New thread! Let's get rid of the word meditation and it's concepts

[Miss Hepburn]

So, how does that sound...?

I have been reading around in different threads and there seems to be a
a recurring 'issue'.
Hard to stop thoughts
Distracted
Lack of success, whatever.

NOW, what if you tossed that entire word and at the beginning... you 'sat'.
That's all...comfortably sat, still, quietly for a certain amount of time?
And them, threw out all concepts of mindlessness, mindfulness, emptiness and samadhi?

So let's say for a month you sat in the darkness and stillness of being undisturbed...to enjoy thought.

Thought about wondrous things...thinking 'a movie scene' for 30 minutes.

About....love...$$...travel...a new baby...happiness in everything...confidence and freedom....

What does that mean? You have enjoyed yourself, changed your chemistry,
relaxed every system in your body...and MADE A NEW GROOVE in your brain...of Joy!

One month...then let's talk about this 'emptying'...and a
successful meditation...hahahha!

[Pleroo]

And when the negative thoughts inevitably intrude, MissH, how do you personally handle that? I'm all for cultivating a positive mindset, as I think you know. But the negative things are there for a reason, too, yes? Just pushing them away, suppressing or repressing them, isn't beneficial (in my opinion). They've got to be acknowledged and felt, seems to me, accepted and somehow healed.

But, perhaps that is a completely separate process from what you're talking about in this thread?

[Clover]

and just BREATHE .



...make sure it's not dusty and easy the chives!

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Pleroo

And when the negative thoughts inevitably intrude, MissH, how do you personally handle that? I'm all for cultivating a positive mindset, as I think you know. But the negative things are there for a reason, too, yes? Just pushing them away, suppressing or repressing them, isn't beneficial (in my opinion). They've got to be acknowledged and felt, seems to me, accepted and somehow healed.

Hi Pleroo,

This really is not rocket science. (Boy, that sounds rude, didn't mean it that way...)

When we smell trash while walking the dog ...we cross the street.
When we see murders on TV we switch the channel.
By doing this we see the immense power we have over our thoughts, and thus, how we feel.

If one thinks it is necessary to be close to the trash...well, hey...so be it..
it's their Path, I say.

Good question.

[Emmalevine]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

Hi Pleroo,

This really is not rocket science. (Boy, that sounds rude, didn't mean it that way...)

When we smell trash while walking the dog ...we cross the street.
When we see murders on TV we switch the channel.
By doing this we see the immense power we have over our thoughts, and thus, how we feel.

If one thinks it is necessary to be close to the trash...well, hey...so be it..
it's their Path, I say.

Good question.

To be honest Miss H for many people it's not a choice. People who have grown up in horrific backgrounds, for example, or gone through traumatic experiences, they have to work through painful stuff in order to heal it. It's not simply a question of 'I don't like feeling this way, I'll think about flowers instead and feel happy' It really isn't. I know from my own experience it can take a long time and a lot of emotional repair work to be able to shift into a new way of being. The stuff people go through often IS the work - repressed emotions won't just vanish without being felt- and they need not feel they are doing something wrong if they can't just wake up one day and choose another way. I'm glad that works for some, but it just depends on what someone has gone through and the depth of the pain that needs healing.

[Belle]

Originally Posted by Emmalevine

To be honest Miss H for many people it's not a choice. People who have grown up in horrific backgrounds, for example, or gone through traumatic experiences, they have to work through painful stuff in order to heal it. It's not simply a question of 'I don't like feeling this way, I'll think about flowers instead and feel happy' It really isn't. I know from my own experience it can take a long time and a lot of emotional repair work to be able to shift into a new way of being. The stuff people go through often IS the work - repressed emotions won't just vanish without being felt- and they need not feel they are doing something wrong if they can't just wake up one day and choose another way. I'm glad that works for some, but it just depends on what someone has gone through and the depth of the pain that needs healing.

This.

I am actually of the point of wondering that I might never be ok or free. They just don't go away, they are in the DNA, the bones, the blood. I don't have a reference point of being happy. Yes I have happiness in my life and fun but as a rule of thumb, life is substandard. i know it is and I do wonder if there is a solution.

Pockets of fun and joy but not at the end of the day, the default is a low base.

I do keep trying tho and so I must believe somewhere that it is all possible.

[Emmalevine]

Originally Posted by Belle

This.

I am actually of the point of wondering that I might never be ok or free. They just don't go away, they are in the DNA, the bones, the blood. I don't have a reference point of being happy. Yes I have happiness in my life and fun but as a rule of thumb, life is substandard. i know it is and I do wonder if there is a solution.

Pockets of fun and joy but not at the end of the day, the default is a low base.

I do keep trying tho and so I must believe somewhere that it is all possible.

Belle it is possible and I'm testament to that. My life is still hard and I have my moments but as far as the past is concerned, I no longer live it. I've moved into a state of peace where I live day by day and the pain isn't there. But it's a very difficult, even agonising, process to work through especially when it involves a background as your development is literally infused with trauma. Do what works for you, and keep trusting that freedom is possible.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Emmalevine

To be honest Miss H for many people it's not a choice. People who have grown up in horrific backgrounds,
for example, or gone through traumatic experiences, they have to work through painful stuff in order to heal it.
It's not simply a question of 'I don't like feeling this way, I'll think about flowers instead and feel happy' It really isn't.
I know from my own experience it can take a long time and a lot of emotional repair work to be able to shift into a new way of being.
The stuff people go through often IS the work - repressed emotions won't just vanish without being felt- and they
need not feel they are doing something wrong if they can't just wake up one day and choose another way.
I'm glad that works for some, but it just depends on what someone has gone through and the depth of the pain
that needs healing.

Hi Emmalevine,
Very good post and probably reflects many others' thoughts.
(And hi Belle and anthony :)

I did wonder if I present myself as never having had problems, traumas, pain, grief and depression...
ha, just because I'm through so much...of course, grief can come at any time and I never
block or repress that, but feel it in all of it's depth for a long time!
I digressed.

Tackling our traumas or anything that keeps us from peace (bad job, bad relationship, bad living situation, bad ruminating thoughts...)
and living our life happily is a 'job', indeed!
I certainly didn't get here without therapy, reading, getting advice, praying, practicing detachment,
(ie, being the observer/witness) but, mainly God's Grace
that allowed me to forgive and gain insight as to the perfection and purpose of all the 'bad stuff'.

One of the things that is a problem for so many is never letting go, never forgiving, reliving the traumas,
thus, not seeing the profound perfection with our terrible childhoods
and all the other terrible things.
(Omg, there are murders and suicides of loved ones, rapes, all our money embezzled!)

Repression...no.
Denying and ignoring...no.
But, wallowing or blaming, hanging onto these terrible things that have happened to
us like they are 'who we are'...can be transformed into great wisdom.
This is important to remember, we do not have to live this entire life with an Albatross around our necks**.

One of the things that I understand is not all of us came here to quickly heal
with a few sessions of therapy, and Shazam!, life is all rosey now.
Some were meant to have a tougher life for their particular lessons.

This is the thing...there comes a time (and maybe not this lifetime)
when we are to realize the power we have;
when we see we can decide to be happy and free....and then,
do the work.

The work may be disciplining ourselves to sit in stillness each day for a solid hour..
(since this is the meditation thread, after all).

If someone should decide that that is an avenue to peace of mind...
they can lay there past trauma's on a shelf...to be taken down if they chose and dealt with in all the ways available;
some mentioned above.

For those that have dealt with issues and simply have active thoughts bothering them
while sitting in silence each day about money and all the work they need to get done, they can learn that
it is as easy as changing the channel or to replace these bothersome thoughts and partake of the loveliness
of an hour of peace.

My take anyway.

** Reference, 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'...Samuel Coleridge

[anthony c]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

Hi Emmalevine,
Very good post and probably reflects many others' thoughts.
(And hi Belle and anthony :)

I did wonder if I present myself as never having had problems, traumas, pain, grief and depression...
ha, just because I'm through so much...of course, grief can come at any time and I never
block or repress that, but feel it in all of it's depth for a long time!
I digressed.

Tackling our traumas or anything that keeps us from peace (bad job, bad relationship, bad living situation, bad ruminating thoughts...)
and living our life happily is a 'job', indeed!
I certainly didn't get here without therapy, reading, getting advice, praying, practicing detachment,
(ie, being the observer/witness) but, mainly God's Grace
that allowed me to forgive and gain insight as to the perfection and purpose of all the 'bad stuff'.

One of the things that is a problem for so many is never letting go, never forgiving, reliving the traumas,
thus, not seeing the profound perfection with our terrible childhoods
and all the other terrible things.
(Omg, there are murders and suicides of loved ones, rapes, all our money embezzled!)

Repression...no.
Denying and ignoring...no.
But, wallowing or blaming, hanging onto these terrible things that have happened to
us like they are 'who we are'...can be transformed into great wisdom.
This is important to remember, we do not have to live this entire life with an Albatross around our necks**.

One of the things that I understand is not all of us came here to quickly heal
with a few sessions of therapy, and Shazam!, life is all rosey now.
Some were meant to have a tougher life for their particular lessons.

This is the thing...there comes a time (and maybe not this lifetime)
when we are to realize the power we have;
when we see we can decide to be happy and free....and then,
do the work.

The work may be disciplining ourselves to sit in stillness each day for a solid hour..
(since this is the meditation thread, after all).

If someone should decide that that is an avenue to peace of mind...
they can lay there past trauma's on a shelf...to be taken down if they chose and dealt with in all the ways available;
some mentioned above.

For those that have dealt with issues and simply have active thoughts bothering them
while sitting in silence each day about money and all the work they need to get done, they can learn that
it is as easy as changing the channel or to replace these bothersome thoughts and partake of the loveliness
of an hour of peace.

My take anyway.

** Reference, 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'...Samuel Coleridge

I have found that meditating on your thoughts to be very tough meditation practice. I have allot of thoughts and most of them are not positive. I think to myself, you want to get out your head not in it.

I also get very agitated when i do this meditation and keep thinking: i hate this and want to stop. I can see that this practice when you get it right can be very rewarding for a person like me but wow its very though.

I have done this practice before and have had some success and the key to this meditation is to see thoughts as thoughts. When you think i cant do it or like i was thinking at the time, i want to stop... that it's just another thought and you should just observe it as a thought and not get lost in the content of it and try to let it pass.

Thoughts are very "sticky" and try not to let them stick. EASIER SAID THAN DONE! It gets easier and sure when you get in the groove of it the are not so sticky anymore.

Thanks for your tips Miss Hepburn on the psychology of this meditation.

[Emmalevine]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

Hi Emmalevine,
Very good post and probably reflects many others' thoughts.
(And hi Belle and anthony :)

I did wonder if I present myself as never having had problems, traumas, pain, grief and depression...
ha, just because I'm through so much...of course, grief can come at any time and I never
block or repress that, but feel it in all of it's depth for a long time!
I digressed.

Tackling our traumas or anything that keeps us from peace (bad job, bad relationship, bad living situation, bad ruminating thoughts...)
and living our life happily is a 'job', indeed!
I certainly didn't get here without therapy, reading, getting advice, praying, practicing detachment,
(ie, being the observer/witness) but, mainly God's Grace
that allowed me to forgive and gain insight as to the perfection and purpose of all the 'bad stuff'.

One of the things that is a problem for so many is never letting go, never forgiving, reliving the traumas,
thus, not seeing the profound perfection with our terrible childhoods
and all the other terrible things.
(Omg, there are murders and suicides of loved ones, rapes, all our money embezzled!)

Repression...no.
Denying and ignoring...no.
But, wallowing or blaming, hanging onto these terrible things that have happened to
us like they are 'who we are'...can be transformed into great wisdom.
This is important to remember, we do not have to live this entire life with an Albatross around our necks**.

One of the things that I understand is not all of us came here to quickly heal
with a few sessions of therapy, and Shazam!, life is all rosey now.
Some were meant to have a tougher life for their particular lessons.

This is the thing...there comes a time (and maybe not this lifetime)
when we are to realize the power we have;
when we see we can decide to be happy and free....and then,
do the work.

The work may be disciplining ourselves to sit in stillness each day for a solid hour..
(since this is the meditation thread, after all).

If someone should decide that that is an avenue to peace of mind...
they can lay there past trauma's on a shelf...to be taken down if they chose and dealt with in all the ways available;
some mentioned above.

For those that have dealt with issues and simply have active thoughts bothering them
while sitting in silence each day about money and all the work they need to get done, they can learn that
it is as easy as changing the channel or to replace these bothersome thoughts and partake of the loveliness
of an hour of peace.

My take anyway.

** Reference, 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'...Samuel Coleridge

Thanks for responding to me so thoughtfully Miss H.

I do have a lot of respect for your posts and outlook on life.

I agree with what you say - and it's a delicate balance to discover, I find. That balance between having a choice (to heal, to change thoughts, to vow to find a new way) and to let the pain of the past rule. My point is that of course it can be a very long process. What it comes down to is awareness. When one is aware, the battle is halfway won.