I used to practice meditation but have largely replaced it with Iyengar Yoga. I generally felt very good immediately after a session and I think it helped me in my productivity as well. However, I'm not so sure it helped me when I had to deal with high stress situations. The big problem that I have is when something becomes greater than just a hobby. For instance, when I did yoga for purely health reasons, I felt happier and better. But, when I started doing it with the thought of becoming as good as BKS Iyengar, yoga itself contributed to the stress.
Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?
101–110 of 122 posts
Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?
#102I meditate on the Word (Jesus) of God day and night. I also read the Bible and pray. Just talk to him like any friend. I receive peace and incite about things happening in my life.
Ditto!
Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?
#103I can relate a little about my experiences doing zen-style meditation over the last few years. After long periods of meditation, like a weekend retreat or even a day of sitting, I tend to be very focused and relaxed. My normally chaotic emotions are subdued and I have a profound feeling of well-being and peace. This generally lasts for several days to several weeks depending on the lengths of sitting. Sitting daily s…
Regarding negative feelings after meditation, I am grateful that you mentioned it because I had these too and this is the first time I've heard from anyone with a similar experience. I took up regular meditation last Spring, sitting 30-40 minutes daily in my best approximation of zazen. I found the meditation quite relaxing and on some days I felt much better afterwards or had small insights about my life. Other days…
Preparing you for these (transient) negative feelings is a standard of Buddhist meditation teaching. At least it's in the foundational texts and it was mentioned in the few Buddhist groups I've attended. It would be unfortunate if modern meditation guides would leave that out.
Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?
#104I know I'll get some heat for this, but here it goes anyway. Disclaimer: I'm a Christian. Not of those that make the news or your typical "fundamentalist". I read and study the Bible and do my best to be a good person, understanding the world around me yet living as closely as possible from that which God has asked of me, through the Bible. And if you ask, I've been doing pretty good at it while remaining relevant in…
I agree with your take on meditation (theologically), but to play devil's advocate: I think the common idea of "emptying your mind" could actually be seen as focusing on something, even if that something is "nothing," or silence. I've found that one of the best things for "unplugging" is actually Instapaper and other readers. Instead of flitting from link to link and doing shallow reading on HN or Reddit, I tend to s…
Instapaper is fantastic, but focusing on an article has nothing to do with meditation. An article is someone else's thoughts. Meditation is stilling one's thoughts.
Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?
#105I love meditating! Been doing it since age of 6 (I was born in India & my Grandmother is an awesome teacher). Why? It's like bathing for mind & soul. I even started a blog about it: http://www.meditationrocks.us/blog You can find my experiences and learnings there. Summing-up: How to Meditate (Easiest Way): Sit in comfortable place. With back straight (or you will fall asleep). Close your eyes & focus on your breathi…
I am curious what I should do to meditate:
- should I try not to think about anything
- let my thoughts go free
- think about _nice_ things
- make some construction (like visualizing a tree, visualize all element of a clock, visualize a mathematic object)
Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?
#106I love meditating! Been doing it since age of 6 (I was born in India & my Grandmother is an awesome teacher). Why? It's like bathing for mind & soul. I even started a blog about it: http://www.meditationrocks.us/blog You can find my experiences and learnings there. Summing-up: How to Meditate (Easiest Way): Sit in comfortable place. With back straight (or you will fall asleep). Close your eyes & focus on your breathi…
I am curious what I should do to meditate: - should I try not to think about anything - let my thoughts go free - think about _nice_ things - make some construction (like visualizing a tree, visualize all element of a clock, visualize a mathematic object)
It's not possible to think nothing, so you think a thought that doesn't expand into something big.
Like focus on breathing... occupy ur mind with it.
Focus on birds chirping around.. Now your mind might wander off to ANGRY BIRDS but pull it back softly. And focus on just sound or sensation.
Idea is to not think about something that expands into an essay. Helpful?
Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?
#107I've been meditating daily in the Mindfulness (aka Insight) meditation style for about 6 years, and it's completely changed my life and my health.
I've written about this (with a focus on geeks like us) here:
http://hivelogic.com/articles/an-introduction-to-mindfulness... http://hivelogic.com/articles/how-to-start-a-meditation-prac... http://hivelogic.com/articles/meditation-gear
I hope this is useful to you.
Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?
#108I try to do http://www.natural-stress-relief.com/ meditation at least once a day. When I make the time, it hugely improves my focus, productivity, and general mood. Yes, that site is sketchy as anything. But the technique works.
The technique seems (from what little info they give) to be a simplified version of TM. A Harvard Cardiologist also created a simplified version of TM and you can probably get the book The Relaxation Response from a library.
Even better, here's an online step-by-step guide:
Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?
#109Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am curious what I should do to meditate: - should I try not to think about anything - let my thoughts go free - think about _nice_ things - make some construction (like visualizing a tree, visualize all element of a clock, visualize a mathematic object)
It's not possible to think nothing, so you think a thought that doesn't expand into something big. Like focus on breathing... occupy ur mind with it. Focus on birds chirping around.. Now your mind might wander off to ANGRY BIRDS but pull it back softly. And focus on just sound or sensation. Idea is to not think about something that expands into an essay. Helpful?
Is there a fundamental difference between this "relaxed" state and some form of exercise involving longer streaks of monotonous movement (say swimming) while focusing on the repetitive motions (and sensations) themselves?
Re: Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?
#110I know I'll get some heat for this, but here it goes anyway. Disclaimer: I'm a Christian. Not of those that make the news or your typical "fundamentalist". I read and study the Bible and do my best to be a good person, understanding the world around me yet living as closely as possible from that which God has asked of me, through the Bible. And if you ask, I've been doing pretty good at it while remaining relevant in…
"Meditation, unlike commonly thought of, is not about "emptying your mind" or "getting in tune with the Universe". Meditation is all about letting a thought, concept or idea completely soak your brain."
I'd need to see sources to back this up. It's completely the opposite of everything I've read about meditation. You're neither supposed to hold on or actively attempt to push out any given thought while meditating.
For me I found that meditation helps concentration, sleeping and helps me to not cling to the various negative things my brain throws at me on a daily basis.