Going beyond Terms-Names

[lomax]

Another approach that can help shut down the monkey mind while meditating.

I'll use the example of focusing to your breath.

Many people claim that this type of meditation isn't helpfull,because once they move their attention to their breath,instead of getting relaxed,they become more nervous.
I think i know one factor responsible for this.We are focusing on the 'name' and not the breath it self.

In order to understand the concept better,go outside and obeserve a tree.Ask your self what is that thing,and your mind will pop up to tell you ''it's a tree''.
Be aware that what you know about it,it's only a name.Now,remove the name (tree) from your mind,and look again.This time you're looking at it,and not it's given name.It is what it is,and you're looking at it.

You can do the same with every other object as well.It could be a piece of paper,a furniture or something else.

Everytime i do this,the object of observation starts to transmit things to me.It could be smells,visions of it's history,it's functions,etc.

Recently i started to utilize the same teqnique with my breath and i'm starting to see results.

This is a very good guide for the Vipassana technique of Calm Abiding. Basically it's mindfulness of sensation of breath. It was prepared by Matthew at vipassanaforum.net.

https://www.vipassanaforum.net/meditation/Shamatha.pdf

I've practiced this technique for about ten years and if it ever gets stale I mix it up with mindfulness of sound. Here's a YT playlist I put together of Tibetan Singing Bowl tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cri...index=1&t=200s

[lomax]

Thanks for the input JASG.
Yes,a really good article.
Seems like you know your stuff well.

[A human Being]

Originally Posted by JustASimpleGuy

This is a very good guide for the Vipassana technique of Calm Abiding. Basically it's mindfulness of sensation of breath. It was prepared by Matthew at vipassanaforum.net.

https://www.vipassanaforum.net/meditation/Shamatha.pdf

Excellent article, JASG, thanks for sharing.

[lomax]

Another example.

I focus on my cell phone by using my mind.Nothing happens.It's just a cell phone and the mind doesn't care to pay attention,cause it knows what is it.

I switch the tables,and i wonder how i would perceive my cell phone by bypassing it's name.

Somethings happens,and i feel drawn to it.I can sense the buttons,the metal,the smell of it.Everything becomes new about it.It's like i see something like this for a very first time.

Now my mind (or a deeper layer of it) is trying to understand what is that thing with the given name 'cell phone''.

Maybe this approach is triggering the 'learning mode',and this mode can be useful to gain more access to the subconsious.(wich i think it's the purpose of all meditation teqniques).

[Miss Hepburn]

lomax, your examples are so similar to the first few Lessons in A Course In Miracles.

Yes, very good techniques.

[lomax]

Another example:

(I'll use as an object a toothbrush).

Look at the toothbrush and ask your self 'what is that thing'?
Your mind will answer you ''it's a toothbrush''

Tell your mind something like ''Yes,i know it's name.I asked what is it''.

As soon as your mind will become capable to understand the difference between the object it self and it's name,something will happen and you'll feel a shift in your consiousness.

(My vocabulary it's awful,but i'm doing my best to make it as clear as possible).

Originally Posted by lomax

Another example:

(I'll use as an object a toothbrush).

Look at the toothbrush and ask your self 'what is that thing'?
Your mind will answer you ''it's a toothbrush''

Tell your mind something like ''Yes,i know it's name.I asked what is it''.

As soon as your mind will become capable to understand the difference between the object it self and it's name,something will happen and you'll feel a shift in your consiousness.

(My vocabulary it's awful,but i'm doing my best to make it as clear as possible).

Here's an interesting meditation technique somewhat along this line of inquiry into the nature of things. I played around with it a few times but haven't yet invested significant effort. Perhaps some day I will.

https://deconstructingyourself.com/n...awareness.html

[lomax]

Originally Posted by JustASimpleGuy

Here's an interesting meditation technique somewhat along this line of inquiry into the nature of things. I played around with it a few times but haven't yet invested significant effort. Perhaps some day I will.

https://deconstructingyourself.com/n...awareness.html

Hey,that's really cool.

[lomax]

Propably it'll sound egoistical,but some days before i did something similar by casting my attention the the east,pretending that the consiousness of the east was also aware of me.Then i proceeded with the other directions as well.

And now you posted this link.(lol)

Maybe not the same exactly,but similar enough.