Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation • Hacker News Board

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#81

Post by pnmahoney » Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 9:57 AM UTC

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.

http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=search.displayRecord&#38... This seems to bear on the implied point here: that mental focus on a problem -- perhaps unconsciously -- can be reflected in our neurobiology. (Or vice versa? Not sure whether this should be a response to P or GP)

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#82

Post by konstruktor » Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 10:08 AM UTC

tokenadult wrote: post #37

WayneDB wrote: post #17

I learned to meditate by reading and listening to Krishnamurti (among many others). "Meditation is not different from daily life" he says. "It can be done all day." It's exactly like being in the zone that you get into when you code, play video games, run, exercise, etc. You can do it better and without needing a crutch activity by consciously shaping your thought/energy patterns; by constantly focus your mind on pur…

by constantly focus your mind on pure observance and acceptance of all that exists in the current moment I'd like to follow up, please, on what these words mean. Does "acceptance of all that exists in the current moment" mean that demonstrators at Tahrir Square should be accepting of a dictatorial government? I'm curious about this issue, because I lived for several years in a predominantly Buddhist country that was…

Acceptance of all that exists in the current moment, for me, doesn't mean apathy but stopping to avoid uncomfortable aspects of reality. The difference is between accepting what is so and thinking that's the way it's always going to be. Facing reality can be a strong motivator for change.

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#83

Post by SeamusBrady » Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 11:05 AM UTC

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.)

I had that problem myself. I have a deep respect for Buddhism but I wanted to practice something where I could completely appreciate the history and meaning of the movement without learning Sanskrit or Pali :) I became a Quaker quite a few years ago as a result.

Quakers are traditionally very reticent about talking about their beliefs so you don't hear too much about us (I am breaking that tradition now!) Quakerism may offer a middle way between traditional Christianity and those inclined to a more meditative spiritual life.

As for the "religious" angle, Quakers emphasise personal insight over belief. You don't convert to Quakerism, you become "convinced". You work (and it can be challenging) on transforming your relationship with "that of God" within you. I know Quakers who are evangelical Christians and those who are practically agnostic. We all try to get along.

You can get a feel for what I mean by checking out the Experiments With Light homepage:

http://www.experiment-with-light.org.uk/

It offers an insight into Quaker meditation.

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#84

Post by NeillAlexander » Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 11:45 AM UTC

ypcx wrote: post #76

NeillAlexander wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wrote https://market.android.com/details?id=com.nwalex.meditation because I wanted to motivate myself to meditate more regularly. Prior to having the app, I'd manage maybe 10 days in a row, before finding some reason to skip a day (too busy, too tired, etc). Now I very rarely skip a day. As to whether or not it works long term, I've been using it for over a year, and it's still working for me. But then, it is custo…

I'm an iPhone user, but I'm moving to Android (via Galaxy Nexus) very soon, and I think your app will be one of the first ones I install. And it's great to hear that it helps you practicing for over a year, that's just wonderful. Do you have intervals of more days in a row when you don't practice at all? One idea for the app - build a reminder into it - but a random one. One that sounds an alarm at unexpected time of…

It has a reminder, but it's not random. You tell it how many minutes you want to spend meditating each day, and then configure a reminder time. At that time a notification appears in the tool bar if you haven't met your target. You can configure the notification message to make it something that motivates you.

You can also configure what time your day starts. If you often meditate just before bed, and don't go to bed until after midnight, you can offset the start of day. I have mine set to 2am, for example.

Last but not least, it has a simple widget that displays the length of the current chain (the number of consecutive days you have met your target), your longest ever chain, and a representation of the proportion of the target you've met today. When you miss a day, the current chain resets to zero.

All this combined works well for me. I recently broke a chain of 369 days because I was really ill. It wasn't a decision I took lightly. I'm on a run of 31 days now - less than a year to go to beat my record!

Edit: it's also free

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#85

Post by kahawe » Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 11:53 AM UTC

An interesting detail to add: at least one mental health expert has told me that meditating on a regular basis can be a very powerful tool for fighting depressions and other psychological issues; the number of patients suffering from those issues amongst people who have been meditating for years seem to be extremely low.

Now a question for all you hackers: how to get started on meditating without running into the arms of some obscure cults and sects? And pointers?

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#86

Post by grandpa » Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 11:58 AM UTC

xavoy wrote: post #36

adbge wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You should add an about page. A meditation self-tracking tool sounds interesting (I've just started sitting zazen), but I'm going to need some details before I hand over my email.

Not to dis BrainBot, but the only Zazen tracking tool you need is to sit Zazen every day. I can see how competition and seeing your hours tick over might be encouraging to some degree, and if the site encourages people to sit more then it is worthwhile! But I see enough chest puffing on the 'net as it is with regards to people's meditation, and how amazing they are now because of it or how much they are sitting, and…

What is Bodhisattva work? Is it the idea that by meditating, you're making the world a better place?

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#87

Post by GiraffeNecktie » Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 12:29 PM UTC

jessriedel wrote: post #5

The real question is whether it's a good thing to stop "mind wandering" when it hasn't reached the level of disorder. From the perspective of evolution, it almost certainly has a purpose. Paul Graham pointed out that its probably useful for problem solving: http://www.paulgraham.com/top.html I wonder if it would be good to have the ability to better focus one's self when one's mind is wandering into unproductive subj…

People should also be aware that meditation, while generally beneficial, does not always have a benign effect on the mind. Look up "meditation induced psychosis".

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#88

Post by rsaarelm » Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 1:06 PM UTC

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!

It's not. There's a brief strange bit where he thinks advanced meditation skills can lead to psychic powers, without really distinguishing them from people's perceptions of reality changing. Other than that it's pretty much "do these exercises with your head and look for this stuff to happen", and some ranting about general meditation instruction not being enough of that.

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#89

Post by joshcorbin » Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 1:13 PM UTC

kahawe wrote: post #85

An interesting detail to add: at least one mental health expert has told me that meditating on a regular basis can be a very powerful tool for fighting depressions and other psychological issues; the number of patients suffering from those issues amongst people who have been meditating for years seem to be extremely low. Now a question for all you hackers: how to get started on meditating without running into the arm…

For me I've found these two websites to be helpful: * http://www.audiodharma.org -- podcasts, including introduction to mindfullness meditation * http://www.accesstoinsight.org -- translations of the Pali canon

Re: Tuning out: How brains benefit from meditation

#90

Post by michaelfeathers » Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 1:13 PM UTC

WayneDB wrote: post #26

jessriedel wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>This empty state of mind allows for better problem-solving This is the claim I'd like evidence for.

I'm not aware of any studies here, but it's been said many times that solutions to tough problems often present themselves while the ponderer isn't thinking about the problem, sometimes upon waking up or just before falling asleep.

A good book about this is: The Breakout Principle by Herbert Benson. His model is that creative insight comes from periods of intense activity followed by a down period.

http://cbass.com/Breakout.htm