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Poll: Do you meditate?

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Re: Poll: Do you meditate?

#41

Post by KingMob »

xk_id wrote: post #26
angkec wrote: post #4

Any one has any tips to form meditation as a habit? I know meditation is good for oneself, and I have personally meditated on and off for 20+ sessions. But the habit never sticks. Somehow after a few days of meditation I feel massively better and then I forgot to do so. It's like stop taking pills after I recover from sickness. Anyone has any tips? Thanks.

Well I think meditation is sort of like a minimalistic tool for training yourself. So I reckon it's part of the point to figure out how to get yourself "into a habit", etc. Anyway, I don't think anything substantial can come out of meditation alone. If you use meditation as a "training ground" for learning discipline, etc. then you may argue those understandings are later useful in practical matters. But then, again,…

Based on the language you're using, I'm guessing you haven't actually meditated much for any length of time.

If you're open to it, I'll bet you'd like Stephen Batchelor's Buddhism Without Beliefs.

Re: Poll: Do you meditate?

#42

Post by JohnBooty »

notJim wrote: post #28

I try to meditate about twice a week, but I haven't been keeping it up lately, so I put once a month. I started because there was a thread here where people described the benefits. I was (and still am) very skeptical of the self-reported effects, since there's a strong possibility of placebo, but at the same time, I figured if all these people like it, it's worth a try. Maybe it's just a placebo, but it sounds like a…

Thank you, I'm going to check that book out. Like you, I'd like to learn more but the religious aspects are a turnoff.

When I think about it, it's hard to believe that improving one's state of mind and mood wouldn't have a number of benefits.

Re: Poll: Do you meditate?

#43

Post by KingMob »

jkbyc wrote: post #20
1337biz wrote: post #18

Tried it twice. Became so bored, that I just started sleeping.

next time, when you realize that you are bored, try repeating for yourself "bored, bored, bored, bored, ...". You can apply it to whatever else that may be bothering you: "sleepy, sleepy, sleepy, sleepy, ..."

I find sleepiness the hardest thing to meditate on, since it removes the very faculty you're trying to use. I can't speak for all but getting interested enough in sleepiness to stay awake and watch it is hard.

Another suggestion: switch to standing meditation if you're sleepy.

Re: Poll: Do you meditate?

#45

Post by xk_id »

KingMob wrote: post #41
xk_id wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well I think meditation is sort of like a minimalistic tool for training yourself. So I reckon it's part of the point to figure out how to get yourself "into a habit", etc. Anyway, I don't think anything substantial can come out of meditation alone. If you use meditation as a "training ground" for learning discipline, etc. then you may argue those understandings are later useful in practical matters. But then, again,…

Based on the language you're using, I'm guessing you haven't actually meditated much for any length of time. If you're open to it, I'll bet you'd like Stephen Batchelor's Buddhism Without Beliefs.

"Buddhism without beliefs" is a bit oxymoronic, no? :) Any doctrine must start with some assumptions (i.e, beliefs). Perhaps the title means "Buddhism without the obviously wacko beliefs". That doesn't mean it excludes the more subtle ones. Plus, the full title includes "a guide to awakening". That last word comes with a lot of bundled metaphysical assumptions.

Edit: It looks like a quick read, and it was a best seller. Thanks, I'll give it a try. I am interested in refreshing my understanding of the current "western buddhism" discourse (your contention that I'm not familiar with the Buddhist doctrine at all was incorrect).

Re: Poll: Do you meditate?

#46

Post by javert »

Missing an option: I've never tried it, but would be open to it.

If someone could give a rational (non-mystical) explanation of how and why to do it.

Or point me to an existing one.

Re: Poll: Do you meditate?

#47

Post by JohnBooty »

fakeer wrote: post #24

I just couldn't concentrate. Lots of things would come to mind. Revenge, sex, regret, frustrations, hope, plans and a lot just used to happen in mind at that time. More than usual. More than it would usually come to my mind. It's not that they are always on mind, it's not a problem. But at least for meditation you are supposed to be free of such thoughts and even if there's a thought it ought to be only just that tho…

  I just couldn't concentrate.
  Lots of things would come to mind. Revenge, sex, regret, 
  frustrations, hope, plans and a lot just used to happen in
  mind at that time. More than usual. More than it would
  usually come to my mind.
I'm only just beginning to learn about meditation but in most forms of meditation these thoughts are perfectly normal. Mindfulness meditation stresses that these thoughts are okay. One of the first things you learn is to accept these thoughts without judging them or judging yourself.

If you ever give it another try, give your mind permission to go wherever it likes. What will your mind feel like when you're not fighting with it and trying to make it think (or not think) about particular things? It may be rewarding to find out, or at least relaxing.

Best wishes!

Re: Poll: Do you meditate?

#49

Post by [deleted] »

notJim wrote: post #28

I try to meditate about twice a week, but I haven't been keeping it up lately, so I put once a month. I started because there was a thread here where people described the benefits. I was (and still am) very skeptical of the self-reported effects, since there's a strong possibility of placebo, but at the same time, I figured if all these people like it, it's worth a try. Maybe it's just a placebo, but it sounds like a…

[deleted]

Re: Poll: Do you meditate?

#50

Post by heurist »

fakeer wrote: post #24

I just couldn't concentrate. Lots of things would come to mind. Revenge, sex, regret, frustrations, hope, plans and a lot just used to happen in mind at that time. More than usual. More than it would usually come to my mind. It's not that they are always on mind, it's not a problem. But at least for meditation you are supposed to be free of such thoughts and even if there's a thought it ought to be only just that tho…

Ideally you use meditation as a tool to quiet those thoughts.
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