Meta-consciousness.

[Quan Yin]

I was totally wrong about meditation. Studying it in literature is not nearly as helpful as talking to practitioners. I attended a sitting cession at the shambhala Buddhist centre, near where I live, and afterword the host gave me many fantastic insights. I was doing it all wrong: I was holding my head too high, shouldn't have had my eyes closed, and I wasn't in the correct mind for focusing on the breath. I now understand that the practice of meditation is to eventually be able to sustain continuous meta-consciousness. Constant awareness of your own inner states. Not as a director, or master, but simply as an observer. To be intellectually aware of what is happening in your own mind, at all times.

This is why the focusing on the breath is so important, because it teaches your mind to sustain longer, and longer periods of continuous focus. This will be the major skill required to ultimately achieve continuous meta-consciousness.

[Will]

I'm glad you've had a helpful experience.

Personally, I've always seen meditation in putting one's mind to rest. All of the noise normal life causes can become a bit loud from time to time and just taking a minute (or 5 or 60) to completely empty the mind can be incredibly refreshing and calming. Anything after that, including developing metacognition, seems like icing on the cake.

[Velma]

I'm glad you've had a helpful experience.

Personally, I've always seen meditation in putting one's mind to rest. All of the noise normal life causes can become a bit loud from time to time and just taking a minute (or 5 or 60) to completely empty the mind can be incredibly refreshing and calming. Anything after that, including developing metacognition, seems like icing on the cake.

I agree.  It can help settle your mind and calm you down.

Oddly, I gotten my best results sitting cross-legged in a recliner with my eyes closed and focusing on my breathing.  I found that I could reach a state of calm awareness more easily if I focused on my breath rather than how I was sitting.

[notself]

Meditation can be done sitting, standing,walking or lying down.  In the sitting position one can use the full lotus, the half lotus, the cross ankle, legs to the side or a chair or bench.  In sitting one can keep the eyelids closed, open or partially open.  

The real goal is to maintain focused concentration whether it is on the breath, a mantra, a flame, a tone or on loving kindness (metta).  Concentration is the key.  A well concentrated mind enters a mental state called the jhana.  The earliest stages of jhana are states of bliss.  Those who are very experienced meditators go even beyond jhana and use jhana as a resting place.  The calm of meditation is just the very beginning of what is possible.

The beginnings stages of meditation are as important as any other stage.  In the beginning stages one observes thoughts come and go; feelings come and go; pain and itches come and go.  When I first started to meditate my right eyelid would twitch like crazy.  I stopped focusing on my breath and started to focus on my eyelid.  I observed the twitch.  It would grow stronger and then start to lessen.  Eventually after many minutes, it would start to weaken and then disappear.  One day my twitch did not arrive.  My eyelid stayed calm.  The twitch was gone and never came back.  I still miss it because I could really focus when it was there.

[Sophus]

The idea that one can reach a point when they can meditate anywhere at anytime has always fascinated me but it feels unattainable. How can you always remain in that same calm mental state? I've seen buddhists do it, but wow.

Maybe it's extra hard for me because the meds I'm on give me some difficulty breathing.

[notself]

The idea that one can reach a point when they can meditate anywhere at anytime has always fascinated me but it feels unattainable. How can you always remain in that same calm mental state? I've seen buddhists do it, but wow.

Maybe it's extra hard for me because the meds I'm on give me some difficulty breathing.

Observe your breathing whether it is smooth and relaxed or labored and tense.   If you want you can focus on your big toe rather than your breath.  I haven't nearly reached the point where I am always in a calm mental state without concentrating on something, but I can meditate to some extent almost anywhere. The only place so far that I haven't been able to concentrate at all is in an MRI machine.  The noise is just too much for me and I can't move my concentration to another area and have it stay there.

Do the meds affect your general ability to concentrate?  I am on a medication that has made an impact on my meditation.  Now that it's cooler, I should really try walking mediation to see if it helps.

[Sophus]

Do the meds affect your general ability to concentrate?

Not really. They just scare me half to death. Some trouble breathing well, frequent chest pains, and the occasional "wtf is my heart doing right now?!".

Now that it's cooler, I should really try walking mediation to see if it helps.

I enjoy walking daily, though I don't know that the mental state I enter would be considered meditation. Maybe it's just hypnotic - if there's a difference?

[notself]

Do the meds affect your general ability to concentrate?

Not really. They just scare me half to death. Some trouble breathing well, frequent chest pains, and the occasional "wtf is my heart doing right now?!".

Now that it's cooler, I should really try walking mediation to see if it helps.

I enjoy walking daily, though I don't know that the mental state I enter would be considered meditation. Maybe it's just hypnotic - if there's a difference?

I hope you will be able to find a medication with less side effects or get off the medication altogether.  I look forward to being off my medication in 2.5 years.  I am going to start investigating alternatives if I can find a doctor who is trained in integrative medicine.

Walking meditation is very slow walking with precise movement for about 15-20 feet and then turning around and going back to the beginning ---- back and forth concentrating on the movement of your steps to the exclusion of all else.  I find it very difficult because I want to look around and enjoy the sunshine and the trees.  It is easier for me in a dark hallway of my house.

I am not certain there is a difference between a hypnotic state and deep concentration as long a the hypnotic state meets these definition from Wiki. The bold and strikethrough is mine.

Contrary to a popular misconception - that hypnosis is a form of unconsciousness resembling sleep - contemporary research suggests that it is actually a wakeful state of focused attention[6] [strike:3dhzmftp]and heightened suggestibility[/strike:3dhzmftp],[7] with diminished peripheral awareness.[8] In the first book on the subject, Neurypnology (1843), Braid described "hypnotism" as a state of physical relaxation accompanied and induced by mental concentration ("abstraction").[9]

[Quan Yin]

Meditation can be done sitting, standing,walking or lying down.  In the sitting position one can use the full lotus, the half lotus, the cross ankle, legs to the side or a chair or bench.  In sitting one can keep the eyelids closed, open or partially open.  

The real goal is to maintain focused concentration whether it is on the breath, a mantra, a flame, a tone or on loving kindness (metta).  Concentration is the key.  A well concentrated mind enters a mental state called the jhana.  The earliest stages of jhana are states of bliss.  Those who are very experienced meditators go even beyond jhana and use jhana as a resting place.  The calm of meditation is just the very beginning of what is possible.

The beginnings stages of meditation are as important as any other stage.  In the beginning stages one observes thoughts come and go; feelings come and go; pain and itches come and go.  When I first started to meditate my right eyelid would twitch like crazy.  I stopped focusing on my breath and started to focus on my eyelid.  I observed the twitch.  It would grow stronger and then start to lessen.  Eventually after many minutes, it would start to weaken and then disappear.  One day my twitch did not arrive.  My eyelid stayed calm.  The twitch was gone and never came back.  I still miss it because I could really focus when it was there.

What was profoundly helpful for me was the advice to not force my focus back to breathing when I become aware that my attention has moved, but to just be aware of this state. Continuing to just force the focus would be counter-productive to meta-conscious development, as one would also require the skill of allowing their mind to run its course -- only under perpetuate invigilation.

[deekayfry]

Breathing exercise in its simplest form is very relaxing.  I have used it on and off, and lately more off than I would care to admit.  When I do use it I have used in anxious situations, while taking a break from work, and while exercising particularly when running.  I also used it while doing a lot of shoveling

It comes in handy for sure.

[Whitney]

Do the meds affect your general ability to concentrate?

Not really. They just scare me half to death. Some trouble breathing well, frequent chest pains, and the occasional "wtf is my heart doing right now?!"

Is that a common side effect?  I've had a similar side effect from Rx cough medicine but turns out it wasn't normal to react that way.  Since I've already had heart surgery as a kid I think I would freak out all the time worrying if I had to take a medication that caused my heart to do weird stuff.  I hope they can get you on something less chemically invasive soon.

[notself]

What was profoundly helpful for me was the advice to not force my focus back to breathing when I become aware that my attention has moved, but to just be aware of this state. Continuing to just force the focus would be counter-productive to meta-conscious development, as one would also require the skill of allowing their mind to run its course -- only under perpetuate invigilation.

Perhaps instead of referring to meta-consciousness, it would be more helpful for you to refer to concentration.  Allowing one's focus to go from the breath to the thought is one way of meditating but I believe it slows down the development of a well concentrated mind.  In focusing on the breath, there is no forcing to bring focus back to the breath.  One merely observes that one has left the breath and gently returns to it.  By doing it this way one will develop the ability to observe the "mental pressure" of a thought before it forms.  I know this sounds odd but it is the best explanation I can think of.  When one notes this "pressure" while still focusing on the breath, one is able to maintain focus without interruption.  It is this continuous focus that strengthens and deepens concentration.  Try it for three sessions and see if you can develop the ability to feel the "pressure".  I think you will be surprised and pleased.

[Sophus]

Do the meds affect your general ability to concentrate?

Not really. They just scare me half to death. Some trouble breathing well, frequent chest pains, and the occasional "wtf is my heart doing right now?!"

Is that a common side effect?  I've had a similar side effect from Rx cough medicine but turns out it wasn't normal to react that way.  Since I've already had heart surgery as a kid I think I would freak out all the time worrying if I had to take a medication that caused my heart to do weird stuff.  I hope they can get you on something less chemically invasive soon.

I hope you will be able to find a medication with less side effects or get off the medication altogether. I look forward to being off my medication in 2.5 years. I am going to start investigating alternatives if I can find a doctor who is trained in integrative medicine.

Thanks. It's been about a four year treatment which is almost up. Will be nice to done with it.

Walking meditation is very slow walking with precise movement for about 15-20 feet and then turning around and going back to the beginning ---- back and forth concentrating on the movement of your steps to the exclusion of all else. I find it very difficult because I want to look around and enjoy the sunshine and the trees. It is easier for me in a dark hallway of my house.

I am not certain there is a difference between a hypnotic state and deep concentration as long a the hypnotic state meets these definition from Wiki. The bold and strikethrough is mine.

[/quote]
I've thought that the reason why walks help is because they keep part of your brain active. Sort of like when I'm mowing the lawn or working on a painting, I'm engaged in some simple action so the rest of my mind can concentrate on whatever.

[notself]

Try mindfulness when you walk.  I think we may have talked about this before.  It is my understanding that the word meditation does not appear in the oldest texts.  It is a word that shows up in translation.  The words that are used are Samadhi (concentration) and Sati (mindfulness).  I tried mindfulness when gardening, actually pulling weeds.  I paid attention to the process of pulling weeds to exclusion of all other thoughts.  I observed all my senses as I did this.  I smelled the earth and felt the sun.  I felt the tension and release as I pulled the weeds.  When my thoughts wandered, I brought them back to the object of mindfulness, pulling weeds.  When I finished and stood up, my mind was calm and I observed my surroundings without labels.  My mind observed trees without naming what I saw as trees.  It was a strange experience, but very pleasant.

I would like to ask you what you are taking.  You certainly don't have to answer if you don't wish to.  Just ignore this sentence.  I am taking Arimidex which is an estrogen blocker.  It has dozens and dozens of side effects most of which I have been able to avoid.  But I do have some that will be irreversible.  I have 2 1/2 years to go.

[Quan Yin]

Perhaps instead of referring to meta-consciousness, it would be more helpful for you to refer to concentration.

That would be a lot less specific. Fixed  concentration connotes limited awareness of anything else going on. Meta-consciousness means precisely what I need it to.

Allowing one's focus to go from the breath to the thought is one way of meditating but I believe it slows down the development of a well concentrated mind.  In focusing on the breath, there is no forcing to bring focus back to the breath.  One merely observes that one has left the breath and gently returns to it.  By doing it this way one will develop the ability to observe the "mental pressure" of a thought before it forms.  I know this sounds odd but it is the best explanation I can think of.  When one notes this "pressure" while still focusing on the breath, one is able to maintain focus without interruption.  It is this continuous focus that strengthens and deepens concentration.  Try it for three sessions and see if you can develop the ability to feel the "pressure".  I think you will be surprised and pleased.

I'm not sure I follow what you mean by "pressure", that's pretty vague. I've been doing yoga quite regularly for a year now, which requires a constant focus, and control over your breath, as well as posturing, and muscle activation distribution.

The important insight was that in forcing my attention back to the breath,  wasn't paying attention to what severed the connection in the first place. Becoming aware of the new state, before attempting to intervene, to bring the focus back to the breath is very important. This is what I wasn't realizing.

I'll still sick, so I haven't been going to meditation, but I'll try to feel the "pressure" next time I go.