Comments on: David vs. Monkey Mind — Meditation Experiment: Day 15

By: Applying the Law of Attraction

Applying the Law of Attraction — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:55:49 +0000

The experience you relate within your ten minute meditations is really inspiring. So many believe there is a right and wrong way to meditate and avoid it because they don’t believe they can sit still for 20 minutes. There is a right and wrong way for each of us, not for all of us. I applaud your finding what is working for you today.
Applying the Law of Attraction´s last blog ..The Art of Deliberate Creation

By: David

David — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:22:32 +0000

@ Tim — I like the idea of lying down, but I tend to fall asleep. You’re right, lack of time really isn’t a good excuse, when it only takes a few minutes. But I’ve definitely used that one too.

@ Albert — Welcome to Raptitude, Albert. Tolle’s meditation really does work for me; I had tried a lot of other techniques that I wasn’t able to get into, at least at the time.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:16:40 +0000

David:

Thanks for keeping us updated…I’m really interested in learning from your experience. In the past I have done some meditation. My greatest meditation experience was after a yoga class about ten yrs ago. I was as relaxed as you could be without actually being asleep. But that meditation involved lying flat on my back as opposed to sitting. Any thoughts about lying down vs. sitting?

I used to blame my lack of time for not being able to meditate, but now that I’m “in transition” I have no excuses. It is amazing about the load of crap we tell ourselves. I need this more than ever.

By: Albert | UrbanMonk.Net

Albert | UrbanMonk.Net — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:03:25 +0000

Wow David, amazing experiences. I remember trying Tolle’s meditation but not getting anywhere near the kind of results you are getting, so this is real inspiration for me to get back to it. Thanks

By: David

David — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:20:10 +0000

Hey great post, Josh, thanks. Tourette’s would certainly complicate the meditation experience. I would like to get into the habit of conquering something by 7am. I actually would like your input on my next experiment; I’ll shoot you an email.

By: Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:57:04 +0000

I can’t believe you are writing about this. It was just yesterday that I was studying what actually happens when your body and mind relax. I came across the term “monkey mind” in an essay, and here you are, one step ahead.

I’ve tinkered with meditation before. If you know anything about Tourette’s Syndrome, you probably laugh at the thought of someone meditating through their tics. It’s never happened for me, but I’m convinced the theory is sound.

You might get a kick out of this post, David: http://www.straighttothebar.com/2009/02/small_victories.html

It gives some background about my symptoms and bouncing back. Sadly, meditation is still not in my toolbox. Keep it up! You shall be the most serene of all, I feel it.

By: David

David — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:20:21 +0000

I guess it’s a skill like anything else. I’m trying to add in short periods of mindful sitting throughout the day, to exercise my mindfulness muscles more frequently.

By: Nadia - Happy Lotus

Nadia - Happy Lotus — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:42:53 +0000

Hi David,

Sounds like you are making progress. Good for you! When I first started, I could not do 20 minutes in one stretch either. So I broke it down like you are doing and it really helped. Eventually, when I was being trained by that Buddhist master, I was able to sit for about an hour without any problem. Who knows…maybe one day you will be leading meditation classes????

By: David

David — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:25:16 +0000

@ Positively Present — Glad you’re enjoying it. I was wondering if anybody at all would be interested in reading about me sitting in a room doing nothing.

By: David

David — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:24:11 +0000

@ Sherri — It’s all still quite new to me, but I am proud of the fact that I did not quit during the first week. If I hadn’t set up some public accountability by posting this online I probably would have.

I’ve seen this pattern before; when something is slow-going enough to be frustrating, usually it only takes a little bit of pushing before something gives. I have a habit of abandoning things prematurely, so I can get back to square one and start again. I’m almost addicted to ‘square one’ in that sense. I needed some public scrutiny to inspire that little bit of push.

Now I’m not scared of my sessions any more. I do have to come to terms with the urge to “get on with my day” though. That feeling of anxiousness could easily overrun the whole ten minutes if I didn’t make a point of dealing with it.

Thank you for your tweet, by the way.