Hey all, recently I've been wondering about my meditation practice. I can't seem to decide which of the following focus points I want to focus on:
1. Focusing on my breath -> mind wanders very quickly but i get to "train" the mental muscle more often by getting back to the breath
2. Focusing on counting my breaths -> I can focus on counting much better (I imagine the breath as a wave that washes the current number to and away from me) so that I don't have to start over during the entire meditation and feel like I am able to focus more
Now my dilemma is that I feel like both options have their validity for different aspects of life but I don't want to keep switching between styles every session.
Another point I have been thinking about is that these two styles seem like training for DILDs (catching yourself on autopilot, even though it is nothing observational) and WILDs (or at least for the induction when you want to keep focusing on the technique you are using during WBTB).
Do you have any experiences or tips, Lucid Dreaming or generally related? Would love to hear some feedback :)
Hello Flo
Your dilemma sounds very much like something I pondered myself a couple months ago.
I went so far to look up that precise question (what is better: watching your breath or counting it?). I then read someplace that in the long run focusing on the breath itself rather than counting is "better", as counting - what was the wording? - apparently limits you somehow. I'm not sure I agree with that though. Especially if you are a beginner (I guess that would be anyone who hasn't practised for years already, really. I've been sitting down every day for 30 minutes for months now and I consider myself just barely a newbie. I'm just going to assume you're the same as me so apologies if I assume too much!), I don't see the harm in counting your breath. In fact, many guides even recommend you do that. It provides the mind with some additional minor task to focus on in the background so you have an easier time to keep your attention on your breath. Meditation is building a muscle but I think you'd have to reach a very advanced stage before counting can really considered to be limiting in any way.
I occassionally switch between different foci. I even did it mid-session sometimes. See, I have good days and bad days, sometimes I prefer to simply focus on counting my breath because I find it easier. And sometimes I'm just not in the mood to watch my breath. Besides, it's more important to continue meditating, regardless on the method or focal point you choose. Right now I prefer to do visualization but I will definitely go back to either counting or just watching my breath because I like that, too.
So... just choose whatever seems most agreeable to you right now. You do get your results regardless, as long as you stick to meditation. 😀
Thank you for your reply! Sounds a lot like my experience, so I will just 'go with the flo' (pun intended)😊
I also like to use the image of a wave washing numbers into my mind and then taking them away while receding. But I personally don't see a proble with using different kinds of meditation for different sessions – why do you not want to do that? Do you feel like it will affect your results with a particular method if you have to "change gears", so to speak? I especially like to use the wave when I meditate before going to sleep, when I'm already mentally prepared to unwind and I know I won't have to return to a more active state of mind afterwards. During the day OR if I'm too wound up to reach a state of calm quickly, I like to use muscle relaxation after Jacobson, as that calms me down and especially stops my monkey mind from jumping all over the place..
Thank you Mikka, I think I was worrying about not focusing on one thing, as that is essentially what meditation is about. I think the mistake I made is focusing to much on the technique and not on te basics. Both techniques are about the same thing: concentrating on one thing, so I shall not worry anymore :)
I do agree with Mikka that it no problem to switch between different 'kinds' of meditation. I would even go so far as the say that you can alternate these two approaches in a session. Everything can be a subject of meditation: sounds, sensations, feelings, objects or even thoughts. It is about noticing what is arising in consciousness at each moment so to say. I think that meditation in whichever style you like would train the mental muscle of focus needed for WILDs (and DILDs).
Thank you, I also sometimes switch during my sessions as I don't want to force me to do styles I do not like. Keeps it fun and motivating :)