The Problem of Thoughts During Meditation

[Michel]

During meditation I try to be mindful of my meditation object, but thoughts often ruin everything. How does one deal with this problem?

[Jhanananda]

During meditation I try to be mindful of my meditation object, but thoughts often ruin everything. How does one deal with this problem?

Thoughts come and go.  Just do not pay them any attention, and accept them with equanimity, while you focus upon your object, while relaxing deeply, and being observant for the arising of the charisms.

[Michel]

Great reply.

I now see my problem. I was somewhat a slight bit irritated and discouraged by having thoughts, while accepting everything else with equanimity. Now I will accept the thoughts as well, and just let them go.

[Ichigo]

At first I though that having a lot of thoughts in meditation won't make charism arise.. but that's not really right.. there were meditation sessions where I had a lot of thoughts and even annoying music stuck in my head, but because that I didn't pay any attention to them or dwell into them and returned immediately to my meditation object every time, Jhana was possible anyway.. so the key is not to dwell into any thoughts and return within a split second to the meditation object.

[Jhanananda]

Wise advice, Ichigo.  Thank-you for posting your contribution to this forum.

[Michel]

Thank-you, Ichago. I'm trying to do as you suggest in my meditation practice. Your advice is helpful. Hope your meditations are going well. You are very talented. I will always read what you have to say.

[Jhanon]

I actually look at thoughts and all other mental phenomena as a doorway to deeper absorption and saturation--like I think it is explained by Eckhart Tolle in his books. When I see them as an opportunity, I meditate far deeper and fully. Which, I can see how applying this to anything in life is key.

So, a thought or vision comes up, and the first thing I do is "take a step back" and allow awareness to interact with it how it will. Usually it just shows it's true nature, and then goes back to silence. After enough of these "taking a step back" during a session, then it will begin to happen almost on it's own. I think it's actually an important part of the process of purification on a cruder level.