01-24-2011, 10:59 PM
I had many of the same problems with noise, and a friend recommended noise-reducing headphones. I tried them on and they drowned out about 90% of the sound in the room. They can be bought at tractor supply stores and the like (for industrial models) or at places like Best Buy or other electronics stores. The only problem is they're pretty expensive. I often just use earplugs, or listen to trance music while I meditate. The music (mostly drumming and stuff like that) helps me really zone out. I know some purists are against music while meditating, but I say whatever works.
If your eyes keep opening, perhaps you could blindfold yourself? I've meditated with a pillow pulled down over my eyes.
As for thoughts running through your head, that just takes practice. I still have a hard time keeping my thoughts turned off and I've been doing it since I was a child. Sometimes I will visualize a cup and imagine all my thoughts pouring into that cup, to be retrieved at a later time. For some people it helps to focus on an object, like a candle flame. Then you can keep your eyes open and it gives you something to direct your attention toward and help you to focus. I do a lot of visualization when I meditate. I create an image in my mind and see how long I can hold it there, and sometimes I visualize my love spinning out through the galaxy. Again, there are many different methods, and I wouldn't say any one way is "right." You might have to experiment a bit to find a combination that works.
Hope this helps a little.
If your eyes keep opening, perhaps you could blindfold yourself? I've meditated with a pillow pulled down over my eyes.
As for thoughts running through your head, that just takes practice. I still have a hard time keeping my thoughts turned off and I've been doing it since I was a child. Sometimes I will visualize a cup and imagine all my thoughts pouring into that cup, to be retrieved at a later time. For some people it helps to focus on an object, like a candle flame. Then you can keep your eyes open and it gives you something to direct your attention toward and help you to focus. I do a lot of visualization when I meditate. I create an image in my mind and see how long I can hold it there, and sometimes I visualize my love spinning out through the galaxy. Again, there are many different methods, and I wouldn't say any one way is "right." You might have to experiment a bit to find a combination that works.
Hope this helps a little.