Internal "background noise" during Zazen

[Anthony]

Hi all. Today during my sit, I experienced something a bit different and I am struggling to put it into words so my apologies if it is a bit unclear! And sorry that it is running a bit long!

I often find myself on the "train of thought" without realizing it. When that happens, I return my attention to my breath and step off the train of thought. This happened to me today as well. However, what was different this sit is that at one point, I just experienced my thoughts as "background noise". Like unintelligible babbling, noise or static in my head, similar to the old kind of TV static . It was as though this background noise was shouting for my attention away from my breath. Once I recognized it for what it was (thoughts as background noise), I was able to quiet it. Has anyone else experienced something like this? I find it a bit harder to recognize and get out of than the chain of thoughts that I'm more accustomed to noticing.

Gasshō, Anthony

Sat today, LAH

[Jundo]

Hi all. Today during my sit, I experienced something a bit different and I am struggling to put it into words so my apologies if it is a bit unclear! And sorry that it is running a bit long!

I often find myself on the "train of thought" without realizing it. When that happens, I return my attention to my breath and step off the train of thought. This happened to me today as well. However, what was different this sit is that at one point, I just experienced my thoughts as "background noise". Like unintelligible babbling, noise or static in my head, similar to the old kind of TV static . It was as though this background noise was shouting for my attention away from my breath. Once I recognized it for what it was (thoughts as background noise), I was able to quiet it. Has anyone else experienced something like this? I find it a bit harder to recognize and get out of than the chain of thoughts that I'm more accustomed to noticing.

Gasshō, Anthony

Sat today, LAH

Hi Anthony,

I would suggest that maybe it is a kind of "Makyo," just a strange experience that sometimes happens in Zazen. I would not put any special interpretation to it. I would not worry about it. Do not try to "get away," neither run toward it. Leave it be.

Pretend it really was static from your grandmother's old tv in the next room, and you just are not bothered by it, leave it alone, don't pay attention to it. Don't get up to turn it off or shut the door. Just don't care.

Feel radical equanimity about thoughts or the absence of thoughts, about static or no static. It is all the same, and you just leave it alone.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Anthony]

Hi Anthony,

I would suggest that maybe it is a kind of "Makyo," just a strange experience that sometimes happens in Zazen. I would not put any special interpretation to it. I would not worry about it. Do not try to "get away," neither run toward it. Leave it be.

Pretend it really was static from your grandmother's old tv in the next room, and you just are not bothered by it, leave it alone, don't pay attention to it. Don't get up to turn it off or shut the door. Just don't care.

Feel radical equanimity about thoughts or the absence of thoughts, about static or no static. It is all the same, and you just leave it alone.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

Gasshō, Jundo. Good advice. I have never heard the term "Makyo" before and yeah, what I experienced definitely feels like the mind playing tricks. I have a hard time with the "just don't care" aspect. I always find myself trying to turn off the distractions! I recognize that that isn't the way, though.

Sat today, lah.

[Jundo]

Gasshō, Jundo. Good advice. I have never heard the term "Makyo" before and yeah, what I experienced definitely feels like the mind playing tricks. I have a hard time with the "just don't care" aspect. I always find myself trying to turn off the distractions! I recognize that that isn't the way, though.

Here is more than you need to know about Makyo ...

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?16867-Strange-Zazen-Experiences&p=238859&viewfull=1#post238859

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Anthony]

Here is more than you need to know about Makyo ...

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?16867-Strange-Zazen-Experiences&p=238859&viewfull=1#post238859

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

Whoa, interesting stuff! Thanks for sharing.

Gasshō, Anthony
Sat today, lah

[Chikyou]

Hi all. Today during my sit, I experienced something a bit different and I am struggling to put it into words so my apologies if it is a bit unclear! And sorry that it is running a bit long!

I often find myself on the "train of thought" without realizing it. When that happens, I return my attention to my breath and step off the train of thought. This happened to me today as well. However, what was different this sit is that at one point, I just experienced my thoughts as "background noise". Like unintelligible babbling, noise or static in my head, similar to the old kind of TV static . It was as though this background noise was shouting for my attention away from my breath. Once I recognized it for what it was (thoughts as background noise), I was able to quiet it. Has anyone else experienced something like this? I find it a bit harder to recognize and get out of than the chain of thoughts that I'm more accustomed to noticing.

Gasshō, Anthony

Sat today, LAH

This happens to me if I start to doze off (it's actually the same thing that often happens when I start to doze off, zazen or no).

Like Jundo Roshi said, don't worry about it.

One day I got a song stuck in my head for an entire sit. Not a good song either. On repeat for the entire 20 minutes.

Sorry for running long
Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly