Why is meditation hard for some people?

Question

I wonder why some people say mediation is easy and relaxing. I guess I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing. I mean, sitting there with my eyes closed thinking about (insert instructions) and being still, hasn't really done anything for me except make me feel like I'm doing something wrong. What should I expect? Or not expect?

Answer 1

Try listening to a nature cd (like rain), and just being.  If a thought comes in to mind, let it pass instead of being frustrated by it or engaging in an internal dialog such as 'gee, I blew it, I am thinking about what to make for dinner' -- just let the thought come, and let it go without any more to it.  Soon it will get easier to do.  I personally feel that the more stressful your life is, the harder it will be, but at the same time, all the more you need it.

Answer 2

Some people suffer from St. Vita's dance and can't hold still.

Answer 3

You are missing the entire purpose of meditation.  The idea is not only to sit, relax, and be still.  It is to clear and focus the mind.  This is the short term goal.  The long term goal is to use meditation as a means to obtain enlightenment.  The idea is to acheive awareness,

Our mind wanders.  It is difficult to still the mind, clear it of all thoughts, and focus.  It takes time to train the mind to do this.

Answer 4

I have to agree with Christy VT above. You do not state what type of meditation you practice so I will be answering from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition that I follow. I believe most if not all will relate to almost all practices whether they are Buddhist or otherwise. There are two basic types of meditation as I understand it: vipassana (insight) and samatha (tranquil). In samatha meditation one generally "counts the breath." This is the basic type of meditation of which one frequently envisions when thinking of meditation. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso refers to this as "placement" meditation. Vipassana meditation is more analytical. Some would consider it "contemplation" and is frequently practiced after hearing or reading a Dharma instruction. The two types of meditation are usually consecutive in that one will begin samatha to quiet the mind and afterwards will practice vipassana. You can get some more info at http://web.ukonline.co.uk/buddhism/uttam... and http://www.enabling.org/ia/vipassana/Arc... .

I thought I'd expand it to give you a little more to think about. This is from "Steps on the Path to Enlightenment: Volume 3" by Geshe Lhundub Sopa: "...when one has a direct realization of sunyata, the direct object of one's meditation is only emptiness; the mind perceives only sunyata, and nothing phenomenal or relative appears. During that meditation session one will have no thoughts. But this does not mean that at other times practitioners should not think or judge between good and bad. If one's practice is simply to stop thinking, it is like going to sleep. This is laziness. Some people are attracted to this because it is peaceful. They do not need to worry about anything; if anything comes to mind they try to blank it out. It is difficult to vacate the mind at first, but success in this will not get you anywhere. In fact, it is a great barrier to learning, education, and developing wisdom.

"Sunyata—emptiness—does not mean an empty mind. The emptiness of all phenomena is what they lack, or are empty of, any kind of ultimate reality. A realization of emptiness is seeing how things exist and how they do not exist. Under the power of ignorance we believe phenomena exist as we perceive them. In the beginning of our practice we must gain an understanding of this through analysis, employing inference and logic. This inferential knowledge gradually deepens until it becomes a direct realization. From there it goes even deeper until it is wisdom free of seeing phenomenal things. In short, the realization of sunyata requires both analysis and mental stability.

"Those who cast away analytical wisdom are throwing out the wisdom side of practice. If one casts away analytical thought, how could one meditate on even fundamental concepts such as the four noble truths? How can one meditate on the truth of suffering without thinking about it? This holds true for all practices on the method side, such as meditating on impermanence, love, compassion, bodhicitta, and so on. ...it is a great obstacle to spiritual development to think that meditating on patience means to keep the mind blank or to focus on patience as an external object. While the mind is blank we may feel no anger, but as soon as we are faced with an unpleasant situation we will get angry. With analytical wisdom we can fight against anger. Our patience will be very firm and stable. The practice of Buddhism does not come by itself; it requires learning, investigation, and study."

So continue to think about (insert instruction) and ponder. Meditation is a practice and that means you have to practice just like anything else you want to accomplish. Hope this is of some help.

May all be at peace.

John

Answer 5

Just sit and don't over analyze it. If you thinking too much or your mind is racing, just let it race.

That itself is interesting.

Answer 6

Meditation is not easy or relaxing. Who told you this? That is not a skillful representation of the process of meditation.

You can't make any mistakes in meditation. Everything that happens is okay. The idea is for you to be aware of how your mind is working.

Psychology is about content of the mind

Meditation is about the mechanisms of the mind. You don't mull over every thought or try to figure them out. You just watch the parade and see how your mind wanders, how it makes you suffer, how thoughts are really like bubbles, they come and go.

Don't try so hard. Just sit there. If you are bored, then be bored. Be totally bored. See what "bored" feels like. Just don't jump into your thoughts. Keep breathing and let them pass onto the next thing, and tthe next thing after that.

Answer 7

i dont really mediate. i dont have to anymore. Meditation can be good. what my therapist used to have me do, was clothes my eyes and picture my favorite place, in the fall or spring(i always chose fall). so i am supposed to see myself in my favorite place in the fall, and then i stop to feel how it would feel to be there, and stop and revel in it so to speak. ummmmk. then i spot a leaf. i am supposed to with eytes closed, follow the one leaf, as it rises and falls and when i feel peaceful "following it". i stop and come back. itsdiffr5ent than a religios or spiritual meditation. to me its really becoming more centered. mediatiog to me means getting quiet, for whatever i am about to mediatte on(or think about).  then i consider it. ummmm i dont dissect a thought or a Bible verse persay, i just imagine it in my head, and allow all theemotions that evokes from me, and all my experiances with Gods word that i am currently considering, i let them rest there, and let it go down into me. it is nice.  

Answer 8

dont think and dont expect anything other wise you are not relaxed enough

Answer 9

Realize that peace doesn't mean to be somewhere that has no noise, trouble or hard work, it means to be in the midst of these things and still be calm in your heart.

Clear my mind, know that God has your back.

Answer 10

"nothing" - inserted instructions

meditation is about relaxing and clearing your mind...that's the beauty of it...thinking about nothing

Answer 11

Just sit back, listen to your breath.  Pay great attention towards your breathing, the sensation of the air moving and tickling your nostrils cooling off your throat and expanding your chest,. then on the exhale the chest retracts warm air moves through your throat as you feel it extinguish itself through your mouth.

It is important to put as much attention to your breathing as possible.  If your attention goes elsewhere, just focus it back towards your breathing.. That is the most important thing above all things, do not waste time being angry with yourself, just maintain your focus on your breathing.. young grasshopper.

Answer 12

inability to concentrate, I guess. - uh - what were you saying?  {*GRIN*}

Answer 13

Hello

Meditation is easy, once you have mastered it!

Meditation is one of the hardest tasks you can master. You have to choose a method, practice on time, regularly even if you want to or not.

It is worth sticking with, join our forum & wander into the Meditation Tent.

Sadhara

Answer 14

Your results depend on your expectations. Why are you meditating? Is is to relieve stress? Is it to initiate the mind body connection for health or healing? Is it part of a spiritual path seeking enlightenment or a closer relationship w/ the Divine?

Meditation can be all these things and more. It requires focused awareness. The 1st link below points to an article regarding health benefits. The 2nd is to a company that sells CDs which entrain your brainwaves to help you attain a meditative state (like training wheels for a bike).

You are probably not doing anything "wrong." You just need to focus your attention more so that the chattering part of your mind drops away from your consciousness.

Answer 15

meditation is not hard for me, it's just boring.