Learning To Meditate Should Not Be So Difficult: Here is An Easy Way to Achieve a Meditative State
77![The Day Dream By DG Rosetti [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://s4.hubimg.com/u/5866779_f260.jpg "The Day Dream By DG Rosetti [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons")
Meditation is easier than you think! In fact conscious “thinking” takes more effort. Trying to stop thinking is a good deal harder; in fact, it’s impossible. You’d have to be dead to reach that state. So why do meditation instructors tell you to “empty your mind”? That directive can actually be non-productive because thoughts keep popping into our heads and it's frustrating having to work at brushing them aside.
If you are interested in the benefits of meditation and improving the quality of your life, but feel that learning to meditate is hard work (which kind of defeats the purpose), there’s an easier way to succeed in developing your meditative practice. You simply start by doing what comes naturally.
How Do You Know You Are Meditating?
When you are in a meditative state you feel a bit zoned-out. It’s that dreamy, relaxed feeling you get when you daydream and your eyes get slightly unfocused. Sometimes one eye will start to drift away from the other eye. Most people have been there; they just don’t realize they are having a meditative moment until it’s over. You may have been driving your car, when you suddenly “wake up” and wonder how you arrived at your destination. Students will awaken to the voice of their teacher asking for an answer to the last question. If you’re deeply involved in a task and you don’t hear your spouse calling to you, you are in a meditative state.
![By Brookie, CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://s3.hubimg.com/u/5866782_f120.jpg "By Brookie, CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
Learn From Your Mini Meditative Moments
Before you try to meditate at a specific time of day, begin by consciously becoming aware of those spaced-out meditative moments. Soon you’ll come to recognize not only how it feels, but how you got there. Some people zone out into a meditative state when they look at bright sunlight, or a beautiful scene in nature. Some people get there when they are eating something really delicious. If you can do this, stay with it for as long as you can without compromising your safety, (such as driving the car). Recognize how it makes you feel. Do you feel relaxed? More peaceful? Do you feel pleasantly removed from the real world? If so, it’s because you are meditating and meditation makes you feel that good!
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Recreating the Inner Peace of Meditation
Once you recognize what it feels like to meditate, reaching a meditative state becomes easier. All you need to do is to turn on your personal meditation trigger. Don’t worry. You won’t have to begin your meditation practice with a dozen cream-filled doughnuts. You simply daydream about eating those delicious doughnuts, or seeing the sunlight glimmering on a lake, or hearing a relaxing tune, or turning on whatever personal meditative trigger works for you.
Naturally, distractions will wake you from your meditation so don’t forget turn off the phone and to let others know you are not to be disturbed. Put on some some soothing music.
If you are awakened from your daydream state by thoughts, take a few breaths and start again. The only thoughts you need to think about during meditation are pleasant thoughts that trigger your meditative state. As you improve, you can begin to bring other positive thoughts into mind as they won’t disrupt your meditation; on the contrary they will add to the benefits of meditation. Learning to get there is just the beginning.
© Copyright Green Lotus, 2011. All rights reserved.
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hmm very interesting and well detailed piece here
thumbs up
This was very straight-forward - I appreciate that. And I also agree that telling people "to empty" their mind when they are trying to meditate is a little counter-productive. That line confused me, to say the least (for a long time).
Great write, thank you and all the best!
Hilary - You write in a manner that is very straightforward and easy for the novice to practice and undertstand.
I seem to have those meditative moments more when I am driving than when eating those cream-filled doughnuts. Perhaps that's because I like jelly-filled dougnuts more.
Thanks for this useful introduction to meditation!
Thanks Green Lotus. I find I'm meditating less because of work stress and my fiance don't give me enough space to breathe. My best time is in the middle of the night or when he's away.
athena - I was expecting that question so I added a Wikipedia Daydreaming link to this Hub. It lists the many definitions of daydreaming which include the mentions about "spacing out--i.e. one's mind going relatively blank" and the fact that "it is now commonly acknowledged that daydreaming can be constructive in some contexts".
Since daydreaming and meditation have so much in common, it stands to reason that one can more easily achieve a focused meditative state if they can daydream. Thanks for commenting!
rednickle - Glad you enjoyed this and much thanks for the thumbs up!
Mr. Happy - Good to see you here. I too never could get my head around the whole "empty you mind" thing. I tried to do it but it kept filling up with more stuff. I think it can be hard if you don't know what the meditative state feels like naturally. It's not really a feeling of emptiness, but rather a pleasant dreamy half-focused state.
Cheers!
drbj - I love your comments; not because of the huge compliment (although I accept that as well) but because you get my humor too.
nextstopjupiter- Great to see you and thanks for the kind words. I didn't realize this was a good intro into meditation but I guess you're right. So many try to meditate by the book, find it too difficu.t and give up!
Cardissa- It's funny, when we need to experience the benefits of meditation most, we don't find time to do it. I will say that when you are totally immersed in Hub writing to the point that hours fly by and you are enjoying the process, that's a form of meditation in itself that can be very healing. Cheers!
Wow, this is great! I appreciate your making meditation more accessible, since I find it hard to go to the hard core "clear thoughts away" state. I think I shall do some meditation after work today. Can't wait to get back into it!
I agree that meditation is not about "emptying the mind". I do mindfulness meditation and i try to bring focus back to breath whenever my mind wanders. It takes practice.
Simone - Thanks for stopping by! Yes, meditation can be very accessible once you realize it's a form of deep, focused daydreaming. Good luck getting back to your practice. Namaste.
BlissfulWriter - So good to see you again. It seems a lot of people agree that the direction to "empty your mind" is not very effective and can actually be a stumbling block. As you say, breathing is so important. It's an easy way help you stay focused when those unnecessary thoughts creep in :)
I love meditation and I found something new here. You have good advice for us. Thanks for writing and share with us. I hope you always healthy..amen. Rated up!
Prasetio
Pras- Glad to share some helpful information. Thank you so much for the rating too.
I tried to achieve a meditative state when I feel a panic attack come on from stress. I have to agree that to "empty you mind" is a bit frustrating, so I try to organize the thoughts that pop into my mind, then focus on something soothing and positive. Before long, I can usually get the feeling to pass. My most meditative state seems to be right before I fall asleep, and an idea for a hub or story floats by.
Great hub! It is very helpful!
Posture is a key part of meditation. If you want to learn how to meditate properly, you have to follow the correct sitting posture. In meditation, you need to have a comfortable seat and a good posture. Always keep your back straight.
tlpoague- Thanks for commenting. It looks like you have a good method for stressing out and getting yourself into a meditative state. It's so true that when we relax and let our minds wander gently, valuable ideas pop into our heads!
meditateproperly - Good posture keeps you from falling asleep too! Many traditional methods advocate sitting up straight because it facilitates the breath. It's ideal; although, I have meditated successfully in a non-traditional prone position too. Thanks for contributing.
Hi, I never thought of it like that, I definitely do that when I am trying to get some sun! now I know how easier it is, maybe I will be able to meditate better, I have just tried it the usual way, so this is different and much better, but please can I have the donuts for real? lol! rated up! thanks!
Thanks Nell!... as for the donuts..just think about them and they will manifest. As you know, "thoughts become things" :)
Hello Green Lotus, wonderful guide.
Just wanted to add..I do understand that 'empty the mind' 'focus on nothing' are of meditation translation issue. Within my Pacific Island culture, native words when translated into the English language..at times loose it actual meaning. My ancestors teach the important of 'being one with own thought' 'calming the mind'...just like when you sunbathing on a tropical beach with only you and ocean waves and few birds above... :-)
Jahzz- I like that "being one with own thought"! I also agree, a beach location helps:) Thanks for contributing here.
Great hub! I am a very beginning meditator, and also find the traditional directives rather tough to follow- even the line "if thoughts come, don't fight them, just let them go" is too difficult for me! The thoughts figure they can keep on coming, and faster! =) I really like the idea that the meditative state is something different from what I'd thought. A daydream-like feel, now that I can relate to! And reiki helps get rid of the mind "noise," too... thanks for this!
seekingpeace - It took me years to realize the whole simplicity of it all, but once I started doing what came without effort, meditation has never been easier or more powerful. Giving Reiki should also be effortless. It doesn't even require going into a meditative state. Thanks for stopping by.
I'm one of those who has been doing on and off meditation the "hard way". My problem is I always manage to fall asleep when I do that. Hahaha!!!
I think I will try your easy way. Sounds like this is what I need!
Thanks for this hub GL! Voted up and useful!
jill -Great to see you. Good luck trying it the easy way. Sometimes I "practice" looking at the sun through the trees. Cheers and thanks for the voteup!
I think it's hard for most Americans to meditate because it's not ingrained in this culture like it is in other countries. Voting this Up and Interesting.
alocsin - I think you're correct in your assumption, although it's changing slowly. Most people find it hard to sit and "do nothing". I'm reminded of that quote (Buddha's?)"Don't Just Do Nothing, Sit There".
athena2011 5 months ago
So what would you say then is the difference between meditation and daydreaming?