I think you should take a step back and re-acquaint yourself with some basic Buddhist teachings as to why you are doing any of this to begin with. Vipassana is worthless without the necessary foundation that supports it. You will have very limited success if you push yourself like you seem to be doing.BlueLotus wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2017 11:00 am Trying to meditate. The mind simply does not stay on the breath for a simple 5 seconds. I have been doing this for months. What is wrong with me?
Vipassana has to be done after achieving some level of samadhi, right? I guess they recommend at least the first jhana before u do vipassana. I am nowhere near that.
Is this just me or is there anyone else who finds it practically impossible to quieten the mind? I cannot leave the life I live now. I have dependents. I can't ditch them and go to a monastery to meditate all day.
Any tips that can help me? Yes, I have tried counting. I have tried metta. I have tried walking. I have tried focusing on discursive thoughts. I have tried coffee. Nothing works.
It also seems like you don't have a teacher, or someone that can instruct you and talk things over with. This is very important. It is much easier to relate to another face to face than on a board like this. Do you have anyone you can share your difficulties with?