Hi Mari,

Welcome to the forum

Yes its a great question and I suspect many people face similar challenges. If I may say so, its likely that the question arises from a slight misunderstanding of what meditation really is.

I know there seems to be a prevailing idea its about stilling the mind. To me however, meditation is about being in conscious awareness of everything that is arising - even next door's dog yapping!

The question is when such distractions occur, what is happening to you inside? Are you being frustrated, angry or distracted? If so, why so? What is it that you think you really need?

It is important to realise that we create everything that our attention is drawn to. So accept the distraction and ask why did you create it in the first place? What are you meant to learn/remember about yourself?

You are of course the absolute. Can you find that place of absoluteness where everything is arising in you? So when you hear the dog barking, can you find the place where you are not listening to it outside of yourself but inside of yourself?

It may sound impossible to do, but really, when we give up struggling against reality, it can happen quite easily. Then next doors dog barking or even the most dramatic distractions are no distractions at all.

Best wishes

Chris

This is very useful to know. I have now begun asking myself why I get frustrated when I get distracted and am finding that my thoughts move through the frustrations into a peacefulness.

By not denying the feelings of distraction, reminding myself "this is a distracted feeling" and asking "why do I feel this way" I am distracted less and less in meditation and going into stillness. When anything comes up I can allow it to be.

Like you say, it is all about giving up the struggle and accepting what is. It doesn't always work at the moment, I guess it takes time. I feel positive though. It's very exciting to find a new layer of practice. Thank you for sharing your time and advice.

Love and Light
Mari

Is a feather, dancing on the air, distracted?

Recognize that which happens outside really happens inside as thought within your own consciousness. Examine those thoughts and embrace them fully. They will become like a feather, dancing on the air - free, formless and alive.

Then you will see that every waking moment is meditation.

Thank you for the post Spurious thought. This is a lovely description about feather dancing on the air. I see what you mean.

The concept of everything outside happening within keeps coming up for me and I finally think that it is sinking in.

I can't say that I would like to "examine my thoughts" tho' - I'm trying to give up thinking and analysis too much

I'm looking forward to the day when "every waking moment is meditation" tho'.

Love and Light
Mari