On noticing distractions, meditation practice, esp. the Buddhist one based on the Pali Canon has some interesting concepts that you may find interesting:
Subtle Distraction (sukhuma vicāra) is a nuanced mental activity that doesn’t completely pull attention away from the meditation object but dilutes the focus. It is the hardest to notice until mastering mindfulness (sati) and clear comprehension (sampajañña). Note that vicāra translates to applied thought or examination and refers to the attention on something else.
Gross Distraction (oḷārika vicāra) is the distraction we sometimes catch, e.g., when we notice that we skipped a sentence in a book, and then return to the text. It is the mind’s tendency to engage with sensory or mental phenomena that significantly divert attention away from the object, esp. the often comparatively boring meditation object.
Forgetting (vicikicchā or musitasmim) happens when we lose the (meditation) object from our attention altogether. Only a while later we realize that we are still holding the book or sitting on our pillow. Musitasmim translates to forgetting or negligence—the object has slipped from short-term memory by not concentrating. Another term, vicikicchā means doubt, which indicates that the purpose of our action was not strong enough to motivate us and we—at least subconsciously—doubted the value.
In The Mind Illuminated, dealing with these levels of distraction is a core aspect of the early levels of meditation practice. Here is an illustration from the book:
There are forums online that discuss the practice of noticing distractions based on the book. Here is one random example.
Here is the part of my notes from meditation retreats in 2019 and 2022 that summarizes the practice of concentration meditation and dealing with distractions—in a short Sazen: Notice, name, accept, and return to the object.
[as requested reposted in this thread]
On noticing distractions, meditation practice, esp. the Buddhist one based on the Pali Canon has some interesting concepts that you may find interesting:
Subtle Distraction (sukhuma vicāra) is a nuanced mental activity that doesn’t completely pull attention away from the meditation object but dilutes the focus. It is the hardest to notice until mastering mindfulness (sati) and clear comprehension (sampajañña). Note that vicāra translates to applied thought or examination and refers to the attention on something else.
Gross Distraction (oḷārika vicāra) is the distraction we sometimes catch, e.g., when we notice that we skipped a sentence in a book, and then return to the text. It is the mind’s tendency to engage with sensory or mental phenomena that significantly divert attention away from the object, esp. the often comparatively boring meditation object.
Forgetting (vicikicchā or musitasmim) happens when we lose the (meditation) object from our attention altogether. Only a while later we realize that we are still holding the book or sitting on our pillow. Musitasmim translates to forgetting or negligence—the object has slipped from short-term memory by not concentrating. Another term, vicikicchā means doubt, which indicates that the purpose of our action was not strong enough to motivate us and we—at least subconsciously—doubted the value.
In The Mind Illuminated, dealing with these levels of distraction is a core aspect of the early levels of meditation practice. Here is an illustration from the book:
There are forums online that discuss the practice of noticing distractions based on the book. Here is one random example.
Here is the part of my notes from meditation retreats in 2019 and 2022 that summarizes the practice of concentration meditation and dealing with distractions—in a short Sazen: Notice, name, accept, and return to the object.