Why You’re Stuck on a Meditation?

May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!

Today, through our spiritual teachings, I wish to illuminate a common source of anxiety for many on the spiritual path. When you engage deeply in a spiritual life, and especially when you apply these teachings practically through meditation, there are certain experiences we all encounter. One of the most significant is hitting a meditation plateau or Why You’re Stuck on a Meditation?

Whether you are a beginner or have been practicing for a long time, you may find your progress seems to halt. Your meditation can feel like it’s stuck at a certain stage for an extended period. This is a universal experience, common to the vast majority of practitioners.

Only a very rare few ascend through the stages of practice without ever pausing. For the rest of us, facing a meditation plateau is an almost inevitable part of the journey. I, too, have faced this in my own personal spiritual life. Simply put, we often find ourselves remaining in the same meditative state for a long time.

“Am I Doing Something Wrong?” Common Questions from the Plateau

Many people reach out with this very concern. They ask, “Venerable Sir, I practice meditation diligently, but I seem to be stuck in the same place for months. Is there something wrong with me? Is it a flaw in my practice?”

For example, someone practicing the ‘Third Eye’ meditation might report being stuck in the stage of perceiving light signals for two or three months. Others might feel a persistent pressure in the middle of the forehead, a sign of developing concentration, but remain there for weeks, months, or even a year. Some have told me they’ve been on this same meditation plateau for two or three years, long before they even found our teachings, practicing independently.

This isn’t limited to one technique. Whether it’s seeing mental images, known as imitates, that come after the light signs, or experiences within the path to the meditative absorptions called the Jhanas, practitioners report this feeling of stagnation.

In simple, we say it’s like ‘palling venial’, becoming stagnant. This question comes from people of all ages and genders; it is a widespread and deeply felt challenge.

The Deeper Lesson: Meditation as Training in Patience and Equanimity

When faced with a meditation plateau, the mind immediately begins to search for a cause. Many wonder, “Is it a weakness in my ethical conduct, my Sīla? I keep the Five Precepts. Some live a celibate life; others observe the Eight or Ten Precepts. Why is this happening to me, even when I am so dedicated?” This can lead to a state of discouragement and a weakening of resolve.

Today, I want to explain the true reason behind this phenomenon. It is an absolute certainty that as we progress in meditation, we will encounter steps or stages where we seem to stagnate. To understand why, we must first understand the deeper purpose of meditation and mindfulness.

What are we truly cultivating?

We are learning to develop a balanced state of mind, a quality the Buddha called Upekkhā, or equanimity. We are learning patience. We are learning to allow for time, and to wait patiently within that passage of time. These are the essential lessons we must learn from our practice. Even in martial arts, patience is a supreme virtue. This is the primary characteristic we must develop.

The Cosmic Test: How Nature Hones Your Patience

One of the most important things to realize when you begin meditation is this: never set a deadline for your spiritual attainments. Avoid creating a rigid framework in your mind, thinking, “I will achieve results in two years,” or “I will attain wisdom by this date.” Do not box yourself in by thinking, “I will realize Nibbana (liberation), open my third eye, gain psychic powers, or attain the Jhanas within a specific timeframe.” Do not even entertain such thoughts.

We constantly advise against setting these limits. When you begin meditation without these expectations, you can practice with a sense of freedom.

Even if someone starts with the noble intention, “I will meditate until the day I die,” they will still encounter the plateaus I mentioned earlier, stages where they must remain for three months, six months, or even a year. This is the next great challenge we face, and we must learn about it.

Imagine you are at a certain stage: experiencing light signs, a specific level of concentration, a Jhanas state, a mental image, a third eye sensation, or even just the feeling of your body becoming as heavy as a rock. When you remain in one of these states for a long time, it is natural to become bored, disheartened, and frustrated.

And right here, in this moment of struggle, we are being tested. The universe, or Svabhāva Dharma (the nature of reality), is checking us. It is examining the depth of our patience. It is testing our equanimity. This happened to Prince Siddhartha before he became the Buddha, and it happens to all great enlightened beings. It happens to anyone developing their spiritual and psychic faculties. We must understand this and then decide how to respond.

Your Response to the Test: Radical Contentment and Determination

When you realize you are being tested by nature, what should you do? You must cultivate a positive mindset. Tell yourself, “It does not matter how long I remain in this state. I could be stagnant here for years, and it’s okay. I could be stuck on this single meditation plateau until the day I die, and it’s okay. I will not give up my practice.” Make this strong determination. This resolve will give you the strength to continue.

While some people can endure for a few days or weeks, the underlying weakness for most is the inability to be truly equanimous. Deep down, we are still hoping for the next step. If you observe your mind with subtle mindfulness, you will see it: a quiet expectation. “Isn’t there a next stage? Why can’t I get there? Is there something I’m lacking?” If these questions arise, you are not yet truly patient.

So, be content. Be happy with the progress you have made. If you are experiencing a certain level of concentration or seeing light signs, rejoice in that. Find satisfaction in the step you are on, right now. Then, cultivate equanimity,a state with neither excessive joy nor sadness about your position. I have personally spent a very long time in such stages, feeling stagnant. I understood it was a test and that some things simply require time. Certain karmic accounts must be settled, which is a topic for another day.

The Long View: Understanding Your Journey Across Lifetimes (Saṃsāra)

Now, let’s consider another crucial factor: the journey of consciousness through Saṃsāra, the long cycle of birth and rebirth. We don’t know if we began our meditative practice in this life or in a previous one. If this is the very first lifetime you are seriously undertaking this practice, it will naturally take time to gain traction. The mind needs to get used to it.

On the other hand, some people experience rapid progress. They might awaken their third eye or develop psychic abilities or attain deep meditative states very quickly. This is because they have practiced before, in past lives. The skills they developed are stored in the consciousness that travels through Saṃsāra. It’s like learning the alphabet.

If you learned it in first grade, you can easily read complex books later on. This practical training is carried forward. These are what we call Paramita, the spiritual perfections cultivated over many lifetimes.

If you are starting fresh in this life, you may experience a meditation plateau for longer. However, you must resolve to practice until death. Why? Because of your diligent effort in this life, even if you don’t see dramatic results, you are building a powerful foundation.

In your very next life, you will be like one of those people who progresses rapidly. With just a little guidance from a teacher, you will quickly attain the Jhanas, develop psychic abilities, or realize deep insights. The path will open easily because of the work you are doing right now.

Practical Steps: Purifying Your Path and Strengthening Resolve

This is why the Buddha taught us to cultivate mindfulness, even for a moment. This is why he encouraged reflecting on impermanence, or Annicha, the ever-changing nature of reality. When we try to do these profound practices, turning the mind inward to explore its own depths after a lifetime of looking outward at the material world, the mind rebels.

It brings up boredom, frustration, and disillusionment. That is its nature. That is the nature of Saṃsāra. This is the very reason we are stuck in this cycle. We must understand this dynamic.

Some people have profound spiritual experiences spontaneously. They might feel like they are levitating during their first meditation session and stop out of fear. This happens because of their past practice resurfacing. If they lack the wisdom or guidance to face it fearlessly, they are, in effect, kicking away a precious gem. If you know people with such innate spiritual sensitivities, please help them understand. Share these teachings with them.

Now, what about Sīla, or ethical conduct? Many ask if a flaw here is causing their meditation plateau. If you feel that a certain habit, like smoking, drinking, or engaging in sexual misconduct, is the problem, then work on it. Let it go, little by little. As you purify that side of your life, your concentration, mindfulness, and insight on this side will naturally grow. The two are connected. When your ethical foundation is strong, your meditative practice will ascend.

I won’t go into a detailed analysis of Sila here; there are many resources available to explore the Five, Eight, or Ten Precepts. Protect your virtue as best you can.

The Breakthrough: Victory Through Unwavering Equanimity

The biggest weakness I see, even in those with good conduct who understand the long-term nature of the path, is a lack of patience. This is the great challenge we must overcome. The one who has patience becomes balanced. They become equanimous. We must endure, no matter how long we remain on a meditation plateau.

Reaffirm your commitment: “It is okay. I will stay here until the day I die if I have to. It is no problem.” Continue your daily routines, your chants, your precepts, your practices, just as before. Live your life as you always have, but with this unwavering internal resolve.

As you engage in these activities naturally over time, a moment will come when the universe, and your own mind, recognizes that you are truly equanimous. You are truly balanced.

In that very moment, a moment when you have no craving for a future step, no desire, no expectation, you will unexpectedly and effortlessly move to the next stage. It is guaranteed to happen.

But do not get caught thinking, “Have I built up enough merits (Paramita) or not? Am I a beginner in this life?” Such thoughts will only sabotage your next life as well. Forget all of it. Forget past lives, forget future results. Simply be practical. Every day, practice the mindfulness and concentration techniques we teach. That is all that is required. If you do this, you will surely achieve victory.

This is a vital teaching, and I felt it was essential to share because many people give up their practice for this very reason. I hope this explanation brings you great understanding.

A Final Blessing for Your Journey

This concludes our teaching on the topic of being stuck in one place in meditation. May you all, by the power of the Triple Gem, the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, develop patience, cultivate equanimity, and grow in balance. May you have the strength to practice meditation until your final breath, engaging with these truths practically every day.

We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.

Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.

May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!