My Thoughts Feel Like They Are Not My Own
Those new to mediation will inherently be astonished by
how many random thoughts pop up
while attempting to sit ‘though free’…
It’s as if they feel like they are not even one’s own thoughts.
Our minds are a very complex yet intriguing study…
I think it’s very common for just about everyone,
including Dr. John Yates AKA Culadasa
when he first started a practice…that later became a profoundly inspiring expert
That when one makes the effort to sit… and just sit…
Without thinking…
It’s then,
everyone new or even not so new at meditating will find…
‘Monkey mind’ thoughts.
It’s not that they are not ‘your own’, or
thoughts you willfully intended to be consciously thinking about.
It’s just that,
Normally,
in our busy daily routines,
we are often to focused on our obligatory tasks
to have a chance at these types of thought
bombarding out conscious awareness.
It’s when we first attempt to sit quietly and calm the mind…
There then become a lot of space for random thoughts to pop up.
It’s best not to fight them.
There are many traditions that suggest and teach a ‘noting’ system.
When a thought pops up….
Make a mental note…
Perhaps give it a short label… like
“cute person”, banking… personal stuf… work stuff.
Don’t analysis these thoughts.
It is actually a good thing to even notice that
you do have a random thought pop up.
This helps train your mind.
The quicker you realize a thought and ‘note’ it,
you will begin to also be training your subconscious mind systems
to eventually stop bothering you…
Then,
You begin to achieve one of the main meditation goals….
“One pointed awareness”.
For the most part, most of these thoughts,
particularly early in your sit have no real significance.
Think of the brain like bio-computer.
It’s job is to spew out random thoughts…
Typically in relation to stimuli, like dry mouth…”I’m thirsty”.
Sweaty… “It’s hot”…
But,
During the first part of a sit….
For the most part, these don’t serve our purpose.
So just make a mental ‘note’… “thought”
and gently get back to abiding in a peaceful sit.
Then,
You sit for a bit…
After you’ve been practicing for a while… a few weeks or months…
Then,
You are able to calm the mind so well that…
All subconscious thoughts that have been in the background
of your mind now have a space to bubble up into.
This will feel very odd and sometimes concerning because,
you feel you’ve done enough focused concentration with your sit,
and you can see that you’ve gradually tamed the ‘monkey mind’
of all those shallow, trivial thoughts…
But now,
These thoughts start to emerge in the awareness of your sit.
And…
These thoughts tend to have a more profound importance to them.
Perhaps that song line
that’s been escaping you flashes before mind’s eye.
Or
the fact you’ve got to make an important run to the bank …
Often these type of thoughts at this phase of your practice
are so profound that one often wants to jump up
and put those thoughts into action.
And,
Sometimes you should.
But,
Most of the time,
It’s just a deeper part of training your mind system
to ‘note’ it and get back to your sit.
If you are engaged with some very important things in your life…
Have a voice recorder very handy near by
so you can make some notes without too much distractions.
But,
For the most part,
try to just note them and get on with your sit.
For more on this and about all the mind systems
that are involved when we are developing a meditation practice
from Dr. John Yates AKA Culadasa
a neuroscientist, integrated psychologist and a
life long Buddhist meditation mentor …
I have highlighted his wisdoms that are a wonderful source of
knowledge and inspiration for those new to meditation
and certainly fills in many gaps for even the more advanced aspirant.
https://mauimarryingman.com/category/2-1-a-very-in-depth-course-on-beginning-a-meditation-practice/
I don’t earn or gain anything for this.
except that…
As you deepen your Practice…
You’ll naturally make the world a better place…and thus
We all gain.
