Guided Meditations with more silence.

[thomask]

Hello all!
I'm new to the forum and have spent a wonderful hour this morning reading through the posts. Great stuff. I'm hoping you folks can help me. I'm new to mindfulness and meditation and I'm...struggling. I've been listening to some guided meditations and I cannot understand how someone can 'empty your mind of thoughts' or ' focus on your thoughts' when obviously my thoughts are processing the instructors words. I don't understand why many of the instructors constantly talk (sorry I'm frustrated). If I'm going to 'focus on my toes' should I not be given 20 seconds to do this instead of being immediately given a description of the 'tingling' that you may experience? My brain then starts thinking 'tingling' hmmmm funny word that I remember my sister not being able to pronounce the first g when....etc etc ad infinitum OH! I'm meditating...3 seconds silence...ok settle ...oh he's talking again...I often feel this talking and describing and relating is a representation of the very same 'ego' that the instructor is often asking us to leave behind. I do need guidance but do I need a commentary. I have found myself waiting for the instructor to break the calm of the silence with another unnecessary comment. Can anyone recommend some meditations or an instructor that has lots of silence in their meditation. Why do so many instructors explain during the meditation, why we meditate? Surely this can be explained before the meditation if necessary at all? Thank you all and excuse the frustrated tone (close to a rant perhaps). I find it very self-involved and self indulgent and not in anyway relaxing or helpful in focusing awareness. Thanks everyone! I appreciate it. Thomas

[Gareth]

I cannot understand how someone can 'empty your mind of thoughts'

That's because it is impossible to empty your mind of thoughts. Thinking is your minds job. You cannot stop it from doiing so; nor would you want to. Your job is merely to observe the thoughts.

Don't despair. you just need to find some instruction and some structure that resonates with you, to help you get your practice going.

Keep practising. Keep experimenting. Stick around here; we will help you.

[Peter]

Hi thomask,

I agree that almost all guided meditations have too much commentary in them. That's why I created my own. For instance with the body scan it only enumerates the body parts, with silence in between. ‎Unfortunately they are in Dutch, so they probably aren't very helpful to you.

Peter

[Matt Y]

Hi Thomas,

You might like to download the free insight timer app (https://insighttimer.com/). It has several thousand guided meditations available, some of which will allow you plenty of time to process each instruction and some of which are mostly silence.

And yes, meditation guides, in general, would be wise to allow listeners more time between instructions. However, many people (particularly beginners) aren't all that fond of too much silence and actually prefer an almost constant commentary. Also, as a meditation teacher, I've found that including 'helpful hints' during the meditation can be very useful, as people are prone to forget the instructions once they actually start meditating!

Also, I have three longish meditations that have quite a bit of silent time in them available here: http://meditationmp3s.com/mp3store/?collection=4

Matt.

[leosmith]

I don't understand why many of the instructors constantly talk

Haha, glad it's not only me. The way I look at it, the guided meditations are merely a step on the way to meditating independently, and without recordings. At least that's my goal, not offense to those who have different views.

[JonW]

'The way I look at it, the guided meditations are merely a step on the way to meditating independently, and without recordings.'

It's worth pointing out that most people continue to use guided meditations when practicing the body scan.
Jon

[leosmith]

It's worth pointing out that most people continue to use guided meditations when practicing the body scan.

That's interesting. Other than special occasions, my Thai friends don't use guidance. Are you talking about westerners or everyone?

[chrisj22]

Why not do without a guided one and sit in your own silence following the breath?

That requires no instructions or external dialogue.