Entries Tagged as 'pratyahara'

[thedeepself] Float Tank Metaphor

I like this idea. I had a different way of expressing it. I was thinking: “just being in the tank is an altered state of consciousness” because gravity is not part of the equation. But I agree that the body is subtracted from the equation because of the temperature of the water and the fact that the epsom salt holds the body AND you are being hydrated, so the most essential nutrient to the body is not being depleted – nourisment is taking place as well.

Now, CO2 does build in the tank, unless you have one of floatation locations tanks where they stream oxygen into the tank as shown here –

Now the way to deal with the mind in the tank, a big question…

I think being in the tank when you make the transition from waking to sleep is the key. You inner sense is ever-alive anyway and just needs an opportunity to be present without the distractions of the body and outer light and sound.

Now, at this moment, the most powerful thing for dealing with the rambling mind is what I call “the why technique”. Louis CK, a comedian, shows it in action here:

Whatever question comes up, just ask why. Here’s an example:

  1. Man I cant keep my mind quiet
  2. Why?
  3. Well its rambling on and on
  4. Why?
  5. Because I have things to worry about?
  6. Why?
  7. Because I have bills to pay?
  8. Why?
  9. Because I need to stay warm and eat?
  10. Why?
  11. Because I need to survive
  12. Why?
  13. Because I dont want to die
  14. Why?
  15. Because I prefer to live
  16. Why?
  17. Because I have a built-in instinct to survive
  18. Why?
  19. I dont know. But I just know the instinct is there
  20. Why?
  21. I can feel it
  22. Why?
  23. Because I paid attention to it
  24. Why?
  25. Because I wanted to
  26. Why?
  27. Because it seemed important
  28. Why?
  29. Because it grabbed my attention
  30. Why?
  31. Because it wanted my input into survival
  32. Why?

I think you get the idea – any thought has an underlying reason and so on and so forth. So instead of reacting to the thought, you get to the urge driving it over and over…

 

I propose a metaphor . A Float Tank is the world’s greatest meditation cushion. It is designed to subtract the body from the meditation equation. It performs this task remarkably well. However, This still leaves us the even more troublesome mind to contend with. Meditators have always had trouble with their meditations.

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