I found this excercise to stop the mind chatter, a thing I really need, not only while meditating but also all day long. But I disagree with some parts of it and I would like to hear your opinion, so I'll copy it here:

Set aside about 15 minutes for this exercise. Find a quiet place and get comfortable, sitting up is best so you don't fall asleep.
If you do fall asleep or fade out into a trance state of mind, when you notice just easily resume watching your thoughts.
Please turn off the radio and/or TV.
Relaxation music is not recommended during this exercise.The key is to allow your awareness to move inward to watch thoughts flowing through your mind. Music is an outside distraction.
Thoughts, in this context, include:

- sounds of birds singing outside your window and cars going by, a dripping faucet, or the hum of a heater, or a fan, peoples' voices;
- sensations in your body such as an itch, a slight pain, or even a slight headache.

Recommended time is approximate. A meditation timer with a very gentle tone is OK, but it is best to just trust your internal clock to let you know when it's time to open your eyes.
Allow yourself enough time to feel comfortable watching what is going on in your mind. The more alert you are the more you will notice.
Be perfectly innocent, like a child with a new toy; let go of expectations; see everything as brand new in each moment.

Count your thoughts.

Now you will count your thoughts for a couple of minutes. For example, if you notice the sound of a bird singing outside, count that as thought #1.
If you notice a sensation in your body, count that as thought #2.
If you have a thought like, Oh there's a bird singing, should I count that? Count that as thought #3.
Thought #4 might be, I wonder if 2 minutes has passed yet. Just notice it, let it go, and keep counting.
And so on, count as many thoughts as you notice.
Now gently close your eyes. Relax and just watch the thoughts moving through your mind.
Then easily, effortlessly begin to count each thought that comes into your awareness.
Keep alert during this exercise.

Continue this for about 2 minutes, then gently and easily open your eyes.

Now, I'm quite fine with all that but I disagree in this part:

Thoughts, in this context, include: - sounds of birds singing outside your window and cars going by, a dripping faucet, or the hum of a heater, or a fan, peoples' voices; - sensations in your body such as an itch, a slight pain, or even a slight headache.

And I disagree because: I live a block away from a plot of land that is used as a sporting field with a track for runners, bikers, mini football field etc. Which park is full of trees and therefore, birds. That start singing very early in the morning and don't stop till very late at night. If I were to count every single bird singing, I'm done. On the other side of my house, there's a highway, not so noisy but reasoning is the same for cars passing by.

I would agree with this though:

"If you have a thought like, Oh there's a bird singing, should I count that? Count that as thought #3."..blah blah blah. That is, if I'm carried away by a sound, not counting just because it is a sound.

Very sorry about the long-winded post but I'd like to know your opinion, if you agree or disagree with me, in which parts, etc.

Also if you have a better technique, please share :)

Quote source:

Quiet your busy mind chatter.

Many many thanks in advance!

BJ09

asked 21 Jun '11, 13:29

BridgetJones09's gravatar image

BridgetJones09
4.6k43789

edited 21 Jun '11, 18:01

Barry%20Allen's gravatar image

Barry Allen ♦♦
11411

@BJ09.... wb :D

(22 Jun '11, 22:32) ursixx

@ursixx... ty :D xxx

(24 Jun '11, 14:38) BridgetJones09
showing 1 of 2 show 1 more comments

I think the point of the exercise is to make you more aware of your thoughts as they occur.

People have thousands of random thoughts each day. These thoughts occur in rapid succession, and most people are scarcely aware of them. Counting them allows you to be aware of them as they occur.

As a meditation technique, I think this exercise might be a bit contradictory; after all, the whole point of meditation is to quiet the mind, and counting thoughts seems to be at odds with that goal. However, with awareness comes control, so from that perspective I can see how the exercise has value. Only by first being aware of how noisy your mind really is, can you begin the process of quieting it.

In other words, by giving you awareness of your thoughts, the exercise gives you another tool in your spiritual toolbelt by which you can develop mental discipline. The exercise requires that you count every distraction, because it is those distractions that are at odds with the mental discipline being cultivated.

link

answered 21 Jun '11, 23:34

Vesuvius's gravatar image

Vesuvius
32.7k851201

edited 21 Jun '11, 23:39

Thank you, Vesuvius! It was difficult for me to see how it worked...

(22 Jun '11, 12:07) BridgetJones09

Start seeing the trees in the forest...

(22 Jun '11, 22:34) ursixx

hi bridgetjones09 to quiet your mind remove the veil of the mind to do so meditate focus on a point in front of you that is not there in a quiet place you will see them pass as shimering light(though link to emotion) slow them down analyse them understand the meaning and put them to rest do not count them it might take many month to achive having no veil anny more! that is how you quiet your busy mind and gain better perception and focus!(Dhyana) good luck!

link

answered 23 Jun '11, 01:49

white%20tiger's gravatar image

white tiger
21.9k115116

Thanks white tiger! sounds interesting. Can you clarify some points please? What do you mean exactly by 'the veil of your mind'?, 'focus on a point in front of you': eyes open or closed? I want to try it out... xxx

(24 Jun '11, 14:37) BridgetJones09

eye open to keep your focus and not fall asleep

(24 Jun '11, 16:02) white tiger

veil of the mind is though or emotion belief concept annything not resolve or incomplete it is floating in your window of perception in the mind. that is what you need to clean up and the only way is by understanding the meaning of every one of those veils and putting it to rest!

(24 Jun '11, 16:06) white tiger
showing 2 of 3 show 1 more comments

I suggest you study The Master Key System by Charles F. Haanel its on the psitek.net website for free - Its the best guidance I know that is in the simplest terms on how to control thought forces and manifest the best in your life.

The reason you are annoyed by the advise you are talking about is not because of the hundreds of birds in your area its because you find it hard to shut things out instead of accepting that it exists and thereafter the fight will be over.

When you resist a calling it becomes and issue... your calling is to meditate so meditate it doesn't need to be in busy times ... try during the twilight hours its an awesome peaceful feeling... I hope you enjoy the experience and find your inner Joy and Peace.

I wish you success and enjoyment in your quest.

link

answered 24 Jun '11, 23:45

Arti%20Joshi%201's gravatar image

Arti Joshi 1
10115

edited 25 Jun '11, 09:58

Barry%20Allen's gravatar image

Barry Allen ♦♦
11411

on my blog at http://meditate2create.blogspot.com there is a simple technique that I got from the internet. This was created by someone who had done TM for years and was disillusioned with the esoteric nature of Transcendental Meditation. I can't remember where I got it as it was a long time ago but I always return to it and nothing is more enjoyable.

When the mantra brings the quiet then I can watch the thoughts when they come. Then it is somehow enjoyable and not stressful or irritating.

Alan.

link

answered 05 Dec '11, 10:59

Alan%20Crabbe's gravatar image

Alan Crabbe
62511

1

Thanks for your comment, Alan...couldn't find the blog though...says it doesn't exist... :(

(16 Dec '11, 12:36) BridgetJones09
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