Should I Meditate Before Practicing Enlightenment Work?

[Viking]

So i've been on the leo train for quite a bit of time now, for about a year, but just watched videos a little here a little there but the last month i've watched a lot of videos and started to meditate about two weeks ago.

The problem is that I tried to do self inquiry and whenever I ask myself any question I dont get that automatic response from my brain. It's like im unfocused. like a teacher explains stuff and youre just nodding your head. Also my mind doesnt really shift into other stuff like what to eat for lunch, it's just those empty questions.

I am doing the 30x3 days meditations that leo talked about in how to meditate deeper video, should I start enlightenment work just after that?

[Markus]

When I was a newbie with that I was also confused and afraid I was doing sth wrong. But nah. It's all good. The point of self-inquiry is becoming conscious of what you are. The less distractions the better. It's also not about verbalizing the question mindlessly, it's about intending to become conscious of what you are and truly wondering, and keeping your focus on the realest sense of you-ness you've got in this moment. Whatever it is. Doesn't have to be thoughts.

Oh, and do both. Also watch Leo's video on Concentration vs Meditation and start a concentration practice. Really helpful.

Love ya,
Markus

Edited July 24, 2017 by Markus

[Joseph Maynor]

Do this exercise.

 

[Viking]

8 hours ago, Markus said:

When I was a newbie with that I was also confused and afraid I was doing sth wrong. But nah. It's all good. The point of self-inquiry is becoming conscious of what you are. The less distractions the better. It's also not about verbalizing the question mindlessly, it's about intending to become conscious of what you are and truly wondering, and keeping your focus on the realest sense of you-ness you've got in this moment. Whatever it is. Doesn't have to be thoughts.

Oh, and do both. Also watch Leo's video on Concentration vs Meditation and start a concentration practice. Really helpful.

Love ya,
Markus

Do you mean going outward from sense of you-ness to asking questions instead of going inward from questions to me? or just focus on the sense of myself and when I have that feeling strong enough start asking questions?

Also I really dislike concentration practice and I prefer to do meditation, maybe in the future, too much practices atm :). 

[Markus]

@Ilya Focus on the object of contemplation (you) and wonder what you really is. Intend to become conscious of what you really is. And be open to whatever it is. Your sense of you will likely move around, so you want to focus on what it is in that very moment, and if it changes, focus on that. Don't overthink this, you'll get a hang of it after a while.

Do just 5 minutes of concentration right before your meditation. Notice the impact it has on the meditation session.

Love ya,
Markus

[Viking]

37 minutes ago, Markus said:

@Ilya Focus on the object of contemplation (you) and wonder what you really is. Intend to become conscious of what you really is. And be open to whatever it is. Your sense of you will likely move around, so you want to focus on what it is in that very moment, and if it changes, focus on that. Don't overthink this, you'll get a hang of it after a while.

Do just 5 minutes of concentration right before your meditation. Notice the impact it has on the meditation session.

Love ya,
Markus

Ill try, thank you !

[Shrek_Of_Justice]

If you take an amphetamine like ritalin or coke before self-inquiring it'll really boost your focus & mental clarity, thus improving your self-inquiry gains. Very useful tip for enlightenment labour.