|China 2018 Retreat File: 20180528 Q&A 3 (43:30-45:28)
Yogi: I experience sleepiness and have neck pain and tightness in the head during meditation.
Sayadaw: Something is wrong during meditation. You concentrate too much during meditation; it causes tension in the head and neck.
Also, if you are tired, the mind is not happy, it becomes bored and sleepy.
The problem is using too much energy. Now you should learn how to relax and not force during the sit. When you use the breath as an object, you over-focus. Even if you are aware of the whole body, don’t focus too much.
Yogi: Is my bodily discomfort during sitting meditation due to past kamma?
Sayadaw: No, this happens due to present kamma because now you’re not practicing the right way.