Nad A.:
Background: I'm totally new to meditation, trying to start for the purpose of making 'actualism' practice easier, via increased mental clarity and having some interesting experiences like 'bliss'.
Not sure your choice of practice is all that practical, but be that as it may...
Nad A.:
So far the brief periods I've tried have been very frustrating and seemingly useless experiences. It's as if I have 100 thoughts a second, constantly distracted... and at times I can't tell whether I am or have been concentrating on the target object... or whether I've just been imagining that I've been concentrating on it.
I'm closest to being able concentrate on my breathing but what is there to concentrate on in-between breaths? The gap in-between each breath is like a license to brainstorm.
The purpose of mindfulness of breathing is to be mindful of the breathing process at ALL times, not just during the in-breath and the out-breath, but it also includes the "gap in-between each breath." If you are not able to hold concentration on the breath during the gap in-between, then you have your work cut out for yourself.
When you can bring the mind to complete silence during this time, then you may begin to progress on toward more advanced insight practices, like
satipatthana. It is best not to attempt
satipatthana before you are able to quiet the mind, though. Because it would be difficult to make any progress beyond the distraction going on. This is why it is so important to be able to quiet (silence) the mind beforehand.