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The new science of meditation

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Re: The new science of meditation

#21

Post by haswell »

borg16 wrote: post #14
mohave529 wrote: post #5

"Along a less-traveled route, meditation remains what it long was: a deeply transformative pursuit, a devoted metamorphosis of the mind toward increasingly enlightened states." This pretty much lines up with what meditation has done for me. However, the pursuit of "states" can be a trap in of itself. As my practice has gotten deeper, I've started to reframe meditation for myself as the process of unrelenting inquiry…

can you provide some resources to understand this "advanced" meditation? my attempts with calm/headspace etc always stop at the same theme of 'concentrate on breathing, distractions are fine'. I wanted to understand what is out there, especially outside of these apps and folks who pursue meditation seriously.

I’ve tried Calm and Headspace, and they never really worked for me.

The “Waking Up” app has been a complete game changer. The core introductory course helped me get it for the first time, and the library of content and meditation approaches from various teachers in the app gives you a rabbit hole to explore as deeply as you want.

It’s been truly transformative, starting with the gradual realization that my thoughts are not me. If they were, who is aware of them? This isn’t just an idea, it’s something that I began to feel/understand directly, which then led to a lot less entanglement and rumination. This was just the beginning.

I definitely credit the approach in this app with making this make sense. Not affiliated, just a happy user.

Re: The new science of meditation

#22

Post by beardedmoose »

freitzkriesler2 wrote: post #7
mohave529 wrote: post #5

"Along a less-traveled route, meditation remains what it long was: a deeply transformative pursuit, a devoted metamorphosis of the mind toward increasingly enlightened states." This pretty much lines up with what meditation has done for me. However, the pursuit of "states" can be a trap in of itself. As my practice has gotten deeper, I've started to reframe meditation for myself as the process of unrelenting inquiry…

> This pretty much lines up with what meditation has done for me. However, the pursuit of "states" can be a trap in of itself. Interesting, after a certain point you get diminishing returns and once you've eliminated or solved the things conflicting you, then staying in a meditative state becomes an illusory trap to avoid life and living. I knew a guy who did just that. Would spend hours meditating to the point where…

Interesting take. With this line of thinking would Buddhist monks just be practicing excessive escapism much like those who turn to drugs and alcohol?

Just some random thoughts but there seems to be a reoccurring theme in life in which too much of a good thing is indeed too much. Life is about balance, all that meditating and no action does what exactly? What good is all that enlightenment if you aren't experiencing life or helping others?

Re: The new science of meditation

#23

Post by jimmychoozyx »

triyambakam wrote: post #8

In Hinduism, meditation is not just a calming practice, but an actual movement toward God. And in the tradition I follow, it is also not for beginners. Basic discipline — the following of the Yamas (restraints of non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, etc.) — is recommended first.

I like to consider Meditation outside of any religion personally.

Meditation helps to calm the nervous system. Counting to 10 (1 count per inhale + exhale), or simply focusing on each inhale & exhale, or repeating a word or multi-word mantra, is what I do personally.

It's especially nice in a Sauna with some mystical atmospheric music (such as Anugama, one of my favorites for meditation).

I have found that it improves my ability to concentrate (especially useful when studying or working) and to calm myself in stressful situations.

Re: The new science of meditation

#25

Post by curo »

thenerdhead wrote: post #18

> “My hope is that ultimately, this work will contribute to bringing advanced meditation out of the monastery,” Sacchet said, describing its “incredible promise for moving beyond addressing mental health issues, toward helping people thrive.” What exactly is considered "advanced meditation"? I've been meditating for years, but don't do it for hours each day or go on extended silent retreats. I've read many practices…

It seems they're using the term to distinguish "meditation for emotional regulation" (v1 research) from "meditation for itself" (v2 research)

Re: The new science of meditation

#27

Post by crazygringo »

mohave529 wrote: post #5

"Along a less-traveled route, meditation remains what it long was: a deeply transformative pursuit, a devoted metamorphosis of the mind toward increasingly enlightened states." This pretty much lines up with what meditation has done for me. However, the pursuit of "states" can be a trap in of itself. As my practice has gotten deeper, I've started to reframe meditation for myself as the process of unrelenting inquiry…

Could you give an example of beliefs/ideas you've let go of, or discovered can't be known to be true?

I've been trying to understand the pros/cons of psychotherapy vs meditation, as both of them seem to involve letting go of false beliefs. But while there are a lot of examples of this in psychotherapy and the mechanisms are well-documented, it's hard to find first-person accounts regarding meditation that aren't just generalities. So I'd find it really valuable to hear some examples of anything concrete/practical -- of course if it's nothing too personal or private.

Re: The new science of meditation

#28

Post by nuclearnice1 »

triyambakam wrote: post #8

In Hinduism, meditation is not just a calming practice, but an actual movement toward God. And in the tradition I follow, it is also not for beginners. Basic discipline — the following of the Yamas (restraints of non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, etc.) — is recommended first.

Interesting point. There are obvious connections from the Yamas to the eight-fold path of Buddhism: Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

I’m not aware of an explicit ordering. But the other seven steps complement and deepen the meditation.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path

Re: The new science of meditation

#29

Post by aradox66 »

I was skeptical, but this article does a decent job reiterating the reasons that researching meditative altered states reproduces the same inappropriate KPIs as earlier generations of mindfulness research.

Nirodha samipatti may be a fancy attainment, but Im skeptical sticking electrodes on Daniel Ingram's head is going to advance the secular understanding of dharma wisdom.

Re: The new science of meditation

#30

Post by deepGem »

Think of cessation, also scripturally described as the “non-occurrence of consciousness,” like voluntarily inducing the effects of general anesthesia. Consciousness switches off without a trace, while the basic homeostatic operations of the body — temperature, heartbeat, breathing — remain online.

- Isn't this like the nirvana of nirvanas ? I had heard about some of the monks in the Himalayas able to attain these states but had brushed it off as utter nonsense.

Since now we know this is feasible, can we surmise that there is no need for an external chemical to shut off the mind or to even alter the mental state of a person ? Could you for instance get into an alcohol or a drug induced state without drinking or doing drugs - What a world would that be ..

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