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Meditate in front of your computer with Calm

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Re: Meditate in front of your computer with Calm

#91
post #81

This picture sums up my thoughts perfectly: http://anticache.img0.joyreactor.com/pics/post/comics-before... Anyone who has looked into causes of stress cannot avoid the fact that a lack of PHYSICAL activity, a lack of PHYSICAL presence, and a lack of PHYSICAL stimulation is a major, if not the major factor. Trying to get the average person today to meditate on a computer screen is like trying to get your average desk…

It saddens me such a cynical response made it to the top. I will use this app. Some days I walk to a local park to meditate. Some days I go to the meditation class we have at work. However, some days I plan to use this app, even if for just the 2 minute meditation. In my experience, in regards to stress prevention even 2 minutes of meditation is better than none.

How is this cynical?

It is rather cyinical to offer such a service.

Meditation like most things in life takes deliberate practise, effort and can be dull, hard and boring at times.

This is not meditation but distraction. If you want to medidate, first, don't do it alone. Do it with other people. Go to your next zen dojo, or Yoga school or whatever is available in your area. And then sit together with the people in the dojo.

Re: Meditate in front of your computer with Calm

#92
post #81

This picture sums up my thoughts perfectly: http://anticache.img0.joyreactor.com/pics/post/comics-before... Anyone who has looked into causes of stress cannot avoid the fact that a lack of PHYSICAL activity, a lack of PHYSICAL presence, and a lack of PHYSICAL stimulation is a major, if not the major factor. Trying to get the average person today to meditate on a computer screen is like trying to get your average desk…

It saddens me such a cynical response made it to the top. I will use this app. Some days I walk to a local park to meditate. Some days I go to the meditation class we have at work. However, some days I plan to use this app, even if for just the 2 minute meditation. In my experience, in regards to stress prevention even 2 minutes of meditation is better than none.

I think it's good to have a range of comments, cynical and positive. This one raised good points and is articulated well. Personally I think the app is great, but I agree on a lot of what the OP said.

Re: Meditate in front of your computer with Calm

#94
post #91
post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It saddens me such a cynical response made it to the top. I will use this app. Some days I walk to a local park to meditate. Some days I go to the meditation class we have at work. However, some days I plan to use this app, even if for just the 2 minute meditation. In my experience, in regards to stress prevention even 2 minutes of meditation is better than none.

How is this cynical? It is rather cyinical to offer such a service. Meditation like most things in life takes deliberate practise, effort and can be dull, hard and boring at times. This is not meditation but distraction. If you want to medidate, first, don't do it alone. Do it with other people. Go to your next zen dojo, or Yoga school or whatever is available in your area. And then sit together with the people in th…

Who are you to dictate to others what is or is not meditation? Who are you to dictate anything, to anyone?

Re: Meditate in front of your computer with Calm

#95
post #91
post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It saddens me such a cynical response made it to the top. I will use this app. Some days I walk to a local park to meditate. Some days I go to the meditation class we have at work. However, some days I plan to use this app, even if for just the 2 minute meditation. In my experience, in regards to stress prevention even 2 minutes of meditation is better than none.

How is this cynical? It is rather cyinical to offer such a service. Meditation like most things in life takes deliberate practise, effort and can be dull, hard and boring at times. This is not meditation but distraction. If you want to medidate, first, don't do it alone. Do it with other people. Go to your next zen dojo, or Yoga school or whatever is available in your area. And then sit together with the people in th…

> This is not meditation but distraction. If you want to medidate, first, don't do it alone.`

To me this is a practical oxymoron. At least when I was first learning to meditate, I had to be completely alone in a quiet place. Being surrounded by others sounds really unnecessary and distracting.

Re: Meditate in front of your computer with Calm

#97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you have against Serenity-as-a-Service?

For me, it'd be like "virtual-parent.com! No need to be a parent to your kids, just point them at this website and we'll be their parent for you". If you want less stress, or to calm down, the last thing you should be doing is staring at a computer screen. Go outdoors. Exercise. Meet real people.

I agree that "real" experiences are awesome and sometimes people spend a bit too much time in front of their computer or staring at their phone....

But the vitriol of the grandparent-comment seems uncalled for. Computers/phones/etc are not some sort of evil presence that infect everything they touch, and apps like this can have their place too. In the right context, they might do a lot of good.

[E.g. I love various simple "sounds of rain" apps on my phone -- they can reallllly help me concentrate when I'm trying to study in a cafe and the background noise is somehow putting me off. It's like a blanket of calm...]

Re: Meditate in front of your computer with Calm

#98

Actually, integrate this with some kind of consumer-grade portable EEG to monitor progress and I'll be the first person to give you my money.

This is already available. http://www.heartmathstore.com/category/emwave-desktop/emwave...

this uses heart rate, not brain activity

Re: Meditate in front of your computer with Calm

#99
post #81

This picture sums up my thoughts perfectly: http://anticache.img0.joyreactor.com/pics/post/comics-before... Anyone who has looked into causes of stress cannot avoid the fact that a lack of PHYSICAL activity, a lack of PHYSICAL presence, and a lack of PHYSICAL stimulation is a major, if not the major factor. Trying to get the average person today to meditate on a computer screen is like trying to get your average desk…

It saddens me such a cynical response made it to the top. I will use this app. Some days I walk to a local park to meditate. Some days I go to the meditation class we have at work. However, some days I plan to use this app, even if for just the 2 minute meditation. In my experience, in regards to stress prevention even 2 minutes of meditation is better than none.

I see that comment as a voicing of my anger at seeing the direction in which we are heading. I'm not cynical about technology, I'm upset about our becoming slaves to it and losing our humanity to it instead of using it for connection and rediscovering and enhancing ourselves.

BTW I feel very similarly about many other meditation services offered, even in the outside (non-tech) world. Far too many gurus who purport to serve up enlightenment on a plate for a few bucks. True teachers are few and far between.

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