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Mindfulness Meditation Impairs Task Motivation but Not Performance [pdf]

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Re: Mindfulness Meditation Impairs Task Motivation but Not Performance [pdf]

#31

Post by spicymaki »

hinkley wrote: post #18
kazishariar wrote: post #3

The very meaning of mindfulness is to detach from the self, and to do each and every task no matter how mundane it is as if brand new at each and every moment. Kind of like to see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour --so to say. So though the mundaneness of everything is quite real, the absolute newness of every moment is just as apparen…

Which sounds great to CEOs but there’s one problem: When you use mindfulness while the CEO is talking and realize his or her problems are their own making and why should you kill yourself to make a lie true?

I don't see why this is a problem. However, sometimes you can't escape your situation and sometimes you have to do things you don't like to support yourself and others. This is not incompatible with mindfulness.

Re: Mindfulness Meditation Impairs Task Motivation but Not Performance [pdf]

#33

Post by alfredallan1 »

bunnymancer wrote: post #24
wudangmonk wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you can only better understand yourself through meditation, its not a divine state where the secrets of the universe are revealed to you.

I think he was being sarcastic...

Maybe. Maybe not.

>Why aren't they generating awesome works of science or philosophy or literature or something with all that clear-headedness

Maybe they don’t want to? Maybe their motivation is towards intrinsic goals, while science/literature/etc. are all extrinsic.

Just because they aren’t doing X doesn’t naturally and obviously mean it is because they cannot do X. e.g. I can readily be a manager, and have more of certain (in)tangible things, but choose not to, because that line of work interests me less than other kinds of work. Just as, by the same token, just because somebody wants to do X doesn’t mean they can do it. e.g. I really want to be a talented rockstar with mad guitar skills, but I cannot becuse I am largely tone deaf.

Re: Mindfulness Meditation Impairs Task Motivation but Not Performance [pdf]

#34

Post by ssijak »

kumarvvr wrote: post #19

Meditation, in ancient and present India, is a tool for spiritual development, contemplation on the true nature of self and an aide to allow for detachment from worldly matters. Its not meant to be a method to calm down workers so that they will produce more profit for a corporation.

Those 2 things are not mutually exclusive.

Re: Mindfulness Meditation Impairs Task Motivation but Not Performance [pdf]

#35

Post by kumarvvr »

ssijak wrote: post #34
kumarvvr wrote: post #19

Meditation, in ancient and present India, is a tool for spiritual development, contemplation on the true nature of self and an aide to allow for detachment from worldly matters. Its not meant to be a method to calm down workers so that they will produce more profit for a corporation.

Those 2 things are not mutually exclusive.

Correct, but if the goal is to make workers more productive, motivated, etc, then meditation may not be the right tool to use. There are other, more effective methods.

Re: Mindfulness Meditation Impairs Task Motivation but Not Performance [pdf]

#36

Post by aaron695 »

lopmotr wrote: post #14

I used to wonder why Buddhist monks seemed to do so little productive work despite all the productivity their meditation was supposed to bring. Why aren't they generating awesome works of science or philosophy or literature or something with all that clear-headedness? This might explain it.

One can't see how taking large parts the young male workforce and making them monks can't hurt a countries GDP greatly.

Another consideration around Buddhism is the sense of Karma, and how good things will come to those who deserve them, not those who do the actual work. It's not conducive to productivity.

There are high levels of poverty in countries where Buddhism is strong (And other religions that teach Karma style ideas).

But I wouldn't have thought it as obvious in people using small amounts of meditation as being a problem. But it's a path to look into that's for sure.

Re: Mindfulness Meditation Impairs Task Motivation but Not Performance [pdf]

#37

Post by [deleted] »

kumarvvr wrote: post #35
ssijak wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those 2 things are not mutually exclusive.

Correct, but if the goal is to make workers more productive, motivated, etc, then meditation may not be the right tool to use. There are other, more effective methods.

[deleted]

Re: Mindfulness Meditation Impairs Task Motivation but Not Performance [pdf]

#39

Post by JanisL »

lopmotr wrote: post #14

I used to wonder why Buddhist monks seemed to do so little productive work despite all the productivity their meditation was supposed to bring. Why aren't they generating awesome works of science or philosophy or literature or something with all that clear-headedness? This might explain it.

I think this begs the question: how are you defining productivity?

Re: Mindfulness Meditation Impairs Task Motivation but Not Performance [pdf]

#40

Post by nabla9 »

My experience is that concentration directed meditation is more like a tool. You can use concentrative skills to advance towards direction you want in the life. You are in control.

If you do awareness oriented practice long enough, it starts to work on you. You are on the ride 'to the unknown'. Motivations change and unless you make nessesary changes in your life, you lose motivation and have life chrisis. Usual solution is to quit meditation or do so little that you don't change. Many people have romantic notion of transcendence and enlightement, but when meditation starts to really work they realize that's not what they actually want. Change is scary.

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