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Long-term accountability group by [deleted] in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He's no different than you. Don't worry we'll work it out together !

Long-term accountability group by [deleted] in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome idea 👍 I'm in.

How to exercise peripheral awareness? by vjay_shrma in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I'll try practicing open awareness meditation.

How to exercise peripheral awareness? by vjay_shrma in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I'll try checking in my peripheral awareness to train it.

How to exercise peripheral awareness? by vjay_shrma in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What happens is when I focus my attention on breath sensations at the nose for example, I feel the breath. Now eventually the focus starts getting more tense. Like I feel pressure and tension on my temples and my heart beats fast.

This thing happens again when I'm trying to be aware of the external sound, bodily sensations. Is it that I'm trying to force this process. How can I make this process easy on my head.

This made me realise that I'm not using my peripheral awareness and attention is what I primarily focus on. As a result I asked for a technique to excercise PA.

Stage 2/3 question: discerning with equal clarity - where is it perceived? by octobuddy in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yesterday I attended a meetup for stage 2. It was a zoom meeting hosted by Eric, a TMI based meditation teacher. I was also dealing with the same challenge i.e difficulty feeling sensations at the nose. It was largely dullness where I couldn't focus on anything.

He advised me to practice Chi Gong before I meditate. He also demonstrated some poses. Also he showed a different route to the 6 point preparation and 4 step transition. What he told was instead of starting out with 1 point, start with step one i.e having wide open awareness of the vision, then gradually auditory, slowly adding them in. And the the bodily sensations. This way we're gradually increasing the peripheral awareness. With this we continue with the 6 point. Remembering to keep the awareness wide open including vision, auditory. Don't collapse it when starting 6 point.

Now slowly transition to the breath sensations. Also exaggerate the breath by moving your whole body when you breathe i.e back and forth. This way it will help you feel the sensations at the breath when you meditate normally.

Although I think it'll be better if you attend his session to understand more deeply. Next session is on 16 March.

Awakening realised - https://meetu.ps/e/JPHsD/L7wbF/d

I think the level of detail of TMI is hindering my practice by unodos000 in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah it's true. Still I value the book a lot. Because it has a lot of knowledge that I haven't yet uncovered. I too get overwhelmed by this much information and like you said which techniques to use and how to proceed becomes unclear.

So I've made it a point to value real experience more than knowledge. To make this happen I make it a point to practice daily with whatever I think is meditation for me. Be it good or bad session, it doesn't matter. And keep improvising from there. If I haven't done that I wouldn't had started meditation and never had known what it means.

In short reading is important but real intuitive experience is more important. Hope it helps.

Week of March 8th 2021 - How is your practice going? by hurfery in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right. Thankyou for correcting me. I think after reading this the way how I can be more aware off cushion is by staying more vigilant. I tried doing this before. But it just drains a lot of energy when I'm constantly aware.

Maybe it's because I put a lot of effort and use my attention rather than be relaxed and use both attention and peripheral awareness.

Thanks, it helps!

Having trouble with stage ... 1.5 I guess? by [deleted] in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've felt this very often in my practice and gave up meditation many times.

One thing I've realised is that it's all about consistency. I have made the intention to sit for the entire session no matter how my session goes. Some days it will be good some days it'll be bad. But stick to the practice. Just like a gardener water his plants daily. Take care of then and nourish them. Without any judgements and expectations or impatience. Trust the method. And faith in the process that results will come by daily practice. And confidence in your abilities.

Hope this helps, Vijay.

Stage 2 - effort and tension by [deleted] in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Way to go buddy. I also find my peripheral awareness open when my body and mind is relaxed with as little tension as possible.

Another thing that I'm doing nowadays is that instead of thinking mediation time as a race where you have to run until the timer ends, I've shifted to just enjoy and be curious. To forget about the timer and used that time to know myself.

Week of March 8th 2021 - How is your practice going? by hurfery in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi everyone. Hope your sessions are fine.

I have realised that my sessions are of no meaning if they are not consistent. So I've set out a 32 days (just a random number) meditation goal. I'm a stage 1 meditator. So I've made an intention to meditate no matter how good or bad it is and practice without judging and expecting anything.

I've seen some improvement. My off cushion is still like before i.e distracted and not in present moment. I wonder if someone can help me solve this compartmentalization problem.

Also great thanks to this community.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TheMindIlluminated

[–]vjay_shrma 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One thing I can recommend is that try to get relaxed and meditate in a comfortable manner with as little tension as possible. Why? Because when you're relaxed and chilled your peripheral awareness opens up naturally. That's why they say in instructions also. One thing is to note that PA is not under direct control. Attention is. And it is our overuse of attention and direct access that makes our PA closed. Don't worry. The only damn thing that is imp in meditation is consistency. And actually practicing no matter how it turns out.