Question
QUESTION: I FIND IT HARD TO STUDY, CONCENTRATE AND MOTIVATE MYSELF.
ANSWER: Hi, RJ.
Could you please say more about what your question is and how it relates to meditation?
The more specific you can be, the easier it will be for us to connect.
Thanks.
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QUESTION: how can i use meditation to gain more focus, to concentrate better and study?
techniques
ANSWER: Hi, RJ.
Could you say some more about, first of all whether you have some experience with meditation, and secondly, could you please write a paragraph explaining more about your difficulty studying, what other kind of concentration you are talking about, for example what kind of situations and also what you mean about motivating yourself - in what situations, what context. Do you mean you don't have goals for your life? Do you mean you can't get out of bed or hold down a job?
Also can you say more about what is behind the inability to concentrate and to motivate yourself? Is there depression? Trauma? Scatteredness?
I don't mean to turn the question back on you but it would be hard to say anything meaningful without understanding more about where you are coming from. Meditation, from my perspective, is not a mental focusing tool but rather is the inquiring into oneself, shedding light internally. So I wonder if you can do that a bit - look into what you mean and what this inability to focus is about - so that we can have a meeting of the minds and look at how meditative work may help.
If it would be easier for you to do this on the phone, let me know. I realize it may not be easy to look inside.
Best,
Jay
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QUESTION: hardly but i have tried pranayam 10-15 times. i am not rally a bad learner and recently i have improved for no reason. i just cant get myself to study. its so boring and apart from that its useless. all the stuff is useless. how does it help us realize God in any way at all. i just like to wander. it makes me happy. i dont wish to connect my self to things or people. thats a drag. as i result i dont sit in one place or concentrate or do any on anything for long.
Answer
Hi, RJ.
I have a little better sense now of what you're talking about, though it is hard to know. I will try to respond to what you may be saying and if I'm off, you can correct me and we can keep trying.
There are many different ways to go with what you are saying. If you are really moved by wanting to know what this simple, undirected way of life is that does not get stuck in things or people and is simple happiness itself, then you could postpone the studying and other responsibilities that you have and devote yourself to discovering what this simple presence really is. Right now you have a taste of it, it seems, but there may be many questions in the mind and much confusion about how this relates to the human world that you need to live in. It is possible to resolve these concerns and to begin to find one's way and this happens best through being able to do lots of extended sitting, preferably with others and with people who have been doing this for a long time. You do not need to learn any meditation practice or skills. Just learn to sit quietly and be in touch with what is here, inside and out, in this happy way you talk about. This being present will deepen and deepen in you and around you.
I can recommend the Springwater Center in western NY because it is a place that is free of particular traditions or approaches and can allow you to find your natural way. The woman who is the spiritual leader there also has many years experience doing this meditative work and can help out.
If you can do this sincerely for maybe 5 years or so, just working enough to keep pay for your basic expenses, you will most likely find that much will clarify about this simple presence and you will be able to enjoy people and things without being stuck to them. You will also probably find that you can concentrate when you need and want to and can let go of concentration when it's time is done. You will be able to live a natural life, seeing simplicity and happiness in all things.
I think I'll stop here with this. If what I've said does not do anything for you at all, please write back and say a little more.
Best,
Jay
