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Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?

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Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?

#11

Post by fjabre »

I recently started meditating about 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening. I've been sleeping much better and I can remember my dreams more easily. I also notice that I generally feel much more relaxed. It's not a cure all but it really does help.

I do not prescribe to any of the spiritual/pseudo-religion around it though. In fact, if it weren't for the noticeable benefits the 'religion' would have scared me off. There are different types but I'm more into the vedic/mantra and breathing exercises.

Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?

#12

Post by checoivan »

Guided meditation. A work-mate started a group, so we meet over in a room at lunch. He brings speakers and plays the recording from his ipod, so we meditate listening to the mix for about half an hour with our eyes closed. It's very relaxing and afterwards I find it easier to focus and code.

Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?

#13

Post by ahoyhere »

There's lots and lots of research out there that meditation increases insight, memory, improves sleep, reduces stress, reduces the physical perception of pain, improves, well, just about everything.

Useful refs:

http://www.amazon.com/Destructive-Emotions-Scientific-Dialog... (the Audio CD set is even better, imo, with actual dialog)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_on_meditation

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43006-2005Jan...

My favorite intros to secular meditation (that is, non-religious Buddhism):

http://www.amazon.com/Wherever-You-There-Are-ROUGH/dp/140130...

http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Difficult/dp/B0...

http://www.amazon.com/Being-Nobody-Going-Nowhere-Meditations...

Doing what I learned in from three, plus the Destructive Emotions audio book, absolutely transformed my life. Like night and day. Now I'm one of the best-adjusted people I know, despite having gone through (and, in a few cases, done) some horrendous things.

What mindfulness meditation teaches you, above all physical side effects, is to accept things as they are. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try to change them, if they're truly bad, but most people deny what is reality. As if that helps. (I sure did.) But denying just hurts more, doesn't make it untrue, of course, and denial makes it impossible for you to improve things.

I think most of the troubles in life are caused by denial.

And, bonus, the level of mindfulness makes it easy for me to spot user interface/process (and therefor product) opportunities because I almost never just "tune out" and work on autopilot.

Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?

#14

Post by jasonshen »

As a gymnast, I found meditation to be be a powerful way to train my mind to focus. This was particularly important for the pommel horse, which is a super nuanced event that you can can't "muscle" your way to success. I do believe I noticed a difference in my performance as time went on.

Now I try to meditate simply as a way of introducing calm into a life that is jam packed with work, socializing and outside projects. One of my goals for 2011 is to spend at least 2,000 minutes in meditation.

Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?

#17

Post by lethargus »

Here are some books and audio that have been insightful and enjoyable to read about mindfulness and related topics.

Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life - Thich Nhat Hanh

Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness - Jon Kabat-Zinn

Still the Mind: An Introduction to Meditation - Alan Watts

Also, these two audio CD collections are helpful:

Out Of Your Mind: The Nature of Consciousness - Alan Watts

Guided Mindfulness Meditation - Jon Kabat-Zinn

Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?

#18

Post by phrotoma »

lethargus wrote: post #17

Here are some books and audio that have been insightful and enjoyable to read about mindfulness and related topics. Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life - Thich Nhat Hanh Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness - Jon Kabat-Zinn Still the Mind: An Introduction to Meditation - Alan Watts Also, these two audio CD collections are helpful:…

Really enjoy Jon Jabat-Zinn's material. He's got a couple videos on google tech talks and his guided CD's are very good. I came to meditation knowing nothing at all and his clear and simple explanations helped immensely.

Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?

#19

Post by fredoliveira »

vidar wrote: post #10
klondikered wrote: post #7

I meditate to awaken (in the deeper sense), to bring calm to a wild mind (as I think Robert Pirsig said, peace of mind is not the most important thing, it's the only thing), and to try to become a better, more compassionate person. You don't have to meditate in a convoluted sitting position if you choose not to (although there are good reasons for sitting in lotus). I would start by just regularly sitting or walking…

I have been meditating for a while, always sitting in a chair. What are the advantages of the Lotus?

I apologize for simply lifting this off Wikipedia, but I too had that question before, and this paragraph was helpful:

The Lotus position is adopted to allow the body to be held completely steady for long periods of time. As the body is steadied the mind becomes calm, the first step towards meditation. The posture applies pressure to the lower spine which may facilitate relaxation. The breath can slow down, muscular tension decrease and blood pressure subside. The coccygeal and sacral nerves are toned as the normally large blood flow to the legs is redirected to the abdominal region. Digestion may also be improved.

Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?

#20

Post by cgs1019 »

jschuur wrote: post #9
fredoliveira wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't mean for this to be a personal question - I don't think it is. To me, meditation is scientific (although to some, and in some religions, it is a spiritual thing). I could just as well have asked about whether you sleep or do sports, or code using vim vs textmate. It's as personal as you want it to be - but I respect your opinion, and your reluctance to reply.

I was making a joke because at first I misread the word 'meditate' as something else. I'm beginning to realize that there's a humor tax on your karma if you're prone to make sarcastic jokes in well meant questions. Seems only fair. But to answer your question in ernest, I've been thinking about it after hearing folks like Dan Benjamin and Leo Babauta talk about it, but currently don't. I'm sure it can benefit a lot o…

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