Note: This tune-up will work only for those practicing a transcending technique such as NSR. To learn NSR properly, follow all the instructions in the NSR manual and CD.
Most of us have experiences of discomfort at one time or another during our practice of NSR meditation. By "discomfort" I mean any kind of discomfort, including resentment, anger, and other emotions, or movements of the body, or feeling overwhelmed by the kind or number of thoughts that are coming into our mind, and so forth. There are as many different kinds of possible discomfort during meditation as there are different kinds of stress.
There are two causes of discomfort during NSR meditation, each with its own solution.
Cause #1: Local effort
Since we are used to exerting effort to accomplish results in life, it is very easy to fall into the mistake of forcing the mind to focus on the syllable, or trying to suppress other thoughts by thinking the syllable, or thinking the syllable clearly, precisely, or loudly.
All of these individual actions are known as "local effort".
The result of local effort may be acute discomfort, especially headaches and feeling upset, restless, or angry. Sometimes the headaches or uncomfortable feelings may even continue after meditation sessions into our daily activity.
Any local effort is a mistake. It is incorrect meditation. Successful transcending can only happen effortlessly, naturally, and innocently when there is no local effort.
Local effort blocks transcending, and is unnatural to the mind. It always causes distress. This is why the usual notion of meditation as forcing the mind to be empty of thoughts is so very wrong. It is no exaggeration to say that such practices can and have ruined lives.
If we want to empty the mind of thoughts, and experience transcendental pure consciousness, we don't try to stop the thoughts directly. This would be like trying to control a troop of monkeys by tying them all to a post. It would be virtually impossible. If instead we simply offer the monkeys some enticing food they will gather automatically in one place without any effort on our part.
Solution #1: Let it happen automatically
Discomfort due to local effort can be a real problem, but has an easy, simple solution, based on the fact that local effort is under our control (it is always a choice we make).
The solution to any local intention or effort is to stop doing it. Instead, let the syllable come as it will, vaguely, or as a feeling, faint thought, or memory. The mind will enjoy this, and automatically settle into quieter states of the syllable until the syllable vanishes and the mind is left in the silence of pure consciousness. This is explained further in the NSR manual.
There is a simple test we can make: if the syllable is coming effortlessly, all by itself, and automatically (whether there are other thoughts present or not), we are practicing NSR correctly.
Cause #2: Stress release
If we are meditating correctly (effortlessly), then we still may experience discomfort. This will happen due to the physiological state of deep rest in the body whenever the nervous system repairs itself by releasing a big stress. Normally, stress release happens quietly and we don't notice it. However, if the stress being released is a big one, the discomfort may be noticeable and may even distract us from the automatic process of transcending.
Solution #2: Feel the body
The solution to any big stress release is to stop thinking the syllable. Instead, just continue to be aware of what is happening in the mind. Letting the attention be on the discomfort will help it to release completely and comfortably. Stay with it for as long as it lasts, even if it requires several minutes.
During this process, it may happen that we become aware of a discomfort or pain in some area of the body. Simply continue to be aware of the discomfort or pain without doing anything else. This "feeling the body" technique will allow the normalization process to complete quickly. The stress will be gone when the discomfort or pain ends.
When the mental or physical discomfort is gone and other thoughts are coming, resume thinking the syllable as effortlessly as these other thoughts (see the manual for details about the NSR meditation technique).
These two hints will help us deal with either of the two kinds of discomfort that can happen during transcending. For further information, be sure to read the NSR manual thoroughly.
David Spector
Natural Stress Relief/USA
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