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Post by lowtacks86 on May 17, 2018 3:57:37 GMT
I'll allow "praying" as a form of meditation for this question
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Post by Aj_June on May 17, 2018 3:59:55 GMT
I have never prayed and never meditated in my entire life. I was educated in a catholic school and we did say prayers in the morning assembly but I was just saying those prayers mechanically.
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Post by goz on May 17, 2018 4:30:39 GMT
I'll allow "praying" as a form of meditation for this question I am an agnostic atheist and secular humanist with an interest in the philosophy of Buddhism. I meditate sometimes and find it very helpful in my search for self, calm introspection relaxation leading to a peace of mind and personal knowledge. My quest is internal and for self improvement and self knowledge as opposed to what I see as 'prayer' which is to an exterior non-existent being, so ineffective and a waste of time. |
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Post by rachelcarson1953 on May 17, 2018 4:59:37 GMT
I'll allow "praying" as a form of meditation for this question I am an agnostic atheist and secular humanist with an interest in the philosophy of Buddhism. I meditate sometimes and find it very helpful in my search for self, calm introspection relaxation leading to a peace of mind and personal knowledge. My quest is internal and for self improvement and self knowledge as opposed to what I see as 'prayer' which is to an exterior non-existent being, so ineffective and a waste of time. I also view it as a form of biofeedback, I can lower my blood pressure and heart rate, lessen stress that is hard on the body, and in general improve health. This was validated when I had to undergo a procedure to have a central line inserted through a vein in my neck that went into my heart. The anesthesiologist explained the procedure, one with a fair amount of risk, and I asked him for a few moments to compose my thoughts. Instead of my heart rate increasing due to fear, it lowered my heart rate and made the hour wait, for an x-ray to confirm proper placement, less stressful. The attending nurse asked me, after the procedure, what was I doing, was it a form of biofeedback? Apparently I spooked the anesthesiologist by my physical reaction. |
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Post by clusium on May 17, 2018 5:00:19 GMT
I'll allow "praying" as a form of meditation for this question I try to pray at least once a day. |
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Post by clusium on May 17, 2018 5:03:13 GMT
I'll allow "praying" as a form of meditation for this question How about using beads to pray or meditate? Prayer/Meditation Beads |
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Post by OldSamVimes on May 17, 2018 5:07:53 GMT
All the time.
.. I don't use cell phones so it gives my brain something to do.
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Post by rachelcarson1953 on May 17, 2018 5:20:21 GMT
All the time. .. I don't use cell phones so it gives my brain something to do. Good for you! I'm of the opinion that cell phones damage brain cells, turning them to mush. You are enhancing your brain cells, a rare thing in today's society. |
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Post by OldSamVimes on May 17, 2018 6:20:16 GMT
All the time. .. I don't use cell phones so it gives my brain something to do. Good for you! I'm of the opinion that cell phones damage brain cells, turning them to mush. You are enhancing your brain cells, a rare thing in today's society. This might sound weird.. but when I'm out and I see people staring at their phones I feel like I have a superpower. It's like walking past rows of people doing crack and having the willpower to abstain. |
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Post by Aj_June on May 17, 2018 6:28:40 GMT
Good for you! I'm of the opinion that cell phones damage brain cells, turning them to mush. You are enhancing your brain cells, a rare thing in today's society. It's like walking past rows of people doing crack and having the willpower to abstain. I am not sure it's a good thing to feel powerful by doing a normal thing.
I do have a cell phone but I use that only for talking to my family and may be 2 or 3 friends. I don't think I have had a call even from those 2 or 3 friends in last 6 months as I usually do not entertain people on phone. I do find it annoying if someone uses their cellphone a lot.
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Post by goz on May 17, 2018 7:56:18 GMT
All the time. .. I don't use cell phones so it gives my brain something to do. Good for you! I'm of the opinion that cell phones damage brain cells, turning them to mush. You are enhancing your brain cells, a rare thing in today's society. They are also 'ANTI-SOCIAL' in too many ways to mention. A trivial one is when I was walking down the street behind a woman and she suddenly just stops in the middle of the footpath and I run into the back of her and she swears at ma...this is in addition to the people who are walking like zombies on the footpath watching their phones and run into you, and others and even lamp posts and bins on the footpath... Seriously? There is also an increase in pedestrian deaths and injuries as people cross the road and are not concentrating. |
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2018 8:13:08 GMT
I used to
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Post by OldSamVimes on May 17, 2018 10:17:15 GMT
It's like walking past rows of people doing crack and having the willpower to abstain. I am not sure it's a good thing to feel powerful by doing a normal thing.
These days, being able to leave the house not attached to a gadget is an abnormal thing. I celebrate things that most other people completely fail to notice. |
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Post by OldSamVimes on May 17, 2018 10:19:25 GMT
Good for you! I'm of the opinion that cell phones damage brain cells, turning them to mush. You are enhancing your brain cells, a rare thing in today's society. There is also an increase in pedestrian deaths and injuries as people cross the road and are not concentrating. Good. If a person is spending over three hours a day staring at their cell phone you could argue they weren't alive to begin with. Unconscious zombies are not really alive. |
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Post by clusium on May 17, 2018 13:18:45 GMT
I'll allow "praying" as a form of meditation for this question What about Yoga too, since it was a form of spirituality, before it became a form of exercise. |
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Post by rachelcarson1953 on May 17, 2018 14:59:38 GMT
Good for you! I'm of the opinion that cell phones damage brain cells, turning them to mush. You are enhancing your brain cells, a rare thing in today's society. They are also 'ANTI-SOCIAL' in too many ways to mention. A trivial one is when I was walking down the street behind a woman and she suddenly just stops in the middle of the footpath and I run into the back of her and she swears at ma...this is in addition to the people who are walking like zombies on the footpath watching their phones and run into you, and others and even lamp posts and bins on the footpath... Seriously? There is also an increase in pedestrian deaths and injuries as people cross the road and are not concentrating. Not concentrating... I used to be guilty of that when I got into photography, years ago when they still used film. Every outing was a photo op, and yes, I got some great nature photos and travel photos. But one day, I ran out of film, my husband was with me, and rather than go flying into a town to get film, he said, maybe you should experience this time NOT looking through the lens of a camera, just be in the moment. He was right. Not every experience needs to be captured visually. He and I made some great memories together, no photos exist, but as an artist, I can create a visual from my memory and a few refer-to photos, like of snow falling in the Rocky mountains and Clydesdale mares and foals frolicking in the snow for the first time. He wanted me to experience the moment, not just get the best photo of it. People on cell phones are missing what is going on around them. |
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2018 15:28:56 GMT
I don't really get what meditation is. More power to people if they enjoy it or find it useful, but every description of it I've ever seen appears to me to just be sitting and maybe thinking about stuff.
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Post by Aj_June on May 17, 2018 15:36:18 GMT
I don't really get what meditation is. More power to people if they enjoy it or find it useful, but every description of it I've ever seen appears to me to just be sitting and maybe thinking about stuff. Lol.....I kind of think like you. Well, but perhaps I just don't have the feeling. I am also a bit impatient types. But for life of me I don't get what meditation is all about. |
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Post by rachelcarson1953 on May 17, 2018 15:48:57 GMT
I don't really get what meditation is. More power to people if they enjoy it or find it useful, but every description of it I've ever seen appears to me to just be sitting and maybe thinking about stuff. You can focus on your breathing or on repeating a mantra, but it shuts off the constant chatter in your brain and you start to see other thoughts bubbling to the surface. It also changes your physical functioning; breathing becomes slower and deeper, heart rate drops, BP drops. You can take a Xanax for anxiety or you can meditate. I learned it at a Transcendental Meditation center, the 'religious' aspect can be ignored, it really is a form of biofeedback. |
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Post by goz on May 17, 2018 23:05:05 GMT
I learned I don't really get what meditation is. More power to people if they enjoy it or find it useful, but every description of it I've ever seen appears to me to just be sitting and maybe thinking about stuff. Lol.....I kind of think like you. Well, but perhaps I just don't have the feeling. I am also a bit impatient types. But for life of me I don't get what meditation is all about. This is to you and Graham and as you can see I 'liked' Rachel's post because I agree with it. It is difficult both to describe meditation and it is relatively difficult to learn. Even at a low level I would describe it rather as not sitting quietly and thinking about stuff ( which is also sometimes a good thing except for the interior and exterior distractions ) butt more like a de-cluttering and de-briefing for your brain and consciousness. If you believe ( as I do ) that we alone are totally responsible for our own thoughts and consequent actions, it is important not to be too distracted ALL the time and leave space for calm reflection. Ironically, you can do this by a process of training your brain to slow down ( and as Rachel said consequently your body ) and 'focus' on not so much. I learned this technique firstly from a phsychiatrist/hypnosis specialist to sort out PTSD after a car accident, and I used it to overcome anxiety and difficult times...even in childbirth etc. Later in life I came across a yoga teacher who furthered my interest and ability and then my doctor who had also come badly out of a car accident and we used to meditate together..... she actually became a Buddhist...I just use the philosophy and techniques. It can be useful in so many situation of stress, and also completely calm 'downtimes'. I particularly use it for insomnia and don't suffer any more AT ALL. |
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