Quick question about meditation

[ssdrdw]

Hi
I noticed that if I stop my thoughts and try to just observe my breath, my mind generates breathing sound. It's not real sound from the breath, I can modify the sound, and it's generated in the mind even if I breath very slow.
This made me think, maybe this keeps me in the mind and doesn't let me meditate properly, since I don't actually turn off the mind and only observe real body sensations.

So can anyone confirm he can observe the physical feeling of the breath without hearing it at all ?

[JonW]

Hi ssdrdw,
Perhaps the problem here is the idea of "turning off the mind".
Mindfulness practice is not about stopping thoughts. It's about gently noticing them when they arise.
It's very easy to get caught up in concepts and easy to fall into cycles of thought where we keep wondering, "Am I doing this wrong?" At times like those, why not just let go?
Let go, let, go, let go. Sometimes, that's all meditation boils down to.
Cheers,
Jon

[KernelOfWisdom]

Wow, really interesting! I personally do not hear the breath at all, for me my focal point tends to be the place where the air touches my nostrils (noticing the coolness of the air when I inhale and the warmth of it when I exhale). If it helps, perhaps try focusing on different aspects of the breath. So, you can focus as I just described, or even on the rise and fall of the body with each breath, or even with noticing where your breath stops. That might bring it away from "sound".

That said, it is an interesting observation that your brain can think in mental sounds and that you can differentiate your mind producing/imagining sensation from actual physical sensation. You may also benefit from experimenting with other forms of meditation too, such as body scans, external awareness (incorporating sound, but also sight and touch), or anything than can get you more into your body.

If you need a resource for any of those you can always check out my YouTube channel, but it is best to find a resource that works for you so if you're keep to try different techniques I find there are lots of options on YouTube as well as iTunes or elsewhere online.

[jdandre]

Hi
I noticed that if I stop my thoughts

Isn't the act of "noticing that you stop your thoughts" a thought itself?

The most common misconception about meditation is that you are supposed to stop thinking (or, empty your mind, turn it off, clear it).

Unfortunately, this misconception leads to most people giving up the practice. They try it a few times, realize it's not possible, and quit out of frustration.

Instead, approach it from the perspective of cultivating awareness. You are developing the skill of observing your "mind-made" activity without getting caught up in it. Your mind is always going - it's compulsive and incessant, and we spend most of our days "lost in thought" (though many of us don't realize it, because it's our normal condition).

Meditation combats that.

Mindfulness is transferring that skill you develop during meditation to your "non-meditation" time. By bringing mindfulness to your everyday life, you can realize some of the benefits like increased focus, reduced stress, the ability to better cope with anxiety and depression, etc.

I hope this helps. Best wishes on your continued journey!