Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why?

#1

Post by fredoliveira » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 8:21 PM UTC

I've been doing a little bit of meditation lately and it helped me take time off to put things in perspective and generally feel a little less stressed out about life and work. However, I sometimes find myself thinking that maybe I should spend that time doing something useful (even if I know meditation is good for me).

What's your take? Do you do it? How and why do you do it? Care to share your experience? I guess what I'm looking for is a bit of peer validation for either side of the coin, and your thoughts. Thanks everyone.

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

#2

Post by fredoliveira » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 8:25 PM UTC

To those curious - like I once was - about how you actually get started with meditation, I've used the introduction to mindfulness series over at audiodharma [1]. It's often hard to find resources that manage to actually separate meditation from zen/buddhist practices, and they do it quite well. The lectures are from Gil Fronsdal who's a Ph.D. from Stanford.

[1] http://www.audiodharma.org/series/1/talk/1762/

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

#3

Post by jschuur » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 8:55 PM UTC

That's kind of a personal question.

Oh wait, MEDITATE? No, not that one. Takes too long.

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

#4

Post by metageek » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 9:06 PM UTC

I don't have much patience for the claims that not thinking can yield profound insights; but I have found mediation techniques useful for simple relaxation.

I got the techniques from an ebook called "Mindfulness In Plain English":

http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html

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

#5

Post by fredoliveira » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 9:06 PM UTC

jschuur wrote: post #3

That's kind of a personal question. Oh wait, MEDITATE? No, not that one. Takes too long.

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.

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

#6

Post by Joakal » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 9:07 PM UTC

Generally sleep and relaxing with friends is the best meditation for me.

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

#7

Post by klondikered » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 9:09 PM UTC

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 quietly, being aware of your breathing, and watching thoughts and emotions flowing into and right back out of your mind's I.

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

#8

Post by mdwrigh2 » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 9:10 PM UTC

fredoliveira wrote: post #5

jschuur wrote: post #3

That's kind of a personal question. Oh wait, MEDITATE? No, not that one. Takes too long.

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.

He was joking that he read another, more personal activity that begins with m, rather than what you actually wrote - meditate.

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

#9

Post by jschuur » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 9:11 PM UTC

fredoliveira wrote: post #5

jschuur wrote: post #3

That's kind of a personal question. Oh wait, MEDITATE? No, not that one. Takes too long.

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 of people (even me), but somehow there's a motivational hump I haven't gotten over yet and there always seems like there's something else to do.

...which basically means I'm the perfect candidate for someone who ought to do it.

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

#10

Post by vidar » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 9:13 PM UTC

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?