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jillatay
USA
206 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 28 2008 : 8:28:39 PM
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Dear Friends,
I know I might sound like a broken record but this keeps coming up for me. I am fine during pranayama and mantra meditation. I get pulled away but am getting more skilled at gently returning to the mantra. Good things are happening in general. Feelings and practice more stable.
But, during the Samyama, since I am to rest between repititions of the sutras, all kinds of images are flooding into my visual centers. I find myself "gone" for awhile and feel rather transported to who knows where. Sometimes I am gone for 5 minutes and have to hurry up and finish my session as time has gotten away from me. It is not all bad, just confusing. What are these images?
It seems that they should slow down sometime. I don't think I am doing anything on purpose against the instructions.
Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Jill
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Kyman
530 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2008 : 9:40:38 PM
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You are probably observing a process of mental digestion. Whatever is floating around inside, it seems to come up in meditation. Sometimes it is relevant to our conscious mind, other times the conscious mind does not or cannot understand.
The mind seems to have a commentary about these images, but if you get better at staying in your meditation, the images zip by.
Are you more of an artistic right brained person or is your analytical left brain more dominant?
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Jim and His Karma
2111 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2008 : 11:59:07 PM
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jillatay, no shame in getting lost in samyama. it happens to all of us sometimes. You'll soon hit a rhythm, where the sutra comes up easily at the right time. i'ts true of all the practices, but particularly so of samyama: your experience of it will change radically, and frequently. Expect it! The only thing that remains constant is the practice itself, and that's all that matters.
Trying to "understand" scenery is tempting but futile. One of the most liberating features of AYP for me is Yogani's assurance that it's mostly just random byproducts - you can think of it as sawdust, or smoke - of the blasting being done on your impurities by the practice. So the images and all the other sorts of scenery are really pretty random. They're often pleasant and intriguing, and can, if you're not warned, become a "siren", calling to you to dive in and thus distracting you from your practice.
Just let it happen, and know that the mud's being blasted off your windows. Let it happen, but no need to identify with it. |
Edited by - Jim and His Karma on Jan 29 2008 12:00:31 AM |
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Richard
United Kingdom
857 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2008 : 09:57:11 AM
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Hi Jill,
quote:
Just let it happen, and know that the mud's being blasted off your windows. Let it happen, but no need to identify with it.
That's a perfect answer from Jim, Just let it happen and move on we all get lost in Samyama even Yogani so you are in good company it just proves that you are doing it right  |
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Jim and His Karma
2111 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2008 : 10:33:28 AM
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Forgot to add one of my favorite Yogani quotes (paraphrased): if, during practice, Jesus arrives and offers to give you a ride in his chariot, politely decline and continue the practice.
Was it really Jesus? Depends on your definition of "real". It's all real...and none of it. The bird chirping outside the window is real, and my first task as a meditator was to neither ignore it nor "listen" to it, but to simply let it do its thing. Same for Jesus as for the bird. Same even for the bliss, when it arrives. Let everything be as it is. Let it go. |
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jillatay
USA
206 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2008 : 12:34:28 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Kyman
Are you more of an artistic right brained person or is your analytical left brain more dominant?
I am artistic, but good with math and science too. Both handed/both brained.
Thanks to all of you for your contributions. What you say now seems self evident but I still appreciate hearing it defined so well. I will continue to perservere.
Loving thanks,
Jill |
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VIL
USA
586 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2008 : 2:59:54 PM
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Great post, Jim. So true, although it would be one $#@! of a trip!: LOL
VIL |
Edited by - VIL on Jan 29 2008 3:13:23 PM |
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