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Pravin Kumar
Age: 64 Zodiac: 
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 Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:06 pm |
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How to Meditate - Getting Rid of Thought
By Lisa Hepner
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The short answer is, 'You can't'.
Now, you might think that may sound harsh, but it's the truth.
And it's complete freedom!
In the past, when I tried meditating, I was told (or somehow led
to believe) that meditation was about getting rid of thought. Of
course, I failed at meditation. I remember my first meditation
being extremely painful because of all the thoughts. After the
meditation, I didn't feel any better because I felt like a
complete and utter failure.
Believing that meditation is about getting rid of thought will
set anyone up for failure.
I'll never forget the scene from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy where the crew is walking through the desert and one of
the men says, "I was thinking..." and a big shovel comes up and
hits him in the face. They continue walking and he says "I thought
that..." and the shovel again comes up and smacks him in the face.
They make the connection that every time they think a thought,
the shovel will come up and hit them in the face. So someone says,
"Okay everyone, don't think," and the shovel comes up and hits
him in the face. Then you see the entire crew running through the
desert getting bonked with shovels in their faces.
That's what happens when you try to get rid of the thoughts! When
you tell yourself to stop thinking about what's for dinner
tonight, all you can think about is what's for dinner! And here's
the cold hard truth, the only time you will EVER get rid of
thought is when you're dead. Even Buddhist monks who have
practiced meditation since young ages, have thoughts during
meditation. Here's the key:
Meditation is NOT about getting rid of thought, it's about
becoming the OBSERVER of thought.
You might want to read that sentence again because it's
important!
When I check in with people, in our 21 day meditation circles,
and they express that they noticed they had lots of thoughts
during the meditation, I tell them to celebrate the fact that
they noticed all the thoughts!
Just by noticing the thoughts, they have become the observer of
thought. Just the fact that you are aware of the thoughts means
you have dis-identified from them.
Most of the time we aren't even aware of the incessant mind
chatter that is going on non-stop, so to even notice the thoughts
is a great!
When you notice the thought you have become the witnessing
Presence. And this is truly the gift of meditation, to become the
observer of thought instead of the "reactor."
So, what does it mean to be the observer of thought?
Let's say you're sitting down to meditate. You have cultivated
the practice of meditation in your daily life. But as you are
meditating the thought comes into your mind, "I wonder what we're
having for dinner?" You notice the thought, just as you'd notice
a cloud floating by and then you're done with it, you direct your
attention back to meditation and feel the aliveness within.
Contrast that to this: You sit down to meditate. As you are
meditating the thought comes to mind, "I wonder what we're having
for dinner?" Then you think "I hope we're not going to have
onions. I hate onions." Then the thought comes to mind, "That
reminds me, I've got to go to the store tomorrow and get toilet
paper." Then, "When am I going to find time to go to the store
tomorrow when I have such a hectic day at the office?" Then you
think, "I really don't like what I'm doing, I wish I could do
something else," then your mind wanders "but how would we make
ends meet financially if I were to do something different?" Then
you think "I shouldn't have tried to make my parents proud of me
by going to law school, I should have stuck with music which was
my real passion." Then you think, "but the music industry is hard
to break into." Then you think "but Celine Dion did it. If one
person can do it, I can do it too." Then you wonder, "what would
I do if I had all that money?" Then that thought leads to, "I'd
buy a bigger house with a jacuzzi bath, I've always wanted a
jacuzzi bath and a three car garage and music studio." Then you
think, "what am I thinking? There's no way I can do anything
about my situation, I'm trapped!" Then you wonder, "what's the
purpose of life any way? There's got to be more than this daily
grind!" All this from the original thought "I wonder what we're
having for dinner?"
Exhausting!
Becoming the observer of thought means you notice the thought you
just don't follow it out. You don't have to become wrapped up in
it! You don't get sucked in to the drama! You're not attached to
the thought.
I remember once, after starting a regular meditation practice,
that I was working on some project and for a moment I had those
self-limiting thoughts we all have, I thought "I can't do this
project." And it was like it wasn't even me saying it. I noticed
the thought and smiled like, "hmmmm, that was interesting. " Then
I was done with it!
The most important thing I could tell any beginning mediator is
to not try and get rid of the thoughts. Observe them, notice them,
and then go back to whatever "technique" you were working with
for your meditation. Continue to do this, as it's a practice,
especially when first starting meditation. In this way, you are
slowly becoming the observer of thought instead of the reactor
and this is a powerful "place" to be!
Lisa Hepner is an author, speaker and meditation facilitator. She
is the creator of Project Meditate and the international Don't
Wait-Meditate (R) campaign. Her goal is to help people develop
the habit of meditation through simple and fun tips and techniques.
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