CAN'T Meditate? Monk REVEALS Ancient Technique to Connect with Higher Self! | Monk Gelong Thubten

Introduction to Meditation and Rewiring the Mind

In this section, Gelong Thubten discusses how meditation helps in listening to reactions less and creating positive responses. He explains that meditation is a process of rewiring and reprogramming the mind.

The Benefits of Meditation

• With meditation, one learns to listen to reactions less and create more positive responses. It helps in rewiring oneself and reprogramming the internal computer.

Gelong Thubten's Spiritual Journey

Gelong Thubten shares his personal journey into spirituality, starting from intense suffering to becoming a monk.

Beginning of the Spiritual Journey

• Gelong Thubten's spiritual journey began through intense suffering, experiencing depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. He was searching for something beyond his partying lifestyle.

• While sick, he started reading books about meditation which gave him hope that he could transform his feelings and work with them. He became interested in the Buddhist philosophy of our deeper potential beyond ego and achievements.

• An old school friend told him about a Buddhist monastery in Scotland where he could become a monk for a year-long retreat. He decided to go there during his sickness and stayed longer than initially planned. Eventually, he took lifelong vows as a monk.

Challenging Yet Rewarding Experience as a Monk

Gelong Thubten reflects on his experience as a monk, which initially started as a rehab but has now become an integral part of his life.

Life as a Monk

• Initially, becoming a monk was like a rehab experience for Gelong Thubten. However, it turned into something deeper and more meaningful over time.

• Being a monk involved intense self-reflection and facing one's own problems and habits that were causing unhappiness. It was like self-psychotherapy without a therapist. The experience was challenging but incredibly rewarding.

Conclusion

Meditation helps in rewiring the mind and creating positive responses. Gelong Thubten's personal journey led him to become a monk, where he found deep introspection and transformation. Being a monk became an essential part of his life, providing immense rewards despite the initial challenges.

The transcript provided is limited, so the summary may not cover all aspects of the video or provide complete context.

Finding Inner Peace and Self-Acceptance

The speaker reflects on their past struggles with a wild lifestyle and unhappiness. They express gratitude for finding a path that saved them from spiraling out of control. Through intensive meditation, they confronted self-doubt and self-hatred, learning to sit with themselves and show compassion towards their inner struggles.

Journey from Escapism to Self-Acceptance

• The speaker acknowledges that their previous ambitions in performance and acting were driven by a desire to be someone else rather than embracing creativity.

• They recognize the unhealthy nature of trying to escape from oneself through these pursuits.

• Intensive meditation at the monastery amplified inner voices of self-doubt, leading to a realization that they had been running away from themselves.

• Instead of pushing away negative thoughts, meditation became a tool for resolving them with compassion.

Cultivating Compassion Towards Ourselves

The speaker discusses the importance of showing compassion towards oneself and how it contrasts with the harsh self-criticism often experienced. They reflect on personal growth and learning to be less hard on themselves over time.

• The speaker acknowledges being excessively critical of themselves throughout their life.

• Their wife questioned why they were so hard on themselves, highlighting the need for self-compassion.

• They pose a question about why humans tend to beat themselves up over mistakes or situations beyond their control.

Societal Influences on Self-Criticism

The speaker explores cultural factors contributing to self-disgust and self-hatred. They discuss how consumerism, advertising, and messaging make individuals feel incomplete or lacking. Additionally, they compare Western perspectives with Eastern cultures' emphasis on inner purity and spirituality.

• Consumerism and advertising create a sense of lacking and inadequacy, leading to self-criticism.

• In Western societies, there is a prevalent culture of self-disgust and self-hatred due to the lack of belief in deep-down purity.

• The speaker, being half Indian and half English, notes the difference in cultural perspectives between Eastern and Western societies.

• Eastern cultures tend to embrace the idea that everyone has inner purity (Buddha within), making negativity feel less ultimate or persistent.

Learning from Mistakes on the Spiritual Journey

The speaker discusses how even great spiritual masters have made mistakes on their journey towards enlightenment. They emphasize that life experiences and lessons shape individuals into spiritual masters rather than being born enlightened.

• The speaker highlights that even Buddha made false steps before discovering his true nature.

• They assert that all individuals are here to learn through life experiences, regardless of their spiritual path.

• Great spiritual masters like Buddha and Jesus have gone through their own journeys of growth and learning.

This summary covers selected portions of the transcript for brevity.

Desafios Iniciais da Meditação

Neste trecho, o palestrante fala sobre os desafios iniciais da meditação e como superá-los. Ele discute a importância de enfrentar a escuridão para encontrar a luz e como as dificuldades podem se tornar parte do processo de crescimento espiritual.

Enfrentando a Negatividade

• Através da meditação, é possível transformar as coisas negativas em algo positivo.

• Ao encararmos nossas dificuldades de forma criativa, elas podem se tornar uma fonte de aprendizado e crescimento.

• Em vez de ver a negatividade como algo terrível, podemos enxergá-la como parte da jornada.

Superando Obstáculos Iniciais

• No início da prática da meditação, muitas pessoas enfrentam obstáculos, como pensamentos intrusivos ou vozes internas.

• É importante persistir mesmo diante desses desafios e não desistir facilmente.

• O palestrante menciona sua própria experiência inicial com a meditação e como teve que enfrentar esses obstáculos sem possibilidade de retorno.

Mudança na Abordagem Mental

• Muitas pessoas têm a ideia equivocada de que devem esvaziar completamente suas mentes durante a meditação.

• Aprender a observar os pensamentos em vez de tentar suprimi-los é fundamental para uma prática mais efetiva.

• Ao adotarmos essa nova abordagem mental, os obstáculos começam a diminuir.

Expectativas na Meditação

• Muitas pessoas têm a expectativa de sentir algo especial durante a meditação.

• A busca por sensações ou experiências sensoriais pode levar à frustração e decepção.

• É importante compreender que a meditação não se trata de buscar uma sensação específica, mas sim de observar e estar presente no momento.

A Armadilha do Desejo

• O desejo constante por sensações ou experiências pode ser um obstáculo na meditação.

• Assim como o vício em drogas, o desejo cria mais desejo e nunca nos satisfaz completamente.

• O palestrante destaca a importância de reconhecer essa armadilha do desejo e deixar de esperar por resultados imediatos na prática da meditação.

Desafios Iniciais da Meditação

Neste trecho, o palestrante discute os desafios iniciais da meditação e a importância de não buscar resultados imediatos.

Lidando com a Mente Inquieta

• A meditação pode ser comparada a um exercício físico, em que os resultados não são imediatos.

• É necessário praticar sem buscar um resultado específico para colher os benefícios.

• No início, é comum enfrentar dificuldades e resistência da mente.

• O ego pode tentar impedir a prática da meditação.

• É importante persistir mesmo quando a mente questiona o propósito da meditação.

Progresso Gradual na Meditação

Nesta parte, o palestrante fala sobre o progresso gradual na prática da meditação e como as expectativas podem atrapalhar esse processo.

Progresso ao Longo do Tempo

• O progresso na meditação ocorre gradualmente e varia de pessoa para pessoa.

• No início, pode ser difícil manter uma prática regular e concentrar-se por longos períodos.

• Com o tempo, a prática se torna mais fácil e natural.

• O palestrante menciona ter alcançado um recorde pessoal de quatro horas de meditação contínua.

Expectativas e Resultados

• A constante busca por resultados é uma das principais barreiras para o desenvolvimento na meditação.

• Quanto mais desejamos algo, mais insatisfeitos ficamos com os resultados obtidos.

• A sociedade atual é marcada pela busca incessante por mais, o que gera insatisfação e problemas.

• O verdadeiro valor está nas qualidades internas, como bondade, compaixão e amor.

Lidando com a Mente Inquieta

Nesta seção, o palestrante aborda estratégias para lidar com a mente inquieta durante a meditação.

Alimentando a Mente

• É importante dar algo para a mente focar durante a meditação.

• A respiração é uma das técnicas mais comuns para direcionar a atenção.

• Ao trazer constantemente a atenção de volta à respiração, ensinamos a mente a se acalmar.

O Trabalho da Meditação

• A meditação não se trata de alcançar um estado de transe ou êxtase.

• O objetivo é treinar a mente para retornar ao objeto de foco repetidamente.

• Durante a prática, é normal que a mente divague e seja necessário trazê-la de volta à atenção plena.

Esses são os principais pontos abordados no trecho do vídeo.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of meditation and the role of thoughts in the practice.

Understanding Thoughts in Meditation

• The act of coming back to one's breath during meditation is considered a form of meditation itself.

• Thoughts that take one away from their breath are not seen as enemies or failures but rather as useful because they enable one to come back to their breath.

• The wandering mind is part of the meditation process and can be seen as enabling one to come back to awareness.

• Getting lost during meditation can lead to a blissful feeling and a sense of losing track of time.

• The experience of being lost in meditation is described as dipping one's toe into the universe.

• Noticing when one gets lost during meditation should be seen as regaining awareness rather than a moment of failure.

New Section

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, acceptance, and timing in meditation practice.

Forgiveness and Acceptance

• Rather than fighting against thoughts, learning to bounce back to the breath helps forgive and accept them. This leads to an inner atmosphere of acceptance and happiness without any battle with thoughts or emotions.

• Losing track of time during meditation is common and can indicate deep immersion in the practice.

Importance of Timing

• Setting a specific session time for meditation helps maintain structure and prevents ego-driven decisions about session length based on mood or preference.

• Having a sense of timing in meditation sessions allows for consistency and discipline in the practice.

• Using a clock or a gong to signify the end of a session helps maintain timing and structure.

New Section

In this section, the speaker shares their personal experience with long meditation sessions.

Long Meditation Sessions

• During a four-year-long meditation retreat, the longest daily session before lunch was three hours and 15 minutes.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of following a schedule and maintaining consistency in session length during retreats.

Desafio Pessoal e Autocompaixão

Visão Geral da Seção: Nesta seção, o palestrante discute seu desafio pessoal e a importância da autocompaixão.

Desafio Pessoal

• O palestrante vivia um estilo de vida selvagem e infeliz, correndo em direção ao desastre.

• Ele usava a performance e a atuação como uma forma de escapar de si mesmo.

• Ao entrar no mosteiro e praticar meditação intensiva, as vozes internas de dúvida aumentaram.

• A meditação se tornou uma maneira importante de resolver essas vozes com compaixão.

Autocompaixão

• Muitas vezes falamos conosco mesmos de maneira dura e crítica.

• Com o tempo, o palestrante aprendeu a se dar mais compaixão e ser menos duro consigo mesmo.

• Por que tendemos a nos culpar tanto por erros ou situações fora do nosso controle?

• A cultura ocidental enfatiza o consumismo e nos faz sentir incompletos o tempo todo.

• Na cultura budista oriental, há uma crença na pureza interior de todos os seres humanos.

• Devemos olhar para nossos erros como algo superficial que pode ser limpo.

A Jornada Espiritual

Visão Geral da Seção: Nesta seção, o palestrante explora a jornada espiritual e como até mesmo grandes mestres espirituais passam por experiências de aprendizado.

Jornada Espiritual

• Todos estamos aqui para aprender e crescer em nossa jornada espiritual.

• Grandes mestres espirituais, como Buda e Jesus, também passaram por experiências de aprendizado.

• A vida e as experiências moldam esses mestres espirituais ao longo do tempo.

• É importante reconhecer que todos cometemos erros e estamos aqui para aprender.

Cultura Ocidental vs. Cultura Oriental

Visão Geral da Seção: Nesta seção, o palestrante compara a cultura ocidental com a cultura oriental em relação à autocompaixão e à visão da mente.

Cultura Ocidental vs. Cultura Oriental

• Na cultura ocidental, há uma tendência maior de autodesprezo e autodepreciação.

• O palestrante cresceu em duas culturas diferentes - indiana e inglesa - e percebeu diferenças na abordagem da autocompaixão.

• Nas culturas orientais budistas, há uma crença na pureza interior de todos os seres humanos.

• A negatividade não precisa ser vista como algo definitivo ou persistente.

A Importância da Autocompaixão

Visão Geral da Seção: Nesta seção, o palestrante destaca a importância da autocompaixão em nossa jornada pessoal.

Importância da Autocompaixão

• A autocompaixão é fundamental para nosso bem-estar emocional.

• Devemos reconhecer que somos humanos e propensos a cometer erros.

• Ao praticar a autocompaixão, podemos nos perdoar mais facilmente e cultivar um relacionamento mais saudável conosco mesmos.

• A autocompaixão nos ajuda a lidar com as pressões externas e a encontrar paz interior.

Conclusão

Visão Geral da Seção: Nesta seção, o palestrante conclui sua discussão sobre desafio pessoal e autocompaixão.

Conclusão

• Reconhecer nossos desafios pessoais e praticar a autocompaixão é essencial para nosso crescimento espiritual.

• Todos estamos aqui para aprender e evoluir em nossa jornada.

• Cultivar um relacionamento compassivo conosco mesmos nos permite enfrentar os desafios com mais compreensão e aceitação.

Desarrollando la práctica de la meditación

Resumen de la sección: En esta sección, los presentadores discuten sobre el proceso de desarrollar una práctica de meditación y cómo lidiar con las expectativas y resultados.

Comenzando a meditar

• La meditación puede ser similar a hacer ejercicio en un gimnasio. No se obtienen resultados inmediatos, pero con el tiempo se pueden experimentar beneficios.

• Es importante no buscar un resultado específico al meditar y simplemente hacerlo por el hecho de hacerlo.

• Al principio, puede ser difícil lidiar con la mente inquieta o "mente del mono", pero con práctica constante se vuelve más fácil.

Resultados gradualmente

• Los resultados de la meditación no son instantáneos, sino que se desarrollan lentamente con el tiempo.

• Con la práctica regular, es posible sentirse más relajado, menos estresado y reaccionar de manera diferente ante las situaciones.

• La constante expectativa y deseo de resultados puede obstaculizar el desarrollo de la práctica de meditación.

Lidiando con la mente inquieta

• Para lidiar con la mente inquieta durante la meditación, es útil darle algo en qué enfocarse. Esto puede ser la respiración, un mantra o cualquier otro objeto o sensación.

• Cada vez que la mente divague durante la meditación, es importante traerla suavemente de vuelta al objeto elegido como punto focal.

• La experiencia de meditar puede ser desordenada ya que la mente tiende a vagar constantemente. El trabajo real está en volver una y otra vez al objeto elegido.

Desarrollando la práctica de la meditación - Parte 2

Resumen de la sección: En esta sección, los presentadores continúan discutiendo sobre el proceso de desarrollar una práctica de meditación y cómo lidiar con la mente inquieta.

Alimentando a la mente inquieta

• Para lidiar con la mente inquieta durante la meditación, es útil darle algo en qué enfocarse. Esto puede ser la respiración, un mantra o cualquier otro objeto o sensación.

• Cada vez que la mente divague durante la meditación, es importante traerla suavemente de vuelta al objeto elegido como punto focal.

• La experiencia de meditar puede ser desordenada ya que la mente tiende a vagar constantemente. El trabajo real está en volver una y otra vez al objeto elegido.

Expectativas y resultados

• Es común tener expectativas sobre lograr una mente completamente silenciosa durante la meditación, pero esto no es realista ni necesario.

• La verdadera práctica de meditación consiste en el trabajo constante de regresar al objeto elegido como punto focal cada vez que la mente divague.

• No se trata de alcanzar un estado trascendental o estar en un estado de éxtasis, sino más bien aprender a trabajar con los pensamientos y emociones que surgen durante la meditación.

The Purpose of Meditation and Learning Lessons

In this section, the speaker discusses the purpose of meditation and how it relates to learning lessons in life. They emphasize that even great spiritual masters have gone through struggles and mistakes, which contribute to their teachings.

Understanding the Purpose of Learning Lessons

• Great spiritual masters like Buddha and Jesus have something to teach us because of their own struggles, mistakes, and suffering.

• By understanding darkness, we can appreciate light. Negativity is part of the journey and can become a driving force for spiritual practice.

Overcoming Initial Obstacles in Meditation

• Initially, the speaker disliked meditation and had to confront their own inner conflicts.

• They struggled with the idea of clearing their mind completely but later learned that observing thoughts rather than suppressing them was key.

• Many people expect immediate results or sensations when meditating, but it takes time to develop a consistent practice.

Becoming a Spiritual Master through Life Experiences

This section explores how life experiences shape individuals into becoming spiritual masters. The speaker shares personal challenges faced during meditation practice.

Embracing Personal Struggles as Opportunities for Growth

• Life experiences, including struggles, mistakes, and suffering, contribute to becoming a spiritual master.

• The speaker initially found meditation challenging due to confronting aspects of themselves they disliked.

• Overcoming false notions about clearing the mind led to an easier meditation experience.

Breaking Through Initial Obstacles in Meditation Practice

Here, the speaker discusses overcoming initial obstacles encountered during meditation practice.

Dealing with Inner Resistance

• Initially disliked meditation for about a year due to confronting personal issues.

• Felt like a failure because of a busy mind filled with thoughts that seemed difficult to silence.

• Realized that observing thoughts instead of trying to suppress them was the key to progress.

Managing Expectations in Meditation Practice

This section focuses on managing expectations and understanding the purpose of meditation practice.

Letting Go of Expectations

• Many people expect immediate results or sensations when meditating.

• The speaker questioned when they would feel something or experience a significant change during meditation.

• Our conditioned desire for sensory experiences can hinder our understanding of true happiness.

The transcript provided is a mix of English and French languages.

Understanding the Challenges of Meditation

The speaker discusses their initial struggles with meditation and the misconceptions they had about it.

Overcoming Expectations and Desires

• The speaker initially expected meditation to provide immediate feelings of happiness and excitement, but instead experienced sadness and disappointment.

• They realized that this disappointment stemmed from their desire to feel something during meditation, similar to how one craves for more when taking drugs.

• To overcome these misconceptions, the speaker started working on emptying their mind without expecting any specific outcome or sensation.

Patience and Persistence in Meditation

• The process of learning to meditate is similar to training at a gym. It requires consistent practice without seeking immediate results.

• Initially, the speaker struggled with sitting still and not gaining anything from meditation, but over time, it became easier and more rewarding.

• The key is to let go of expectations and ego-driven desires for results, as wanting more only leads to dissatisfaction.

Comparison with Exercise

• Just like exercise, where physical changes take time to manifest, meditation also requires patience for inner transformation.

• With regular practice, one starts feeling more relaxed, less stressed, and reacts differently to situations. These benefits develop gradually over time.

Letting Go of Materialistic Desires

The speaker discusses the constant desire for more and how it hinders personal growth and contentment.

• Many problems in the world arise from the insatiable desire for more material possessions.

• The speaker emphasizes that what truly matters are qualities like kindness, compassion, and love, which we can take with us beyond this life.

Managing the Noisy Mind

The speaker explores strategies for managing the noisy mind during meditation.

• It is important to acknowledge and accept the presence of a noisy mind during initial stages of meditation. Fighting against it only leads to frustration.

• Instead of trying to combat the noise, one should allow it to flow without resistance.

This summary covers selected portions of the transcript and may not include all details mentioned in the video.

Feeding the Monkey

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of daily meditation, even when one doesn't feel like it. They emphasize that prioritizing mood over meditation can hinder progress and suggest meditating during challenging times as a way to prepare for death.

The Crucial Role of Daily Meditation

• Meditating every day, regardless of one's mood, is essential.

• Prioritizing mood over meditation hinders progress.

• Meditating when feeling sick, tired, or stressed is particularly beneficial.

• Learning to meditate in all circumstances prepares one for death.

Preparing for Death through Meditation

• The goal is to meditate through the experience of death.

• If meditation is only practiced during good times, it won't be accessible during death.

• Making meditation a default habit helps alleviate fear and approach death with calmness.

• Meditating during difficult times teaches that it's possible to meditate even when feeling overwhelmed.

The Importance of Consistent Meditation

This section explores how consistent meditation can help individuals face death with mindfulness. It emphasizes the need to make meditation a default habit rather than relying on it only during challenging moments.

Activating Meditation During Death

• Approaching death with mindfulness requires consistent practice beforehand.

• Developing a habit of daily meditation ensures its activation during the dying process.

Embracing Meditation in All Circumstances

• Encouraging people to meditate regardless of their current state (good or bad) enhances personal growth.

• Being present in both good and bad moments allows for true enjoyment and appreciation.

Using Meditation Beyond Crisis

This section highlights the value of incorporating meditation into everyday life rather than solely relying on it during difficult times. It also touches upon the concept of being fully present in enjoyable moments.

Making Meditation a Habit

• Encouraging meditation during both good and bad times adds value to one's overall well-being.

• Being fully present in positive experiences enhances enjoyment.

• Many people turn to meditation only during crises, missing out on its benefits in everyday life.

Working on "Dr. Strange" Movie

The speaker shares their experience working as a consultant on the movie "Dr. Strange," specifically teaching Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton how to meditate for their roles.

Collaborating with Actors

• Worked with Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange) and Tilda Swinton (The Ancient One).

• Conducted meditation sessions before and during filming.

• Helped actors achieve a state of mindfulness required for their characters' mystical abilities.

The Impact of Acceptance and Love

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of acceptance and love in finding happiness and maintaining a positive mindset.

The Meaning of Acceptance

• Acceptance is not about tolerating everything or putting up with negativity.

• It means being able to love and embrace the reality that is present, whether it feels positive or negative.

• Cultivating a sense of loving awareness and compassion towards oneself and others leads to true happiness.

Benefits of Meditation

• Meditation helps reduce stress and increase contentment.

• It allows us to transform our thoughts, emotions, and attitudes, enabling us to stay positive even in stressful situations.

• Regular meditation practice improves focus, presence, and productivity.

• Physically, meditation trains the brain to release fewer stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline while promoting the production of oxytocin, the hormone associated with kindness, love, compassion, and happiness.

Scientifically Studied Benefits of Meditation

This section explores the scientific research supporting the benefits of meditation beyond spiritual aspects.

Physical and Mental Benefits

• Meditation helps manage stress levels by transforming our thoughts and emotions.

• It enhances concentration, presence, and overall well-being.

• Regular meditation practice can lead to measurable changes in brain activity through neuroimaging studies.

• By training the brain to be less reactive to stressors, meditation reduces fatigue, illness risk (such as hypertension), and promotes better health outcomes.

Personal Transformation through Meditation

Here we delve into personal experiences with meditation leading to calmness and reduced suffering.

Experiencing Calmness

• Consistent meditation practice brings about a sense of calmness over time.

• Practitioners become less affected by suffering or stressful situations.

• The benefits observed motivate individuals to continue their meditation practice.

Understanding the Mechanism

• The exact mechanism behind meditation's effects is not fully understood.

• It may involve self-connection, connection with a higher power, or chemical reactions in the brain.

• Chemical changes in the brain can lead to reduced stress and increased calmness.

Conclusion and Personal Growth

This section explores personal growth through meditation and its impact on daily life.

Personal Growth and Parenting

• Meditation has helped the speaker become calmer in parenting situations.

• While not perfect, they react differently to challenging moments with their children.

Continuing Benefits of Meditation

• Regular meditation practice leads to a sense of calmness and reduced suffering.

• The speaker encourages further exploration of the benefits of meditation beyond what has been discussed.

The transcript provided does not cover the entire video.

Les Esprits et leur Programmation Automatique

Cette section aborde la programmation automatique des esprits et comment ils réagissent de manière instinctive.

Réaction automatique des esprits

• Les esprits ont une programmation automatique pour réagir instinctivement.

• Cette programmation peut être influencée par différents facteurs tels que l'environnement, l'éducation et les expériences passées.

• Les esprits peuvent réagir de différentes manières en fonction de leur programmation individuelle.

• Il est important de comprendre cette programmation automatique afin de mieux comprendre le comportement des esprits.

Timestamps are not available for this section.