How can one calm the mind when it is too disturbed to meditate?
An effective method is breath control. The mind and breath are linked. When the breath is controlled the mind is controlled. One can mentally watch the incoming and outgoing motion of the breath within the nostrils which will calm the breath and the mind. Or one may do pranayana (deep breathing) for 5-10 minutes and stop as soon as the mind is calm. Then normal meditation may be started. What if one is still unable to calm the mind? One should discontinue meditation and pursue some other calming practice such as listening to music, reading something inspirational, chanting etc. When the mind is calm then one should sit for meditation again. What happens after the sight and mind are stilled? Meditation only begins when the state of one pointedness and pure consciousness is reached through concentrating the sight and mind between the eyebrows. Everything before that is merely preliminary preparation and must not be mistaken for meditation. It is not the time spent sitting but the time ne
