Christopher guides you to imagine your mind as a movie screen: you sit down in the theater not knowing the title, the actors or the plot, and the lights go down. Be curious about what thoughts arise, and let them have their time and move away, just like the scenes on the screen change. We are not trying to hold on to any thoughts or push any thoughts away.
'Imagine that your mind is like a movie screen.'
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Questions people ask
What is the movie screen meditation?
Christopher guides you to imagine that your mind is like a movie screen and you do not know what will show up. You sit down in the theater not knowing the title, the actors or the plot. The lights go down, the screen lights up, and you watch with curiosity as thoughts arise and move away like changing scenes.
Should I hold on to good thoughts and push away bad ones?
No. Christopher says some thoughts stay for a little while and some flicker in and out, and it does not matter. You are not trying to hold on to any thoughts or push any away. You stay curious, letting them rise and fall, and relax more and more.
Where does this practice come from?
It is part of the full guided sit in Lesson 5 of the Effortless Meditation Course, after a few minutes with the breath. The article Thoughts Won't Stop During Meditation? describes the movie screen practice alongside the golden thought and the Halloween party.