Psycho-Babble Social Thread 612770

Shown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Lovingkindness meditation

Posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 9:49:43

I was really looking forward to trying this, but thus far it's not been going too well. I don't seem to be able to produce a feeling on command.

Anyone who's done it have any suggestions? Is it ok to do the verbal part even if you can't produce the feelings?

I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to worry about whether I'm doing meditation right. :(

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Dinah

Posted by verne on February 24, 2006, at 11:17:58

In reply to Lovingkindness meditation, posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 9:49:43

Dinah,

Do you have a link to instructions for this meditation?

When I meditate, whether with a mantra or scripture, there's no "trying" or looking for anything. Rather, a letting go.

In the process of letting go (losing oneself) the scripture or mantra may change. I just gently go back to the correct wording but nothing is forced.

When I notice a thought or feeling, I just gently go back to the scripture or mantra.

Meditation for me is time-out from the self. The self is always wanting to do something - even in meditation. It will want to focus or concentrate harder and make it the most powerful, deepest, most enlightening, meditation ever, yet, in reality, the self only gets in the way.

I'm no expert - in fact, I'm a bit of wayward meditator myself. I know how wonderful it can be, but lately I've needed a team of wild horses to drag me into meditation. I'm really struggling with giving up control.

I guess I think someone needs to drive this runaway train.

Verne

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation

Posted by Tabitha on February 24, 2006, at 11:32:42

In reply to Lovingkindness meditation, posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 9:49:43

I've been trying something a little similar to lovingkindness meditation. Basically I'm trying to conjure up feelings of giving love, and feelinds of receiving love. I usually try to use a memory to get started. For example could you think of how you felt toward one of your favorite dogs, then try to direct that feeling towards others?

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation » verne

Posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 11:37:44

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Dinah, posted by verne on February 24, 2006, at 11:17:58

I started out with guided meditations, so that I could get the hang of it. But they all concentrate on locating a feeling in yourself and spreading it outward. And I just can't locate that feeling. :(

I found something on the internet

http://buddhanet.net/metta_k3.htm

The guided meditation use an abbreviated form of what is written there.

I decided to try this because I generally use meditation as yet another way to zone out and dissociate, and I had heard that this type of meditation was more focussed on linking yourself to your emotions.

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Tabitha

Posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 11:41:38

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation, posted by Tabitha on February 24, 2006, at 11:32:42

I try. But one of the things I've been working on in therapy for ten years, with limited success, is that I strip memories from their associated emotions before filing them away. So I can remember that I did feel love when I looked at her. I can even describe the feeling of love. But I can't access those feelings. I report memories. :(

Now when I look at the video tapes of her, I can access the feelings at least for a bit. I guess I could try looking at pictures of my son when I was little, or pictures of her, or videos, before meditating. That might help me access those feelings of love.

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Tabitha

Posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 11:42:10

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation, posted by Tabitha on February 24, 2006, at 11:32:42

How has it been working for you?

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Dinah

Posted by Tabitha on February 24, 2006, at 12:05:40

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Tabitha, posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 11:42:10

> How has it been working for you?

It's elusive-- some days it's easy, some days it's near impossible to create the feelings. Or I'll be able to do one part but not the other. But when it works, it seems like a really smart thing to do. I mean, why *shouldn't* we devote a little energy into trying to generate good feelings? Bad feelings are plentiful enough.

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation

Posted by gardenergirl on February 24, 2006, at 16:52:10

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Dinah, posted by Tabitha on February 24, 2006, at 12:05:40

I can't do guided meditations. And I couldn't do a script like that. I do have something that is a guided meditation related to giving up fear and sending it out with the trash truck. But it just doesn't seem to do it for me.

I'm more like verne in that when I meditate, I try to focus on just becoming still and "being". I use a mantra to help me direct my attention back to the repetitive when it wanders into thoughts.

I really need to get back into it. I always felt a bit more centered in myself when I did this regularly. Of course there's a long list of things I really ought to get back to doing. :(

gg

 

well, it could be the title.. » Dinah

Posted by Gabbix2 on February 24, 2006, at 16:54:56

In reply to Lovingkindness meditation, posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 9:49:43

> I was really looking forward to trying this, but thus far it's not been going too well. I don't seem to be able to produce a feeling on command.
>
> Anyone who's done it have any suggestions? Is it ok to do the verbal part even if you can't produce the feelings?

I'm only being semi-facetious.
I think I'd be completely unable to produce loving feelings while concentrating on "Loving Kindness"
It's my brain's obnoxious way of working.

Now..
If I meditated upon "How to nurture your inner misanthrope"
It would be like "Oh ya! you just watch me be kind and loving!"


 

You know me so well. :) (nm) » Gabbix2

Posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 18:00:41

In reply to well, it could be the title.. » Dinah, posted by Gabbix2 on February 24, 2006, at 16:54:56

 

Re: You know me so well. :) » Dinah

Posted by Gabbix2 on February 24, 2006, at 19:03:30

In reply to You know me so well. :) (nm) » Gabbix2, posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 18:00:41

I used my own brain as an example, cause I didn't want to be presumptious, (and cause it's true) but I just had this feeling... : )

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation » verne

Posted by Jakeman on February 24, 2006, at 19:47:09

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Dinah, posted by verne on February 24, 2006, at 11:17:58

Verne I like your description "...runaway train."

My mind often feels like that. Recently I heard a recording of a talk by Chogyam Trunpa Rinpoche. He was talking to a group of children. Someone asked, how can I meditate when I'm depressed? He answer was (paraphrasing) ...oh that's good, that gives you something to work with. Don't consider negative emotions your enemy. Just observe them and try not to judge. When you find yourself all caught up, turn your attention to your breath, (come back to the present).

He indicated that depression and strong emotions can actually serve as an aid to one's path to sanity (enlightenment?) It not easy though, at least from my experience.

warm regards, Jake

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation

Posted by Phillipa on February 24, 2006, at 20:42:56

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation » verne, posted by Jakeman on February 24, 2006, at 19:47:09

Just being still for me is next to impossible. Fondly, Phillipa

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Dinah

Posted by ClearSkies on February 24, 2006, at 21:18:30

In reply to Lovingkindness meditation, posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 9:49:43

Here's a link to a description of a guided meditation that I've been using for over a year:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040725/msgs/370617.html

Also at the moment I use an image of myself as a pebble in a river, wearing away gradually with the force of the water going past me; and also acrruing layers of sediment from the same water and action. So that I see myself as giving and receiving of a cycle that is endless and can be creative and destructive, but always benign in nature.
Seeing myself as being an integral part of the water cycle (life cycle) it helps to connect me with other living things, and to accept that benign acknowledge of the rest of my world is a natural and healthly thing.

Rambly, sorry.
CS

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Phillipa

Posted by Jakeman on February 24, 2006, at 21:41:18

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation, posted by Phillipa on February 24, 2006, at 20:42:56

> Just being still for me is next to impossible. Fondly, Phillipa

Me too. I'm very much the restless type. Sometimes I feel like I'm about to jump out of my skin. Teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh put a lot of emphasis on walking meditation.

warm regards ~Jake

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation » ClearSkies

Posted by Jakeman on February 24, 2006, at 21:47:03

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Dinah, posted by ClearSkies on February 24, 2006, at 21:18:30

That's a nice image. And in fact we are an integral part of nature's flow. I sometimes visualize being a leaf on the river, rushing down, to god knows where.

warm regards, Jake

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation

Posted by Annierose on February 25, 2006, at 6:47:54

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Dinah, posted by ClearSkies on February 24, 2006, at 21:18:30

Hi Dinah -

Are you listening to Carol Spears "Lovingkindness" meditation.

My T asked me if I was open to meditation just after Christmas. She just listens to music, suggested a few. I went on-line and found this site

www.learning meditation.com

I did find the guided stuff helped in the beginning. So when my mind wandered (which was often) I could gently go back to the image the person was speaking about. Now I like listening to music (non-verbal) and silence. I find some guided meditations so simplistic - "Just let your pain go". If it was that easy, the entire world population could achieve peace after one meditation session.

I'm not sure what it is doing for me, but I do have a vague feeling that it is helping me. I feel like it is connecting different parts of my thinking and feeling neural pathways together --- I know that sounds weird.

My T doesn't seem the meditaion type - don't know there is a "type" - but I'm glad she suggested it. She seems interested that I'm trying this and will ask about it from time to time.

My daughter and I just started this Sunday night yoga class together. I LOVE THAT! We meditate at the end of the class and last week I felt like crying.

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation

Posted by Dinah on February 25, 2006, at 11:43:22

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation, posted by Annierose on February 25, 2006, at 6:47:54

I'll look into those because the one I have really isn't working for me. :(

Clearskies, I love your pebble meditation.

I used to meditate to music, especially Gregorian chants. And maybe I'll have to go back to that. Although I'll keep trying with the emotional meditation, because I think it's something I need.

But I probably need something. I've developed an eye twitch now. Fortunately it's not something visible to view, because it's side to side right above my lash line rather than up and down. But it's so frequent that it's really bothering me and making my eye water. I definitely need to relax.

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Jakeman

Posted by gardenergirl on February 25, 2006, at 17:26:27

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Phillipa, posted by Jakeman on February 24, 2006, at 21:41:18

> > Just being still for me is next to impossible. Fondly, Phillipa
>
> Me too. I'm very much the restless type. Sometimes I feel like I'm about to jump out of my skin. Teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh put a lot of emphasis on walking meditation.

One of these days, I want to try walking a maze. That's supposed to be quite reflective and relaxating.

gg

 

Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Dinah

Posted by Damos on February 26, 2006, at 16:52:58

In reply to Lovingkindness meditation, posted by Dinah on February 24, 2006, at 9:49:43

Hi Dinah,

Here's a link to one of the best Buddhism sites I know of. Hopefully this is the Loving Kindess meditation link.

http://www.buddhanet.net/metta.htm

Hope it helps,
Damos

 

Thanks! (nm) » Damos

Posted by Dinah on February 26, 2006, at 20:28:03

In reply to Re: Lovingkindness meditation » Dinah, posted by Damos on February 26, 2006, at 16:52:58


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