Kia Ora,

Some take to it like a duck to water, reaping the benefits of the calm and stable mind which comes from practice, whist for others they can't control the constant monkey chatter which becomes too much and feeling defeated they give up...

Like the saying goes  "A tradesman always blames his tools !"

It's a somewhat 'Paradox' ... If you don't try to control the monkey chatter it will eventually bring itself under control...The more one tries to control the more difficult/stubborn the monkeys become... 

Well, what's your personal experience ?

Happy 'Mindfulness'

Metta Zenda

Yes I practice it, and no I haven't tried it.

Mindfulness meditation is easier to learn and to make part of one's daily routines then mindlessness meditation is, especially if you tend towards Attention Deficit Disorder like I do. Noticing the natures of all things as they are expressed through the details of time and circumstance, and letting them flow over you like water on a duck's back, "is what Tiggers do best." It has moved from second nature to first nature for me, and it brings its own calm and connected groundedness. I associate and am associated with all things, without the need to pass judgement on the myriad things or to obtain the one thing. Beauty is all, not that I assign to it, but that it assigns to me for the observing.

Practicing non-thought is also worthwhile, but has severe hazards for one with deep scars from trauma and a shattered or tattered sense of self. It is too easy to lose touch with time and sanity, to dissolve into pure abstraction without a clear way back. One may wake into the wrong thread. "There be monsters" the edge of the map says. For me, it is dangerous, painful work, and without a guide I would not journey at all. But for those without trauma and with strong egos, it can be a better fitting road.

Quote from: MadelineB on March 31, 2013, 10:47:08 PM
Yes I practice it, and no I haven't tried it.

Mindfulness meditation is easier to learn and to make part of one's daily routines then mindlessness meditation is, especially if you tend towards Attention Deficit Disorder like I do. Noticing the natures of all things as they are expressed through the details of time and circumstance, and letting them flow over you like water on a duck's back, "is what Tiggers do best." It has moved from second nature to first nature for me, and it brings its own calm and connected groundedness. I associate and am associated with all things, without the need to pass judgement on the myriad things or to obtain the one thing. Beauty is all, not that I assign to it, but that it assigns to me for the observing.

Practicing non-thought is also worthwhile, but has severe hazards for one with deep scars from trauma and a shattered or tattered sense of self. It is too easy to lose touch with time and sanity, to dissolve into pure abstraction without a clear way back. One may wake into the wrong thread. "There be monsters" the edge of the map says. For me, it is dangerous, painful work, and without a guide I would not journey at all. But for those without trauma and with strong egos, it can be a better fitting road.

Kia Ora Madeline,

This is so true, however it is the strong uncontrolled "ego" that quite often gets in the way..."This isn't working for 'me' -why should 'I' bother -'I' don't need to do this !

It can also push a person whose already somewhat 'unstable' over the edge,if they attempt it by themselves, but if they have an 'experienced' teacher to 'safely' guide them through the technique, things should be sweet...

For beginners who want to give it a 'try' ... Jon Kabat-Zinn is a good start

Mindfulness with Jon Kabat-Zinn



Metta Zenda

I don't know. It's kinda' hard to explain but sometimes try using the "monkey chatter" when your mind won't quieten down and see where it leads you.

The hard thing when meditating is trying to shut the conscsious mind down. A lot of time it can't be done and takes years in order to to be able to achieve this. And even those that can achieve it still have problems.

One thing you can do is go to bed at night, set your alarm for a certain time. Try to get at least five or six hours of good sleep. Get up and go sit in a recliner and then meditate. You are still groggy from sleep and still tapped into that "mystical" world of the subconscious mind. Concetrate on not falling asleep, deep even breathing and so on. Keep your eyes open and focus on one object and then beyond it. This works for me most of the time unless I just have too much crap on my conscious plate. Usually the quietness of the world at around 2 or 3 AM seems to help a lot too.

Never give up, even if your mind won't quieten down, you still get the relaxation benfits for the physical body. Like I said earlier, just let your conscious mind wander and see where that may lead you. Eventually it will happen, you really can't force it because the more you force it the more it will fight back and the louder it becomes.

Kia Ora.

Breathing.... That is, how one breaths is of great importance when it comes to meditation of any kind ...
Focusing upon ones breathe will eventually harmonised both body and mind...It also  helps to dissolve the monkey chatter...

My mind was once full of noisy monkey who really liked to chat-
never stopping for a minute even when I sat...

One day a wise Lama who meditates did say-
"There is a trick that you could use to make them go away!"

Well I was all ears I wanted to know what was it I could do-
to be rid of those pesky monkey who had made my mind a zoo...   

He said "just concentrate on your breathing that should do the trick-
paying more attention to the present moment will make them feel home sick.

They will slowly leave through your nose or mouth and dissolve into the air-
leaving a place of true contentment - a mind without a care."

Well it did the trick, I concentrated on my breathing and my mind became quite free-
an inner peace now fills the space where monkey chatter used to be!

However, I do like all sentient beings, even monkeys who liked to chat-
but they can take their gossip elsewhere-for I've had enough of that !!!    

Of course, there's a lot more involved when it comes to the breathing techniques than the simple but true poem...Focusing upon one breathing brings body and mind into contact, normally they are worlds apart in the land of thought... 


Metta Zenda

Zenda, thank you for posting that presentation.  I am entirely sure what "mindfulness meditation" entails, but I have needed to learn calming techniques to help cope with hypertension and stress, which inevitably led to coronary artery disease for me.

One technique I like to use is "square breathing."  Sometimes, I put myself to sleep that way.

Quote from: Jamie D on April 02, 2013, 04:21:56 AM
Zenda, thank you for posting that presentation.  I am entirely sure what "mindfulness meditation" entails, but I have needed to learn calming techniques to help cope with hypertension and stress, which inevitably led to coronary artery disease for me.

One technique I like to use is "square breathing."  Sometimes, I put myself to sleep that way.

Kia Ora Jamie,

You're welcome....

How one breaths is so important when it comes to relaxing both body and mind...

I think in most cultures it been a 'tradition' to tell someone when they are angry , anxious, or stressed, to take deep breaths and count to ten...

The breath is something we have with us wherever we go and if one practices focusing upon their breath 'meditation' till it become 'habitual', then when stressful situation arise it will automatically kick it, their attention will automatically focus on body and mind keeping their thoughts in check, instead of the thoughts taking them for an unpleasant ride...

I'm happy to hear that you have a technique to keep your hypertension and stress in check...Mindfulness techniques may also help...

Metta Zenda 

Kia Ora Jamie and others who are interested,

You might also find this helpful...It's a guided mindfulness meditation...



Happy Mindfulness


Metta Zenda