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Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

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Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#51

Post by [deleted] »

jessriedel wrote: post #45
cmer wrote: post #11

I'm getting increasingly interested in meditation, mainly because it seems like it could make me use my brain better. I have no clue where to start though. Anyone has info to share? I'm a total noob to this. Thanks!

I'd like to piggy back on this comment and ask if anyone knows a good introduction to meditation from a western/scientific/rational point of view. I'm open to the idea that meditation could help me use my brain more effectively, but I'm extremely wary of the religious/spiritual angle (even if the origins of meditiation are religious/spiritual.)

[deleted]

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#52

Post by jessriedel »

xavoy wrote: post #50
jessriedel wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd like to piggy back on this comment and ask if anyone knows a good introduction to meditation from a western/scientific/rational point of view. I'm open to the idea that meditation could help me use my brain more effectively, but I'm extremely wary of the religious/spiritual angle (even if the origins of meditiation are religious/spiritual.)

Western Zen is very western/scientific/rational. Most of the teachers in the lineage I belong to are also psychologists, psychotherapists or counselors (but your teacher is NOT your therapist). Stephen Bachelor has been a Tibetan AND a Zen monk, but is now neither. He wrote a book called "Buddhism Without Beliefs" which might suit you. Note though that it is almost impossible to separate meditation as it relates to y…

Thanks very much. "Buddhist Without Beliefs" is going in the Amazon basket.

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#53

Post by cmer »

WayneDB wrote: post #23
cmer wrote: post #11

I'm getting increasingly interested in meditation, mainly because it seems like it could make me use my brain better. I have no clue where to start though. Anyone has info to share? I'm a total noob to this. Thanks!

Please read my other comment on this thread with some links to articles that might interest you. - http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3264078 Krishnamurti has a lot to say about meditation, I also recommend the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita (Jack Hawley translation is very thorough, it's subtitled A Walkthrough for Westerners) and lastly The Upanishads (the one with commentary by Eknath Easwaran is exc…

Great information in that other comment of yours. When you say "yoga", is it what ladies do following a DVD or is it some other form of meditation I am not aware of?

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#54

Post by cmer »

rsaarelm wrote: post #39
cmer wrote: post #11

I'm getting increasingly interested in meditation, mainly because it seems like it could make me use my brain better. I have no clue where to start though. Anyone has info to share? I'm a total noob to this. Thanks!

I liked Daniel Ingram's Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha , online at http://www.interactivebuddha.com/mctb.shtml .

Sorry if this sounds clueless, but is that religious at all? I'm looking for something not religious since I am an atheist. Thanks!

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#55

Post by VMG »

rsanheim wrote: post #8
rd108 wrote: post #2

The two areas highlighted in the article show prefrontal cortex (front of brain) and PCC (towards the back) shutting down. The prefrontal cortex is associated with executive attention and reasoning, while PCC appears to be differentially dialed up or down in conditions with altered states of consciousness (like people under anesthesia, in a coma, or apparently meditating.) Shameless plug: We're using these neuroscien…

Of course, the very idea of tracking and working on "improving" via meditation goes against the core idea of zen meditation itself. But I'm interested in your startup anyway. :) edit: in fairness, there are many types of meditation beyond zen.

> Of course, the very idea of tracking and working on "improving" via meditation goes against the core idea of zen meditation itself.

The - excuse me - postmodern gobbledygook of some schools are is what has turned me off meditation again and again.

I'd love to follow a rationalist, scientific school of meditation that has mind improvement as a goal.

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#56

Post by cmer »

xavoy wrote: post #50
jessriedel wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd like to piggy back on this comment and ask if anyone knows a good introduction to meditation from a western/scientific/rational point of view. I'm open to the idea that meditation could help me use my brain more effectively, but I'm extremely wary of the religious/spiritual angle (even if the origins of meditiation are religious/spiritual.)

Western Zen is very western/scientific/rational. Most of the teachers in the lineage I belong to are also psychologists, psychotherapists or counselors (but your teacher is NOT your therapist). Stephen Bachelor has been a Tibetan AND a Zen monk, but is now neither. He wrote a book called "Buddhism Without Beliefs" which might suit you. Note though that it is almost impossible to separate meditation as it relates to y…

I was also about to purchase the book as well only to find out it is not available on the Kindle. I realized that I never actually read the paperbooks I buy so I figured I'd stop buying them altogether.

Are you aware of great alternative book that might be available in digital format?

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#57

Post by VMG »

jessriedel wrote: post #19
aik wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've pondered the same thing. However, personally from meditation I feel I have greater focus, a clearer mind, and less stress (or a much better handle on stress), which I couldn't imagine being without today. Concerning shower-insights -- I find myself having less mind wandering in the shower, and instead more deliberate focused insights.

Then what evolutionary purpose do you think mind-wandering serves? We clearly tend to think about various current problems of ours (whether technical, social, or other) when our mind wanders; it's not an accident.

> Then what evolutionary purpose do you think mind-wandering serves? We clearly tend to think about various current problems of ours (whether technical, social, or other) when our mind wanders; it's not an accident.

It well might be an accident. It might just be a byproduct of consciousness without any benefit on its own.

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#58

Post by rd108 »

cmer wrote: post #53
WayneDB wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please read my other comment on this thread with some links to articles that might interest you. - http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3264078 Krishnamurti has a lot to say about meditation, I also recommend the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita (Jack Hawley translation is very thorough, it's subtitled A Walkthrough for Westerners) and lastly The Upanishads (the one with commentary by Eknath Easwaran is exc…

Great information in that other comment of yours. When you say "yoga", is it what ladies do following a DVD or is it some other form of meditation I am not aware of?

traditionally, yoga referred to both preliminary physical practice ("what ladies do" or hatha yoga) as well as mental practice ("meditation" or raja yoga). The two were inextricably linked, where the former was practiced for the sole purpose of preparing the body for long, seated meditation.

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#59

Post by cmer »

xavoy wrote: post #28
cmer wrote: post #11

I'm getting increasingly interested in meditation, mainly because it seems like it could make me use my brain better. I have no clue where to start though. Anyone has info to share? I'm a total noob to this. Thanks!

Sit in a comfortable position, if possible on a cushion, on the floor, with three solid points of contact (your butt and your knees). Relax. Pay special attention to your shoulders, neck and throat. Straighten your back, let your stomach and butt hang out. Close your eyes 3/4 and let them go out of focus. Take a deep breath in and let it go. Then breath in again, counting 'one' to yourself, breath out and count 'two'…

This is harder than it seems! I couldn't go past 7 and barely lasted a minute. I got hyper and missed Hacker News :)

I'm ready to go to bed now, but I'll try again tomorrow. I never thought trying to relax would feed so odd! Thanks again for the information.

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#60

Post by locopati »

cmer wrote: post #54
rsaarelm wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I liked Daniel Ingram's Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha , online at http://www.interactivebuddha.com/mctb.shtml .

Sorry if this sounds clueless, but is that religious at all? I'm looking for something not religious since I am an atheist. Thanks!

While I cannot speak to that link, I can say that Buddhism is an atheistic religion.
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