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Meditation study shows changes associated with awareness, stress (2011)

news.harvard.edu

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Re: Meditation study shows changes associated with awareness, stress (2011)

#81

Post by justsee »

lostcolony wrote: post #72
timeofgifts wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I went to one of these and got freaked out That's the problem, you freaked out and left, even though they ask everyone multiple times at the beginning whether you are ready to stay for the full 10 days. As someone who took more than one of these courses I can say that the single most important thing you should do during your first course is not quit. Strange things start happening to people when they are put into a…

You have two comments on HN, one linking to one of these ten day courses, and now this one defending it, nothing else. You may want to be a bit more active, and on other topics, if you want to be seen as credible.

Here is a write-up of my experience doing that particular 10 day meditation course, which I'm surprised to discover wrapped up almost 10 years to the day: http://weblog.squareapple.net/archives/2004/11/26/art_of_liv...

Re: Meditation study shows changes associated with awareness, stress (2011)

#82

Post by estefan »

pgrote wrote: post #3

What is the best way to learn how to meditate? Any good resources?

While it's not meditation, one of the best things I've discovered recently for relaxing with minimal effort are binaural beats (also branded commercially as "HemiSync"). Put those on for half an hour before going to sleep and it's like nothing else.

There are free apps for android (and probably ios as well) you can use. You just need earphones.

Re: Meditation study shows changes associated with awareness, stress (2011)

#84

Post by revscat »

ozborn wrote: post #4

I think if you are looking for mental self improvement this Havard article may be more appropriate ( http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-... ). The short summary is exercise . Not only do you get your "better brain", but the rest of your body benefits as well.

I went to a Zen Buddhist temple for a week-long retreat a couple of years ago. Their schedule [1] was basically this:

1) 3:25a: 108 deep bows. Basically, this is going from a standing position to fully prostrate, 108 times. This is quite a workout. This awakens the body. 2) 4:00a: chanting. This is done in ancient Chinese, and you honestly have no idea what you are saying. It's not important, though. This awakens the mind. 3) 5:00a: Sitting meditation. This brings the other two together. This awakens the self.

What I took away from this experience was that the benefits of exercise when combined with meditation are quite powerful.

[1] http://www.musangsa.org/english/sub04/sub04_4.php

Re: Meditation study shows changes associated with awareness, stress (2011)

#87

Post by delluminatus »

bobsgame wrote: post #59
redmaverick wrote: post #23

There are different types of meditation styles. I had experience with a type of meditation mentioned in the article. It is known as mindfulness meditation. Even in mindfulness meditation there are different approaches. Mine is mindfulness through the awareness of bodily sensations. http://www.dhamma.org/ This is the 10 day course I underwent. It is pretty brutal and intense. You meditate for 8 hrs a day in total sile…

I went to one of these and got freaked out because it's an unmistakable cult. The teachers on the podiums up at the front is a creepy psychological hack, the recorded chanting they play while you meditate is hypnotic programming, the 2 hour video lectures of the great leader convincing you of his religion being your only stimulation, the bowing and mindless chanting from the regulars being passed off as "optional for…

Video lectures during the meditation? That sounds bad... the only things that I think would be acceptable are guided meditations, where you focus on different parts of your body, or moving your energy or whatever. If they legitimately had video lectures unrelated to instruction or chanting that seemed to have an agenda, I would also have left.

Personally, I think the only thing you should hear during meditation is nothing. A guided relaxation process is fine for a half hour but after that you need to leave people to their thoughts (or lack thereof :). I wonder if you would have felt better at a more Zen-style meditation where anyone talking gets hit with a stick? That's the kind of place I would want to go.

Re: Meditation study shows changes associated with awareness, stress (2011)

#88

Post by ak39 »

vidarh wrote: post #66
chriswarbo wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If they are invented by your brain, that makes them no less valid to observe. Yet if they are invented by your brain, then observing the qualities of those sensations is still fascinating and just as valid. I agree, but that completely undermines your argument for dismissing thoughts about the past or future, ie. that they're "just mental constructs".

You miss the point. Thoughts, whether about the past or future, or anything else, are perfectly valid objects of meditation, as long as you observe them rather than getting caught up in them . The thoughts after all, occur here and now. Consider the difference as one of engaging in an argument vs. watching someone else engage in an argument. When you are caught up in an argument, you attach emotions to it in a whole…

Thank you very much for such a clear explanation! The example about engaging in vs observing an argument works great.

I've had very little success keeping up with a meditation schedule and have "seen" some positive result in my anxiety levels when I restart after a broken chain of sessions.

It would seem, much like diet and exercise, you have to force yourself for the initial habit-forming phase for meditation to benefit you. All boils down to will power (to keep to the schedules).

Re: Meditation study shows changes associated with awareness, stress (2011)

#89

Post by thenomad »

CWIZO wrote: post #53

Does anyone have any experience with meditation and RSI? I've been having RSI(like) problems for almost 3 years now. Recently I've read the Mindbody Prescription book[0] after finding this HN thread[1]. I must say it did help somewhat but I think I'm still in the process of healing myself. The bit I'm struggling is uncovering suppressed feelings and emotions. So I'm wondering wether meditation would help here. Any th…

Yes, I do.

I've not found meditation to be an absolute silver bullet for RSI in the same way that I found appropriate stretches, trigger point therapy, and Pilates to be.

However, it's definitely extremely useful, and if your RSI stems from anxiety or similar issues, it's very good for treating the underlying causes.

For uncovering suppressed feelings and thoughts, my personal recommendation would be to go for a good - note GOOD - talk therapist and see if that works for you. I've found that more effective for understanding myself than meditation. But I'd certainly encourage you to give meditation a go too - a lot of people including me find it very useful.

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