Misconceptions about meditation

[TBRS1]

Reminds me of a friend from work who always tried to meditate while riding BART from San Francisco to Orinda. She was quite adept at somehow cancelling out all the external noise of riding in a high-speed subway car.

That is actually very common for people who meditate regularly.

A while back, friends dragged me to a football tailgate party. The crowd, the chaotic environment, the mixed blaring of different music, the smells - all way, way to much for me.

So I (intentionally) slipped into a meditative state and just ignored it all.

 

[vergil96]

I never understood what is so hard about concentrating even in a busy environment. For me it's rather draining or unpleasant than distracting. The idea has to be more suitable for some temperaments or minds than others.

 

[Aspychata]

I like to practice meditation sitting in the car staring out at the waves, l find my mind soothed by the constant motion of the water. l also feel better in a dark space, and a small fan to create a soothing noise while l do my best to contemplate on letting my feelings go.

 

[TBRS1]

I like to practice meditation sitting in the car staring out at the waves, l find my mind soothed by the constant motion of the water. l also feel better in a dark space, and a small fan to create a soothing noise while l do my best to contemplate on letting my feelings go.

This would probably work for me, except that those sounds - waves, fans (green noise), rainstorms - are sounds I listen to when I go to sleep. I think I've programmed myself to fall asleep when hearing them.

However, they are inherently calming, and seem to "push" random thoughts away. This makes them a very good meditation aid (for people who don't use them as a sleep aid ).

 

[velociraptor]

I never understood what is so hard about concentrating even in a busy environment.

1. I'm unable to filter things out, they all hit me hard at the same time.
2. I have synesthesia on top of this, giving me another layer of "sensory input"

 

[TBRS1]

1. I'm unable to filter things out, they all hit me hard at the same time.
2. I have synesthesia on top of this, giving me another layer of "sensory input"

Oh! Somebody else with synesthesia. That's probably why I find music while meditating so distracting.

 

[vergil96]

1. I'm unable to filter things out, they all hit me hard at the same time.

Me too, but I never understood why or how that interferes with attention. How does it work?

I imagine synesthesia has to be distracting, though.

 

[velociraptor]

How does it work?

It doesn't work, that's the issue.