Relief from smoking and tobacco chewing
Relief from smoking and tobacco chewing
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CIGARETTE SMOKING
CIGARETTE SMOKING
Many practitioners of 'Meditation on breathing’ reported quitting smoking or chewing tobacco in 2002 when I was propagating this meditation in India, while working at ITC PSPD Bhadrachalam Unit as an Adviser following my retirement in 2000.
The practitioners read my meditation brochures and practiced on their own. They did not attend my classes. How did it work? My perception is that practicing this meditation changed a few things that were feeding the addiction.
One, this meditation reduces stress, thus tamping down the tendency to reach for the cigarette as soon as soon as they feel stressed. Second, it effectively diverts the mind from the thought of smoking or tobacco chewing, thus breaking the automatic tendency to reach for it. Third, it develops self-awareness and weakens the robotic behavior of reaching for tobacco without being aware of what one is doing.
In more than one practitioner, this meditation even created an aversion to smoking, as can be seen on this page.
It is also a fact that some people who succeeded in reducing smoking resumed smoking or increased the frequency of smoking after a few weeks or months. Perhaps they needed more supporting practices or closer guidance.
Cigarettes are done, I can’t stand the taste anymore
Cigarettes are done, I can’t stand the taste anymore
Feedback from a practitioner in his twenties, whom I was meeting periodically at a UPS store. He initially pracised the meditation rom my handout, on his own. He was thanking me for the help he was getting from the meditation. On seeing the remarkable improvements that he reported, like resolving insomnia and even getting off one of the three medications for depression, I invited him to attend my classes. His report after 6 months follows.
“I have been using the finger segment mode of counting breaths meditation for about six months and now taking classes to expand upon that foundation.
As a result, I went from 3 antidepressants to 2.
I have found my desire to self-medicate with alcohol and tobacco has lessened. It is not to say that I don’t slip up. But I have gone from several drinks a day to a few per week. Smoking is all but eliminated except for an occasional pipe tobacco, but cigarettes are done. I can’t stand the taste anymore.
The biggest change is that I no longer get angry as easily as before. When I do get angry, I don’t hang on to that anger.
My disturbing thoughts and feelings are all but gone. It feels as though a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Now I am working on my weight problem and making life changes to live happier and healthier.”
Nov 2013
I stopped smoking
I stopped smoking
I printed the meditation handouts at the local UPS store. The cashier with whom I was meeting often became friendly. I found him several times outside the store, smoking a cigarette. He was always looking gloomy. One day, I gave him the meditation brochure and explained the tip mode of counting breaths meditation in a couple of minutes. Whenever I visited the store for printing, I asked him whether he had tried the meditation. On hearing his negative response, I softly urged him to give it a try. For almost a year, he did not believe it was useful and did not try the technique.
Two months back, he said he was practicing meditation in the visualizing mode. He was happy with the practice.
In response to my query today, on how his meditation practice was going and how it was helping him, he said with a smile, “It gives me good sleep”. And after a while, he added, “I stopped smoking.”
I congratulated him and asked for the details. He said he was smoking 2 to 3 packs a week before practicing the technique. While continuing the meditation practice, he switched to electronic cigarettes. Now he rarely feels the urge. Even when he gets the urge, he feels too lazy to smoke.
Oct 2012
One pack to half a pack
One pack to half a pack
I gave copies of the meditation brochures to the young postal clerk at the post office, which I visited periodically. She was interested in quitting smoking. On my recent visit, she said that the ‘meditation on breathing’ practice was working. She was smoking one pack of 20 cigarettes before the practice. Now she smokes less than half a pack. She simply read the brochure, practiced on her own, and partly achieved her goal. But…
On my subsequent visit, she confessed that she had gone back to full-scale smoking. It shows that some people can’t quit on their own but need a helping-hand.
2011
Reduced from 20 to 15 a day
Reduced from 20 to 15 a day
One person, about 50 years age, saw my handout related to ‘quitting smoking’ in my office and wished to attend my meditation classes. He attended 2 sessions and began practicing the meditation with high motivation for quitting smoking. Within 2 weeks, he reduced his smoking rate from 20 a day to 15 a day.
2010
20 cigarettes a day to 4
20 cigarettes a day to 4
A cashier in a UPS store used to smoke 20+ cigarettes a day for many years. Earlier, he tried hypnotherapy, but it did not help him. Following is his feedback -
”I was smoking a pack and a half a day. I had been looking for a way to quit that would not require more money and the same old results. I was introduced to the ‘counting breaths meditation’ methods. After just a week of practicing the meditation, once in the morning and right before bed, I was able to cut down smoking to around 15 cigarettes a day from the previous 20 a day, by doing nothing more than this meditation. I now practice this meditation throughout the day. I am down to about 4 cigarettes a day. My goal is to become smoke-free within the next month. This is all due to doing the counting breaths meditation. I am more relaxed. I don’t need to lash out at everybody when I feel edgy. The best part is, this meditation costs me nothing, except for my effort into it. I didn’t need any outside help, like gum or patches. I did it on my own, which is a great feeling. My wife has now started this meditation. We are slowly getting our children to also practice this meditation. I highly recommend this for anyone of any age.”
April 2009
“Easy does it” resolution to an insidious nicotine addiction
“Easy does it” resolution to an insidious nicotine addiction
A patient 50+, of my daughter, with a smoking history of 7 cigarettes a day for 20 years, saw the above feedback in the brochure on counting breaths meditation displayed in the waiting room in my daughter’s medical office. He said he would try this method immediately to stop smoking. When he visited after 5 weeks, he reported it worked. On my request, he sent this inspiring feedback.
” The Solution is Simplicity: Several days ago, while awaiting to meet with my physician, I read a handout about the benefits of counting breaths meditation. Out of curiosity, I tried several proposed methods, especially “Tip mode’. It seemed to relieve some tension, but I was fascinated to test the effectiveness of this technique for smoking cessation. I was, at best, skeptical. Counting breaths meditation is easy and affordable. It’s also a ‘holistic’ approach to addiction abatement.
My first craving for a cigarette began shortly after my appointment, and instead of reaching into my pocket for a smoke, I tried the tip mode of counting breaths meditation. At first, it was fast-paced, nervous, and a bit “hurried”. However, within a few minutes, not only did the craving stop, but I felt more energized. That was four days ago. I still have cravings, though less frequent, still conditioned to light up at certain times, but I count the breaths on my fingers. It is so simple that even someone like me, who has no patience and desires immediate satisfaction, has found counting breaths meditation, an “easy does it” resolution to an insidious condition, nicotine addiction. Try it just a couple of times, you will see, feel, and be inspired by the counting breaths meditation. Again, give yourself a chance and try out this meditation. You will not be disappointed.”
June 2009
‘Side effect’ is cutting down the smoking
‘Side effect’ is cutting down the smoking
A woman with diabetes (40years) attended my counting breaths meditation seminar at the Diabetes Fair, organized by Albany Medical College in May 2010. She registered for the ‘Follow Up’ classes and attended the first class in June 2010. When I called her after a week, she said she liked the practice. She added voluntarily that she was not smoking as many cigarettes as before. We did not even discuss smoking in the class!
May 2010
Six cigarettes a day to three
Six cigarettes a day to three
One person, about 50 years saw the meditation handout on ‘quitting smoking’ in my office and wished to do my classes. He tried all the popular quitting methods like nicotine patches, Chantix, etc., without success. He stopped taking Chantix because it made him feel hallucinated. He attended 2 sessions and began practicing the meditation with high motivation to quit smoking to save money, as he was unemployed. Within 2 weeks, he reduced his smoking rate from 6 a day to 5 a day. Within 3 months, his rate was down by 50% to 3 a day.
May 2010
0Twenty cigarettes a day to six
0Twenty cigarettes a day to six
One man, 30 years, who attended 5 of my meditation classes over 2 months, sent the following feedback
“I have been smoking for more than 15 years and almost 1 pack (20) a day for the last 5 years. I tried nicotine patches, but I was smoking even after using them. I tried Chantix, but it caused severe sleep disturbance, and I was forced to discontinue it. A few months ago, I again decided to quit smoking and have been trying to find ways to cut down the cigarettes. I met Suryanarayana Chennapragada and started learning and practicing the ‘meditation on breathing’ techniques. Since then, I have been practicing meditation on breathing techniques 3 to 4 days a week. With strong determination to quit smoking as my wife was soon to deliver a baby, and applying the meditation techniques, I was able to cut down the smoking rate to 4 – 6 cigarettes/day in about 6 weeks. After another 6 weeks, I was finally able to stop completely. For the last 4 days, I have been smoke-free.”
April 2010
From 30 a day to 3
From 30 a day to 3
One person aged around 50 years, was smoking 1 1/2 packs (30) a day from his high school age. He attended my meditation seminar and practiced the breathing meditation. He reported that his smoking rate had reduced gradually in about 2 years, to 2 to 3 a day. This shows that this meditation practice can help reduce smoking, even when the addiction persisted for decades.
2009
From 30 a day to 5
From 30 a day to 5
A man (42), had been smoking 30 cigarettes a day for more than 10 years. He was a marketing man working under stressful work conditions. He used to worry about his work problems even after reaching home. After he started practicing counting breaths meditation, using my handouts, his rate of smoking gradually reduced. Over 8 months, his smoking rate came down to 5 per day. He is hopeful of a smoke-free day.
2002 (India)
Relationship with wife improved
Relationship with wife improved
A man (45) used to smoke 10 cigarettes a day for the last 8 years. He used to have a tiff with his wife over smoking. After 3 months of practicing counting breaths meditation, he could stop smoking. His relationship with his wife improved dramatically, for which he was very happy. It also saved him precious money as he was a security guard with a low salary.
2002 (India)
Now smoking occasionally
Now smoking occasionally
A man (40) used to smoke 4 cigarettes a day for more than 15 years. After 4 months of practicing counting breaths meditation, he stopped regular smoking. He smoked occasionally during parties, in the company of friends.
2002 (India)
Not wasting money
Not wasting money
A man (48) with a low income used to smoke 10 cigarettes a day. After about 3 months of counting breaths meditation, his rate of smoking came down to 3 per day. He also stopped going round the town wasting money and time. He spent his spare time with his family.
2002 (India)
No more compulsion
No more compulsion
A man (42) used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day for more than 10 years. Over 9 months of practicing counting breaths meditation, his rate gradually reduced. He smoked sometimes, by choice, without feeling a compulsion.
2002 (India)
Developed an aversion!
Developed an aversion!
A man (30) used to smoke 10 cigarettes a day for more than 5 years. After 2 months of practicing counting breaths meditation, he did not feel like smoking. One day, when he tried to smoke, out of the old habit, he suddenly got irritation in his throat, felt an aversion to smoking, and threw the cigarette down. He stopped smoking for the last 3 months.
2002 (India)
TOBACCO CHEWING (India)
TOBACCO CHEWING (India)
Totally stopped chewing tobacco
Totally stopped chewing tobacco
A man (52) was in the habit of chewing 15 'Zarda Paans' a day ('Zarda paan' is a combination of green pungent leaves mixed with powder of tobacco and other spicy ingredients, popular all over India). Within 6 months of practicing counting breaths meditation, he stopped chewing tobacco. Even the number of times he chewed the green leaves without tobacco was reduced to once a day. He said he had no urge to chew tobacco now, as he was not feeling any tension or stress.
2002 (India)
Totally stopped
Totally stopped
A man (45) was in the habit of chewing tobacco along with green leaves 5 times a day. Within 5 months of practicing counting breaths meditation, he stopped chewing even the green leaves without tobacco.
2002 (India)
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