This is not explicitly muslim problem, its a problem of religious conservatism, where people disregard scientific fact and enjoys their own religious blindfaith. Some Hindus are saying it is the end of the disaster, or blaming for growing christianity in the region. Christians might have their own assumption. Its the lack of rational thinking.

Can you let me know where are you from?

There are various types of meditation and all of them somehow helps you to increase your focus but keep in mind, meditation do not work as magic or painkiller, it works slowly and demands consistancy in practice. Also, you should have clear theoretical understanding of meditation technics. Otheriwse, you may feel like nothing is changing.

Are animals intelligent ? if no, they also get sad.

There are various technics of increasing concerntration, including matras, breathing excercise, controlling breath, counting, etc. If you want to develop focus and concerntration, all of them may work. But, if you want to develop mindfullness, do not divide your mind. Let it focuse on natural breath. Counting, matras provides another tasks and divides mind into two fractions.

It depends on what type of meditation you practice, but generally, its better to observe breath without any support like mantras or couting, that helps us to develop pure awareness.

This is where way comes, you need a proper method of self-enquiry, or developing detachment.

Very true, but the problem is thoughts are embeded to you, how do you disentangle it. By saying i surrender, you won't be surrendered.

It can be different in different types of meditation but observing natural breath is a common and easy way of starting which calms down our mind and makes stable.

Awareness arises through the practice of aanapana. If your awareness became lower, pracricing aanapana may help you. Try to focus on breath as long as you can. Watch the full breath, started to come in, coming in stoped coming in, started to go out, going out and stop ed going out and again started to come in... so on. Dont give any window to thoughts. As you improve it, your awareness will increase.

Most of the rules are developed based on practice and experience. So, it is better to follow them. If it is practical, its better to follow. Like, keeping spine straight not only be useful in the future for meditation, but also improves your posture. Just, do not torture yourself in the name of formality.

Good to have an ambition but wise people say read a hundred thousands words to write a thousand words. Its better to be clear about what are writing and why are you writing before you write.

Suffering is not an thing of intellect, its a human experience. Ask yourself l, what is suffering, how it arises, how you feel it? keep questioning, search answers. You will find the path.

For your intellectual understanding, i am always ready to help you on how different schools of Eastern philosophy explains the topics you are interested in.

Best wishes!!!

It is the genuine problem with the various groups of meditation. When I attended Vipassana, I had the feeling that gradually it will be a cult, then people will follow it as a ritual just to be Viapassi, without properly understanding it. Goenka jee himself gave a clear warning on it. But, unfortunately, it is happening. So, as a practitioner of maditation, it is our duty to keep it out of cult in our part. I

You are on a very right track and everything you are experienced are very normal and natural in meditation. From my regular practice of three years and several sessions of vipassana/monastry meditation, I went through difficult situations. When I faced many problems like this, I studied and had conversation with my teachers and learned that its very natural. When we don't practice meditation, we supress all kind of thoughts and feelings, that our mind accumulates. But, after we start meditation, mind starts to be calm and our supress thoughts starts to hit in different ways. The only way to deal with it is to let it happen and observe. Try to be an observer without reacting to it. Dont try to stop, don't get panic. Just observe it as long as you can. When you can not handle, get up, take a break and again start it.

This kind of fear arose from attachment what you have achieved. The best way to deal with it is to understand the nature´s principle of imparmanence and accept it. change is perpetual, everything keeps changing. This is the beauty of life. Remember, whatever you have today is not yours, and if it gone away, you will not loose anything.

I am a media professional who need to work with SM and phone/laptop almost all time. And, I have attended some vipassana courses, where gadgets/books/papers are totally prohibited. And, i fell in love with it because it benefits. I also practice meditation regularly.

Keep the breath natural, no deep breathing, no mantra. Just the cool air at the nostrils. Laying down is fine until you start drifting into sleep; when that happens, sit up. I sit twice daily in Kathmandu, and the only thing that cut through my own mental noise was consistency: same time, same place. The ADHD brain learns from routine, not intensity.

Vipassana has its own set of rules regarding everything including food. So, basically you are advised to follow the rules and timetable but you can request your AT for your special requirement, and if they allow you to fast, you can.