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The Impact of Meditating Every Day

pascalprecht.github.io

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Re: The Impact of Meditating Every Day

#141

Post by mikestew »

vcoelho wrote: post #48
nabla9 wrote: post #18

I have been meditating 20 years now (zazen). I do 2-4 hours a day. Several 7 day retreats per year. My starting motivation was philosophical and academic interest. I was curious how it affects the mind. Then I did it because it seemed so hard to do, mind seemed like a buggy device I had no control over. I also had self improvement goals at some point. And feeling balanced is a good feeling. But there is no way I can…

> I do 2-4 hours a day. Just reading this gave me anxiety.

I knock out 30 minute sittings daily. I wish I a) had that kind of time to devote and b) had the wherewithal to regularly sit that much. All-day sesshin is a killer for me after about two sittings.

Re: The Impact of Meditating Every Day

#142

Post by tim333 »

vcoelho wrote: post #48
nabla9 wrote: post #18

I have been meditating 20 years now (zazen). I do 2-4 hours a day. Several 7 day retreats per year. My starting motivation was philosophical and academic interest. I was curious how it affects the mind. Then I did it because it seemed so hard to do, mind seemed like a buggy device I had no control over. I also had self improvement goals at some point. And feeling balanced is a good feeling. But there is no way I can…

> I do 2-4 hours a day. Just reading this gave me anxiety.

I do 4 minutes a day and find it good. 2 minutes just trying to blank my mind and 2 visualising nice stuff.

Re: The Impact of Meditating Every Day

#143

Post by RugnirViking »

cryptozeus wrote: post #108
whiddershins wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I might argue that it is precisely a route to figuring out why we need to do this to begin with. This notion that somehow all this suffering and stress is generated by external factors is a trap, in my experience.

I didn’t mean that all our troubles are based on external factors but it does impact our day to day.

I think the thing is that in our past lives we had a lot more time to do nothing. Have you ever sat and stared into a fire for an extended period of time? These kinds of calm moments of reflection happened far more often in times gone past, especially for tens of thousands of years before significant we developed civilisation.

Presumably because this time was abuntantly available, evolution found ways to do some kind of bookkeeping that is very important for our survival, in a similar manner to why sleep is important.

This is of course speculation, but in the absence of definative research about the human brain, which is a ways off just yet, this is almost the best we have.

Re: The Impact of Meditating Every Day

#144

Post by Obi_Juan_Kenobi »

slothtrop wrote: post #71

This reminds me of an article shared here on the value of doing nothing. How does walking around with a clear head compared to meditation practically speaking?

I'd liken it to the difference between exercise and training. Exercise is certainly good for you, but if you want to achieve high performance, you need structure and discipline.

Meditation isn't clearing your head, it's changing it. It's developing the faculties of attention and awareness in a deliberate way. Ultimately, these are the tools you use to develop insight.

Re: The Impact of Meditating Every Day

#145

Post by heurist »

thomk wrote: post #76
cols wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mentioned quitting cannabis. If you don't mind elaborating, I'm curious what benefits you have experienced and why you ended up quitting. Thanks!

Ex cannabis user here, so I thought I'd give you my empirical perspective & and opinion. I will tell you what I would tell my own child: Cannabis, like any recreational drug, steals the most precious resource we have: our time. I've been on benders in my life that I simply can not remember what I did during that period, sure, but that's not what I'm talking about. What I am talking about is the time any person needs…

Have worked with very successful people who smoke cannabis daily. Had no idea until they told me after we were no longer working together. Moderation in all things.

Re: The Impact of Meditating Every Day

#146

Post by [deleted] »

stronglikedan wrote: post #129
thomk wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ex cannabis user here, so I thought I'd give you my empirical perspective & and opinion. I will tell you what I would tell my own child: Cannabis, like any recreational drug, steals the most precious resource we have: our time. I've been on benders in my life that I simply can not remember what I did during that period, sure, but that's not what I'm talking about. What I am talking about is the time any person needs…

> Recreational drugs make you immature which will prevent you from going very far in life. Put a "may" before "make" and a replace "will" with "may", and you have a truthful statement. However, as it stands, it's simply false. Some of us "well adjusted, functioning adults" just use drugs safely and responsibly, because it can make life just a bit more interesting.

[deleted]

Re: The Impact of Meditating Every Day

#147

Post by Broken_Hippo »

ericmcer wrote: post #137
thomk wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ex cannabis user here, so I thought I'd give you my empirical perspective & and opinion. I will tell you what I would tell my own child: Cannabis, like any recreational drug, steals the most precious resource we have: our time. I've been on benders in my life that I simply can not remember what I did during that period, sure, but that's not what I'm talking about. What I am talking about is the time any person needs…

Cannabis is just a substance, if I drink kombucha and eat broccoli while at a party it’s still going to be a “waste of time”. If I get high and go for an 8 mile hike and meditate at the top of a hill it’s going to be a great experience and really feel like an important and memorable use of my time. Granted alcohol and weed hinder self discipline but don’t blame the substances for your actions. Have you ever done a lo…

I don't really enjoy exercise at all, at least when I'm sober. Get stoned, use an app to tell me where I'm walking, and wind up at a picturesque spot with music in my ears, though? Or go on a scenic route to a grocery store that is a bit further? These are wonderful things.

Re: The Impact of Meditating Every Day

#148

Post by alex504 »

number6 wrote: post #110
hailwren wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I started with Headspace, but feel like I get significantly higher returns without it. Something about having to concentrate on someone else's voice that makes the whole experience a little bit less effective for me. That said, I'd certainly recommend an app vs nothing, and perhaps as a good way to dip your toes in. I'd just also recommend trying it without the app after you've gotten comfortable with it.

How do you meditate without the app. I tried headspace. It's great but it is too expensive for me.

Not sure what your practice is like with the app. But for a stability practice which is the more common type, I would set a timer and sit with good posture so your skeleton is supporting itself. Focus on your breathing especially within the body. It's important not to meditate from the head but from the body. When your attention wanders and you notice it go back to concentrating on your breathing.

Re: The Impact of Meditating Every Day

#149

Post by excursionist »

thomk wrote: post #76
cols wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mentioned quitting cannabis. If you don't mind elaborating, I'm curious what benefits you have experienced and why you ended up quitting. Thanks!

Ex cannabis user here, so I thought I'd give you my empirical perspective & and opinion. I will tell you what I would tell my own child: Cannabis, like any recreational drug, steals the most precious resource we have: our time. I've been on benders in my life that I simply can not remember what I did during that period, sure, but that's not what I'm talking about. What I am talking about is the time any person needs…

> Cannabis, like any recreational drug, steals the most precious resource we have: our time.

Everything 'steals time'... watching TV, reading books, listening to music, working a job, etc.

> Life is the best teacher and recreational drugs are how you forfeit that precious, amazing, education.

Not at all. It really depends on which drugs, how you use them, etc.

> You don't have to go far to see this in action. Think of someone who is a habitual drug user and ask yourself 'are they emotionally mature?'. They aren't. They are taking an escape. Recreational drugs are antithetical to emotional growth.

I've met plenty of people who regularly use recreational drugs and who seemed wise, calm and content.

> I wasted 20 years of my life 'partying' even on a casual basis.

Cannabis is not really a party drug.

There are vast differences between various 'recreational drugs'. It's how you use them that matters.

Re: The Impact of Meditating Every Day

#150

Post by albanberg »

In the Viniyoga tradition of Krishnamacharya and Desikachar, yoga poses/exercises (asana) are used to prepare the body for meditation. The meditation is a process of exercises while focusing on an object. The object could be gross, such as a mountain, or subtle such as a concept. The teacher chooses the object for the student.
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