If you're finding meditation hard, please watch this...

[@bensmithreal]

My one off purchase meditation course: bensmithreal.com/b/innerworksmeditation 🧘‍♂️Join my online meditation school: www.skool.com/inner-journey-school/about

[@richardknight1346]

How might I send you a private message regarding your online meditation school

[@adiossurreal]

Your earnest attitude is greatly appreciated Ben Smith. The more you speak I see the more you learn how to effectively teach.

[@claudelebel49]

I like the I Am meditation. Just be. You don't need to know anything in order to Be. You don't need to do anything in order to Be. 🙏 A little unnerving for the mind as it leaves it with nothing to hang on to,

[@richardknight1346]

I discovered Nisargadatta's teachings three months ago and find that I resonant with the I Am. Recently I've incorporated a thread in my meditations where I focus on myself as purely light and I follow that wherever it may lead me. I started this visualization because of the same reasons you allude to - the absence of something concrete for my mind to hang on to. Good luck in your quest for discovery.

[@claudelebel49]

@@richardknight1346 thank you for sharing and best wishes in your quest from a long time Nisargadatta fan 🙂🙏

[@valz7223]

Well said, challenging yourself with advanced mediations will develop you & up grade you spiritually.

[@LauraGarwood-p3w]

Thank you Ben. 🙏🏻

[@magdalena_p_55]

We're the peace, and yet we seek peace from the outside world. Thank you❤️‍🔥I love challenges!

[@nakushii_Kraft]

My meditation helps me with my anxiety...I was born with bad anxiety and it helped me peace my mind and focus....I focus better at work when I am there.

[@nataliebutler]

TM teaches effortless meditation. It's an important component of the technique. I've had the most success with meditations with energy transmission from the 'guru'. It's so much easier! All that said, there are many different paths.

[@ragingspeedhorn]

I am enjoying anhedonia... thanks Ben. Little by little I connect to the higher meaning and purpose.

[@lburrows1261]

Your wisdom always resonates with me. I guess putting yourself through some more challenging meditations rather than easy breezy means more self belief, more resilience and keeping your mind open without expectations. I have certainly found it difficult to manage expectation, but getting better to opening my mind as to what the divine want to show me. What I am finding hard is that I asked the divine to show me his love. I got a white light moving towards me and a feeling of joy in my heart and in my body. I am second guessing whether it's my ego all the time making that for me. 😢

[@Silvara22]

Thank you 🙏

[@rodgerkendrick]

I guess there is no bad meditation, thanks for the advice.

[@nerdkartoffl9019]

I find it really interesting, that you "dislike" labeling. I love it, since i then know where i stand now. I does not matter, if i like the box or not. Per definition, everyone has some boxes where they "belong or are right now". But this only puts a label on you, in that exact moment. It shows you, where you stand. It's not final label, but simply tells you, where you at and (for me) it's easier to see, how i am, seen through a "testable way". I can then choose, if i want to change that aspect, accept it and/or find out, why this label is on me and if it's even matching.^^ As you described in another video: "There is the lower, middle and upper astral plain....". This is also a label, in a sense and it only describes something. Sometimes it's good to know, where you are on your journey. At least i see it this way. =)

[@icomplain2006]

I think there is a difference between believing people can overcome things like aphantasia and it actually being true. I’m all for trying to do so from a personal belief for yourself, but telling people they can when there is no proof feels spiritually abusive. (I’m not aiming this at you, but at a kind of approach). This reminds me of faith healers who tell people they can be healed of anything, and if they aren’t they don’t have enough faith . That realm being close to my upbringing, I’m suuuuper sensitive to it. If they fail they are even worse off, believing themselves to be defective, not just a person who is different than the norm. Or they get frustrated and dejected and abandon the good that would come from the practice, even if it isn’t freedom from aphantasia. We have to find a way to both encourage people to question and push their limits while also respecting the reality that some limits cannot be overcome, and that is what it means to be human. We are powerful, and I believe in miracle-level change being possible for us, but we cannot toss that weight on people and not expect them to break inside in some way when it is unattainable even after all of their hard work. We have to find the middle road here.

[@brynkinnaird560]

Two years meditating regularly now, very slow progress. It seems as if I am a very slow learner, with all things spiritual, maybe this is because I abused drugs for decades. All I can do is keep on keeping on. Todays message is slightly different in as much as you are suggesting try more complicated meditations, where as you normally suggest to try one type and stick with it for a long time. I find visualisation very difficult as well. / Chopping wood and carrying water ;)

[@lburrows1261]

The fact that you are showing up is enough. You are turning onto a new path. Keep moving forward, everyone is here for the same journey maybe we shouldn't look at the clock whilst on it, you will get there 🥰

[@terrynash2381]

Don't judge the time or yourself...that is just the ego and it will lie to you. Just keep on the Path!

[@laiky4373]

Woah. I do have mild aphantasia, and it kinda blew my mind that you mentioned it here. I can see images, but they are very limited, fuzzy and non-detailed. It's always been something that's bothered me, especially since finding out that people can see entire 4K video inside their own heads! I find it really hard to imagine something I haven't already seen. But that doesn't stop me from trying. I hope that this is something I can actually overcome with continued practice! I'm still a hatchling with spiritual practice and meditation. But yesterday and today I experienced a bit of a disconcerting feeling throughout my body, sort of like electricity. But I could feel that I was somehow blocked from leaving my body.

[@StellaDavies-i1h]

That feeling of electricity could have been the beginning of an oobe xxx❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@joeglynn3916]

Ben, don’t over think it.

[@MaxDooDat2]

Please give us an example of a meditation that you would consider to be difficult for the majority of people who meditate. Thanks.

[@wideyxyz2271]

I always fall asleep. I cant help it. I clear my mind and the next thing I know I am somewhere else which means I am asleep !

[@Adamkww]

Might be sleep deprived, or diet needs changing

[@nataliebutler]

If you need rest allow yourself to sleep. Once the body is caught up on sleep it should stop.

[@scottchristopherwilkie1664]

Sit up instead of lying down. Open a window so it's cool

[@terrynash2381]

Reading books anymore, the tis what puts me to sleep.

[@kommzumiraufdiearchenoah7540]

Dear Ben, Thank you for this wonderful video. It’s incredibly helpful in understanding the importance of maintaining spiritual focus and tirelessly working on oneself. However, I find myself pondering the following: What is the ultimate goal of meditation, the spiritual path, or enlightenment? Is it to "transcend" what we see with our eyes in order to understand that we are one with - to borrow from the video’s content - the incense stick because it is divine, and therefore become one with the divine? Love

[@ivanljubicic2342]

the ultimate goal, the way I see it, of meditation is self realization. Not through intellectualisation, but experience. We all can talk about, and think about what we may be/our true nature is, but the lack of direct experience keeps us in domain of speculation and theory only. nowadays, there are only a handful of people who have truly experienced their true nature. most are simply intellectualising and debating about it.

[@kommzumiraufdiearchenoah7540]

@ivanljubicic2342 I absolute agree. But without the right mindset it's difficult to get there... like a wise man said 2000 years ago... let it be done to you according to your faith.

[@lillired857]

Allowing myself to be vulnerable makes it so hard. Also health anxiety

[@romaikadressage]

Namaste! This is your mind/ego trying to keep you from meditating. A very easy way to overcome these two issues is to find a comfortable spot in your home, sit down close your eyes and breath through your nose. Just sit there with your eyes closed and breath through the nose following each breath in and out of the nose. You can have relaxing music on if you need that. Set a timer for 5 minutes and see how it goes! You will be very surprised on how easy this becomes when you get over the fear of just doing it. Good Luck & May The Divine guide you along this journey.

[@ChadKingOfficial]

I understand saying that we aren't separate from one another but when it comes to objects or other things I don't.

[@ivanljubicic2342]

imagine this. A big sea, like an ocean. That represents consciousness. It represents us. Now, when ocean meets land, due to the crevices in land, it becomes a river. That are different branches of consciusness - animals, humans, plants, extraterrestrials (if there are any)... you name it. And even though we, as consciousness, inhabit a different form/are a different river, our Source is the ocean. In that regard, we are all the same. What's underneath the form is what unites us. The form is given/taken when we arrive here, for the purpose of learning.

[@_JacklNaB0X_]

What you say about “try harder meditations” does interest me. What I have learned from other teachers is, the harder we try to meditate, the further we move away from the self. The final teaching is no teaching at all. We already are what we are seeking, we just need to surrender the seeker and just be. Does this sound familiar to you?

[@eightchi3603]

🙏

[@alvin36596]

How do I join the 12 week course?

[@bensmithreal]

It starts on the 8th of Jan, but there’s plenty to work on prior to that. All can be accessed here: www.skool.com/inner-journey-school/about

[@EricAero]

Last week every thing was fine and this week meditating is almost phisicaly painfull... I can't undertand why...

[@terrynash2381]

The Ego...the Great Deceiver!

[@ChrisGautier-zx7hu]

What's the point of living?

[@briangroboski3429]

🤷

[@briangroboski3429]

I've watched a lot of videos on near death experiences and from the point of view of the soul the point of human life is to experience that which you're not, as to grow through experience. Because you can't truly understand something until you've experienced it firsthand.

[@ivanljubicic2342]

Learning. Graduating. Moving on.

[@mansardmanor3869]

Maybe, my understanding of Meditation is wrong I don't quite understand what it is First told to stop thinking Then get in the present Now your telling me to do hard mental exercises? How is one to ever understand, let alone get results

[@TheAubreyLynch]

I laughed out loud when I read this. I feel EXACTLY the same way. I’m a beginner beginner, meditating 10 mins every day morning and night. I’ve been going about two weeks now pretty consistently. I don’t expect anything too serious to happen for a long time. I don’t even know what a “result” might look or feel like. I attempt to clear my mind and try not to fall asleep. That’s friggin HARD. There are moments where I’m totally sitting up in dream state! I’m like, “what’s hard meditation?” lol. “This is already HARD.” I will keep watching, researching, and meditating. I really want to connect to the deeper collective consciousness and if not, hopefully what I’m doing will be enough 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@mansardmanor3869]

@TheAubreyLynch Good for You Meditation as I know it. Is to contact Higher Source or Higher Self If I may, that inner voice you think is your mind talking to yourself ...... Well, it's NOT. It's God talking through you ..... So ask it a question, wait for the FIRST thought, Believe it .... Then again at a later time. Again, your answers will become longer Then you will know, I wouldn't give an answer like that Good Luck Any other help you desire send it to me If you like Blessings

[@ivanljubicic2342]

Visualization and concentration is like picking up a phone and calling home. Meditation is like recieving a phone call.

[@TheAubreyLynch]

@@mansardmanor3869 I will try this! Thank you!