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I don’t think I’m “profoundly agitated” or uncomfortable in any of the parameters (mental/emotional/energetic. . .) Mildly so, of course. Is that what I’m to take note of? Can anyone give some examples?
Sorry about the naive question.
Hi, John, and welcome to the group! And it’s a perfectly reasonable question. The short answer is yes…you are just noting and being aware of what is going on in you, physically, energetically, emotionally, mentally. Since this is a practice where you don’t do anything about these things, you are just observing. Bruce used the words “agitated or profoundly uncomfortable”, probably to imply that there could be a whole spectrum of degree here. So you are just noting ‘what is’.
For example: I might notice that a few minutes in, my back starts to ache a bit. My mind may go from calm and quiet, to a few thoughts about the ache in my back. A few quiet moments, then my thoughts may get slightly agitated as I worry about whether the pain in my back is going to get worse as I sit longer – a little more agitation occurs mentally and emotionally along with these thoughts, but they subside, etc.
In this exercise, your experience of these things just is what it is, as Bruce said, you are simply taking stock. I hope this helps, and feel free to ask any questions – in meditation you are often going into uncharted territory, so it’s much better to ask to avoid unnecessary frustration, if possible. Happy practicing…
“So you are just noting ‘what is’.” Yes, that’s what I figured out, just as in your example. Thank you so much for the support.
I thought I’d share my experience with the “taking stock” exercise.
I had a very intense session yesterday. Although I have been meditating on and off for a few years, I usually follow an agenda of practice. Sitting/standing just to observe has made very obvious a lot of inner adjustment that happens by itself. Specially in the chest/shoulder area, I can sense so many adjustments and variations, also on the lower back while standing. I don’t mean to do these micro movements, they just happen. At some point while standing my right hand side was trembling… I could go on, but I just wanted to point out that just being still and doing nothing has triggered an immense amount of involuntary micromovements inside. I felt so refreshed after the session.
I wonder if you experience something similar.
I feel like usually when I do a 30 min session my alignments are overall good and stable but usually mid way through (sitting) I can feel that Ive gradually leaned back a bit or my head too far back. I usually do the circle stretch exercise to regain alignments. Also, once in a while I get this feeling as though my alignments feel “locked in” almost like Im being held there if that makes sense. Im suspecting that could be due to proper alignments and energy flow through the spine keeping me aligned. A good feeling nonetheless. Even though 95% of the time I feel like my mind is not present. It feels good to “ride a wave” now and then and keeps me going. Cheers.
I am enjoying a similar experience, and noticing that there is an innate momentum to clench as well as release into the moment. What I’m finding so interesting is that by remaining impassive to the effect, the energy of resistance becomes ever more trivial.
My experience as I sit or stand in meditation is that at first my body feels quite tight and constricted. A particular area of my body will come forward in my awareness as being tense and perhaps sore or pinched. As I continue to just observe and breath, the area of tension will often release, usually with a soft crack or pop. Then I may feel a sense of increased relaxation or ease or expansion for a short time. Then a new area of tension will come into my awareness. This usually continues throughout my practice, currently 20-30 minutes. This process always starts in my neck and shoulders. As it progresses, I begin to feel it more in my lower back and sometimes my hips.
I’m curious if this is similar to your experience of micromovements and if others have experiences that I described.
I find that I actually felt better when I was standing. The time went faster. My biggest problem is the noise. There is usually some song that I previously listen to that pops in my head as soon as I sit down to meditate. Along with the aches and tension that pops up as I sit. I also drifted off at least three times because my head fell forward and woke me up. It is interesting to sit/stand and observe what is occurring. I cannot wait for the day when the stillness arrives if only for the moment.
I am also during my first week.
As I practiced other forms of meditations on and off before, I am inclined to ‘block’ some thoughts as they occur. It’s kind of I observe my mind drift, and then I reset it.
I know that the instructions said, just observe, don’t do anything, but it seems to happen as a reflex. How bad is that? Do I need to unlearn myself from doing that?
THANK U
……..for what it’s worth at this stage, perhaps simply observe what is happening without being analytical or judgemental – rather than ‘unlearn’ perhaps simply attend to the idea of getting a sense of ‘beginners mind’
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