Question on meditation...

[Thenewguy]

Based on the article on meditation, I'm confused. Based on what I looked up, the way to keep my mind separated from my thoughts during meditation is to focus on one mantra or object to the point where I don't think of anything else. The article here just says that I should just stop thinking all together and count. Counting in itself is thought, so isn't that counter-productive? Which one is right?

[Tim]

It's not about thinking about nothing (all though that can be a type of meditation) it's about thinking of one thing and not thinking of anything else (like you said). Counting is all you want to be focusing on, and just doing that requires and builds your ability to focus.

[Thenewguy]

Ahh... Got it. Thanks.

[CharlesB]

another question : Ok I have tried some techniques to relax in the past ,but till now I'm not sure if they helped me to take more action than before. Most of the activities need that you get into the right "mode " in order to be efficient , for example in reading the more often you do it the more concentrated you become.
Being relaxed maybe it gives you a great feeling but I think it makes it more difficult to get you into the mode to work at something .

[SeXyBaCk]

Anyone else having trouble with practically falling asleep while meditating? After about ten minutes I can feel myself going and I've even had those hypnic jerks (you know the falling sensation you sometimes get as you're about to fall asleep) startle me out of meditation. Hardly the point of relaxation to fall asleep is it? Or maybe it is...

[Halo Effect]

There are many different kinds of meditation.

Another form of meditation is to simply be very aware of your thoughts and feelings (without focusing on breathing or an object or anything else). In stead of "being the thinker of your thoughts" or feeling like you are your thoughts or emotions and associating with them, you in stead are aware of the thoughts as they happen as the observer or as awareness. You are an observer of the thoughts and emotions happening, without interfering.

This is pretty tricky, but I've done it a few times and it's remarkable how much you learn about yourself.

Another form of meditation, advocated by some non-dualism spiritual teachers, is to focus on the question "What am I?". Not in a rational way, but to focus on the "I am-ness", on your sense of self, going deeper and deeper until you've excluded everything that you are not, and find out what you really are...

But all forms of meditation that were discussed in this thread are forms of meditation. Some may benefit you more at this point than others, but it's not like there is "one true way" of meditation.

[Thenewguy]

(05-02-2012 11:28 AM)SeXyBaCk Wrote:  Anyone else having trouble with practically falling asleep while meditating? After about ten minutes I can feel myself going and I've even had those hypnic jerks (you know the falling sensation you sometimes get as you're about to fall asleep) startle me out of meditation. Hardly the point of relaxation to fall asleep is it? Or maybe it is...

I feel like that's why they emphasize that you keep your back rigid and straight as you're sitting. You fall asleep when your body is relaxed...

The objective is to relax your mind.

[crazyhorse]

I sit in a lotus against a wall which makes the position easier .