How to meditate?
 

How do I not think about something during meditation?

Just notice the thoughts but don't follow them and don't judge yourself for not meditating 'properly', because thoughts will occur. Gently return attention to the focus of your meditation and in doing this you are properly practicing.

Think of it like resistance training for the mind. Repetition builds strength, both for muscles and the mind. The mind wanders away, bring it back, and it will over and over and over again. You just have to bring it back over and over and over again, gently without judging yourself or your practice. In time thoughts will become less frequent and less substantial and you will notice them much more quickly.

Ah, the big question. When you have attained no-thought, then you will be a great Yogi.

But as Ramana Maharshi said, stop all thoughts as they arise. This requires continual presence and vigilance. Gradually thoughts fade away because we are not feeding them with energy. In the absence of thought, there is no mind. In the absence of mind, there is only awareness of the Self.

Peace.

how to meditate
 

A lot of people think meditation isn't for them, that they're not going to be able to stop thinking no matter what they do.
...
Below you'll find some useful tips to keep your mind from wandering while meditating.
Breathe. ...
Draw or imagine shapes. ...
Practice guided meditation. ...
Accept your thoughts. ...
Write down your thoughts.

Hahaha, what a great question!!:D
The mind is so strong isn't it? Ha!

What captures your attention? What do you love so much that when
a person comes into a room
you don't notice them - you are so absorbed?
You must have something more powerful than the mind that captures your focus.

First, (cuz you asked for advice), learn to slow down your thoughts, or rather to focus on
only a couple sweet thoughts - soon you will realize
the power you have to call these wild horses that have run out of the corral running all over back into the corral.

Learn to sit with a couple pleasant thoughts that bring a smile to your face.
A couple sweet thoughts are way better than letting thoughts run-a-muck in your head...thinking of
past embarrassments, indignations regarding work, worrying about bills, right?
This is to see you do have control. Thoughts do not control 'you'.
Start with that, as a beginner.


When I teach music - I want the young student to be able to play 2-3 long held notes, first, clearly
with beautiful tone and control. Ahh. :hug3:
We have all heard the squeaky notes on the violin or saxophone a beginner plays, right? :tongue:

Learn calm, confident, relaxed control - first.
Later, comes-- What is more powerful than the mind that you can focus on
that captures your heart and thus, concentration.

If you want check out 'The Practice' playlist on my YouTube channel JustASimpleGuy.

It contains five short and one long videos by Yongey Minguyr Rinpoche and is a fairly comprehensive guide for beginners. Click on the first vidoe and they will autoplay in sequence.

I loved what you wrote --- especially the ending.

" Learn calm, confident, relaxed control - first.
Later, comes-- What is more powerful than the mind that you can focus on
that captures your heart and thus, concentration"

:smile:

JRL09,

Years ago when I began a meditation practice I used a very simple technique. I counted to 4(in my mind) over and over again. The purpose was to establish rhythmic breathing. As you say the number in your mind breathe out....then breathe in as you say 'and'. i.e. 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.....then start over. Too many numbers and one becomes forced to remember the next number. Also all of those numbers are one-syllable numbers....it helps establish a consistent rhythm. The only variable becomes how deeply one breathes. One can increase the depth of breath until it feels appropriate. It(meditation) simply becomes an exercise in breathing.....the essence of life. At some point after developing the automatic rhythm of breathing one can then cease the counting of the numbers. You will discover at first that this simple counting helps to prevent any extraneous thoughts....from this experience you realize that thoughts can be overcome. Hope this might be of value to you....:)

Fascinating..maybe even ingenius.:smile: