[TobaccoNUE]

Ok, at about the 25 minute mark I seem to get really restless and want to come out of my sitting meditation and by about 30 minutes I definitely need to just stop. While a few months ago I had this problem about the fifteen minute mark and came at about 20 minutes so I guess its just a matter of practice but does anyone had any tips on this? I've tried to say to myself restless, restless etc and it works for a while but I just sometimes need to just stop its like there is a barrier I can't go through.

I've also had a couple of quite deep realisations into the way things are lately and when they have happened they have left me a little high there is a feeling of exhilaration that comes with them, I wonder how to deal with the "high" its a little disconcerting.

I'm also having difficulty finding a Theravadin Sangha thats nearby, the one in Leicester is difficult because of the time I spend with my GF - she's usually busy with work and looking after her mother in the week, so weekends are all we really have. I contacted the Vihara in Birmingham - it not too much more expensive than getting to Leicester but the guy I spoke to on the phone was Burmese and couldn't really undertsand what I was saying (no wonder they didn't answer my e-mail).

When I first started out Aloka pointed me in the direction of the Samatha trust but I kind of misinterpeted what the lady was trying to teach me, plus the fact that if I missed the last train home from the class (which is quite early on a rural line) I'd be spending a cold night on a rural platform with no shelter in sight. They have a class in Birmingham that ends at 8 PM on a weekday night so its good for me - I thought I'd at least go along and have a look.

[SusanSazzios]

Ok, at about the 25 minute mark I seem to get really restless and want to come out of my sitting meditation and by about 30 minutes I definitely need to just stop.

imo, that is OK

but i would suggest to try to not depart from your quietude

if you have a place to do some walking meditation ('back & forth' over twenty paces or so) then make the transition to walking meditation

or if you just can lay down and relax, then just lay down

i suppose, what i am attempting to suggest is to change to a posture that is more open & relaxed and that has less pressure

so if your body needs to do some movement to shake off its restlessness, then let it move

if your body needs to lay down to allow the restlessness to come up & dissolve, then let the body lay down

if your body needs to take some abnormal breaths to blow off the restlessness or do a little 'primal scream', then let it do so

to end, i am suggesting to not transition from your restless meditation to an activity, such as watching TV, that absorbs the restlessness

instead, possibly stay in the quiet zone (but less rigid) to allow the restlessness to fully manifest & dissolve

khanti paramam tapo titikkha: patient endurance burns up defilements supremely

kind regards

element

[Izzy]

Thanks for the advice Element,

I'll experiment with the methods you suggest and try and see if I can push pass this restlessness, I'd like to stay in meditation for longer if I can, like I say its coming later than it did a few weeks ago but its still a problem.

[Buyemae]

Are you seeking some profound insights when you sit? Maybe you are seeking
to be calm. When you "seek" in meditation, you lose the point entirely. You become restless and agitated after some time. Point is to just sit and stop seeking to be calm. Stop seeking anything and keep bringing your mind back to the breath. Naturally it needs practice.

Also remember that restlessness is one of the five meditative hindrances. It takes patience and practice to deal with it.

"Minfulness, Bliss and beyond" is a very good meditation handbook if you like to take a look. There is a long chapter on how to battle hindrances including restlessness. I think the first few chapters can be downloaded free.

[Alkanyadela]

I have a copy of Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond that I recently started to read, Deshy, I think I've just got to the chapter on hindrances.

[AntonioXYZ]

imo, that is OK

but i would suggest to try to not depart from your quietude

if you have a place to do some walking meditation ('back & forth' over twenty paces or so) then make the transition to walking meditation

or if you just can lay down and relax, then just lay down

i suppose, what i am attempting to suggest is to change to a posture that is more open & relaxed and that has less pressure

so if your body needs to do some movement to shake off its restlessness, then let it move

if your body needs to lay down to allow the restlessness to come up & dissolve, then let the body lay down

if your body needs to take some abnormal breaths to blow off the restlessness or do a little 'primal scream', then let it do so

to end, i am suggesting to not transition from your restless meditation to an activity, such as watching TV, that absorbs the restlessness

instead, possibly stay in the quiet zone (but less rigid) to allow the restlessness to fully manifest & dissolve

khanti paramam tapo titikkha: patient endurance burns up defilements supremely

kind regards

element

Thanks Element,

I shifted from Zazen into Vipassana or insight meditatio because after some time of doing zazen I started to feel a lot more anxious because the demand of the posture aspect.

With the advice you give, meditation, when it is brought into daily life, seems that our disposition to it is less tight and more flexible.

Also, the Ananda Sutta (SN 54.13) has been a wonderful guide to a less tight meditation and a less tight way of understanding.

[chelviweeme]

When you "seek" in meditation, you lose the point entirely.

Yes. It is important not to set goals when meditation is about. Just to be there, focused in our breathing.

"Minfulness, Bliss and beyond" is a very good meditation handbook if you like to take a look. There is a long chapter on how to battle hindrances including restlessness. I think the first few chapters can be downloaded free. Thanks Deshy. I will take a look at the book.

Do you have any link for it?

[PriniMai]

Do you have any link for it?

Just google "mindfulness, bliss and beyond download" or "mindfulness, bliss and beyond PDF." There are many sites hosting the PDF with the first few chapters. Here is one:
http://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/...s-Handbook.pdf

I think the chapter on hindrances is also there

[Keeriewof]

Its by Ajahn Brahm, Kaarine.

[Zvssxstw]

Restlessness is a big problem for me when I haven't meditated for a while. Things keep popping into mind about what I could/should be doing at the moment. I think it's just the momentum from the mind's daily habits. It takes time for it to re-adjust to quietness. Anyway, I try to just notice that it's restlessness (uddhacca), one of the five hindrances, and think, 'Just another feeling. Watch it arise and pass.'

This may help: http://www.insightmeditationcenter.o...essness-worry/

[TZtrDuso]

If you are interested this is another good handbook but it doesn't specifically address hindrances to the level AB does.
Mindfulness with breathing by bhikku buddhadasa.

AB's book talks up to the level of the four immaterial attainments beyond the four rupa jhanas, which is something I haven't seen in many places, explained to such a great extent. Bhikku Buddhadasa does not go into that level of detail (I think the four immaterial attainments are not necessary to nibbhan according to suttas). He just mentions the four rupa jhanas and how to practice vipassana when emerging from them. However, he goes into detail of vipassana once the mind is concentrate with jhana. Therefore, I think it is useful to read both books.

[nizcreare]

Just google "mindfulness, bliss and beyond download" or "mindfulness, bliss and beyond PDF." There are many sites hosting the PDF with the first few chapters. Here is one:
http://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/...s-Handbook.pdf

I think the chapter on hindrances is also there

Thanks Deshy & Aloka!

[Abnorbprootly]

If you are interested this is another good handbook but it doesn't specifically address hindrances to the level AB does.
Mindfulness with breathing by bhikku buddhadasa.

AB's book talks up to the level of the four immaterial attainments beyond the four rupa jhanas, which is something I haven't seen in many places, explained to such a great extent. Bhikku Buddhadasa does not go into that level of detail (I think the four immaterial attainments are not necessary to nibbhan according to suttas). He just mentions the four rupa jhanas and how to practice vipassana when emerging from them. However, he goes into detail of vipassana once the mind is concentrate with jhana. Therefore, I think it is useful to read both books.

This may help: http://www.insightmeditationcenter.o...essness-worry/

Annotated data Deshy and FBM... Thanks a lot,

[toponlinecasinoer]

What's your location Traveller?
My understanding is not to have any sort of agenda, do not seek anything when you sit. Just sit and be without judging anything. If you feel you have to stop, try not judging this, just be aware of it. Personally I would not try to push meditation time, It maybe that doing more shorter sits benefits you more.