AYP Lesson 159 - Too Many Thoughts in Meditation?

Advanced Yoga Practices
Main Lessons

Note: For the Original Internet Lessons with additions, see the AYP Easy Lessons Books. For the Expanded and Interactive Internet Lessons, AYP Online Books, Audiobooks and more, see AYP Plus.

Lesson 159 - Too Many Thoughts in Meditation? (Audio)

AYP Plus Additions:
159.1 - What to do with Thoughts in Deep Meditation and Spinal Breathing Pranayama (Audio)

From: Yogani
Date: Thu Apr 8, 2004 3:17pm

New Visitors: It is recommended you read from the beginning of the archive, as previous lessons are prerequisite to this one. The first lesson is, "Why This Discussion?"

Q: I thank you very much for a great service you are doing. It is good work and please keep it up. I have one question. When I do meditation, my mind gets drifted and it goes on thinking about different activities that I did recently and which I might be doing in the future. Because of this instead of 20 mins, I do meditation more time, sometimes up to 40 mins also. When I do meditation more time like this I get headache and get angry at people even on slight problems. Because of this I couldn't do higher meditation. Can you please help me to do regular meditation. How can I focus where I am doing? Also, what can I get rid off the headache.

A: Thank you for writing and sharing.

Thoughts are a normal part of meditation. They come as obstructions are being released in the nervous system. If you meditate much longer than 20 minutes (see Lesson 193) , you will be releasing too much in one session, and that is the cause of the irritability and headaches. So, go back to 20 minutes and follow the procedure for easily coming back to mantra whenever you realize you are off it. Once you begin meditation, if you have nothing but thoughts for the whole time, that is okay. It is what needs to happen right then as your nervous system is purifying deep inside. It will not always be like that. Experiences change over time. Right now, your experience is thoughts -- which is release of lots of deep obstructions. Good things are happening, but a bit too much with such long meditations.

If you are doing meditation according to the lessons, then I suggest you review all the lessons and Q&As on the procedure of meditation. Thoughts are a normal part of the process. It may seem very mundane sometimes in meditation. I can assure you that you are deep in meditation. If you were not, you would not have irritability and headaches from overdoing it.

Also, make sure you take adequate rest time when coming out of meditation, as instructed in the lessons. This will facilitate smoothness in activity.

Follow the easy procedure and you will be fine. If you have further difficulties, let me know.

The guru is in you.