hearing music in my mind

[paulecraton]

I know that it is important to quiet the mental noise in my mind, which consists of thoughts. But what about music? When I am not thinking thoughts, I am usually hearing songs in my head, singing them in my head, as a backdrop to whatever I am doing. I cannot decide whether it's an interference just like thoughts are, or whether it helps me stay in the NOW. Any thoughts on this?

[The Fisherman]

Co-incidentally this is the subject I was looking for and was going to ask too!

I have been listening to the power of now audio book and noticed that whenever I conciously try to stop thinking I can also hear music in my head.

One reason might be because I listen to music and my ipod a lot so my mind is maybe conditioned to listening to music in my head instead of silence.

I have noticed that can also play the music in my head a bit like an ipod on random shuffle and skip forward and another random song plays.

I also would be interested in any thoughts on this?

[Edwin]

This is quite normal.

Eckhart Tolle said something along these lines in the power of Now :

"Sometimes someone would say to me: Yes but I am in control of my thoughts !

And then I would say: Oh Really ? In that case, stop thinking right now, prove it "

I think the same goes for music playing in your head.

If you can "switch it off" at any time, and keep it that way for as long as you want, then you are in control, and that is fine !
If you can't, then you are a slave to it instead of it being a slave to you.

Thought and or other phenomena like music playing in your mind are supposed to be tools to your aid, not to drive you crazy. Otherwise it becomes "the thinking disease" as Eckhart Tolle calls it.

I hope I am making sense to you guys

[paulecraton]

Yes, this makes sense, and it goes along with what I suspected to be true. Hearing music in my mind is not something to cause distress. But you need to be able to turn it off as much as any other thought.

Reading further the Power of Now, I am interested these days in feeling the "inner body" and find that I can do it best when my body is still. It's hard to do it when I am moving around- but fun to try!

[Edwin]

Originally Posted by paulecraton

Yes, this makes sense, and it goes along with what I suspected to be true. Hearing music in my mind is not something to cause distress. But you need to be able to turn it off as much as any other thought.

Reading further the Power of Now, I am interested these days in feeling the "inner body" and find that I can do it best when my body is still. It's hard to do it when I am moving around- but fun to try!

It actually is just as easy while moving.

if you focus on your movements, and observe them as you would observe your thoughts, without attachment, you will gradually notice something strange:
You are not moving your limbs !

Sure, you say: I am moving my arm up and down, because I ordered it to do that !
But actually, the actual muscle activation, with just the right contraction between 3 or more musclegroups to make your arm move forward exactly the way it is, swaying lightly to the left to avoid it hitting the table as you move your arm forward... Is that you ? Or is that being carried out for you ?

Try to feel which muscles contract, and which muscles relax during your movement. When you get the hang of this, move your attention to your entire body while moving.
Start with some simple action, like sweeping the sidewalk, or mowing the lawn, taking a shower, drinking a cup of tea....

Tolle wasn't the first to think of this you see: what I am describing is called Mindfulness !

[BlessedAreTheMeek]

I find especially in bed when I'm groggy or right about to fall asleep I hear music in my head. With lyrics and everything.

It's quite annoying and I also have wondered about the control, or lack of I have or it.

I'm glad to of found this post and to know I'm not some lune! lol

[shoden]

"When you are present, you can allow the mind to be as it is without getting entangled in it. The mind in itself is a wonderful tool. Dysfunction sets in when you seek your self in it and mistake it for who you are" - Page 40
-Eackhart Tolle Quote (Power Of Now)

So, dont entangle yourself with your minds activity ("hearing songs in your head"), just become the observer. Be present in the moment, dont judge the experience ;-) Meditation isent Doing but being.

"To be identified with your mind is to be trapped in time: the compulsion to live almost exclusively through memory and anticipation" - Page 40
-Eackhart Tolle Quote (Power Of Now)