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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zazenducky on September 13, 2006, at 19:42:17
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20060828-000001.xml
Posted by ClearSkies on September 14, 2006, at 10:44:34
In reply to Article on Meditation/Mindfulness, posted by zazenducky on September 13, 2006, at 19:42:17
Thanks, it's encouragement for me to continue my meditation practice.
CS
Posted by annierose on September 14, 2006, at 14:53:07
In reply to Article on Meditation/Mindfulness, posted by zazenducky on September 13, 2006, at 19:42:17
Thanks for the article. I have found meditation helpful in my own life. It quiets the mind, making me less reactive in life.
Posted by gardenergirl on September 14, 2006, at 15:02:09
In reply to Re: Article on Meditation/Mindfulness » zazenducky, posted by ClearSkies on September 14, 2006, at 10:44:34
I recently starting using that grounding visualization you described in the past--the one about growing roots down into the earth and pulling the light and energy back up. I found it very calming. Thanks!
gg
Posted by ClearSkies on September 14, 2006, at 19:25:17
In reply to Re: Article on Meditation/Mindfulness » ClearSkies, posted by gardenergirl on September 14, 2006, at 15:02:09
Way cool!
Posted by finelinebob on September 15, 2006, at 1:07:24
In reply to Article on Meditation/Mindfulness, posted by zazenducky on September 13, 2006, at 19:42:17
I find a lot of value and solace in meditation, including some methods I've learned from Buddhist teachers.
But reading about it in Psychology Today? I'm sorry, I couldn't even get past the first page .. maybe the article improves after that.
But "A Buddhist scholar who examines the interface between science and religion, he believes that much of human suffering is our own doing." Duh? The author should have done a little homework -- it's a central tenet of Buddhism that suffering is of our own doing. It **is** the "human condition".
Posted by zazenducky on September 15, 2006, at 8:17:07
In reply to Re: Article on Meditation/Mindfulness, posted by finelinebob on September 15, 2006, at 1:07:24
> I find a lot of value and solace in meditation, including some methods I've learned from Buddhist teachers.
>
> But reading about it in Psychology Today? I'm sorry,why are you sorry?
I couldn't even get past the first page .. maybe the article improves after that.Thanks for sharing :)
>
> But "A Buddhist scholar who examines the interface between science and religion, he believes that much of human suffering is our own doing." Duh? The author should have done a little homework -- it's a central tenet of Buddhism that suffering is of our own doing. It **is** the "human condition".If he's a Buddhist scholar he probably has done a little homework but that doesn't mean you need to agree with him. Is your point that ALL of human suffering is our own doing and the person was quoted as saying "much"? I think the point was that suffering is caused by grasping and attachment to emotions and thoughts and people can modify that by meditating and training the mind to let go and accept rather than grasping.
I'm glad you find solace in meditaion:)
CS and annierose thanks for replying. I thought the parts about the brain changes was interesting too.
Posted by ClearSkies on September 15, 2006, at 9:24:49
In reply to Re: Article on Meditation/Mindfulness, posted by finelinebob on September 15, 2006, at 1:07:24
I watched a very interesting travel programme on TV the other day. The presenter travelled to India and met with an esteemed yogi. The discussion came around to the explosion of yoga studios in the US and how perhaps the students are missing the point of yoga; that it's not merely a form of exercise but so much more. The yogi said something like, when a baby is learning how to walk and talk, it doesn't understand the movements and noises it makes in doing so, but making the movements and noises leads to learning how to walk and talk. Even if yoga students are just touching on a single aspect of their practice (the physical benefits), they are nonetheless on the road to a bonafide yoga experience.
My meditation practice is in its infancy. I often find that my mind roams all over the place, or is blissfully still for a moment or two. I would never claim to be proficient in it. I am reaping many pyschological benefits from practicing, and that's what this piece from the magazine seemed to be pointing out.
I didn't interpret the article as an instructional piece on Buddhism.
Posted by annierose on September 15, 2006, at 15:40:24
In reply to Re: Article on Meditation/Mindfulness » finelinebob, posted by ClearSkies on September 15, 2006, at 9:24:49
Well said. Thank you for expressing those thoughts --- I would not have been able to do so.
I feel the same way. It's so hard to keep my mind blank during meditation. I keep going back to focusing on my breath --- then the thought "what will I make for dinner?" creeps in ...
Posted by finelinebob on September 15, 2006, at 20:17:36
In reply to Re: Article on Meditation/Mindfulness, posted by zazenducky on September 15, 2006, at 8:17:07
> > But reading about it in Psychology Today? I'm sorry,
>
> why are you sorry?It's not so much the "I'm sorry" as the "I'm sorry, but".
Because having been trained to staggering levels of academic arrogance as a research psychologist, my immediate reaction to anything in Psychology Today is condescending. Which is quite unfortunate, since a lot of people get a lot of good from the magazine.
So, no "but" this time. I'm sorry. It was an unbecoming comment.
> If he's a Buddhist scholar he probably has done a little homework but that doesn't mean you need to agree with him. Is your point that ALL of human suffering is our own doing and the person was quoted as saying "much"? I think the point was that suffering is caused by grasping and attachment to emotions and thoughts and people can modify that by meditating and training the mind to let go and accept rather than grasping.
I meant the article **author** should have done her homework. There is nothing novel about a Buddhist stating that suffering is the human condition, it comes from our actions, and that meditation is the path to freeing oneself from such suffering. By attributing the belief to the scholar and not to Buddhism, much like the yogi's comments on many people's practice of yoga that ClearSkies talks about, the author misses the deeper point. The idea may have been novel to the author but, then again, that's the point of doing your homework. All she need to do was go to the Wikipedia and she could have presented a more "enlightened" perspective on the role of meditation for Buddhists, and perhaps drawn a sharper distinction between a simple practice of meditation and how the scholar may have gone beyond this.
For those who have trouble quieting your minds, know that this is common for nearly everyone starting off. I have two suggestions, depending on which you feel more drawn to.First, meditate on one thing, and one thing only. It is common in Buddhist tradition to have a picture or, for lack of a better word, a totem of your teacher. Accept someone as your teacher is accepting that person as someone more enlightened and, therefore, a fitting guide for you on your path. If you have no "teacher", I'd suggest reading a book from one of (who I found to be) the more inspirational modern Buddhist authors such as Thich Naht Hanh ("No Death, No Fear: Comforting Wisdom for Life") or Pema Chödrön ("The Places that Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times"). Even the book titles suggest both the nature of suffering and the spiritual battle against it. Read the books and, if you find them inspiring, then photocopy the picture(s) of the author(s) and focus on them, eyes open or closed. If that doesn't sound like you, then light a candle a focus on the dance of the flame or set out a single flower and meditate upon its petals. All this goes towards disciplining your mind to tune out distractions and tune in to something inspirational.
Another approach that someone mentioned (sorry, can't remember who) is progressive relaxation. Starting at your feet, walk your mind up your body as slowly as possible, relaxing each part in turn. I actually like to "flex" each part, to stress it first, to draw my focus to it even more firmly and, perhaps, to pull together the stress in that area so I can release it all at once. Progression relaxation also teaches focusing and helps establish a frame of mind for deep meditation, but it is limited ... you do only have so many parts of your body.
What I like to do once I've made that progression is to turn over control of my mind to my "third eye", the anja chakra (one name for it), and to look within slowly, gently, for places of tensionm sometimes called a "sensed feeling". I had it recenty described to me this way: You're at some gathering, and someone you recognize walks up to you. You cannot recall her name. Can you remember such an occurance and recall the physical sensation inside of you caused by that uncomfort? That is a sensed feeling. You may also remember the sense of relief, of **release** when you remember the person's name. And that is the point of this practice. To identify sensed feelings and pay them the love and attention they deserve, allowing them to unfold themselves on their own terms, healing if that is needed, reinfusing yourself with remembered joy if that is more appropriate.
One last point. The Buddhist teacher I learned the first technique from brought in some colored pencils and plain paper late in the course. After spending sometime in mediation, she asked us to stop and draw what the feeling of mediation was like. Quite a few people focused on realism, drawing the things they had on their mind. A number of us went a bit (or quite a bit) abstract. If you ever try this, I'd say go abstract. It was quite fun and quite surprising.
This is the end of the thread.
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