If meditation seems a good idea, but .....

[Gem]

Originally Posted by iamthat

Trying to meditate while feeling physically uncomfortable is very difficult - our attempts to focus on meditation are continually distracted by physical aches and pains, so there is a lot to be said for comfort.

Right, it's about the distractions which one might think are caused by physical discomfort.

At the same time, there are definite reasons for sitting cross-legged, or ideally in the full lotus. It is all to do with the flow of energy. And if you can sit comfortably in the full lotus then it is ideal for meditation, because the body is naturally stable and upright.

One of the eight stages of raja yoga is the practice of asanas or yoga postures. The purpose of these asanas (hatha yoga) is that the body becomes more supple, thus making it easier to sit comfortably in meditation for longer periods of time. So hatha yoga is not an end in itself, it is just a part of preparation for meditation, the final three stages of raja yoga being concentration, meditation and samadhi.

Stilling the mind is not impossible -the ability to still the mind and sit in a state of no-thought can be developed, but few of us have the discipline to do so. It is not the mind that stills the mind, it is consciousness refusing to engage with thoughts. As we stop giving energy to our thoughts, so the interval between thoughts becomes longer. Thoughts arise out of nothing and return back into nothing. We simply rest in that state of nothing.

Peace.

[iamthat]

Originally Posted by Melahin

Have you done that, or is it more the state of not being the thinker, and only the receiver of inspiration?

In my younger days I did a lot of meditation, sometimes for days on end. One time, after sitting for three days, my mind had slowed down considerably and I was just focused on surrender (although I had no idea what I was trying to surrender to). Suddenly this vast Being seemed to reach down and pluck me up into Itself, and I was resting in a void of stillness and mental silence. I don't know how long I remained there, but gradually I returned to "normal" awareness.

I then noticed that something had changed. Previously my thoughts had filled my awareness, but now I was something far greater than thought. More than 35 years later this state is still present. Thoughts arise like bubbles within an ocean, but they are tiny and do not touch what I am, although it is still possible to identify with them. It is like having a switch to turn off the internal mental chatter for shorter or longer periods, but I still have to make the choice to use the switch.

After having this experience/realisation I sat for a further five days of meditation - it was one of the easiest long meditates I have done.

Peace.

[Melahin]

@iamthat thanks for sharing; sounds absolutely awesome!

[Tom Chavez]

Simple meditations can ease for us into getting the full benefits of a meditation practice, and thereby, be finding solace, joy, and peace from the demands in our life.