Can't Meditate? Is meditation hard?

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

A bit more detail.

If you want to read up a bit on what they say about it, google 'anapana nostrils' (anapana means breath awareness). It won't be as good as what I say about it,

Why wont it be as good as what you say ? Are you personally more advanced than The Buddha
Btw Meditation is a 'Mental Activity '. what else can it be.....

[sky]

Originally Posted by A human Being

But observation is a mental activity, surely?

It certainly is.. as is Meditation.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

Actually, found this on Google. Approved. http://www.thierrycuvillier-academy....on-english.pdf

The Anapanasati Sutta would be more helpfull imo, as taught by The Buddha.

Translated by a very respected Buddhist Translator.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipi....118.than.html

[A human Being]

Originally Posted by sky

It certainly is.. as is Meditation.

I've personally found it much more useful to approach it as a body-oriented practice, I take the approach of simply allowing my body to breathe; as the body relaxes, what had previously been repressed can gradually arise and release, and energetic blockages slowly break down.

[sky]

Originally Posted by A human Being

I've personally found it much more useful to approach it as a body-oriented practice, I take the approach of simply allowing my body to breathe; as the body relaxes, what had previously been repressed can gradually arise and release, and energetic blockages slowly break down.

What works for you is how you recieve the benefits, we are all different and have various experiences and ways of Meditating Nothing is set in stone.. Buddha, as did others taught Meditation and how it worked for them personally but we all need to find our own path as individuals......

[A human Being]

Originally Posted by sky

What works for you is how you recieve the benefits, we are all different and have various experiences and ways of Meditating Nothing is set in stone.. Buddha, as did others taught Meditation and how it worked for them personally but we all need to find our own path as individuals......

Agree with that, we all have different issues and temperaments and so there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, I don't think.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by A human Being

But observation is a mental activity, surely?

It's not activity as in thinking or imagining, but it takes a lot of attention. It's deliberate attention, but I think the best way to describe it is the cessation of distraction.

[Gem]

Just went for a look on you-tube, and found this. A bit different to what I say, but very similar. Approved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq-RHgSYVNw

[Gem]

The reason this is very exact is you need to know exactly what to do or you will feel uncertain, which makes it hard. I'm just saying do this exactly and be completely sure because knowing exactly what the task is will make meditation easier.

'Different things work for different people' is a popular notion, but it is not the case at all. 'This is what works', and what works works for everyone is the case. Not this will work for one person but not for someone else so you aren't sure if this will work for you. This works. Period. You can be sure.

There are some whose interest is mainly directed toward 'what I want', and because this method has no regard for what anyone wants, they will not gravitate toward this. This one is the truth as you experience it now. It's always the truth and only the truth. For those who have become somewhat disenchanted with 'what I want' and are prepared to know what's true, feel the air at the nose as breath comes in, goes out. There is more to come.

[sky]

An interesting Article on the Four Tetrads of Anapanasati Meditation as taught by The Buddha....

https://www.wildmind.org/texts/anapanasati/anapanasati3