My thoughts were whizzing past like I was inside a zoetrope, unable to focus on any one thought at a time. I managed to clear it by imaging a black curtain coming down and covering all the flashing pictures until I couldn’t see anything
Passively observing the monkey mind is really difficult. When I feel like I’m starting to observe without influencing my thoughts I feel drawn back into guiding and controlling them. It’ll take practice I suppose.
It was an interesting experience. Normally when I meditate I’m trying to clear my thoughts but this time I was just allowing them to be. My monkey mind is always wanted to think about the future, never about the present.
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Tried to use the visual metaphor in my head of sitting on a bench in a quiet park and just “thought watching” the random things that appeared, moved past me and then disappeared into the distance. No interaction with the thoughts, no questioning why they were there- just watching them as they want on their way
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It seems I can only legitimately be aware of my kind thinking after the event. I don’t have a voice on my head or an image. I’m just aware, afterwards, oh i thought that. It make it quite hard as if I watch I stop the thoughts from happening much
I actually found this exercise really interesting. I dont think I’ve ever just stopped and listened to my general thoughts. For the 1st 5 minutes my mind was all over with random thoughts, then the next 5 minutes it started to calm down a little and for the last 5 minutes it went silent without me even realising, I was actually startled and came round by my phone ringing, it was at this point that I realised my monkey kind actually went completely silent! Genuinely surprised at this exercise and keen to explore more
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An observation if I may. I thought the purpose of the exercise was to let your monkey mind run away with the thoughts, not try to suppress them? If your way made you feel good in any way then great, but I actually let my mind wonder completely and eventually it just stopped on it’s own without me even realising it had stopped. Quite a strange experience actually and it’s the first time I’ve tried any form of meditation
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Was going through my daily fantasy thoughts.
At first, my thoughts were racing all over the place. A lot of fearful scenarios about mean spirited neighbors or people in general, that aren’t necessarily true. Also a lot of sexual desires and planning next encounters. Towards the end of the meditation, I started to detach and not take these thoughts so seriously. My thoughts are more calm than before the meditation.
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I don’t know if my imagination is the monkey thoughts
My thoughts varied and focused on my plans for the future and goals I had in mind. It was difficult at some points to just observe and be present with my thoughts but I understand overall concept and how practicing this can help me to be aware of how my thoughts can be random and subconsciously alter my experience with practice I hope to not allow these thoughts to negatively affect my experience.
Many of my thoughts caused irritability. But the irritation slowly evaporated as I viewed the thoughts as like clouds passing by. I feel better. More calm and more present right now. Less in my thoughts than before the meditation.
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The less I paid attention to those thoughts, the more relaxed I was.
Well that was wild. I paid attention to it and just said “alright, have at it,” and then it just completely turned off. Surrendering to it and meeting it with acceptance is it.
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It’s all over the place. I just observed it
I’ve done this meditation a few times before. Today, I felt more accepting and less bothered by my monkey mind. As a result, I felt more detached from “reality thoughts”, more present and centered in my calm state.
My mind had many thoughts throughout the session. From sex, to past and future events.
I began a bit too eager to relieve the thoughts I had but as soon as I was settle on my breathing and noticed the thought, which did pop up, i felt a lot more relaxed
Monkey Mind analysis started with inclusion of the one black cloud but as time went on that cloud shrunk admist a ‘peer group pressure’ where all other content was positive resulting in overwhelming need to change and comply with surroundings!
I got caught up in my monkey mind but slowly let go and started observing as the session progressed