25 votes

Do you practice any form of meditation?

I practiced and studied Zen meditation in many periods of my life, and it helped me immensely.

I find it's philosophy reasonable and compelling: the basic idea of simply doing what's in front of you. If you have to do the dishes, do the dishes and nothing else. Be full in the act of doing the dishes.

Zen writing and meditation reduce my anxiety by helping me look at life in a more positive and expontaneous way. Paradoxically, worrying less about results usually gets much better results.

With that said, I ask:

  • Do you practice any form of meditation? Which one?
  • What was your initial purpose for practicing meditation?
  • Are you still doing it? Why?
  • Do you study the philosophical, scientifical or religious aspects behind your practice?

23 comments

  1. sonamtashi
    (edited )
    Link
    I started meditating when I was 19, and have been meditating more or less consistently (less at the beginning, more later on) for the past 6, going on 7 years. I grew up Mormon, and when I left I...
    • Exemplary

    I started meditating when I was 19, and have been meditating more or less consistently (less at the beginning, more later on) for the past 6, going on 7 years.

    I grew up Mormon, and when I left I started studying different religions because I wanted to both understand people and come to a satisfying conclusion that they were as empty of truth as Mormonism. I looked into Christianity generally, Islam, Baha'i, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. Probably more as well, but those are the ones I remember most. But it was reading the Dhammapada, a Theravadan Buddhist text of short sayings of the Buddha, that kind of shocked me out of how I was approaching it all. Previously I had been trying to disprove everything, but suddenly I saw that it actually held value. This is what led me to decide to meditate.

    So one night I walked across the street from my apartment complex out into this area that had some hills and almost no development. There were some construction vehicles, and for some reason I decided to sit on a big pile of gravel. I had done very little research on how to meditate, I didn't count or follow my breath. If I had to compare it to any kind of meditation I'm aware of now, it was probably most similar to either shikantaza, or Dzogchen or Mahamudra present moment awareness. I sat there for the next 20-30 minutes and that was enough to convince me how useful and powerful it was.

    I continued studying Buddhism, but I had no intention of being a Buddhist for a long time. I started out studying Theravada because it seemed the most down to earth and least superstitious (as time has gone on I've seen that that's not necessarily true). During this time I moved north, across the state I live in. At the time I had family and friends there and I had access to a pretty great library, and that got me into Zen and Mahayana more generally. This is around the time where I started to consider becoming a Buddhist. Then I tried reading the Lotus Sutra and that sent me the other way (I definitely wasn't ready for the more religious elements). But something made me stick with it and I kept studying Buddhism. Eventually every single one of my family and friends moved out of the area for one reason or another. So I moved back down to where I was before because I was getting really lonely.

    I kept studying Mahayana in general and Zen in particular. That's when I learned about Pure Land Buddhism, and I guess what you could call voice meditation (Pure Land practices the nembutsu; it is comparable to mantra meditation but it is a little different). This was the first time I really heavily considered becoming a Buddhist. Although I had previously lived in a city that had lots of Buddhist sanghas, when I moved back "home" I was moving back to a place that had no Buddhist presence to speak of at the time, outside of a Buddhist reading group.

    About two years went by and I decided to officially become a Buddhist. I had become aware of certain groups that held refuge ceremonies with the help of technology (by phone, internet broadcast/Skype etc. as well as a thriving community on Second Life of all places). So I took refuge in August of 2018, and by chance I ran into a Buddhist sangha 15 minutes away from me that had just started up about a year before. So I checked it out. It was a Tibetan Buddhist group that was associated with a well established group up north where I'd lived before. I took refuge again in December of that year, and I've practiced with that group ever since. Honestly, having a teacher involved in a traditional practice has been very helpful to me; I think too many people write that kind of thing off because of fears of religion, which, while understandable, in my opinion often gets in the way of actually learning about meditation and developing a practice in a significant way. I'm not saying everyone should be a Buddhist, but most groups will allow you to practice with them without being a member. Often when people try to figure it out on their own, they get frustrated, don't get anywhere with it, or even hurt themselves (remember when you're meditating you're dealing with your mind and literally rewiring your brain. Meditation can be harmful without guidance, particularly for people who have mental health conditions).

    The Tibetan tradition has an amazingly wide array of techniques and meditation practices. All the major categories of Buddhism ended up there, so Tibetan Buddhism contains teachings and practices belonging to the Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana varieties, and they all converge into one school (actually there are 4 schools of Tibetan Buddhism, but they all individually contain Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana). So rather than listing one thing I practice it is more accurate to make a list. Tibetan practices include:

    counting the breath, following the breath, focusing on an object (like a statue or painting) for shamatha/concentration meditation

    physical yogas

    Lojong/mind trainings

    metta/loving kindness/exchanging self and others meditation, where you visualize your breath taking blessings out to people while taking there sufferings into yourself.

    mantras, visualization and Dzogchen/Mahamudra

    Most formal practices will have any number of these meditations, and they often contain or are directly involved with each other. For example, any mantra will have a visualization, and after any mantra and visualization comes Dzogchen or Mahamudra practice (these are referred to as creation, perfection and dissolution stages), although Dzogchen can sometimes be practiced on its own. There are lots of other practices as well, like walking meditation and sky gazing. Another common thing is to combine walking, mantra, breath and visualization. So for example, for every breath you might take one step, and say one recitation of the mantra while holding a visualization. You might hold a mala (prayer beads) in one hand, and move up a bead each time you say the mantra, while in the other hand you spin a prayer wheel.

    Tibetan Buddhist practices often try to engage you as much as possible, so you're using both your hands, you're using your mouth/speech, you're moving your feet and you're focusing your mind on both the mantra and the visualization, as well as all the movement. In this way your mind is totally focused and it is almost impossible to get distracted.

    As far as my own practice, I do ngondro as well as some sadhanas, all of which includes an assortment of the practices listed above. I also still do a little nembutsu practice from my Pure Land days. This went a lot longer than I meant it to, but it was nice reflecting where I am and where I've been.

    8 votes
  2. [2]
    Sahasrahla
    Link
    I used to do mindfulness meditation (sit down, close your eyes, focus on your breath, put other thoughts out of your head) and I felt like I got something out of it. I started it because there...

    I used to do mindfulness meditation (sit down, close your eyes, focus on your breath, put other thoughts out of your head) and I felt like I got something out of it. I started it because there seemed to be good research and plenty of anecdotal experience to suggest that it was something healthy and helpful. For me, meditation was about health just like getting enough sleep, exercising, eating well, etc. I stopped because life circumstances changed such that uninterrupted, undistracted time became a rare resource for me. Most of my free time is taken here and there as I can get it and usually with something else going on in the background that requires my attention.

    One thing I disliked about meditation was the community around it. Online forums were filled with people trying to one-up each other with how serene and detached they were which led to some of the most passive aggressive online bickering I've seen. There were also lots of magical-thinking types who were mostly interested in discussing the super powers they thought they were gaining. I remember this one guy who was convinced he had gained a level of empathy so high that he could always know when someone was lying and that he could control others' emotions through his own micro-expressions.

    6 votes
    1. mrbig
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Your mindfulness practice seems very similar to mine, it's basically the same thing Zen teaches. I never delved too much on meditation forums, but I expect them to be as toxic as any internet...

      Your mindfulness practice seems very similar to mine, it's basically the same thing Zen teaches.

      I never delved too much on meditation forums, but I expect them to be as toxic as any internet forum, so what you're saying doesn't surprise me. People will always find a way to dick-measure, even regarding something so subjective and personal. I always focused on books and the actual practice.

      I remember this one guy who was convinced he had gained a level of empathy so high that he could always know when someone was lying and that he could control others' emotions through his own micro-expressions.

      TBH, this doesn't seem closely related to meditation, this person might be in need of mental health assistance.

      2 votes
  3. [2]
    Douglas
    Link
    I do the Headspace thing and just try to squeeze in at least 10 minutes a day in the morning, and have been trying to do it consistently for six months. I started because I've got some undiagnosed...

    I do the Headspace thing and just try to squeeze in at least 10 minutes a day in the morning, and have been trying to do it consistently for six months.

    I started because I've got some undiagnosed neurological problem that CT scans and MRIs have come up blank on, so the thought now is it may be a panic disorder.

    Unfortunately I can't say it's done a lot for me, but it also hasn't hurt.

    I don't know what it is about my brain, but I'm very resistant to experiences that tout themselves (even if it's true) to be life-changing, like religion, drugs, or meditation. I fully recognize meditation is legit and benefits all walks of life, I'm just expressing my mind's experience with it. I also have a really hard time focusing, so that doesn't help.

    I want to love it and experience its benefits, but I'm just not there yet and am just neutral so far.

    6 votes
    1. mrbig
      Link Parent
      This doesn't seem like a brain (neurological) issue, but a psychological one. Scientific studies showing show the benefit of meditation even when it's practiced without any religious or otherwise...

      I'm very resistant to experiences that tout themselves (even if it's true) to be life-changing, like religion, drugs, or meditation

      This doesn't seem like a brain (neurological) issue, but a psychological one. Scientific studies showing show the benefit of meditation even when it's practiced without any religious or otherwise "profound" belief.

      I agree that approaching something like that with a "this will change your mind!!!!" mindset is not good. Zen teaches that meditation is a goal in itself. Maybe forgetting the goal for a bit can be helpful. Otherwise you're not really meditating, you're just thinking about your goals.

  4. [3]
    spit-evil-olive-tips
    Link
    I meditate for 10-15 minutes everyday, and have for the past 2 years. It's been a huge improvement in my life. Last weekend I went to a silent meditation retreat, my first time trying anything...

    I meditate for 10-15 minutes everyday, and have for the past 2 years. It's been a huge improvement in my life.

    Last weekend I went to a silent meditation retreat, my first time trying anything like that. It was amazing and I already booked a return trip in August, this time for 5 nights instead of 2.

    6 votes
    1. [2]
      antiolrach
      Link Parent
      Wow, I’d never heard of a silent retreat before, but it seems like a really interesting idea. What initially prompted you to take part in one?

      Wow, I’d never heard of a silent retreat before, but it seems like a really interesting idea. What initially prompted you to take part in one?

      4 votes
      1. spit-evil-olive-tips
        Link Parent
        I first heard about it from my sister, who's sat two separate 7-day retreats. A podcast I listen to (the Ezra Klein Show) has also mentioned it on occasion. I have social anxiety (or, as I have...

        I first heard about it from my sister, who's sat two separate 7-day retreats. A podcast I listen to (the Ezra Klein Show) has also mentioned it on occasion.

        I have social anxiety (or, as I have learned through my practice, it'd be more accurate to say I frequently experience feelings of social anxiety...I am not my anxious thoughts) and found the silence amazing. Beyond not talking, you try to avoid eye contact with people, to the point that it's considered a bit impolite to hold the door for someone. As much as possible, you pretend that you're the only person at the retreat, and give space to let everyone around you do the same.

        Being around other people (including eating in a shared dining hall and sleeping with roommates), but with completely shifted expectations of social norms, reminded me just how arbitrary our usual social norms are. And that the anxious feelings I experience are coming from within me, not from without - other people's expectations of how I act are very different from my perception of their expectations of me.

        7 votes
  5. [2]
    Comment deleted by author
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    1. mrbig
      Link Parent
      That is fascinating. I'd love to possess the knowledge to be able to read about such theories in a meaningful way, without merely taking things for granted. I'd need to restart my life in order to...

      That is fascinating. I'd love to possess the knowledge to be able to read about such theories in a meaningful way, without merely taking things for granted. I'd need to restart my life in order to have the time! But I can at least from the other way, via Buddhism and philosophy.

      2 votes
  6. [6]
    Heichou
    Link
    I've tried to do it in the past but all I felt was impatience and a desire to be doing something else :/. I want to want it, but I can't see it as anything but a pseudo-scientific "works on my...

    I've tried to do it in the past but all I felt was impatience and a desire to be doing something else :/. I want to want it, but I can't see it as anything but a pseudo-scientific "works on my machine" tier technique. I just feel stupid doing it, or ADD kicks in and my mind races to a hundred different places and I can't really focus.

    2 votes
    1. [3]
      mrbig
      Link Parent
      It’s actually not pseudoscience at all. The effectivity of meditation is kind of a consensus.

      It’s actually not pseudoscience at all. The effectivity of meditation is kind of a consensus.

      4 votes
      1. Heichou
        Link Parent
        Then just call me cynical haha. I just can't put myself into a headspace where I'd easily benefit from it. I get antsy or I start to doubt the effectiveness of the activities. It's something I've...

        Then just call me cynical haha. I just can't put myself into a headspace where I'd easily benefit from it. I get antsy or I start to doubt the effectiveness of the activities. It's something I've tried to do several times but i just feel silly while doing it

        1 vote
      2. Staross
        Link Parent
        There's certainly a lot of pseudo-science around meditation, although some aspects of it have been validated. And when it comes to its therapeutic applications it's still not very clear:...

        There's certainly a lot of pseudo-science around meditation, although some aspects of it have been validated.

        And when it comes to its therapeutic applications it's still not very clear:

        https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5758421/

    2. [2]
      spit-evil-olive-tips
      Link Parent
      This is an extremely common, probably almost universal, experience among people new to meditation. The goal of meditation is not to make the mind "empty" or "idle". Having your mind race or get...

      I just feel stupid doing it, or ADD kicks in and my mind races to a hundred different places and I can't really focus.

      This is an extremely common, probably almost universal, experience among people new to meditation.

      The goal of meditation is not to make the mind "empty" or "idle". Having your mind race or get distracted does not mean that you're doing meditation "wrong".

      You're trying to sit still and focus only on your breath, but a thought comes up. "hmm...what should I have for lunch...maybe tacos...is that new taco place down the street open today...maybe I'll get a sandwich if it's closed...and after that I should do a load of laundry"

      Then you notice yourself thinking, and a wave of self-critical thoughts happens. "I've only been sitting here for a minute and I'm already off track...I suck at meditating, this is pointless, why am I even bothering doing this?"

      A crucial teaching of mindfulness is that we are not our thoughts. You experience a thought that you're bad at meditating. That doesn't mean you are bad at meditating. It means the part of your brain that generates self-critical thoughts is doing what it does best.

      4 votes
      1. mrbig
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        It's like watching a log being pushed by the current along the river: you see it come, you see it go. That's it. To me, meditation is not about pushing thoughts away - that's jut's other form of...

        It's like watching a log being pushed by the current along the river: you see it come, you see it go. That's it.

        To me, meditation is not about pushing thoughts away - that's jut's other form of attachment. You gotta let them run their natural course. Whatever they are.

        2 votes
  7. [2]
    TooFewColours
    Link
    I tried non directive meditation every day, about 15-20 minutes for about a month. I definitely got better and better at it, but I didn't feel any kind of improvement in my day-to-day goings...

    I tried non directive meditation every day, about 15-20 minutes for about a month.

    I definitely got better and better at it, but I didn't feel any kind of improvement in my day-to-day goings about.

    But then, I'm very happy with where I am in life. I enjoy stress-free work, I'm not worried or anxious, and with age I've found myself getting better and better at slowing down and appreciating a moment in time.

    I thought perhaps meditation would lead me somewhere I didn't even realize I could be. Maybe one month isn't long enough, but I've found some stretching and exercises are better uses of my time.

    2 votes
    1. mrbig
      Link Parent
      I don’t think everyone should practice meditation. Some people are able to attain something very similar to a meditative state without any conscious effort. I’ve known people without meditation...

      I don’t think everyone should practice meditation. Some people are able to attain something very similar to a meditative state without any conscious effort. I’ve known people without meditation backgrounds that calmly waits in long lines almost joyfully, without any sign of anxiety. I envy them.

      2 votes
  8. knocklessmonster
    (edited )
    Link
    Occasional zazen, but that's about it. My cushion often sits neglected on the corner of my bed until I decide to stare at a wall for fifteen minutes one day. Mostly it's because I can't find a...

    Occasional zazen, but that's about it. My cushion often sits neglected on the corner of my bed until I decide to stare at a wall for fifteen minutes one day. Mostly it's because I can't find a period of time at home when I won't have somebody vying for my attention.

    I didn't quite hit the topic. I work to know the philosophy behind Zen Buddhism, specifically because it seems to be the furthest divorced from Hindu spirituality, but to me the important parts are the rules that survived the trip to China, then later Japan (4 pillars, eightfold path). I need to get my hands on a copy of Shobogenzo, the Heart Sutra, and other important texts to really understand some of these ideas, or at least the works that influenced them. I read Mumonkan, but that's not at all helpful, and is basically a collection of silly conversations.

    2 votes
  9. izik1
    Link
    I've been doing TMI (The Mind Illuminated) for a while now (well, if I was consistent it would be for quite a while, but... I haven't been because of life stuff happening a lot recently) I don't...

    I've been doing TMI (The Mind Illuminated) for a while now (well, if I was consistent it would be for quite a while, but... I haven't been because of life stuff happening a lot recently)

    I don't really remember why I started, but it's evolved into me doing it because it's stable ground, and because I'm definitely more capable of diagnosing myself (knowing why I feel how I feel, knowing my own triggers for whichever emotions, etc)

    Do you study the philosophical, scientifical or religious aspects behind your practice?

    Nope~

    1 vote
  10. A_Little_Star
    Link
    I used to practice meditation for about 8-10 years and found it incredibly helpful. However, I went through a traumatic experience with living in a new age cult. Since then I have trouble...

    I used to practice meditation for about 8-10 years and found it incredibly helpful. However, I went through a traumatic experience with living in a new age cult. Since then I have trouble meditating because I'm afraid I'll be transported to the many dimensions or worlds or beings that I was introduced to while in the cult.

    I'd love to get back into it but it's so mixed up in my lack of direction and trust in my own beliefs since that experience. I'm working with trauma informed therapists, the work is slow but I'm getting there.

    Do any of you have experience in this tyeo of situation or how to meditate peacefully when I keep being afraid I'll get lost again in someone else's view of reality?

    1 vote
  11. [3]
    krg
    Link
    No. Instead I pick and bite at my cuticles. Ocassionally I'll draw blood!

    No. Instead I pick and bite at my cuticles. Ocassionally I'll draw blood!

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      knocklessmonster
      Link Parent
      I do that, too! I somehow doubt this qualifies as a healthy form of meditation.

      I do that, too! I somehow doubt this qualifies as a healthy form of meditation.

      2 votes