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Not thinking
Hidden member	Aug 20, 2008 2:32 AM GMT What's your progress? Have you tried it? I try various methods: watching the breath, trying to empty my head, avoiding concepts, and trying to just "be." What do you do to put the chattering monkey to sleep?

Hidden member	Aug 20, 2008 2:44 AM GMT Why would you want to not think? If you don't think, you're just being an amoeba.
Hidden member	Aug 20, 2008 2:48 AM GMT Personally, the only way I can "silence the voices" is to perform some sort of menial task. Apparently doing something menial keeps the frontal lope engaged while the rest of the brain relaxes, or something like that. I may be wrong so please correct me. I have tried conventional meditation but I must have been doing something wrong. So, at night while in bed I read something really boring with a lot of information (a lot of numbers for example) and that REALLY clears my head pretty quickly. Try counting sheep. Baaa.
Hidden member	Aug 20, 2008 2:51 AM GMT There's a book I can recommend if you're interested. It is not expensive and it's a great read. It's a form of meditation where you visualize centering yourself and grounding yourself. Just let me know and I'll post the information here. You can easily find it on amazon.com. There is a school in Chicago where they teach the meditations in classes. I really liked them and they have helped me a lot. The book basically shows you how to do the same thing. There are quite a few steps involved and it would be best to have someone read them to you as you sit in a chair with your eyes closed and focused on the meditation.
Hidden member	Aug 20, 2008 2:52 AM GMT jprichva saidWhy would you want to not think? If you don't think, you're just being an amoeba. Thinking is dangerous. Thinking causes wrinkles.
Hidden member	Aug 20, 2008 2:59 AM GMT Sometime after 7pm sit and meditate for at least ten minutes. You may need to do it later for it to remain effective until bed. There are some good meditative breathing exercises on the 'net. Here's one I use: Breathing Meditation I focus on the breath by giving it color. Inhales are white, or rainbowish, or something cool and cleansing like blue. Exhales are black. Hopefully you'll finish with a nice, peaceful perspective on whatever the monkey is trying to talk about.
Hidden member	Aug 20, 2008 3:15 AM GMT Wow... do I need help with this! My mind does not stop. Even if I am dead tired... it takes me two to three hours laying in bed to finally get to sleep. Once I finally get to sleep, if the cat so much as moves, I'm up again and it can be another hour to get back to sleep. I sometimes take over the counter sleeping pills, but they make me so tired the next day, I'm like a zombie.
Hidden member	Aug 20, 2008 3:35 AM GMT jprichva saidWhy would you want to not think? If you don't think, you're just being an amoeba.
Hidden member	Aug 20, 2008 3:39 AM GMT CarlosGringo saidWhat's your progress? Have you tried it? I try various methods: watching the breath, trying to empty my head, avoiding concepts, and trying to just "be." What do you do to put the chattering monkey to sleep? Technically you don't do anything. Just let go. But maybe you can give the monkey a drugged banana Actually I used to go for a long run at night until I was pretty winded. It made "stillness" a little easier to tolerate. When thoughts arise just let them pass, do not engage them.
SILVERFOX1 Posts: 1693	Aug 20, 2008 4:39 AM GMT Sometimes I start reading a Forum thread like this one...and then.... um.... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Ghen Posts: 1069	Aug 20, 2008 10:22 AM GMT Drinking seems to work well to stop thinking.
Hidden member	Aug 20, 2008 10:26 AM GMT From Ani Tenzin Palmo, Reflections on a Mountain Lake: Teachings on Practical Buddhism: "As we begin to develop awareness of the mind, the mind itself appears to divide into two. A new aspect of the mind arises. This is referred to variously as the witness, the seer, the knower, or the observer. It witnesses without judgment and without comment. Along with the arrival of the witness, a space appears within the mind. This enables us to see thoughts and emotions as mere thoughts and emotions, rather than as 'me' and 'mine.' When the thoughts and emotions are no longer seen as 'me' or 'mine', we begin to have choices. Certain thoughts and emotions are helpful, so we encourage them. Others are not so helpful, so we just let them go. All the thoughts and emotions are recognized and accepted. Nothing is suppressed. But now we have a choice about how to react. We can give energy to the ones, which are useful and skillful and withdraw energy from those which are not."
Hidden member	Aug 20, 2008 10:28 AM GMT "When you are practicing Zazen meditation do not try to stop your thinking. Let it stop by itself. If something comes into your mind, let it come in and go out, it will not stay long. When you try to stop your thinking, it means you are bothered by it. Do not be bothered by anything. It appears that the something comes from outside your mind, but actually it is only the waves of your mind and if you are not bothered by waves, gradually they will become calmer and calmer...Many sensations come, many thoughts or images arise but they are just waves from your own mind, Nothing comes from outside your own mind...If you leave your mind as it is, it will become calm. This mind is called big mind." Suzuki Roshi in Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Laurence Posts: 690	Aug 20, 2008 10:29 AM GMT I find routine is good for getting in a good sleep pattern. Go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time, with only a slight variation at weekends. Don't do anything stimulating just before bedtime. No internet, and no exciting TV. Read for a while before turning out the lights (boring fact filled books work for me). It's boring, but it works folks. Lozx
Hidden member	Aug 21, 2008 4:00 AM GMT Thanks for all the responses. Muchmorethanm..., if you could post the book info, I would really be appreciative. Also, thanks, AlphaDen, I really like the 'let it be' approach. My aim in not thinking, or reducing the frequency and impact of thoughts, is not to sleep, but to experience consciousness without an object. In doing so, I hope to "come back to myself" more frequently, be more at ease in the world, and bring clarity to the life changes I'm contemplating. BigSetXJock, I hope you can get something from AlphaDen's posts. Try watching your breaths in a comfortable position. You might want to count them (up to 10 or so, then starting over) or just watch them. Or just watch your thoughts like static over a clear screen. I'm not an expert, just another seeker.
Arkguy84 Posts: 42	Aug 21, 2008 4:01 AM GMT Deep slow breathing, and putting all of my will into slowing my heart rate and breathing more and more slowly. It other than a good Rx is the only way I go to sleep.
Hidden member	Aug 22, 2008 6:54 PM GMT Try Dying!
HighVoltageGu... Posts: 1957	Aug 22, 2008 7:06 PM GMT BigSETXjock saidWow... do I need help with this! My mind does not stop. Even if I am dead tired... it takes me two to three hours laying in bed to finally get to sleep. Once I finally get to sleep, if the cat so much as moves, I'm up again and it can be another hour to get back to sleep. I sometimes take over the counter sleeping pills, but they make me so tired the next day, I'm like a zombie. I'm the EXACT same way. And it pisses me to no end that my BF can fall asleep as soon as he hits the pillow. I'm like...shit!
HighVoltageGu... Posts: 1957	Aug 22, 2008 7:06 PM GMT Sedative saidTry Dying! Ummm, you made me spit tuna onto my keyboard. That was hilarious!
Hidden member	Aug 22, 2008 7:16 PM GMT HighVoltageGuy said Sedative saidTry Dying! Ummm, you made me spit tuna onto my keyboard. That was hilarious! Well it does make you think less, dunnit?
Hidden member	Aug 22, 2008 7:39 PM GMT I must say I am pretty much an expert at not thinking, try shopping for something you actually can't afford.. I am missing minutes of my life there... Other than that meditation, yeah I tried that once on a seminar..do not think of pink elephants do not think of pink elephants.. repeat 1000x.... I heard locking yourself in a watertank does the trick..kinda extreme..no ?
Hidden member	Aug 24, 2008 7:05 AM GMT HighVoltageGuy said BigSETXjock saidWow... do I need help with this! My mind does not stop. Even if I am dead tired... it takes me two to three hours laying in bed to finally get to sleep. Once I finally get to sleep, if the cat so much as moves, I'm up again and it can be another hour to get back to sleep. I sometimes take over the counter sleeping pills, but they make me so tired the next day, I'm like a zombie. I'm the EXACT same way. And it pisses me to no end that my BF can fall asleep as soon as he hits the pillow. I'm like...shit! Me and your BF have a lot in common. Show me the goose down and I'll show you my ZZZZZZZZZZZZs in about 35 sec.s flat I'm told... I guess that's about how long before I stop responding to your questions once I hit the hay... I sleep like a rock too... It takes an actual alarm to wake me in the morning or my body wants to sleep in as if it's Saturday.... Love to cuddle in bed as long as possible.
Hidden member	Aug 24, 2008 7:21 AM GMT HighVoltageGuy said BigSETXjock saidWow... do I need help with this! My mind does not stop. Even if I am dead tired... it takes me two to three hours laying in bed to finally get to sleep. Once I finally get to sleep, if the cat so much as moves, I'm up again and it can be another hour to get back to sleep. I sometimes take over the counter sleeping pills, but they make me so tired the next day, I'm like a zombie. I'm the EXACT same way. And it pisses me to no end that my BF can fall asleep as soon as he hits the pillow. I'm like...shit! Make that 3 of us. Sometimes melatonin helps, sometimes not. I get tired of thinking all the time. I'd like to take a vacation from myself sometime.
Hidden member	Aug 24, 2008 7:52 AM GMT nv07 said HighVoltageGuy said BigSETXjock saidWow... do I need help with this! My mind does not stop. Even if I am dead tired... it takes me two to three hours laying in bed to finally get to sleep. Once I finally get to sleep, if the cat so much as moves, I'm up again and it can be another hour to get back to sleep. I sometimes take over the counter sleeping pills, but they make me so tired the next day, I'm like a zombie. I'm the EXACT same way. And it pisses me to no end that my BF can fall asleep as soon as he hits the pillow. I'm like...shit! Make that 3 of us. Sometimes melatonin helps, sometimes not. I get tired of thinking all the time. I'd like to take a vacation from myself sometime. Yea, me too. I can lay there for HOURS, be tired as God knows what, and still not able to sleep.
Hidden member	Aug 24, 2008 7:37 PM GMT QUOTE AUTHOR GOES HERESedative said Try Dying! QUOTE GOES HERE I hope you're right, but I've got my doubts.
Hidden member	Aug 24, 2008 7:42 PM GMT Get a sleep machine with a rain forest effect. Sucker punches me every night.
Hidden member	Aug 24, 2008 7:53 PM GMT CarlosGringo said QUOTE AUTHOR GOES HERESedative said Try Dying! QUOTE GOES HERE I hope you're right, but I've got my doubts. LOL, I'm kidding!

Miasma Posts: 590	Oct 31, 2008 9:20 PM GMT Sometimes when the screaming in my head gets too loud I find making deep gashes along my body blots out the noise hahahaha just kidding Just breathe slow and concentrate on becoming aware of your body starting from your fingertips and toes to your head