Problems with Meditation

Discussion of meditation in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.
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Natalia17
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Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2020 6:00 pm

Problems with Meditation

Post by Natalia17 »

Hi, Guys I've just started my journey with meditation. Can you tell me about yours?
What were your problems that you faced? What do you use that helps you with meditation?
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futerko
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Re: Problems with Meditation

Post by futerko »

I find that it can help to work with meditative objects, and that in working with a visualisation, it can be equally helpful to contemplate a text about the nature of representation - a bit like using both legs to walk instead of just one.
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nowmindful
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Re: Problems with Meditation

Post by nowmindful »

I can't concentrate when i meditate with eyes half open. Closing the eyes I can focus more on my breathing and it is more suitable for me. If i focus on my nostrils, the in and out of air, I can do Vipassana easier. If focus on belly or diaphragm, I can do Samadhi easier.
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avisitor
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Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2013 8:03 pm

Re: Problems with Meditation

Post by avisitor »

Natalia17 wrote: Fri Jan 03, 2020 6:06 pm Hi, Guys I've just started my journey with meditation. Can you tell me about yours?
What were your problems that you faced? What do you use that helps you with meditation?
Problems?
Some days there is good concentration
And some days there is difficulty concentrating
And the worse is when there are days with no feeling to continue meditating.

Helps?
Having a friend who is also into meditating
Reading a good book on Buddha or dharma or meditation
Listening to inspiring music
Watching videos about others on the path
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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: Problems with Meditation

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

Don’t “try” to meditate.
Just sit quietly and watch the breath.
Maybe think of it as “breathitating”
instead of “meditating” because there’s less baggage.
Just make that your focus wherever you are.
Just keep coming back to the next breath.
Don’t try to repeat a previous meditation session.
Don’t try to breathe a breath that you already breathed.
.
.
.
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
madhusudan
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Joined: Thu Sep 19, 2013 5:54 pm

Re: Problems with Meditation

Post by madhusudan »

Things I find helpful:

Do it 1st thing in the morning.
Do it every day at the same time.
Get good instruction.

Ethics and wisdom are the other two trainings. That will aid in developing shamatha when your mind is at ease.
Simon E.
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Joined: Tue May 15, 2012 11:09 am

Re: Problems with Meditation

Post by Simon E. »

madhusudan wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:57 am Things I find helpful:

Do it 1st thing in the morning.
Do it every day at the same time.
Get good instruction.

Ethics and wisdom are the other two trainings. That will aid in developing shamatha when your mind is at ease.
This.

Can I make a recommendation? Auto-suggestion is very powerful. Be careful not to internalise other people’s meditation challenges and make them your own.
When you have been practising for a while if there are issues arising for you then is the time to raise them, preferably with a flesh and blood teacher. If this is not possible, then online.
Otherwise ..start, and continue.. :smile:
“You don’t know it. You just know about it. That is not the same thing.”

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
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