Do I have to have a teacher?

I can never, NEVER meditate! Everytime I try I start thinking more and more. Specially like, making a whole new story. Like for example, I am a pirate and stuff like that (dreaming awake?) and once I start I can NEVER stop haha

I was just wondering if I need a teacher or just patience and persistence
:sultan:

 

probably just patience

 

Hahahaha. That's funny.

At the beginning I was like you, I could never meditate because I was always thinking and with fear about silence, always creating something. In my head there was no way to meditate, it was impossible at all. I was wrong.

Try to meditate with some music, focus on your breathing, feeling what it does to your body, what does it move, how it feels. Put your mind/thoughts inside your nose, it's hard to explain but you'll know what I mean by paying attention to the nose and the body.

It'll take a little while (not that much) to get the trick to meditate. Focus your attention in no-thought time, feel your body empty and with no one inside him to be satisfied by thoughts.

It's a journey, your mind will always be against you, no matter what thoughts are going there. Just ask your self if the thought is necessary to that moment, you'll instantly live a silent moment. Keep practicing, listen to some music or try Xphirience sounds, it helps alot at the beginning. Time by time you'll not use anything to meditate beside some background music.

You can't meditate because you're somehow afraid about silence. Always trust your body, don't trust mind.

Go ahead and enjoy meditation!

 

Actually, a "coach" is recommended in order to learn how to meditate properly. Many people have problems getting into proper meditation without one. You are not alone.

 

Thank you!! That actually helped me alot haha

 

the thing is that i cant find one and i dont have money for that haha
soo yeah, lifes good

 

Haha. That made me laugh, I don't have cash for one either. All a lot of the time when I try to meditate I can't either, Maybe I just need to be patient too.

 

Instead of fighting off the thoughts and trying not to think, try thinking of one specific thing.
Gradually you'll get to where you want to be. Accept the thoughts that come by and then let them drop away.
Try reading a book called Joyful Wisdom by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.

 

But usually my thoughts take me somewhere, or they are moving thoughts (if that makes any sense haha) I cant just think on one specific thing
I will totally look for this book!

 

=).

Keep on mind, there's no need to have a teacher or to read books. Keep practicing, you'll get the trick. You'll be the master, the student, everything.

Slowly your no-time thoughts will be bigger and you will know how to meditate. It's actually almost impossible to meditate at the beginning.

 

Thank you vansrouge!

-This is kinda off topic but I saw that you are from Portugal, so you speak portuguese right? Cause I am from Brazil and I speak portuguese too! Hahaha (random I know :afro

 

Hahaha, yeah I speak portuguese.

(Estou contente por encontrar outra pessoa que compreenda a minha língua nativa. E ainda por cima do Brasil(Brazil) hehe)

 

Eu tambem! Só nao sei se é o mesmo portugues mas espero que de para a gente se entender!

 

The fact that I've been doing that for some years now won't do any good either. I suspect there are about seven states between us as well.

 

Haha yeaah, I guess I'll just try again and again... and maybe one day I will go to a teacher Thank you though

 

You start out by concentrating on your breathing. All aspects of it. You can even imagine that your breath is a mist that you can see. It might help your mind visualise it. The actions of all the muscles involved. Then go on from there.

 

I've always had a hard time meditating because I'm very restless, both physically and mentally. Recently I've tried it again (only two times now) and I found myself to be more calm and not "fight" myself if my mind is not as quiet as I'd like it to be.

The tip that my daughter's father always gives me is to just watch my thoughts happen, kinda like watching the passing scenery while riding a bus and try not to form any opinion on them. I feel like that has helped me be able to sit still and actually meditate, has given me some insight about what is going on in my head, reduced anxiety and given me some form of bliss. The first time I tried after years of not attempting to meditate, I had what I consider to be somewhat of a breakthrough. I only meditated for 15 minutes and for a minute there, I saw this amber flower expanding and contracting right on the top and center of my vision. It reminded me of DMT, but a lot less intense, not as colorful. It brought me a great amount of peace, I was so happy and able to go right to sleep without my mind being all crazy like it usually is. I'm not sure what it was, but it gave me enough inspiration to attempt meditating everyday.

 

^^That is exactly right. Breathing is key, as is (imo) to "see" surrounding yourself with white light, which will protect you, nothing on any plane can enter and harm or affect you in a malevolent way.

Go to your most favorite place in this (or another world)...it most certainly does not have to be "real" - although I learned that my "favorite place", which I genuinely thought was pure imagination, is an actual place. (after I described this place, I was shown pictures of it, and talk about being blown away!...) anyway

I've always heard (and found to be true) that when one is ready for and has sincerely sought a teacher, one would come. :2thumbsup:

 

I always say, there is no such thing as 'meditation.' What there are are techniques of meditation. Technique being the key word. Somewhere along the line you developed an idea of what meditation is. You were taught. For whatever reason that you still value the idea of meditation you should look into from where you got the idea, where you think you're going with it, and whether the practice is identifiable enough to constitute some specific path.

Whatever path you identify will by necessity have the lineage of the teachers of that path. Paths are different. There are chi Ging, Tai Chi, Shamatha, Vipassana, transcendental Meditation, Kriya, Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, and so on, each one belonging to a teacher, a path and a lineage. many people are familiar with Patanjali because of the sidhis. Patanjali was a Shivitte, and his direct lineage still exists.

If you wish for a teacherless system then maybe you would go with the Avaduti or naked system of taking everything as teacher.

The main point I am making is if you are entering a meditation then you're entering a path, which means a lineage. Even the Nathas who do not recognize any guru or holy person beyond ones own will are still a lineage with teachers.

But do you have to have a guru or lama or master and kowtow to them? Do you have to do service and all the other things which have accumulated by way of defining the paths of various meditators? No you do not have to do anything which you do not wish to. And that's very important to remember. You are the ultimate guru, lama, etc.... You are not practicing for the benefit of other people, not originally. you will effect change within yourself by applying yourself to your practice.

Is it important to meditate? Not really. Most people don't. If you find that you enjoy meditation and it becomes you then you need to study what forms of meditation exist. Study the teachers, see if they're legit. Study it all upon your pulses. Find out if it senses true. Be real. Do not follow another's bullshit. If you're a truth seeker then that's especially important.

 

Oh my! You are a teacher, no? Right, yes? For your 2nd paragraph alone has sent my wondering, wandering (lol) thoughts spiraling. Truth seeker is/are about my 2 favorite words, together...

Although I have chosen a master, a person can always continue to learn...right?

Are you taking on any students? :sunny: