I haven't meditated much, though it is something I am looking into more. I had to do a speech on it so researched a little and several studies show there are health benefits from meditation, the worst possible outcome is you don't get anything out of it and wasted a little time. One good thing is meditation doesn't have to be a religious thing. I just read Zen Mind, Beginners Mind which isn't necessarily a meditation book, though it addresses it some. It's a good read though and can get you to start thinking about things. There are probably a lot of resources online if you're interested into looking into it more; websites, blogs, Youtube channels, etc.

 

Practice? Hell no, I'm a pro at it already. In fact, I'm the best, I will out transcendentally mediate anybody!!!


Seriosuly....I think its painfully obvious by reading my posts, I'm nowhere near inner peace.

 

By money, do you mean you joined a group doing it? Good to hear it's working out well so far. I think it's going be sorta like adding a little exercise or drinking more water every day, might not have these dramatic results, but it's a positive benefit that adds up over time.

 

Gotcha, and little pricey but I tend to be a tad thrifty. If you don't mind, you should post an update here a few months down the road or whenever, would be interested to see how it went.

 

How do you pick a mantra?

 

In B4;


"Irish, Irish, Irish, Irish, Irish"

 

I guess what I will be curious, besides your overall thoughts, is if the money is worth it in your opinion. Obviously you have a setting and teacher and I can't see everything they tell you, just seems what you've said so far you could have learned online. Might be completely off though and probably easier for you to answer after completing the course. The little bit of meditation I've done, I more or less use exhale and inhale for my mantra, focusing on that. If thoughts come then can either let them gently pass through or go back to focusing on the breathing. I haven't done a lot though so can't speak on it too much.

I imagine that's what some on this forum say when they're participating in another activity... To be fair, if he hits on FA and the Draft this year then I might too, off to an interesting start but we have a ways to go before we're playing games.

 

Is it an actual word like "banana" or is it a sound with no meaning, like " ohhhmm"

 

Thanks for sharing btw!

 

yes you are.....

you just like a good argument or debate.....

you would have been a good lawyer or should I say one that would have been held in contempt.....

 

SkibbityBeatBop

Must feel silly saying that in your head....

 

In the mid 70s, it was quite a fad. It cost money then, too. I don't see a lot of 60 year old enlightened gurus walking around, but I'll bet people are still making money teaching it.

 

In all seriousness...this.

I may be young but I know no-one can find inner peace for you....there is no secret or magic technique. Meditating is great but if that is the only change one makes to their life....it will be a very short lived change with minimal impact.

 

If you're interested go for it. Though the people you listed are pretty much the opposite of what I would consider good :lol:

 

I think sometimes meditation and hypnosis both have this mystical and magical stigma attached, and they're really not that. Meditation can be a spiritual or religious thing, but it can also be completely secular if you want. I've meditated a few times and have no religious or supernatural beliefs. Different people will have different reactions to things but studies I've seen do show benefits to meditation. It's probably not going be some panacea to all your problems, but for some it might provide some help. I look at it similar to maybe a player in the locker room listening to music before a big game to relax, it's just about quieting your mind and putting it in a different place. As I've said before though, my experience is also very limited so take my two cents with a grain of salt (+2 points for idiom linkage).

 

If someone is presenting "inner peace" as something that can be purchased for a large amount of money, I would stay well clear. Experts on meditation, people who truly spend their lives doing it tend to be Buddhists who aren't even allowed to handle money.

The practice of meditation, mindfulness and acceptance can be enormously beneficial and I'm saying that as a Clinical Psychologist who follows evidence based practice. It is becoming integrated into therapeutic approaches like mindfulness based cognitive behavioural therapy (there is a wonderful introduction to this on iTunes as a free podcast by Prof. Mark Williams of Oxford University, who is also one of the most interesting and humble individuals I've ever met), with good supporting evidence of its efficacy.

I also attend when I can a secular, meditation teaching session on a weekly basis held at a Buddhist Monastery. For two hours they offer expert guidance and the sharing of a lifetime of experience with people of all faiths and backgrounds who are there to just develop mindfulness in their everyday lives. Guess what, there is no mention of "inner peace", in fact I've listened to a Buddhist Nun talk about how constant preoccupation with her gardening and the stream of thoughts she experiences regarding it regardless of what she is doing. Being mindful is about observance, acceptance, and moving away from both trying to hold on desperately to the good and escaping the bad, but rather just experiencing the good and the bad and letting them pass through.

Oh, and of course, all of the advice and guidance, books and materials, and weekly sessions are free. Maybe try looking for something similar?

 

In fact maybe also look at their website, http://www.amaravati.org and click on the audio and books section. They provide masses of audio information and teaching that is aimed at the beginner and is all completely free to download.

 

Used to meditate quite often. Mostly Zen. Not so much recently, though I hope to get back into it soon.