Re: Meditation and ADD

[Anonymous]

>>Somehow, ADD meditation seems counterintuitive. I mean, how can people who have a hard time remembering what they did ten seconds ago focus intensely on some mantra for an extended period of time??<<

the idea of meditation is less maintaining focus for an extended period of time, and more being mindful in each particular moment. most “beginners” meditation practice fully acknowledges that the mind wanders in thought, because it was built (in part) to think. I have heard meditation explained as learning to “watch” our thoughts so it becomes possible to make choices in how we respond to them.

Thich Nhat Hanh writes that the gift of mindfulness is available to us in each new moment, even when we don’t necessarily have a sitting meditation practice, all we have to do is become aware of our breath. the idea is that moment by moment, if we’re willing to accept “failure” and keep practicing, it gets much easier over time.

that being said, drfergus, those periods when I have made time in my life to carry a breathing practice I have found it extraordinarily helpful and calming, but it’s been at least about a year since then.

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