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Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 7:56 am
by greeneggsandsam
Unfortunately due to some circumstances outside of my control, I often have to deal with a lot of background noise during my meditation, such as, people talking, lights being switched on, arguments, tv, etc etc.

Any useful tips on how to not get distracted by such noise??

I have a feeling someone might suggest walking meditation, so besides that as I do prefer sitting, especially with a lack of a flat path and some cold weather.


:anjali:

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 8:08 am
by TheNoBSBuddhist
This illustrates exactly how important Meditation, and focus is.

Our environment cannot always be peaceful, silent.... with the aroma of incense, the periodic striking of a bell, or nothing to accompany us, but the sound and sensation of our breath.

You lucky person! What a most excellent opportunity to truly develop calm and insight!

Be Aware.
Be aware of every single sound, and everything that happens.
Note them, take them in, focus on them.
But do not add a single mental word of commentary, other than 'voice'....'light'.....TV.....

Be with them, but not of them. Involve yourself yet remain detached.
Sit. Absorb, observe, and let go.

That's my method, anyway.

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 8:16 am
by cooran
Hello greeneggsandsam,

Here is a previous thread on that question:

Meditating with Noise
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=11376

With metta,
Chris

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 8:43 am
by greeneggsandsam
Thanks cooran
TheNoBSBuddhist wrote:This illustrates exactly how important Meditation, and focus is.

Our environment cannot always be peaceful, silent.... with the aroma of incense, the periodic striking of a bell, or nothing to accompany us, but the sound and sensation of our breath.

You lucky person! What a most excellent opportunity to truly develop calm and insight!

Be Aware.
Be aware of every single sound, and everything that happens.
Note them, take them in, focus on them.
But do not add a single mental word of commentary, other than 'voice'....'light'.....TV.....

Be with them, but not of them. Involve yourself yet remain detached.
Sit. Absorb, observe, and let go.

That's my method, anyway.
Thanks for the advice no.b.s.

But I wish to develop concentration rather than from an insight basis.
I think I might try and get some giant earplugs, as this noise sometimes tries to interact with me even in the middle of my meditation.
The forest is looking like a sweet sanctuary right now.

:anjali:

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 10:53 am
by TheNoBSBuddhist
To me the exercise is the same thing.
Do not be distracted by external sounds/stimulii, but CONCENTRATE on making them part and parcel of what you are doing, without attachment.

It is what it is.
your resistance to 'what is', seems to indicate you think you can 'improve on it'.

Accept it. Let it be. Float like a leaf on the surface of a stream. You're with the water, but not part of it....

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 11:42 am
by walkart
Image

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 2:01 pm
by manas
greeneggsandsam wrote:Unfortunately due to some circumstances outside of my control, I often have to deal with a lot of background noise during my meditation, such as, people talking, lights being switched on, arguments, tv, etc etc.

Any useful tips on how to not get distracted by such noise??

I have a feeling someone might suggest walking meditation, so besides that as I do prefer sitting, especially with a lack of a flat path and some cold weather.


:anjali:
HI greeneggs

just get up early in the morning, say an hour before everyone else. This has always worked well for me.

kind regards
manas
:anjali:

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 4:47 pm
by Mkoll
manas wrote:
greeneggsandsam wrote:Unfortunately due to some circumstances outside of my control, I often have to deal with a lot of background noise during my meditation, such as, people talking, lights being switched on, arguments, tv, etc etc.

Any useful tips on how to not get distracted by such noise??

I have a feeling someone might suggest walking meditation, so besides that as I do prefer sitting, especially with a lack of a flat path and some cold weather.


:anjali:
HI greeneggs

just get up early in the morning, say an hour before everyone else. This has always worked well for me.

kind regards
manas
:anjali:
Yes, getting up at 4AM is an almost sure way to avoid such noise.

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 12:17 am
by SarathW
G wrote:
"The forest is looking like a sweet sanctuary right now."

=======
Noise of those monkey might drive you mad!
We have to learn to live with noise.
:sage:

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 3:23 am
by manas
Mkoll wrote: Yes, getting up at 4AM is an almost sure way to avoid such noise.
And I find that the air is fresher and sweeter to breathe at that time, too.

:anjali:

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:51 am
by TheNoBSBuddhist
The trouble with that is, living as a lay person, there is the danger of falling asleep at around 2pm.... Which is not ideal, if one is, for example, a truck-driver.... :coffee:

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:10 am
by Mkoll
Here's a verse from SN 9.8, Ven. Bodhi's translation. The commentary says this bhikkhu was an arahant and the context is his meeting with a devatā.
[The bhikkhu:]
"There are many disagreeable sounds
That an ascetic must patiently endure.
One should not be dismayed because of that,
For it is not by this one is defiled.

"If one is frightened by random sounds
Like an antelope dwelling in the woods,
They call him 'one with fickle mind':
His practice does not succeed."

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 9:24 am
by Goofaholix
greeneggsandsam wrote:But I wish to develop concentration rather than from an insight basis.
I think I might try and get some giant earplugs, as this noise sometimes tries to interact with me even in the middle of my meditation.
The forest is looking like a sweet sanctuary right now.
Concentration is sustaining a quality of balance and attentiveness of mind, it has nothing to do with focusing on a single object though focusing on a single object helps to get it established.

Noise is only a problem because of aversion to it, because you think it shouldn't be happening and you'd be better off without it. Better to use it as an opportunity to train the mind to be balanced and attentive in adverse circumstances.

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:34 am
by TheNoBSBuddhist
Thank you Goofaholix, that was precisely my point.

Blessings on you.

Re: Tips for a noisy meditation

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 12:32 pm
by walkart
Behind the noise there is silence. There is no noise without a silence. There is no waves without a ground.

Take this noise as object, and find the silence in it.