How do you guys tell?

[vashts]

When you meditate, how do you keep from making things up instead of just letting it flow and being there?

[BoscosFriend]

practice, practice. practice. concentration, mindfulness. there is no tricks really. at least none that i know of. when i first started my mind was all over the place. and every time i felt a physical sensation or something, i would be like oooh,whats that. with practice the mind will become more at ease.

[alexd]

I can observe my thoughts but as soon as I notice them I begin to control them. I think the key is to observe, not notice and try to change. I sometimes fall in to this state, alpha I think, naturally. The key is staying there.


Alex

[Psan]

Some tricks are here -
http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18297

[abyss328]

I agree with BoscosFriend. When you practice enough, meditating regularly, the mind learns not to try and do anything. Your thoughts begin to settle very quickly.
It becomes like a car in neutral with the ignition on - it's not trying to go nor stop, and it's not even poised to do anything. It just sits there, humming. Can you get what I mean? Follow some of the tips Psan has linked, and just trust that once you get there, you'll know that you aren't conciously "making things up".

[Tom]

There is nothing wrong with making things up at first just to get the process started. It is a commonly used technique.

[Greenrat]

yeh i agree with Tom,  its ok to think as long as you are watching what you think and can clearly distinguish your spirit from your thoughts,  the problem starts when your spirit is swamped by those thoughts and you are no longer aware of watching yourself.