2018/03/03

Why do some people meditate for such a long time?

Another frequent question is: 
„Hi Thomas- I often notice that people use this app ...  (ref: Insighttimer.com , the author) ... to meditate for hours at a time... would you perhaps be able to explain to me why they do this?”

Trying an answer: 
:) "Some people may think: „A lot helps a lot!“ 
Others just fall asleep while meditating. 
When they wake up, the timer asks them if they want the overtime to be counted, and they do. 
There are maybe some people who don’t have anything else to do, others may replace one addiction with another
In some special life situations I myself keep meditating for longer sequences than normal
(for healing, for solving a problem, supporting others, to relax and recover, ... or just listen to god
Some people might try out how long they can bare it to live without food, drinking or metabolism at all (save money , they don’t have or don’t want to spend? While others are spending all their money on luxury retreats in luxury spas or hotels, meditating for hours not even taking breaks for having delicious meals.) Some may just be trying to prove being an advanced yogi
Others may want to wait for the experience of enlightenment. I’ve met some who meditate to prepare for their transition to their next incarnation. 
So You might guess, there are as many reasons as there are persons meditating. Most of the time, when persons are meditating with a certain goal this is not working nor is it leading into meditation. 
This is why I keep saying to my students: 
„Don‘t be a person!“ and „Meditate to just meditate and nothing else but meditate.“ 
There is a trick to help You keeping Meditation - and Your self-definitions (this summary of Your roles as a person, Your goals and wishes) apart from each other: 
David Simon once taught me: 

Before You even start Your meditation, ask Yourself the 3 (or 4 soul-questions): 
Who am I ? 
What do I really want? 
What is my Dharma? 
(What am I grateful for?) 
In this order these questions are leading You to a good starting position. 
Alow Yourself about 1 minute with each question. Then breathe in - and out - and let go of all the questions and answers. After this preparation just follow Your Primordial Sound Mantra, always returning to it, once You realize to be loosing track. It’s as easy as that. 
When starting to repeat Your Mantra set Your inner clock to a certain time. Maybe use the Insighttimer to lead You back out of Your meditation. Once the time is done, stay some more minutes just sitting“ 
Being all one, in the end it’s not at all important how long the members of the Insighttimer community are meditating, as long as they are making it a daily habit, what would You think? 

Namasté 
Thomas“

PS: I am recommending the Insighttimer App for Smartphone-Users. Join in for free. 
Visit me there, join in to one of my groups, find answers to all Your questions on meditation and build up a daily habit of contemplation choosing the way You like. 
There You can meet Millions of meditators of all around the world, meditate together with thousands of Your meditating friends at any time, meet and ask over 3000 of the worlds best and approved meditation teachers, let Yourself accompany and support at Your daily practice, choosing from over 8,345 free guided meditations, music tracks, talks and courses. Have fun meditating. 
Meet You in the Gap ;)

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