21 common mistakes in meditation and some solutions

21 common mistakes in meditation

There are many types of meditation and these tips are general

In particular, each type of meditation has its precise indications, which must be followed.

The advice of the teacher or master can help and boost significantly, sometimes even decisively.

1. To keep the spine flexed, the trunk or head tilted in any way or bent

From the very beginning, when we assume the meditation position, it is necessary to approach it as straight but relaxed as possible, in a natural natural position that allows the body to stand straight without muscle contractions for stabilization.

2. Let’s move.

The most important condition in meditation is the stillness and relaxation of the body.

If we accept the temptation to move or if we are not perfectly relaxed, this calls for our attention in the body and meditation is then much harder to achieve or impossible.

If, however, we have moved, the solution is to start all over again with stillness.

3. Let’s follow other thoughts instead of continuing the algorithm of resepctive meditation

It’s simple: when we think of something else, we just finished the meditation. So, from the time we’re sitting with our eyes closed, just the time we’ve done with our minds what we need is concentration and meditation.

If we notice that we have involuntarily reached with our mind “on the plains”, then we return to the concentration necessary for meditation gently, without self-deflating for our mistake.

4. Abandoning

The big mistake is this because apart from the situation where our meditation works spontaneously, we need to go down the road from inefficiency to efficiency in meditation.

Meditation that works immediately is a chance but to reach it whenever we want, first we face inefficiency.

Further we apply in every way the advice and indications necessary for the meditation received from our master or master, we find the necessary efficiency in our inner universe. Eventually we consult with people we trust about the ability to meditate.

5. Relying too much on the energy of the will

Will means , in fact, also ego and a will to meditate effectively manifested too determinedly prevents us from meditating.

Why is that?
Because it is analogous to the proximity to a dear being.
We can convince her to be together but,

even though she too couldn’t wait to be together,

if we impose this, an apparent paradox will happen:
the more determined we act in order to be successful,

the further away the success will be from us.

And then how to proceed?
As in the example given, the will must be used with detachment and respect, moving forward as far as we are allowed.

Or, metaphorically speaking, we lean gently and with detachment from the door of meditation that we want to open, but we do not push it with the will.”

6. Having too high expectations

At first it is very likely that we will have
the “beginner’s luck”
that often manifests itself in any activity. Then the evolution continues, but proportionally to the effort. We need to have confidence and keep going.

7. Let’s aim with our will not to breathe

This shows a lack of knowledge of deep meditation, mistaking the effect with the cause.

Breathing should not be ample or deep, but exactly the opposite

Let us allow it, without insisting with the will, to become shallow and gentle.
We will find at some point that a type of kevala kumbhaka appears – prolonged retention on vacuum.

It can be more and more prolonged that we have the impression at some point that we are no longer breathing at all.
They allow the breath (and the energy that goes up the spine) to flow through the center of the spine.

And let’s be patient.

9. Let’s pay great attention to the exterior and leave the nonduial perspective

Whatever the method of meditation, a great secret is that its effectiveness can only come from within. It is necessary to ignore the limited mind and ego or personality and to orient or connect to the Inner Source or to ourselves essentialized.

Withdrawal of attention from the objects of the senses Prathyahara

it is a fundamental key. Unless meditation is based on some form of trataka or attention to something external.
Meditations of this kind are, for example, guided meditations, meditation with yantras, meditation with music.

In this situation only the secondary attention will be outward-facing, the main one must remain towards the Self.

10. Attention paid to spontaneous mental images

except for those meditations that really rely on them. We must ignore them and continue the algorithm of that meditation .

11. Not to be authentic

This refers to the situations of those people who imagine that they meditate, imagine that they succeed.

Humility – Vinaya Mudra is an essential unsuspecting quality for success in meditation.

12. Let us not discuss our problems with the master

the teacher or at least with someone who is successful in meditation, if we have the chance to get to know such a person.

The role of the master or master is fundamental to be fully successful.

13. Let’s use a type of meditation that’s inappropriate for us

The nondualist perspective is universal and necessary to anyone, but some people can be much more successful with one type of meditation than with another.

It is notorious the case of the young Indian man who…

after a few years he wanted to leave his yoga school and his master because he was not successful with meditation. But this happened because the thought was constantly running away to the dear animal left at their parents’ home, the little cow who greatly helped their existence and with whom he had a deep empathic connection.
Saying, finally these problems to the master he indicated to meditate even with the whip… and the meditation was a lightning success.

14. Changing the type of meditation too often, without having already been successful

Of course, this is another equally important issue. If we change the type of meditation very often, we do not have time to progress in that method. Here a form of common sense or the indication of the master is required.

15. Skepticism

In whatever direction we act, skepticism erodes the basis of our efficiency. Pointless optimis is not good either, but enthusiasm or perseverance in action and confidence are a veritable treasure.

16. Blasphemy

it isa very widespread mistake. To be successful it is necessary to search, adapt, connect constantly.

People who know blasphemy in their practice have a kind of hopeless lethargy, which makes them cap themselves. Success might be with them, but they don’t know it because they no longer dare to believe that they can be successful.

17. Non-adaptation

It is necessary to be creative and practical seekers to grasp what we need to do to meditate well. Let’s adapt the tips to the facts. The help of the competent person can be of great benefit.

18. Let’s aim not to think

This is a trivial mistake. One of the usual advices not very inspired, when fundamental meditation is not well known, which is known to lead to a state of mental void, shunyata.

The effort not to think will generate an intensification of thoughts

the very desire not to think being a thought. This process is all the more intense as we want more intensely not to think.

Okay, then how do we get into the thoughtless state?

It occurs spontaneously in meditation, we do not generate it directly. It is a result of meditation.

Also, a misunderstanding

in connection with this state of mental void, the result of meditation performed with efficiency is to believe that this state is a state in which we cannot think.

In reality we can think

even much better and more efficient than before. It’s just that we don’t want to do that, because in this state we position ourselves above the mind. We feel that it is a superior state and that it gives us inspiration and even spontaneous happiness. But whenever we want to think we will succeed very well.

19. Failure to comply with brahmacharya

absolute sexual continence and/or verbal continence, control of desires.

All this makes our mind agitated and difficult to control.

20. Rajassic or Tamasic nutrition

with highly processed, old foods, too much cooked or seasoned excessively.

21. Avoiding to attract efficiency from the infinite within

what in the nondualist perspective is what people commonly call God.

Leo Radutz