of thoughts, potentially making the practice(s) much easier.)

I've been trying to do this, but i am struggling. And that might be another thought but where I'm at it seems true, and it will continue to seem true until it doesn't.

[Loving Radiance]

37 minutes ago, Judy2 said:

@Loving Radiance To stop feeling like i am my thoughts, energetically. I could just think "i am not my thoughts" but that doesn't solve the problem. It's more about the energy of identification vs. the lack thereof.

Letting go of thoughts again & again eventually leads you to the recognition you want. Focusing on the breath at the opening of the nostrils is good for that.

Just now, Hello from Russia said:

This thread reminds me of clickbait fad content titles that are rampant right now - "Is Meditation Still Good In 2022???"

Well have you checked the best before date? Mine shows 12/31/2021