Meditation in the Time of Disruption • Hacker News Board

Re: Meditation in the Time of Disruption

#11

Post by ma2rten » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 4:06 PM UTC

kranner wrote: post #7

I don't know how adequate the 10-minute sessions promised by apps like Headspace are in the long run. In my experience, a 20-minute session feels a lot more effective than 2 10-minute sessions, and so on for 40 minutes over 20 minutes, and so on. I found Headspace and similar apps to be a good introduction to meditation for the first week or two, but they really are 'meditation lite' compared to reading some of the c…

Headspace has the option for longer sessions.

I think it depends on your individual needs if two 10 minute sessions or one 20 minute session is better. Some people gain concentration after 10 minutes, some people get impatient. Longer sessions might give you more concentration, but more frequent meditation might give you more mindfulness in your daily life.

In my mind the biggest disadvantage of headspace is that there is no community around it. It helps a lot to meet in person and practice together.

Re: Meditation in the Time of Disruption

#12

Post by bootsz » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 4:19 PM UTC

ma2rten wrote: post #10

bootsz wrote: post #4

A man travels to live at a Buddhist monastery with the hopes of learning to become enlightened. Upon arrival he meets the head monk and asks “How long will it take me to reach enlightenment?” “Hmm...”, says the monk, “...perhaps 10 years.” Feeling this was far too long to wait, the man replies: “But, what if I work twice as hard? Devote myself twice as much to the practice? How long then?” “20 years,” replies the mon…

I heard a similar quote recently, I don't know the source: "I meditate one hour every day, except when I'm busy; then I meditate two hours."

Love it

Re: Meditation in the Time of Disruption

#13

Post by Scarbutt » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 4:21 PM UTC

ma2rten wrote: post #10

bootsz wrote: post #4

A man travels to live at a Buddhist monastery with the hopes of learning to become enlightened. Upon arrival he meets the head monk and asks “How long will it take me to reach enlightenment?” “Hmm...”, says the monk, “...perhaps 10 years.” Feeling this was far too long to wait, the man replies: “But, what if I work twice as hard? Devote myself twice as much to the practice? How long then?” “20 years,” replies the mon…

I heard a similar quote recently, I don't know the source: "I meditate one hour every day, except when I'm busy; then I meditate two hours."

Ghandi

Re: Meditation in the Time of Disruption

#14

Post by scns » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 4:29 PM UTC

kranner wrote: post #7

I don't know how adequate the 10-minute sessions promised by apps like Headspace are in the long run. In my experience, a 20-minute session feels a lot more effective than 2 10-minute sessions, and so on for 40 minutes over 20 minutes, and so on. I found Headspace and similar apps to be a good introduction to meditation for the first week or two, but they really are 'meditation lite' compared to reading some of the c…

In Mind Illuminated, John Yates recommends starting out with 15 minutes and to add 5 after one week.

Re: Meditation in the Time of Disruption

#15

Post by kristiandupont » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 4:31 PM UTC

ma2rten wrote: post #10

bootsz wrote: post #4

A man travels to live at a Buddhist monastery with the hopes of learning to become enlightened. Upon arrival he meets the head monk and asks “How long will it take me to reach enlightenment?” “Hmm...”, says the monk, “...perhaps 10 years.” Feeling this was far too long to wait, the man replies: “But, what if I work twice as hard? Devote myself twice as much to the practice? How long then?” “20 years,” replies the mon…

I heard a similar quote recently, I don't know the source: "I meditate one hour every day, except when I'm busy; then I meditate two hours."

This is the variation that I have heard and enjoy: you should always meditate 20 minute per day. Unless you don't have the time, in which case you should meditate for an hour.

Re: Meditation in the Time of Disruption

#16

Post by X6S1x6Okd1st » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 4:56 PM UTC

I'm not sure what the take away was, but I really enjoyed the article. That seems appropriate.

I've been doing unguided mediation by myself for short periods (sub 30m) for years. Never really took much instruction in terms of what type of mediation i should do.

I think this article is the first thing that really made want to seek out instruction.

Any personal recommendations for books/other material for someone that's familiar with the concept of sitting meditation and can get into daily habit of 10m sessions without a huge amount of trouble?

Re: Meditation in the Time of Disruption

#17

Post by yawgmoth » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 5:36 PM UTC

X6S1x6Okd1st wrote: post #16

I'm not sure what the take away was, but I really enjoyed the article. That seems appropriate. I've been doing unguided mediation by myself for short periods (sub 30m) for years. Never really took much instruction in terms of what type of mediation i should do. I think this article is the first thing that really made want to seek out instruction. Any personal recommendations for books/other material for someone that'…

I think Headspace is quite a good fit for someone looking for 10 minute (or shorter or longer) sessions. Since you have meditated before, I would skip the "Basic" sessions.

The "Pain Management" facet of Headspace has been the most rewarding and I think its focus on breath movement through the body (even if you don't have pain or discomfort) is brilliant.

As far as reading goes - I've recommended Jon Kabat-Zinn's Full Catastrophe Living before and still do. I read it before starting a guided meditation program (I didn't buy his CDs) and eventually added Headspace.

Re: Meditation in the Time of Disruption

#18

Post by ex3xu » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 5:42 PM UTC

X6S1x6Okd1st wrote: post #16

I'm not sure what the take away was, but I really enjoyed the article. That seems appropriate. I've been doing unguided mediation by myself for short periods (sub 30m) for years. Never really took much instruction in terms of what type of mediation i should do. I think this article is the first thing that really made want to seek out instruction. Any personal recommendations for books/other material for someone that'…

I've heard good things about the dhamma.org 10-day Vipassana retreats. The sessions seem to require registering months in advance for new students, though.

Re: Meditation in the Time of Disruption

#19

Post by X6S1x6Okd1st » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 7:04 PM UTC

ex3xu wrote: post #18

X6S1x6Okd1st wrote: post #16

I'm not sure what the take away was, but I really enjoyed the article. That seems appropriate. I've been doing unguided mediation by myself for short periods (sub 30m) for years. Never really took much instruction in terms of what type of mediation i should do. I think this article is the first thing that really made want to seek out instruction. Any personal recommendations for books/other material for someone that'…

I've heard good things about the dhamma.org 10-day Vipassana retreats. The sessions seem to require registering months in advance for new students, though.

10 days is a bigger commitment than I feel comfortable making at the moment.

Re: Meditation in the Time of Disruption

#20

Post by lihaciudaniel » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 7:27 PM UTC

kristiandupont wrote: post #15

ma2rten wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I heard a similar quote recently, I don't know the source: "I meditate one hour every day, except when I'm busy; then I meditate two hours."

This is the variation that I have heard and enjoy: you should always meditate 20 minute per day. Unless you don't have the time, in which case you should meditate for an hour.

I think the universal time to anything is about 25-20 for amateur levels. You never know when you will go full dedicated to something so at least don't lose amateur skills.