Question

What should one do of s/he wants to meditate but while meditating s/he is disturbed by the disturbing and uncontrollable thoughts? And what if during the attempt of meditation, the mind is invaded by obscene thoughts or images of revered beings like saints and/or God? The fact that the more we prohibit a thought from coming to mind, the more forcefully it enters in, makes the thing more difficult! In that condition should one continue meditation attempt or leave it or keep on taking small gaps in between?

Answers

Three have answered this question: Michael Smith, Stephen Parker (Stoma), and Carolyn Hume.

Michael Smith

1) Let any thoughts that come into the mind pass though, like leaves on the surface of a river floating downstream, or traffic going by on a busy street. Don’t give thoughts any energy by paying attention to them. Good, bad, ugly thoughts, silly thoughts, heavy thoughts – it makes no difference; the technique is the same.

2) As best as you can, let your breathing be continuous and unbroken, like a circle, or a sine wave. If the breath is perfectly pause-less, thoughts cannot exist. The unbroken breath stream is your best friend. It’s quite magical that something so simple could be so powerful!

3) Between the exhalations and inhalations, however, there might be a slight pause. Be particularly vigilant to your breathing during these transitions and keep the breath flowing smoothing and effortlessly.

4) With exhalations, there is a natural “letting go,” a good time to visualize any thoughts leaving and dissolving. With inhalations be sure to continue the feeling of release and letting go and not allow tension to come.

5) If you have a personal mantra, replace random thoughts with the mantra thought. If you do not have a personal mantra, use the mantra “So-ham” – “So” with the inhalations, and “Ham” with the exhalations. Two thoughts cannot exist in the mind simultaneously, so concentrate on keeping the mantra thought. Whenever a random thought intrudes, that is the signal to return to the mantra thought. “So-ham” is a high mantra, a maha-vakya, and its subtle sound is intrinsically beneficial.

Stephen Parker (Stoma)

Remember that thoughts that arise in meditation are part of a natural cleansing process that the mind goes through. If you simply observe these thoughts and let them go without reacting to them, gradually your mind will clarify and settle down. We all have disturbing thoughts that arise. If you allow yourself to react to these thoughts and images then you begin to recycle them back into your mind in the form of samskaras.

Carolyn Hume

In addition to what Michael and Stoma have written, Swami Veda wrote,

“If the mind wanders off, because of its usual habit that has been given to it over many lifetimes, straighten your spine again; relax quickly again; re-establish diaphragmatic breathing; continue with the awareness of the flow and touch of the breath in the nostrils.”

Editor’s Note

If you have any questions about your spiritual practice, you may write to the AHYMSIN Spiritual Committee at adhyatmasamiti@gmail.com.