Many people find that once they commit to a regular meditation practice, the first few months can be tough going. Concepts such as ‘inner peace’ and a ‘tranquil mind’ don’t seem to match the actual experience! We have found that this can partly be due to the many misconceptions about what meditation actually is and what it takes to establish a worthwhile practice. Here are the most common obstacles encountered on the meditation path with some suggested remedies.
The meaning of meditation
The Sanskrit word for meditation is ‘dhyana’ which is not a verb, it’s an adjective. It describes our state, rather than being a doing activity. If you take the meaning of meditation at a deep level you will see that for us to become meditative, it takes perseverance and somewhat of a lifestyle overhaul, rather than an activity we perform for five minutes with the expectation of dramatic results!
Obstacle 1 – I can’t seem to stop my thoughts – what am I doing wrong?
Stopping your thoughts is like asking the ocean to stop its waves. It is the single biggest misconception about meditation. You cannot stop your thoughts as it is the nature of the mind to think. During meditation practice, we expand another faculty we have – and that is our consciousness. Your consciousness (or awareness) of experiencing your body-mind is the key that unlocks the door of being trapped by your thoughts. With a regular meditation practice, your awareness starts to grow and your thoughts no longer bother you. This growing awareness allows you to dive under the waves, where the mind is not as agitated. You can’t be liberated by that which ‘imprisons’ you – your mind.
Obstacle 2 – My thoughts seem to increase during meditation, not decrease!
If you do not prepare yourself for a meditation sitting during the early years of practice, it is highly likely that you will spend your time pondering on your thoughts, rather than training your mind not to follow the thoughts. Sitting for meditation requires intention, focus, concentration and most importantly, consistency. Once your practice is established it is highly probable that you will experience heightened thinking for some time. These are generally not thoughts ‘coming in’ but rather ‘thoughts going out’ – a bit like looking at your files before you delete them. The countless impressions you have stored over your lifetime will surface and enter your awareness during meditation. If you know the thoughts are going out, you can approach this experience with awareness – be aware of the thought and let it go, rather than following it and dropping into the usual auto-pilot style thinking pattern. Being in awareness reduces the tendency to follow the repetitive thought patterns – this is a technique used in mindfulness training.
Obstacle 3 – I don’t know what to do during meditation
Just as you need a coach to learn a sport or a teacher to learn a new skill, having an experienced meditation teacher who can guide you is so important. Unless you are guided through the common obstacles that tend to disrupt meditation, you will most likely drop out. These usually involve physical, mental and emotional obstacles and the most challenging are the ‘vasanas‘ – or the subconscious patterns and habits that drive us. This is why most traditional meditation schools have a guide, mentor or guru who has walked the path him or herself and who can guide from experience. You wouldn’t learn how to drive from another L-plater but from an experienced driving instructor – meditation is no different.
Obstacle 4 – I get bored during meditation
The mind demands constant entertainment, pleasure and stimulation. Today, it is rare to see a person waiting for a bus, or sitting at a cafe without their phone or headphones. We are constantly plugged in – receiving stimulus and input. It is no wonder that we feel bored during meditation! The whole process of meditation is about mind training so that you can control unnecessary thoughts. For most people these unnecessary thoughts control them. If we are constantly feeding our mind, there is no opportunity for awareness to grow. Sitting in total awareness of your body, mind and spirit is so powerful that the power of the mind becomes dwarfed and loses importance. This can only happen through meditation.
