Christopher shares what a meditation teacher of his called the golden thought: 'Wait, I'm supposed to be meditating.' That thought only and always happens in the present moment, so instead of calling yourself a bad meditator, celebrate it as the dawning of awareness. Thoughts of the past and the future are perfectly natural for somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes for most of us.
'The golden thought only and always happens in the present moment.'
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The Eight R's of Meditation as Taught by Lorin Roche, Part 1
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The Photographer and the Loon: Why We Keep Showing Up to Meditate
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The 5 Koshas: Why Each Layer of You Moves at Its Own Speed
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Questions people ask
What is the golden thought in meditation?
It is the moment you realize, wait, where was I, I'm supposed to be meditating. Christopher learned the name from 1 of his meditation teachers. The golden thought only and always happens in the present moment, so instead of shaming yourself, he invites you to celebrate it as the dawning of awareness.
Am I a bad meditator if I keep drifting into thoughts?
No. Christopher says we often use the golden thought to scold ourselves: bad meditator, bad meditator. Thoughts of the past and the future are perfectly natural. Noticing that you drifted is your nervous system recalibrating to the present moment, which is evidence that you were meditating.
How long do thoughts usually last in a sit?
Christopher says that for most people who meditate regularly, thoughts of past and future carry on for somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes. This clip comes from the bonus on the Eight R's, as taught by Lorin Roche, in the Effortless Meditation Course. The Eight R's of Meditation explains more.