Deep meditation is a state of ultimate calmness and happiness. At this stage, you’re so focused that you forget the world around you. Some people experience a magnetic pull from the middle of their head, while others claim their body feels like a rubber band when they reach new limits while meditating.
Stages of Meditation
Stage 1: Dharana
You try to train your mind to focus on one thing, like your breath, for a longer and longer time. You do get distracted, but you gently bring your attention back to your breath.
Stage 2: Dhyana
You are entirely focused on your breath without distractions and start to understand your breath better. You learn why you get distracted. Basically, you learn about yourself.
Stage 3: Samadhi
You’re so focused on your breath that you forget about everything else. You’re calm, and your mind is clear and peaceful.
A user on Quora explains his personal feelings of deep meditation:
Stage 1:
Who is sitting?
I am.
What are you doing?
Trying to still my thoughts.
What are your results?
Moments of deep peace.
Stage 2:
Who is sitting?
The Witnessing Awareness.
What are you doing?
Witnessing non-essential phenomena rise and fall.
What are your results?
Firmly established in the Witness, I know that all there is, Awareness.
Stage 3:
Who is sitting?
No one.
What are you doing?
Nothing.
What are your results?
None.
As you reach new heights in meditation, you stop forcing yourself to go any further and just enjoy being there.
Ways to reach new limits while meditating
If you are meditating well, you should feel like a flower. However, if you still feel angry or upset inside, the mediation has not happened.
You don’t have to sit and force yourself repeating “I have to feel calmness and happiness.” The anxiety caused by your thoughts will never allow you to reach new limits while meditating. You cannot expect things to happen, you just have to be.
1. Follow golden Principles
The highest level in meditation is detaching from everything. When you meditate, keep aside all your wants.
“I want nothing” Let go of your desires and worries, and set aside all your wants.
“I am nothing” don’t hold to your daily roles, let go of all your identities and labels.
“I do nothing” stop all efforts and simply be.
2. Control your diet
The mind and body are connected, and you have to maintain your body (physical health) for your mind to function well. Ultra-processed food and more sugar cause a lot of restlessness, which becomes a major hindrance in meditation. So you must:
- Eat Light: Avoid heavy meals before meditation to prevent lethargy.
- Stay Hydrated: But not too much water right before meditating.
- Limit Stimulants: Reduce or avoid caffeine and sugar to prevent restlessness.
- Incorporate Whole Foods: Focus on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
- Avoid Processed Foods: Minimize intake of junk foods to avoid energy crashes.
3. Fix a spot
Subconsciously, you become connected to objects, places, and people you notice every day. When they change, a thought comes into your consciousness and affects your meditation.
Conversely, if you pick up a place, your mind will link that spot with feelings of peace and focus. So whenever you sit there, your mind will link that spot with feelings of peace and focus.
4. Maintain consistency
When you go to the gym, you don’t see your muscles building on the first day. Maybe nothing will happen for a month or two. Likewise, meditation is the training of the mind, which requires discipline and consistency.
Beginners take around weeks or months to reach deeper meditative stages. However, regular practitioners might achieve this within a session of 20 min.
5. Your thoughts are not yours
Most people cannot focus because they are sabotaged by intrusive thoughts. However, a thought is just a thought, whether positive or negative; it has no value until you act on it.
Observe your thoughts, but don’t let them dictate your actions. When you pay attention without resistance, your intrusive thoughts will slowly fade away.
6. Drop Your Complaints
Stop complaining or finding faults. This way, you will never be able to reach new limits while meditating. Say everything is fine the way it is. Everything is perfect. This will help you enter a deeper meditative state.
7. Try a body scan
If focusing is nearly impossible while meditating, scan your body. Start with your head, then slowly move to each part of your body until you reach your toes.
Experience how it feels and imagine a wave of awareness slowly moving from your head to your toe. Notice any sensations, like tingling, warmth, or tension, without judgment.
8. Try Visualization
Try to visualize a scene or picture that gives you calmness. It can be a beach, mountains, a forest or anything you prefer. Focus on it and identify the details you see in the picture. Keep this image in your mind and come to it every time you try to meditate.
9. Be open to thoughts
Try not to think of monkeys, and the next thought that comes to your mind is about monkeys. You cannot suppress your thoughts, but you can acknowledge them and let them flow. So, notice as different thoughts come to your mind, and let them diminish slowly.
10. Try a mindfulness app
It can be challenging to sit alone and try to focus without any guidance. You can try guided meditation, which is easily available on any mindfulness app or YouTube video. There, you get specific instructions that will help you meditate for longer and longer.
Try the right method of meditation
Hundreds, if not thousands, of meditation techniques are already there. It’s because of rich cultural diversity that everyone tries a method popular in their region. If you are getting good results from the current method, it’s well and good, but if not, try any of these methods:
1. Samyama Meditation
Researchers studied how Samyama meditation affects brain connections. The results showed a stronger connection between two brain areas that are important for attention and self-awareness.
Additionally, the brain activity of the participants suggested that it affects how brain networks function during focused attention.
How to
- Dharana: Focus your attention on a single object. It can be a flame, your breath, or a mantra.
- Sthira Dharana: Thoughts and distractions will inevitably arise; acknowledge them and let them go without judgment.
- Samapatti: A state where the distance between you and an object fades away, and you both become one.
- Samyama: You sustain your focus and feel completely connected to what you’re meditating on.
- Prajna: You see things more clearly inside and around you. It’s a deeper state.
2. Transcendental meditation
Compared to other methods of relaxation, transcendental meditation effectively reduces stress, anxiety, and blood pressure. Over a 5to 6 year period, people who practiced this technique had lower medical expenses and fewer hospital visits.
How to
- Receive your mantra: It’s a sound or word repeated silently during meditation. You can check out some videos to find a mantra or certified teacher who can help you.
- Repeat your mantra: Close your eyes and silently repeat the mantra in your mind. Don’t fight your thoughts, let them wonder. Just focus on the mantra.
- Maintain the state: Try to relax while still focused on the mantra.
- End of session: The sessions typically last 20 min. After that, slowly open your eyes and sit silently for a few minutes.
3. Chakra-Balancing Meditation
This is one of the ancient Indian meditation techniques dating back to 1500–1200 BCE. Each chakra has its location, color, and psychological meaning.
Chakra-balancing meditation has been proven to increase consciousness in the body. It also reduces tensions and helps the inflow of positive energy.
How to:
- Find a quiet spot and get comfortable.
- Close your eyes and breathe deeply.
- Visualize 7 chakras and colored lights along your spine.
- Starting from the root chakra, focus on each chakra, one by one.
- Imagine its color and a cleansing light entering in the chakra as you breathe.
- Once you feel relaxed, gently move on to the next chakra.
- After balancing all the chakras, relax in stillness for a few minutes.
- Gently come back to the present moment when you’re ready.
How long should I meditate?
It depends on your level of meditation. Beginners start with 5-10 minute sessions, intermediates for 15-20 minutes, and experienced meditators can take around 40-45 minutes.
Remember, if you’re a beginner, meditating for longer times will not help you reach new limits while meditating. Maybe just focus for 5 minutes. It’s okay! But, gradually increase your attention span.
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Conclusion
By now, you must have understood that there is no secret mantra to reach new limits while meditating. It’s all about discipline and consistency.
You might need to do one or two things differently, so check the list above and make corrections. Also, if you are not able to cope with your current meditation technique, try a new one from the ones I mentioned.
FAQs
How do I reach deeper levels of meditation?
You have to focus, be disciplined and consistent, and gently let go of your thoughts while meditating.
How to stop distractions while meditating?
Notice the distractions but don’t act upon them, return to focus, and most importantly, be patient.
How do you reach transcendence in meditation?
You’ve to reach advanced meditation levels, or you can seek professional guidance, but do all this while enjoying the journey.
Why can’t I meditate for long?
It’s okay to lose focus sometimes. Check your diet, as sugar and processed food cause restlessness. Also, be consistent and find quiet time.
What is magnetic pull during meditation?
Not everyone experiences it, but it happens in a deep meditation state. Basically, it’s a relaxation response from your body.
Why do I feel shortness of breath during meditation?
It’s common, but if the issue persists and affects you, please consult your doctor.
Why do some people lose consciousness while meditating?
It’s a profound meditative calmness that happens when people reach new limits while meditating.
How to finish deep meditation?
Gently open your eyes and sit in the same place quietly for a few minutes before starting with your routine. Also, say gratitude words that show appreciation for your meditation.