HOW TO MEDITATE -- GETTING RID OF THOUGHT

[Pravin Kumar]

How to Meditate - Getting Rid of Thought

By Lisa Hepner  
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The short answer is, 'You can't'.

Now, you might think that may sound harsh, but it's the truth.

And it's complete freedom!

In the past, when I tried meditating, I was told (or somehow led
to believe) that meditation was about getting rid of thought. Of
course, I failed at meditation. I remember my first meditation
being extremely painful because of all the thoughts. After the
meditation, I didn't feel any better because I felt like a
complete and utter failure.

Believing that meditation is about getting rid of thought will
set anyone up for failure.

I'll never forget the scene from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy where the crew is walking through the desert and one of
the men says, "I was thinking..." and a big shovel comes up and
hits him in the face. They continue walking and he says "I thought
that..." and the shovel again comes up and smacks him in the face.

They make the connection that every time they think a thought,
the shovel will come up and hit them in the face. So someone says,
"Okay everyone, don't think," and the shovel comes up and hits
him in the face. Then you see the entire crew running through the
desert getting bonked with shovels in their faces.

That's what happens when you try to get rid of the thoughts! When
you tell yourself to stop thinking about what's for dinner
tonight, all you can think about is what's for dinner! And here's
the cold hard truth, the only time you will EVER get rid of
thought is when you're dead. Even Buddhist monks who have
practiced meditation since young ages, have thoughts during
meditation. Here's the key:

Meditation is NOT about getting rid of thought, it's about
becoming the OBSERVER of thought.

You might want to read that sentence again because it's
important!

When I check in with people, in our 21 day meditation circles,
and they express that they noticed they had lots of thoughts
during the meditation, I tell them to celebrate the fact that
they noticed all the thoughts!

Just by noticing the thoughts, they have become the observer of
thought. Just the fact that you are aware of the thoughts means
you have dis-identified from them.

Most of the time we aren't even aware of the incessant mind
chatter that is going on non-stop, so to even notice the thoughts
is a great!

When you notice the thought you have become the witnessing
Presence. And this is truly the gift of meditation, to become the
observer of thought instead of the "reactor."

So, what does it mean to be the observer of thought?

Let's say you're sitting down to meditate. You have cultivated
the practice of meditation in your daily life. But as you are
meditating the thought comes into your mind, "I wonder what we're
having for dinner?" You notice the thought, just as you'd notice
a cloud floating by and then you're done with it, you direct your
attention back to meditation and feel the aliveness within.

Contrast that to this: You sit down to meditate. As you are
meditating the thought comes to mind, "I wonder what we're having
for dinner?" Then you think "I hope we're not going to have
onions. I hate onions." Then the thought comes to mind, "That
reminds me, I've got to go to the store tomorrow and get toilet
paper." Then, "When am I going to find time to go to the store
tomorrow when I have such a hectic day at the office?" Then you
think, "I really don't like what I'm doing, I wish I could do
something else," then your mind wanders "but how would we make
ends meet financially if I were to do something different?" Then
you think "I shouldn't have tried to make my parents proud of me
by going to law school, I should have stuck with music which was
my real passion." Then you think, "but the music industry is hard
to break into." Then you think "but Celine Dion did it. If one
person can do it, I can do it too." Then you wonder, "what would
I do if I had all that money?" Then that thought leads to, "I'd
buy a bigger house with a jacuzzi bath, I've always wanted a
jacuzzi bath and a three car garage and music studio." Then you
think, "what am I thinking? There's no way I can do anything
about my situation, I'm trapped!" Then you wonder, "what's the
purpose of life any way? There's got to be more than this daily
grind!" All this from the original thought "I wonder what we're
having for dinner?"

Exhausting!

Becoming the observer of thought means you notice the thought you
just don't follow it out. You don't have to become wrapped up in
it! You don't get sucked in to the drama! You're not attached to
the thought.

I remember once, after starting a regular meditation practice,
that I was working on some project and for a moment I had those
self-limiting thoughts we all have, I thought "I can't do this
project." And it was like it wasn't even me saying it. I noticed
the thought and smiled like, "hmmmm, that was interesting. " Then
I was done with it!

The most important thing I could tell any beginning mediator is
to not try and get rid of the thoughts. Observe them, notice them,
and then go back to whatever "technique" you were working with
for your meditation. Continue to do this, as it's a practice,
especially when first starting meditation. In this way, you are
slowly becoming the observer of thought instead of the reactor
and this is a powerful "place" to be!

Lisa Hepner is an author, speaker and meditation facilitator. She
is the creator of Project Meditate and the international Don't
Wait-Meditate (R) campaign. Her goal is to help people develop
the habit of meditation through simple and fun tips and techniques.

[firefly43210]

i have another solution to this problem . when i meditate i in fact think hard about a single problem and let go every other thing .

[spiritalk]

If you think on a beautiful scene from nature or a single item like a flower, you would be using it as a peace centre and the problems could then find their own solution in your own peace.

[firefly43210]

sometime i use visualization of moving stark vivid powerful graphics produced in the gpu of my head . especially when i try to do some magic . and it works .

[Evard]

Many forms of meditation are based on a mantra to calm and recognize the thoughts.
The mantra (or new mantara) allow the mind to settle so the thoughts activist in the:
meditators mind will be recognized and one's own mind trained to not focus on thots
rather to focus on a light mantra so when the body will be inactivist and the thoughts
will be somewhat heard by the person who begins calming one's own mind activity n
biorhythm will notice the thoughts are not ever forced out though allowed to subside:
and begin the natural peaceful meditation on mantra and then without mantra when !
mind will be recognition of the self and practice will begin actual mediation without uh
thoughts kinda rolling around nor pervading when the mind will be passive and Anew
the thoughts will subside so the mind (one's own mind) may begin lower the [chai] uh
biorhythm and allow tendency of meditation calmly with 10 minutes common and new
20 minute practice on days when available taking 5 minutes to sit quietly and then @!
begin mantra or new mantara with practiced medita tion quiet and with lights lowered.

Aum potmi.. aum ananda potmi aum. <sigh> ema aem aen aeni aema or ae~mn aum.
Sorry for revealing common mantra.. these are newly the mantaras and I teach them. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Evard, Iyi M0n medita

[Lady Emerald Rose]

Greetings Everyone,
&nbsp; &nbsp;How is everyone tonight? &nbsp;I was reading this and then got to the second example of the person thinking about fifty million different things and I started looking for my name lol. &nbsp;I have tried and tried and to be honest the only time I have suceeded I fell asleep during it. &nbsp;Go figure. &nbsp;So I am going to be reading this thread really closely and any suggestions are greatly appreciated and welcomed. &nbsp;I hope everyone is having a great night.

[firefly43210]

he ! he ! i dont really be able to meditate more than a few seconds . i get tired . i start yawning . and go for a cigarette .

[swetha]

i have Pravinji this before too... my mind just wanders all over.... is it ok to think of 10 different things?

[firefly43210]

it is natural to think 10 different things . just try to think 1 thing at a time . and try to take inference from what u think . systematic thinking is what i call it .

[swetha]

i shall surely try it out

[Pravin Kumar]

Swethaji,

When you went to vacation in the South did you not feel your mind relaxed? Did you think 10 things at a time over there? No because you are far far away from Work and the Daily Routine. &nbsp;Your thoughts will be restricted. This is natural way of relaxing your mind. Another way is to meditate and there are so many exercises to control your mind.

Pravin Kumar

[swetha]

That's true... All I could think there was FOOD!! But I did relax. now I also realize that I will need to learn to relax in current surroundings if I have to concentrate of work.

[firefly43210]

i use hand movements to build up concentration . it helps in producing graphics .

[firefly43210]

" Take a seat in a comfortable chair or lie down on a settee. Relax the whole body,
close your eyes and observe the train of your thoughts for five minutes, trying to
retain it. At first, you will find that there are rushing up to you thoughts concerning
everyday affairs, professional worries, and the like. Take the behaviour of a silent
observer toward these trains of thoughts, freely and independently. According to the
mentality and the mental situation you happen to be in at the moment, this exercise
will be more or less easy for you. The main point is not to forget yourself, not to lose
the train of thoughts, but to pursue it attentively. Beware of falling asleep while doing
this exercise. If you begin to feel tired, stop instantly and postpone the exercise to
another time, when you intend not to give in to tiredness. The Indians sprinkle cold
water on their faces or rub down the face and upper part of their bodies to remain
brisk and not waste precious time. Some deep breathing before you begin will also
prevent tiredness and sleepiness. As time goes on, each disciple will find out such
little tricks by himself. This exercise of controlling thoughts has to be undertaken in
the morning and at night. It is to be extended each day by one minute to allow the
train of thoughts to be pursued and controlled without the slightest digression for a
time of 10 minutes at least after a week’s training. "
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-----------FRANZ BARDON

[spiritalk]

The word meditation defined means 'To Think Upon'. &nbsp;Anyone that is 'getting rid of thought' is using an exercise in futility. &nbsp;

The mind is the key. &nbsp;The human brain, on the other hand, must have electrical impulses across its surface to remain alive in body, mind and spirit.

And if we are 'to think upon' it becomes what will give us peace and harmony of body, mind, spirit that is the key to our own spirituality. &nbsp;We can find a peace centre through visualization or sound as the tools.