Meditation...

Im not into pot but this is the thread that poped up when i typed in "reacting to a thought" in the search engine.

I find myself sometimes grabbing a random thought and taking it for a ride. Sometimes it can be pleasant, like a daydream but sometimes it can be quite dissturbing. I found this thread through a revelation i had a couple days ago. I was paying attention to my thoughts and what I was doing and realzed what I was actually doing was sort of grabbing a thought (from wherever it came from) and over-analyzing it. I have done this for years.. well I have not looked at it from this perspective but rather been the "victim" of whatever was happening.

People have called me a dreamer, they have said I analyze too much, that I think too deeply.. for years I have been dueling with my thoughts. Ive read some of krishnamurti, Ive learned to meditate, I attend church. All for the goal of making peace inwardly.

The facts are simple now that I have observed what Im doing and when I look at it now its not as personal as I think it is. Ive always thought there was a reason why I dwell on certain thoughts. To find an over-all meaning for all of them combined that will eventually make up who I am.

There are thousands of parables that relate to this subject. i.e. the mind and the self. Some come from books, ministers, songs, old sayings. but none can actually help you consistantly. When you realize something and can put it into perspective thats a great thing but in a week the realization grows old and you need something else.

I know its all in my head and If I can just learn to let things be. i.e let my mind just move from 1 thought to the next without capturing it and letting it bother me OR make me feel good that this is the healthy way to think because its not healthy dwelling on things about yourself.

Krishnamurti once asked Alburt Blackburn (an author of now consciousness) What is the I? I believe its not what is the I but what is the Eye. The eye of the mind. I think he was trying to give blackburn a direction to work on his own inner troubles.

Any thoughts on this? meditation techniques? I have not practiced meditation thouroughly. Only used it from time to time.

drew said:

...I was paying attention to my thoughts and what I was doing and realzed what I was actually doing was sort of grabbing a thought (from wherever it came from) and over-analyzing it. I have done this for years.. well I have not looked at it from this perspective but rather been the "victim" of whatever was happening...

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ive had the same difficulty in "letting things be". its been useful sometimes, (my stubborn personality allows me to excel in creative and intellectual stuff) but sometimes, often in social situations, its been a burden.

drew said:

...The facts are simple now that I have observed what Im doing and when I look at it now its not as personal as I think it is. Ive always thought there was a reason why I dwell on certain thoughts. To find an over-all meaning for all of them combined that will eventually make up who I am.

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i came to the same realization about myself sometime ago. well, actually it was more like i quit being so stubborn and accepted what i knew all along, i knew i was trapping myself within my thoughts for a reason. thing was, i had doing it for so long i forgot what the reason was. after calling myself out, i tried to stop the daydreams but it was very difficult. i found myself unsettled or angry by the end of the day.

i eventually gave in and fell back into my comfortable pattern of tuning out the outside world. this time i found myself even more disconnected from the ppl around me, and my judgment became very questionable. i went for a few more years like this until i scared the shit out of myself a few times taking too many drugs. the chemicals in my body had me see physical patterns in the world around me that confirmed that i was all alone and i always have been. i thought i was god, but not in an egotistical, all-powerful way. more like a helpless, devastatingly lonely way.

for some reason i love to tell this story, but the reason i bring it up this time is to show u that it may not be too wise to force urself into a new mindset too quickly. u must move on in a comfortable manner or u will just be finding urself with new issues to deal with in the future, possibly worse than uve had in the past.

drew said:

...There are thousands of parables that relate to this subject. i.e. the mind and the self. Some come from books, ministers, songs, old sayings. but none can actually help you consistantly. When you realize something and can put it into perspective thats a great thing but in a week the realization grows old and you need something else.

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it sounds like to me that u havent relied on the epiphanies, uve relied on the mindset that brings u them. preoccupying urself with ur inner monologue is a convenient way of keeping urself from taking chances. but if a part of u knows that theres something ur missing, ur probly right.

have u heard of Solipsism? its a mindset that most ppl dislike, but it can never be disputed. its funny, alot of ppl hate the idea. they look at it as cheating or something. so many ppl have spent years, if not their whole lives, trying to figure out the world, so they refuse to acknowledge the fact that none of this may even exist in the conventional meaning of the word.

i found closure in accepting solipsism as well as its alternative as both being true. i saw for a fact that nothing really matters, so i might as well make the best of things and enjoy myself.

if u want to change, i suggest making a point to enjoy others company more often. for the longest time i felt that i had to put on a mask to identify with other people. i talked to them instead of talking with them. building happy, healthy relationships with others has made me in turn a happy, healthy person. everything else has fell into place pretty easy, each day being a little better than the one before (generally)

hope i havent assumed too much of u and wasted ur time, wouldnt be the first time ive done something like that. anyway, maybe u can identify with me and get something out of all this

no, not at all. your on track. The scary thing (but comforting) is that instead of getting a blank stare when I bring up this type of mental behavior, you understand.

I think the loneliness you felt was because you were unable to connect with someone else on your deepest levels. I too have had the problem and yes, it is very lonely.. especially when your on dope. I can relate to the godlike thing you experienced.

No, I know the invaluable need for relationships. I used to think I needed to put on a mask aswell, simply because I saw other people put on their social masks and some people are just fake. My mask had holes in it anyways. i can act with the best of them but i dont see the logic in doing it and trying to pass it off as being real.

I dont know how to quote, but you wrote:

"but the reason i bring it up this time is to show u that it may not be too wise to force urself into a new mindset too quickly. u must move on in a comfortable manner or u will just be finding urself with new issues to deal with in the future, possibly worse than uve had in the past."

I think your right. Many times Ive found a sort of "right way to think" or a revelation of myself, something that puts me on a new track.. but I always wear ir out.

Is it possible to learn and put into effect without the effort of doing? I mean if I understand that I need to let my thoughts "drift like the wind", how do i do it?
Im wondering if "practicing" meditation will eventually allow me to achieve this comfort without consciously having to remember some phrase or parable? Does meditation have a lasting effect or is it like a dose here and there to get you through thats temporary?

edited

What's wrong with over analyzing stuff. I've done that all my life. You're not alone. Not alone at all...

I can't let things just stay at one sentence, but instead it tuns into something like this:

Thought: Everything will happen in time.

What I say (accidentally outloud, and everyone just kinda blinks at me...): But what if time stopped because the consentual vortex in the blinking universe is restarting... (blinks from people)

Nooooo man... you understand.. right? I mean, like... I forgot.

Make anysense?

Oh.. and meditation just increases this affect.

Sorry.

Its a good thing though. In my religion, which I am not forcing upon you... God is giving you insight on life.

Oh.. and meditation just increases this affect.

Sorry.


Dude, actual meditation is to obtain peace of mind, it's hard to get there, but when you do, the effects are revitalizing.

there is nothing wrong with analyzing "stuff" ... yet all analysis is wrong...

Thinking is "what got you into this mess.. thinking will not get you out"

"Stop thinking and all your problems will end"
-Lao Tzu


If you can not accept this... then accept that you can not accept this... keep accepting.... and the MIND will stop...

Do not turn this into a big ordeal, or somthing "you must do".. there is NO doing... Yet one must begin to dedicate time to daily practice....


The second ONE analyzes, one seperates, ONESELF from WHOLE... THIS is called, LIVING in delusion... where 99.9999% of all humanity experiences day to day life...



Drew,, you are on the correct path with Krishnamurti.. I would strongly suggest you read his biography by Mary Luytens and also check out Eckhart Tolle.... I can always mail you some eckhart tolle cds...

lovelovelove


Most people think they are their mind because they have dedictaed all OF their awareness to the BRAIN... But if one practices on shifting the awareness to something else besides the BRAIN.. one will realize that ONE is actually awareness.....

meditation IS the act of watching the mind with awareness.. To watch the mind, one must stop reacting to the mind.. (onemust stay still and watch the mind with unwaivering attenetion) and slowly a gap will appear.. and YOU will realize that YOU are not the MIND.. you are awareness... which is what we all are.... we are all the same huge chunk of awareness.. or some people call this GOD....

Imagine if electricty thought it was your computer... Electricity animates many many many things.. not just computers.. But if electricty gave all of its attention to computers eventually it might forget it is electricity.... IT forgets what it really is.... this is called delusion.... and all other appliances on the planet stop working becuse they get NO attention from electricty!! what a shame.. LOL

If you think you are a lawyer, or a doctor or a stoner or a highschool senior or a stud, or anasshole or whatever you think you are.. THEN you KNOW.... you are delusional.. LOL... teh only thing ONE is...

is

I AM (period)

A man can loose his car keys and PANICs... he looses himself and he doesn't even notice.... LOL

iloveyou

cool post, gk. love that electricity analogy

(Purple Gonja, this is for you)userfriendly, your fuckin retarded, and why would you object to something that everybody on some level knows is there. Our minds and bodies are fucking masterpeices, especially when bound together. Meditation is the perfect tool to discover that and so much more. Im tired and goin to bed but i wrote a couple lengthy posts on another thready about what you feel when you meditate and iv explained the nessesary tools and key concepts for simple meditation. Iv read several books and am starting to study a practice (Qigong) that will help cultivate my chi. I have/had ADD also, and mediation is perfect for calming yourself.

I could be completely wrong about ADD but it sounds like it could make meditation imposible if it's so sever that you can't read and listen to someone speak without losing both. Garden Knowm, I would take you a lot more serius if you didn't post "LOL" after every sentence. I think you nearly done something imposible, explain how and what happens during meditation. I like what you said about the snake in the room early on. Drew, I think that you did an excelent job of expaining your thoughts, somthing that is imposible for me to do. I have some questions about meditation; do you let your mind think of whatever it wants to think about or do you think about absoloutly nothing? Do you split your consince in two and think of both? Which one are you in control of an which are you observing? if there is nothing to compare everything to then does the other half of the consince really exist? did I just answer my firs question?

dum said:

I could be completely wrong about ADD but it sounds like it could make meditation imposible if it's so sever that you can't read and listen to someone speak without losing both. Garden Knowm, I would take you a lot more serius if you didn't post "LOL" after every sentence. I think you nearly done something imposible, explain how and what happens during meditation. I like what you said about the snake in the room early on. Drew, I think that you did an excelent job of expaining your thoughts, somthing that is imposible for me to do. I have some questions about meditation; do you let your mind think of whatever it wants to think about or do you think about absoloutly nothing? Do you split your consince in two and think of both? Which one are you in control of an which are you observing? if there is nothing to compare everything to then does the other half of the consince really exist? did I just answer my firs question?

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you must focus. you're thoughts will happen..because that's just your brain working, but focus your attention to your breathing. with practice and concentration, you become less distracted by the thoughts that the brain throws around.

It sounds like jogging is a way easier way to meditate. All I'm thinking about then is breathing and nothing else.

Hi Blonddie

Yes meditation is very confusing.. because it can not be comprehended by the mind...

It is actually not cionfusing but rther impossible for the ind to understand... IMPOSSIBLE...

the mind can POINT at the UNKNOWN... but it can not go there...

Human beings have a mind that is strictly a doing machine.. The mind can say " I am doing nothing" but that is a lie.. it is self deception.. because even when the mind says it is doing "nothing" it is actually IDENTIFYING with "doing nothing..." and this in it self is doing something..

Meditation is "doing nothing" and when we do nothing we can actually SEE, WITNESS, the mind rather than react to or identify with the mind..

Imagine that for a second... seeing the mind rather than being the mind.. the implications are terrifying to the ego... IT means that YOU are not who you think you are.. it means that it is impossible to actually KNOW anything.... yes this is true..

This is why people don't meditate... they are scared... but really, there is nothing to be afraid of... The unknown is soooooo safe.... there is complete surrender.. and power and love move freely.... infinite power... but I digress..

This process of watching the mind (meditating) can only be done ONE way...

There are many ways that people stumble upon medititaion.. by using mantras, physical activity, drugs, art, listening etc.. these are all doorways into a meditative state

But there is only ONE way to actually MASTER meditation.. or watching the mind... its is through breathing... this is the method the that the BUddha used and most likely the method Jesus used.

You can start meditating by dabbling in sensory observation.. LISTENING and doing nothing else for 10 minutes a day... and then transfer that concentration to your breath... don't control your breath.. just WATCH, observe your breath.. eventually you will get a glimpse of the stillness.. the unknown

Using your sensory perception in prolonged focused practice, helps cultivate awareness... some people call this meditation... I DON't... it is only the pre game warm up

Yoga and Ti_chi are great pregame warm up practices.. to actually meditating..

Actually becoming so aware of breath and lung contraction that one shifts their awareness out of the mind and into the breath... into the world of prana..

This may sound confusing but it is simple.. the probnlem comes with being disciplined enough to stay focused on the breath...

during this journey, the mind will do everything it can to make noise and distract YOU from becoming your self.. from becoming free from the shaclkles of thought...

The very best way available to my knowledge is through Vipassan practice.

Once you awaken, you will see that everything the mind believes is only relatively true.. and nothing the mind can concoct or observe is absolutely true.. crossing this bridge is AMAZING... but the journey never ends... at least not from where I can see...

Vipassana Meditation Website

Once one realizes the true definition of meditation, one also realizes that they are always meditiating and there is nothing else to do here on planet MAMA besides mediate..

iloveyou


Can you do anything that is not a reaction to a thought?

enter ZEN from here!

iloveyou

i also recommend Eckhart tolle.. he is a living master, a grown child and a great gift to the planet..

I've been a meditator for about ten years and previously kept meditation and weed well apart because I thought the two should be incompatible . Now I'm glad to say that, with a bit of experimentation, it's helping a lot

Anyone read Cannabis & Meditation by Simon Jackson (this is something I think you should read OP)? Very good book on the subject that's helped me a lot - but surely there must be other books talking about the same thing? Anyone?



Sy

SriYogananda said:

I've been a meditator for about ten years and previously kept meditation and weed well apart because I thought the two should be incompatible . Now I'm glad to say that, with a bit of experimentation, it's helping a lot

Anyone read Cannabis & Meditation by Simon Jackson (this is something I think you should read OP)? Very good book on the subject that's helped me a lot - but surely there must be other books talking about the same thing? Anyone?



Sy

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will check out that book...

Wow that was a good read garden, very informative. I have been searching for a method that would work, you not only explained one, you also explained how it work. +rep. thanx