Do Nothing Meditation
Do Nothing Meditation is the extra preset training type in Prana Breath app, available in Guru version. It is a meditation, obviously.
| Download: | Do_Nothing_Meditation.trng |
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Effects
- one of the most powerful mindfulness techniques
- breaking the ordinary ways of thinking
- stimulating creativity
- improving willpower
Origin, history
This training type is derived from the practice described in ancient Vedic scripts (Upanishads and Avadhuta Gita) called Neti-neti ("neither this, nor that" from Sanskrit). Similar practice can be found in different Buddhist traditions as well.
Many spiritual traditions claim that the highest state of spiritual communion is actually present in our minds at any moment of time. Yet most of meditation techniques are focused on creating a special state that wasn't there before the meditation, and which goes away soon after meditation ends. If the highest state is actually present all the time, why should it be impossible to simply notice everything without inducing any special state?
It's exactly what Do Nothing Meditation (which is more like anti-meditation) is for. Nevertheless, this practice is considered to be an advanced or difficult meditation in many traditions. However, it has been noted by teachers that some beginners are capable of doing it.
Setting the training
- Download this pattern if you don't have it yet.
- Choose this pattern in Training tab or Control tab.
- You might change the settings of this meditation in Control tab and/or Dynamic tab to adjust it for your taste and needs.
Training process
- There is no need to get into any particular posture. If you feel like it, you may choose any comfortable position.
- Let everything go, let your body function involuntarily, let whatever happens happen.
- Don't direct your attention to any particular thing, don't focus on anything specific.
- Any time you notice yourself doing anything intentionally, stop. That means stopping anything you can control, like intentionally thinking, concentrating on your feelings, trying to calm down, realizing what you are experiencing right now.
- Stop trying to meditate. Just Do Nothing.
- If any thoughts or tensions come, don't think about them but let them go.
- Gently pull your mind back to Do Nothing state till the end of the training session.
- You might like to spend some time contemplating the change of the awareness you've experienced.
- If you don't notice any significant difference between the Do Nothing meditation and usual tricks of "monkey mind" (ceaseless, driven and fixated flow of thoughts that is hard to control), please choose any other, more structured training pattern. You may try Do Nothing meditation once you are comfortable with a couple of other meditations.
Other questions
How long should I train? How can I combine this pattern with another? Should I always inhale through my nose?
If you have such or other questions, please look through the FAQ page.