Why Meditating in Bed does NOT work!

[FairyCrystal]

Finally a scientific explanation. Many people meditate in bed and then wonder why it doesn't work. I always advise people to meditate during the day but I didn't know why that was better.

When you meditate when you're still normally awake you move from Beta brainwaves (the normal waking day state) to Alpha (slower more coherent brainwaves) and you can get into Theta (paradise for meditation!) When things can happen, your brain takes over and you're no longer influenced by the body. You got to understand that in essence our bodies function as our egos and subconscious mind so they hinder us from getting to that free place of deep meditation where wonderful things and healing can occur. So you have to get out of that so the body no longer interferes, BUT the mind is still working!!
That it was happens when you meditate during the day.

When you meditate in bed you get the following: You move straight into Delta.
Delta is when both the body AND mind fall asleep and become inactive.
It's a restorative phase.
No juicy nothing can happen if you meditate then. It won't bring you anything.

So it's best to meditate during the day or evening.
I have experienced this to be true myself, but like I said, I never knew why. Now I do.
Hope it can help you!

[ThatMan]

I've been trying the lotus pose and it seems that it's a something else from meditating while in bed. I usually meditate in bed and it feels like going too deep, eventully leading to sleep, every time I stop, I feel like sleeping, this is my method to go to sleep in a fast way.

When you meditate on the lotus pose, your awareness increases, so to say, but when you meditate in bed, your awareness decreases and you find yourself falling asleep.

But.. this is just me.

[Unseeking Seeker]

***

Different strokes for different folks

Bed, standing, sitting, walking, driving a car ... meditation can be an all time flowing orientation, wherein our inner stillness and thought rested receptivity draws in the divine energy as an ever flowing current of bliss in renewal.

If meditation is to be a conscious doing to begin with, I’d recommend that it should simply be a burning yearning to connect with our own divinity or we may say, with God, within.

***

[lomax]

Originally Posted by Unseeking Seeker

***

Different strokes for different folks

Bed, standing, sitting, walking, driving a car ... meditation can be an all time flowing orientation, wherein our inner stillness and thought rested receptivity draws in the divine energy as an ever flowing current of bliss in renewal.

If meditation is to be a conscious doing to begin with, I’d recommend that it should simply be a burning yearning to connect with our own divinity or we may say, with God, within.

***

I agree.I've done successful contacts even on bed,or while walking.Depends on who you are you're and your goals.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by Unseeking Seeker

***

Different strokes for different folks

Bed, standing, sitting, walking, driving a car ... meditation can be an all time flowing orientation, wherein our inner stillness and thought rested receptivity draws in the divine energy as an ever flowing current of bliss in renewal.

If meditation is to be a conscious doing to begin with, I’d recommend that it should simply be a burning yearning to connect with our own divinity or we may say, with God, within.

***

Exactly.

Some of us cannot sit on the floor in padmasana for any extended period of time... especially those who have osteoarthritis in their knees and hips...does that mean we cannot meditate?

For me personally, meditating in bed has another name....Yoga Nidra.

The only pitfall about meditating in bed, is that there is a tendency to become so relaxed that one can easily fall asleep...which is what the body and mind probably needed anyway.

If the practitioner can remain aware while the body and mind sleeps, this leads into the state called Turiya, which is neither waking consciousness nor the dreaming state.

Yes, I fully realise and understand that meditating in bed is "not recommended" by the majority of meditation teachers and practitioners, but if there is anything life has taught me (especially lately) it is to question all of those recommendations with regards to personal necessity and experience and yes, to even go against what the majority says if it simply "does not apply"....then one is pretty much on their own and yet one can find their own answers within instead of accepting the advice and recommendations of others at face value this way.

[Unseeking Seeker]

***

Talking about posture, what about our mental and emotional posture, purity of intent, orientation of innocence ...

***

[lomax]

Originally Posted by Unseeking Seeker

***

Talking about posture, what about our mental and emotional posture, purity of intent, orientation of innocence ...

***

For me,it's more about bringing stillness to the mind.From that point,the access to the subconsious becomes easier.
In simple words,the whole purpose of meditation isn't to feel bliss or anything like that,but to meet with your inner self.

(This is my own view.Others might dissagree).

[Unseeking Seeker]

Originally Posted by lomax

For me,it's more about bringing stillness to the mind.From that point,the access to the subconsious becomes easier.
In simple words,the whole purpose of meditation isn't to feel bliss or anything like that,but to meet with your inner self.

(This is my own view.Others might dissagree).

***

Of course! We cannot predict or anticipate bliss, much less any other experience or enablement. It just happens, if it is meant to happen.

***

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by lomax

For me,it's more about bringing stillness to the mind.From that point,the access to the subconsious becomes easier.
In simple words,the whole purpose of meditation isn't to feel bliss or anything like that,but to meet with your inner self.

(This is my own view.Others might dissagree).

That is precisely why I focus on stilling the mind. In that stillness, the subconscious emerges.

As noted in a previous post of mine, I have practiced "conscious sleep" for years and have watched the inner pressures from the subconscious manifest in the forms of dreams. It's a fascinating practice --- stilling the mind --- as it does facilitate one's ability "to meet with your inner self".

[SilentDrum]

Originally Posted by Shivani Devi

For me personally, meditating in bed has another name....Yoga Nidra.

The only pitfall about meditating in bed, is that there is a tendency to become so relaxed that one can easily fall asleep...which is what the body and mind probably needed anyway.

If the practitioner can remain aware while the body and mind sleeps, this leads into the state called Turiya, which is neither waking consciousness nor the dreaming state.

In my experience, if your body and nervous system really need to sleep, yes, you will fall asleep even while sitting. But if you're 'on the fence', you will fall asleep while lying down and you will fall into a deep meditative state while sitting. Also, turyia is deeper while sitting. I have never seen any exception to this. Now I know very little about yoga nidra but it seems it is not meditation per se: "The goals of both yogic paths, yoga nidra and meditation are the same, a state of meditative consciousness called samadhi." (source: wikipedia's page about yoga nidra).

And of course,

Originally Posted by Shivani Devi

Yes, I fully realise and understand that meditating in bed is "not recommended" by the majority of meditation teachers and practitioners, but if there is anything life has taught me (especially lately) it is to question all of those recommendations with regards to personal necessity and experience and yes, to even go against what the majority says if it simply "does not apply"....then one is pretty much on their own and yet one can find their own answers within instead of accepting the advice and recommendations of others at face value this way.

this is fully true.