Hi Luke,
Luke Avedon:
I am quite desperate for any guidance anyone can provide so thank you in advance.
When I sit in the morning for either 1 or two hours (with a break in between). I get to a fantastic concentration state. While I think I’m in the early states of shamata concentration state (I usually still have course excitation---only can keep my mind on the breadth for about a minute after sitting for a couple of hours--but every once in a while it’s more). I feel fantastic, when I start working for the day I am in a beautiful flow state, super productive, no suffering. I could be getting a root canal while being audited by the IRS and not be stressed out.
But it only lasts an hour!
In fact, I’m sorry to say, if I don’t meditate in the morning I can’t get any work done at all.
My problem is it wears off big time after an hour. . . .
What would it take to be in this concentrated state all the time? I realize this is a common goal of practice and people have been thinking about it for quite a while.
I’m curious if anyone has some guidance such as, when I was able to count from 1 - 50 mindfull breaths without spacing out, (course excitation) then I was able to stay concentrated for x hours. Or after I could generate a no thought state for 2 minutes then I was concentrated half the day, or once I started meditating x hours a day I was concentrated for 9 hours a day, OR after I reached X Jhana I was concentrated for 10 hours a day regardless of daily sit time ect...
It sounds as though you are making some progress, but that you are having trouble sorting out what this actually means in terms of a practice and how to proceed. Does that sound fair?
The practice is
a gradual practice, generally speaking, for most if not all people. Be patient with yourself and don't lose confidence. You've come a long way, but there are still more things to accomplish. Changing the patterns of the mind and gaining control of the ability to remain in a concentrated state is not something that is gained overnight, so to speak. It can take time (as well as realization of how this can be maintained, meaning insight into the process).
I know what you are speaking (complaining) about, as I once had the very same complaints. I used to wonder if there were some "magical" solution that Gotama knew and practiced that he was not disclosing to us. I eventually came to understand that such thinking was not only unproductive, but counterproductive to assisting me to accomplish my goal.
I began to watch, with intensity (mindfulness, or
sati), the moments when concentration
would break down in order to see these moments with
greater clarity. These moments were usually preceded by a relaxation of my mindfulness, which in turn resulted in a relaxation of concentration and the "state of flow" that you wrote about. It's important to note that this "state of flow" is not something magical or nebulous out in the ether that you are pursuing, but rather
an inner determination that you are diligent in cultivating. Once you arrive at that insight, things should begin to change in terms of your ability to maintain concentration (and hence, mindfulness itself) for longer and longer periods after meditation.
In relation to the speculation in your last paragraph, what I found worked for me was the practice of absorption meditation, which helped to re-condition the mind for longer and longer periods AFTER meditation, helping me to maintain concentration and mindfulness. Or at least that was my perception at the time. I began to meditate three times a day for one hour each sitting (roughly morning, noon, and evening); each time entering and residing in an absorption state. Gradually, over time, I was able to maintain mindfulness and concentration for longer and longer periods of time afterward. This didn't happen by magic, but rather was premised on what I stated before: an inner determination and diligence in cultivating mindfulness. It was something I became aware of (which is another way of stating "mindful of") at all times.
I also used this time to focus on insight issues, which increased my understanding of and appreciation for the Dhamma.
Luke Avedon:
The other problem I have is in the morning the concentration is completely gone, it doesn’t matter how much I sit the night before. The hindrances are really strong when I wake up. Lifting weights clears the hindrances out enough so I can sit on the cushion and I have other tricks as well I won’t bore you with here.
Anyway, if I could be concentrated all day that would really be the cat’s meow. What would it take or am I just screwed?
Generally speaking, you are only "screwed" if you THINK you are screwed. So, why not focus your efforts on achieving the accomplishment rather than on its nonachievement.
One way that has worked for me is to make a strong resolution before I go to sleep each night. "You will sleep soundly, and wake up refreshed, alert, focused, and mindful." I say this three times (minimum) before nodding off each night. One of the keys to having this work is in the
intention present when making the resolution. Make sure that intention is strong and THERE when you are making the resolution. Don't know if this will work for you, but I have had much success with this.
In peace,
Ian