11–20 of 52 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is how pseudoscience takes root. You are the easiest person for you to fool.
Its also how science fails to take root: by discouraging people from trying things, just because it hasn't been rubber-stamped by the authorities yet ..
I'm curious if these scientists try to make the connection between the flow and the focused attention meditation. It seems to me that by trying to meditate, you are actually trying to get to the state of flow.
I don't think so. Flow makes you blind to everything that is arround you. It's pretty much hyper-focused tunnel vision. "Mindfulness" meditation, on the other hand, gives you a very wide awareness. Of yourself and of your environment. Not just on the task at hand. At least that's how I see it.
I don't think the quiet mind phase is flow however. It is just that time disappears.
Meditation makes me peaceful and can provide me with more energy reserves for the rest of the day. Flow makes me satisfied but usually tired and at the same time wanting more flow.
So how do you HN participants see these different states?
Have these studies been reproduced elsewhere, or is it a singular group of researchers extolling the virtues of meditation?
as a 10+ yr practitioner, studies are useless. practice it and test it by yourself, no harm done and a lot to gain ;)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
as a 10+ yr practitioner, studies are useless. practice it and test it by yourself, no harm done and a lot to gain ;)
It's not really "no harm done" - the opportunity cost of wasting time that could be spent on other activities is a deterrent, for me at least.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's not really "no harm done" - the opportunity cost of wasting time that could be spent on other activities is a deterrent, for me at least.
Worst case scenario: you spend half an hour day relaxing. Doesn't seem like a terrible waste of time.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Its also how science fails to take root: by discouraging people from trying things, just because it hasn't been rubber-stamped by the authorities yet ..
exactly. science is sad sometimes, just like any other religion, it creates walls that some people get stuck inside of... waiting for some kind of "approval" by its priests
I'm curious if these scientists try to make the connection between the flow and the focused attention meditation. It seems to me that by trying to meditate, you are actually trying to get to the state of flow.
1. Samadhi/samatha or single pointed focus that calms or concentrates the mind.
2. vipashana/mindfullness/awareness that is looking inside the functioning mind and gains insight.
These two are not completely orthogonal. Even those who do pure awareness meditation develop the ability to keep their mind focused in this moment. In many traditions practitioners start with concentrative practice until they gain the so called 'access concentration' where they have the ability to stay in present moment without mind wandering too much. This access concentration is what I would call 'the flow'. You can go much deeper in concentration or use the flow to look into your mind. The flow itself is not the task. It's the first step.
In many/most Buddhist meditation traditions dedicated concentration practices are seen as tools and insight meditation seen as being more directly towards the goal of Buddhist meditation.
In Mahayana tradition developing deep concentration states is called Sharpening Manjusri’s sword. Using the sword is different than sharpening it.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
as a 10+ yr practitioner, studies are useless. practice it and test it by yourself, no harm done and a lot to gain ;)
It's not really "no harm done" - the opportunity cost of wasting time that could be spent on other activities is a deterrent, for me at least.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is how pseudoscience takes root. You are the easiest person for you to fool.
Its also how science fails to take root: by discouraging people from trying things, just because it hasn't been rubber-stamped by the authorities yet ..
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Worst case scenario: you spend half an hour day relaxing. Doesn't seem like a terrible waste of time.
Worst case scenario: you persist in a course of treatment that has no evidence of efficacy rather than get treatment with some evidence of efficacy.