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psychicexplorer
USA
35 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 8:49:50 PM
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| I have some headphone style ear plugs. While doing deep meditation I kept being drawn to the sound of a television a few rooms away. My question is if it is a good idea to use the ear plugs or if I should do without and just try and focus the mind on the mantra to the exclusion of any possible distractions. Thanks. |
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Chiron
Russia
397 Posts |
Posted - Feb 08 2011 : 03:55:54 AM
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| 1 vote for ear plugs |
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maheswari
Lebanon
2520 Posts |
Posted - Feb 08 2011 : 06:27:27 AM
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no ear plugs
close the doors of the rooms and let them turn the sound off a bit |
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kaserdar
91 Posts |
Posted - Feb 08 2011 : 07:49:01 AM
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Don't worry. In the beginning i was worried with the noise around too and was thinking to use plugs. But then I didn't and realize that with daily practice you come to a point where the noise around is not distracting you.
Also there will be times you will have to meditate outside of your place, at office or on a bench on street. So better if you don't get used to ear plugs. Just say the mantra and when your attention goes to a noise outside, comeback to mantra.
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Feb 08 2011 : 07:55:43 AM
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Hi Psychicexplorer,
Welcome to the AYP forums.
This has been a common problem with many at the forum. Noise and distraction.
Here are a few topics that may have suggestions that can help:
Meditation with distractions
cotton, earplugs
external noise while meditating
I would personally say not to go in for earplugs etc. during meditation. The best way to deal with noise is treat it like a thought distraction. When you are pulled out of meditation due to noise, gently go back to the mantra.
Don't think and reinforce the distraction as annoying, because then it will be exactly that, annoying... if you treat noise distractions like you treat a thought distraction and gently go back to the mantra, then you will slowly get to a place where you can be in the middle of a crowded shopping mall and be able to meditate without being disturbed. It will take some time. But if you can keep going back to the mantra, you will soon be able to meditate without having to change your surroundings much.
Wish you all the best!!!
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Coopdog
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - Feb 15 2011 : 10:56:17 PM
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My teacher says that the earplugs interfere with energy meridians that go to your kidneys or something to that effect, but I find that my overactive mind has to have the isolation of earplugs in order for me to get into a deep meditative state.
However, that does not stop me from doing more dynamic meditation like driving or walking with no ear plugs in. There is gives and takes in everything.
Peace... |
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Etherfish
USA
3615 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 12:11:14 AM
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yes best to get rid of earplugs. But for emergencies there are better ones: Disposable foam ones that you roll between your fingers first, then release in your ears and they expand. very good blockage.I have used these to sleep near loud parties.
Also noise cancelling headphones. You could listen to rainforest or waterfall recordings and have exterior noise cancelled. |
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Lili
Netherlands
372 Posts |
Posted - Feb 25 2011 : 10:13:13 AM
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| Definitely use the earplugs--once meditation is well established getting distracted/needing earplugs will disappear on its own. It may be years before it does, but it doesn't matter--it will be your own pace that decides it. Meanwhile no need to deprive yourself of concentration by removing some fo the background noise using earplugs. Cheers&best of luck, Lili |
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technoyogi
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2015 : 4:08:05 PM
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I am using earplugs and meditate in the dark. That is my version of a himalayan cave lol. And it still does not always block out sounds nearby.
I expect that when I travel there will be even more sounds. I expect there will be times where I am forced to do my meditations on airplanes, in cars, so for now when I can optimize things I do. When I can't, I won't, and it won't stop me from practicing.
I may switch things up over time, but for now I figure I can use the extra help in inducing pratyahara. There seems to be no shortage of purification going on given the number of times my mind goes off on random thoughts, feelings, and sensations even though I am in a dark closet with earplugs and cushy cushions... |
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riptiz
United Kingdom
741 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2015 : 5:10:42 PM
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Hi,
But you could always listen to the Divine Sound on your mp3 player and have the best of both worlds.
L&L
Dave |
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Dogboy
USA
2294 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2015 : 7:07:51 PM
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| Pratyahara has many transparencies, sound being one. I used earplugs early for a month or so, until DM "took", and then they became the distraction! The clock ticking, the neighbor mowing the lawn, the faraway woodpecker, all become another layer in the pratyahara cake. |
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technoyogi
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2015 : 7:46:07 PM
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| OK, that makes sense Dogboy. I think I will try going 50 50 for now see where that goes, as I can't really say as yet that DM has "taken" just yet. Though if you could elaborate on what that meant for you I'd love to hear more for reference |
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Bodhi Tree
2972 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2015 : 8:15:09 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dogboy
The clock ticking, the neighbor mowing the lawn, the faraway woodpecker, all become another layer in the pratyahara cake.
Precisely. Nice description, Dogboy. Thank you. |
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Dogboy
USA
2294 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2015 : 10:35:50 PM
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quote:
OK, that makes sense Dogboy. I think I will try going 50 50 for now see where that goes, as I can't really say as yet that DM has "taken" just yet. Though if you could elaborate on what that meant for you I'd love to hear more for reference
At some point DM began to feel like I was "plugging in", much like a phone to a charger. There are elements of rising energy while falling deeper into the soup, all without effort, all in surrender, the mantra soft and consistant. Of course words and metaphors don't complete the experience, so I'm afraid this will have to suffice . |
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technoyogi
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2015 : 12:14:48 AM
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That suffices for where I am now Dogboy, thanks. The analogy is nice and makes sense on some nascent level of what I have had glimmerings of here and there. Even if words cannot do it justice, for now any such advice helps shorten the journey from Here to Here for me, thank you 
Tried tonight with no earplugs. I had done this in the past but not while my wife was home. Of course there were added distraction, noise of her in the kitchen was icing for my pratyahara cake tonight, and it was fine, a very good sit overall |
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Apkallu
France
108 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2015 : 10:06:18 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dogboy
Pratyahara has many transparencies, sound being one. I used earplugs early for a month or so, until DM "took", and then they became the distraction! The clock ticking, the neighbor mowing the lawn, the faraway woodpecker, all become another layer in the pratyahara cake.
I also had difficulties to go on medidating when disturbed by sharp noises or my girls shouting although I had just made them aware that I would like them to be less noisy for the time of my meditation 
The first weeks were hard but since a few weeks (now 3 months ofpractices) I can handle it far better. I think this is a good thing to experiment to judge if we are improving 
When I feel trouble coming from the inside, I just let it go as any other sound I could not deal with.
This is also convenient to practice anywhere, anytime ! |
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Prem
Canada
90 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2015 : 4:35:28 PM
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| I have always been really sensitive to noise and still am. When I began DM I had to closet myself in a room in the basement. Yesterday I thought I would practice in the living room with my hubby practising guitar at other end of house. During SP was a little distracting but by Samyama I was GONE. It was a nice surprise. So persevere and we will all be doing our DM on the train in short order |
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AYPforum
351 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2015 : 07:55:45 AM
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| Moderator note: Topic moved for better placement |
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Blanche
USA
873 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2015 : 08:35:20 AM
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| "What does not kill you, makes you stronger." My noisy energetic family made DM a challenge for a while. SInce I could not control them, I decided to try to do something about myself. There are all these stories about people focused on their task to the point of becoming oblivious to their environment. I decided that I should focus more, in the hope that the noise would be less distracting. I did not really hope for any fast results, but after about two weeks meditating with this attitude, the noises "went away" during DM. The method is simple: Follow the DM procedure; when there is a noise, a distraction, allow it without having an emotional reaction to it - no time to get upset, you are busy doing DM; return to the meditation, again and again. It works. I got to verify this last week, when I went to a group meditation. I was surprised at the end, when most of participants complained about the party going on downstairs (it was a public building), and outside, right under the windows. I remembered hearing somethings at the beginning of the sitting, then there were no more noises for me. All these distractions made my DM better. I wonder how this might work for you. |
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meditation and ear plugs
