How to Meditate for Longer?

[SaltyMeatballs]

Since my last retreat 9 months ago, I have been able to maintain a daily practice of 1 hour strong determination sitting.

The longest I have done is 1:15. 

After 1 hour, my mind becomes very agitated and my awareness deteriorates as the mind constantly thinks about the end bell. There is usually no intense physical pain.

I try my best to surrender and bring my attention back to whatever I am focusing on.

I want to be able to sit with ease for 2 hrs plus and access the deeper layers of the mind. Is it just a matter of practice with time? 

Edit: I have been meditating daily for nearly 2 years. 

Edited May 14, 2018 by SaltyMeatballs

[Viking]

I think something that might help is getting more theory in yourself. read books i.e. Jed Mckenna, watch youtube videos i.e. Alan watts. you lack wisdom, therefore you identify with the mind. theory will lessen your identification with the mind, enabling you to sit for longer.

pure force doesnt work, the path is carved more by wisdom, not discipline.

p.s. thats the point of strong determination, watch videos of shinzen young if u havent already

edit: sorry if i offended you, wrote on the tip of my mind

Edited May 14, 2018 by Viking

[Space]

@SaltyMeatballs If you don't experience any intense physical pain then there should be no reason why you can't sit for 2 hours, if that's what you really want to do. Not saying that it's easy by any means. Very few normal people are capable of that. But it's definitely possible, particularly if you've been meditating for a number of years. The body is more than capable of sitting in the same position for a long period of time. It's just the mind that is restless. So you need to think about how to prepare for that. Try just going up in small 5 minute increments. Seeing as your best is 75 minutes, commit to sitting for 80 and set a clear intention to do so. Anticipate the resistance and the excuses to quit that the mind will come up with, and be prepared for it. You don't want to be grinding your way to 2 hours though. Mindfulness and equanimity is key, not unconscious resistance. 

[SaltyMeatballs]

3 minutes ago, Space said:

@SaltyMeatballs If you don't experience any intense physical pain then there should be no reason why you can't sit for 2 hours, if that's what you really want to do. Not saying that it's easy by any means. Very few normal people are capable of that. But it's definitely possible, particularly if you've been meditating for a number of years. The body is more than capable of sitting in the same position for a long period of time. It's just the mind that is restless. So you need to think about how to prepare for that. Try just going up in small 5 minute increments. Seeing as your best is 75 minutes, commit to sitting for 80 and set a clear intention to do so. Anticipate the resistance and the excuses to quit that the mind will come up with, and be prepared for it. You don't want to be grinding your way to 2 hours though. Mindfulness and equanimity is key, not unconscious resistance. 

That makes alot of sense, thank you.

[How to be wise]

@SaltyMeatballs can you tell me what differences this meditation habit made to your life? Just curious. 

[tsuki]

37 minutes ago, SaltyMeatballs said:

After 1 hour, my mind becomes very agitated and my awareness deteriorates as the mind constantly thinks about the end bell. There is usually no intense physical pain.

It may sound simple, but why don't you do an one hour break after your session and start over?
Gradually decreasing the interval between sessions?

This way your mind gets to rest from resting and you get your two hours.
(Actually: this is just your mind wanting both things at the same time )

[Faceless]

6 minutes ago, tsuki said:

Actually: this is just your mind wanting both things at the same time )

The contradicting mind 

[PsiloPutty]

I've done 60 mins in a strong-determination sit, and I know exactly what you're feeling. My body was feeling OK, but my mind was screaming at me, making me pissed off and wanting nothing more than to hear the timer. I wasn't even meditating toward the end of it. "It's GOT to be in the final 10 minutes now.....Let's just count 50 breaths and it should be close to over by then....what the fuck, man.....maybe I forgot to even set the timer.....maybe it's been 3 hours! ......I'm a puss if I quit now.......

It's a mindfuck, but I do feel that it's good for me, and I'm wanting to increase my SD sit times as well. Shinzen Young feels that it's a  producer of big results. Anyway, I'll check back for info. Hopefully it's not just full of people saying how pointless meditation is.   

[Space]

15 hours ago, PsiloPutty said:

I've done 60 mins in a strong-determination sit, and I know exactly what you're feeling. My body was feeling OK, but my mind was screaming at me, making me pissed off and wanting nothing more than to hear the timer. I wasn't even meditating toward the end of it. "It's GOT to be in the final 10 minutes now.....Let's just count 50 breaths and it should be close to over by then....what the fuck, man.....maybe I forgot to even set the timer.....maybe it's been 3 hours! ......I'm a puss if I quit now.......

It's a mindfuck, but I do feel that it's good for me, and I'm wanting to increase my SD sit times as well. Shinzen Young feels that it's a  producer of big results. Anyway, I'll check back for info. Hopefully it's not just full of people saying how pointless meditation is.   

SDS is not about grinding your way through a meditation session. The key is to remain mindful throughout the whole experience, particularly near the end when thoughts about quitting, the timer etc, and intense physical pains start arising. When those those sorts of things arise you've got to remain as the equanimous unattached observer, meaning you're not judging or favouring any experience over another. Noice the aversion and desire to change what's occurring. Just sit, maybe smile a little, and just watch the thoughts and feelings arise to the best of your ability.

If you start having feelings of boredom or restlessness, observe and notice them, don't be controlled by them. Then re-settle back into your meditation. Take a deep breath and re-focus your attention.  

Another tip is to intentionally make sure that your timer is correctly set before starting the meditation. For example, I use my phone for a timer, and always make sure it's either charging and/or has a lot of battery. Then I also watch the timer start for a few seconds. Very simple, but it makes a big difference because you know for certain that you set your timer correctly and that it won't stop half way through.

[BjarkeT]

look into energy management 

 

Edited May 15, 2018 by BjarkeT

[PsiloPutty]

@Space  Thank you for that. And yes, I only did the last 15 minutes of it to say that I sat perfectly still for 60 minutes, when it was only a 45-minute session of actual meditating. What I need to do is to stretch that undisturbed, equanimous 45 minutes into an undisturbed 50 minutes, and then an undisturbed 55 minutes, etc. 

Am I wrong to do those last 15 minutes of forced, non meditative resolve? It feels empowering and good afterward. My ego wants me to give up as soon as I realize that I'm out of a meditative state. The ego is the voice screaming at me to just open my eyes and be done. But if there's another voice telling me that it will be worth it to stick this out and prove to myself that I can do it, it's hard to not listen to that voice as something bigger than my ego.  

[Guest Quanty]

Switch to Squat and walking. 

We do not need to Lotus necessarily to meditate, or to stand still. Stillness has nothing to do with the physical. 

[Space]

8 hours ago, PsiloPutty said:

@Space  Thank you for that. And yes, I only did the last 15 minutes of it to say that I sat perfectly still for 60 minutes, when it was only a 45-minute session of actual meditating. What I need to do is to stretch that undisturbed, equanimous 45 minutes into an undisturbed 50 minutes, and then an undisturbed 55 minutes, etc. 

Am I wrong to do those last 15 minutes of forced, non meditative resolve? It feels empowering and good afterward. My ego wants me to give up as soon as I realize that I'm out of a meditative state. The ego is the voice screaming at me to just open my eyes and be done. But if there's another voice telling me that it will be worth it to stick this out and prove to myself that I can do it, it's hard to not listen to that voice as something bigger than my ego.  

Why was it only 45 minutes of meditating? Most of the time its pretty easy to stay focused for 60 minutes. But if you do loose focus before the end, rather than just 'sticking it out', take a deep breath, correct your posture and try to resettle back into the meditation technique. If you're not actually being mindful and observing your thoughts and feelings, or whatever your object is, during that last period, then 15 minutes of 'non-meditative resolve' is a waste of time in my books.

[PsiloPutty]

Thabk you again. I can easily stay focused and meditate happily for 60 minutes if I'm not doing a strong determination sit. The physical freedom of being able to move a degree or two this way or that, it makes a lot of difference in relieving pain in my back. The mental freedom of not doing an SD sit is probably the bigger component, as I don't feel "contractually bound" to not moving. Kind of like putting a straight jacket on a sweet little old lady.....she's gonna go nuts when she starts fighting it!    

I'm being extreme, but that's the gist of it. I don't know, for me it seems worth pursuing that mental challenge, despite the anguish involved.

[cirkussmile]

I think it's better to do many one hour sittings and be conscious between the sittings. Once I did 3 hours of strong determination but I don't know if that was better than doing 3 hours with small breaks in-between. ?

[PsiloPutty]

Wow, three hours is beyond impressive to me. What about nature's call? Unless I was purposely on the dehydrated side, I'd surely have to pee during that time. That's not even addressing the mental side of this. I think it's great that you're able to go that long without flippin' out.  

[cirkussmile]

1 hour ago, PsiloPutty said:

Wow, three hours is beyond impressive to me. What about nature's call? Unless I was purposely on the dehydrated side, I'd surely have to pee during that time. That's not even addressing the mental side of this. I think it's great that you're able to go that long without flippin' out.  

It was during a retreat and there you don't drink or eat so much

With practice every day for long time it's not that hard. Strong determination is in my opinion very powerful so you're doing great! 

[PsiloPutty]

Thank you much for that. Next week is my first retreat. Nervous, excited and curious as heck.   

[Faceless]

Are we trying perpetuate this division of the perceiver and the perceived or see it for what it is and end it??

Edited May 19, 2018 by Faceless

[SaltyMeatballs]

7 hours ago, Mikael89 said:

Man.. I often fall asleep after like 15 minutes of meditation. So it's ruining my meditation sessions. 

I would have to snort amphetamine to stay awake

Make sure u get plenty of sleep and drink some Matcha green tea prior to the session. I find that helps my friend