Yakoob on 4/8/2015 at 19:49
Now that that Yoga is not as hip and cool anymore, a new 'fad' is growing - mediation and mindfulness. The (
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-mindfulness-good-medicine/) research is a little torn on how beneficial it really is but many people (anecdotally) swear by it. Well, at least it so appears in America. Since we have so many folk from all over the world, I'm curios how the practice has been viewed in other countries? I can imagine eastern societies where it originated rolling their eyes westerners merely discovering it now, heh. Curious about other Euro folk tho.
In my personal experience, I haven't fully committed to it, but the short term results were pretty mixed. Sometimes it would help me calm down, otherwise it did nothing but waste an uncomfortable 10 minutes. I can see the benefit of being able to really "focus on the moment" and (temporarily) brush away all the unneeded thoughts and stresses. Why let tomorrow's worries ruin a good night out, right?
But it does come (
http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/03/14/when-meditation-worsens-depression-or-anxiety/) with its own risks that could make things like depression/anxiety worse. I've read before that CBT's effectiveness seems to be slowly declining (which, apparently, is typical for new therapy methods over their long lifespan)* so mindfullness and mediation may be the next thing to try. At least as an addition. Different tools for different situations (changing thoughts vs. accepting and detaching).
* something I read on a few psych blogs I follow, not as an attack on the method but more of just an expected observation.
WingedKagouti on 4/8/2015 at 20:06
I know that meditation helped me get over my own depression a couple of years back. However, that was primarily done during therapy sessions, with psychologists running the seance, where people were allowed to react with support from the rest of the group before, during and after meditation.
demagogue on 4/8/2015 at 22:05
I hear more about it working in Asian countries -- Japan, Burma, Thailand -- more explicitly being a religious practice, so not too different from the way people proselytize Christianity in America, like they're on the frontlines defending a worldview in traditional territory for it where it seems like it's under attack. So they're more assertive about it. And there isn't so much of the pretense that you get in the US where advocates want to say it's also scientifically supported with research; even aside from the religious side you'd want to do it for a healthy life... Well there's some of that too, but usually as doing backup to the main point that at its core it's a religious practice for spiritual healing, or anyway they don't shy away from that point like Westerners do more.
As for their attitude looking at it in the West... Depends on the audience. On the religious side, it may be the people I know (Asians living in the US or Europe), but I don't see them eye rolling at the West's catching on so much as the prosytalist's excitement, since they themselves think meditation is the salvation of human-kind, and decrying it getting ridiculed in traditional Buddhist countries, they're as ecstatic seeing Westerns opening up to the practice as US Christians are at some Asian tribe being faithful followers of Jesus.
Then there's the secular types from traditionally Buddhist countries, Japan especially and Thailand maaaybe somewhat (Burma is still quite traditionalist, I wonder about China/HK/Taiwan). They're already rolling their eyes at meditation like secular types in the US or Europe roll their eyes at prayer. So they're going to be shaking their heads seeing Westerners take it up, or curiosity wondering why. I was thinking in Japan people might be pro-meditation, even if they weren't so religious, but just culturally. But talking to people, I get more outright skepticism; if they're not religiously motivated, the whole edifice seems to collapse on it AFAI can see generally.
Tony_Tarantula on 4/8/2015 at 23:58
Yes, it can make you more unbalanced. It can either help you come to terms with issues and relax about them or it can "unbottle" you so to speak and cause your crazy to run wild. Use caution.
Personally I'm not really into meditation much but every so often I will attempt to use some of the techniques to calm my mind down. It's good training for me because I'm the kind of person who is always crazy energetic and who has a massive amount of nervous energy. Learning to "meditate" is a good way to slow that train down and take more control.
bjack on 5/8/2015 at 05:56
Look up the TM movement. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Beatles. I've dabbled in it for 4 decades. Works. Be careful. And it is not for relaxation. Correct meditation physically is like drinking a pot of coffee and eating a bag of sugar. It sort of wakes you up a bit. Do not do it before bed. I don't do it much now because I fear the racing heart beat. I have experienced the most intense emotions and thoughts during TM. It can be wonderful and dangerous at the same time.
Yakoob on 5/8/2015 at 06:06
Quote Posted by demagogue
I hear more about it working in Asian countries -- Japan, Burma, Thailand -- more explicitly being a religious practice,
Adding to that, my Uni was an tiny, unusual school founded by japanese Buddhist group, so a good 80 to 90 percent of everyone there belonged to it, even if it was secular. And the influences showed - it was common, walking at night through the halls, to hear group chanting coming from multiple doors. Various groups and activities were also organized by students to discuss the main tenants. Most of non members students complained how they frequently felt excluded, tho it never bothered me much Personally.
Few years later I actually decided to give the chanting a whirl. It's basically repeating a certain mantra in Japanese over and over, varying tone and speed. While I didn't feel any form of enlightened, it was actually pretty pleasant. Your chest begins to reverberate rythmically while your mind clears by focusing on the words. Not too dissimilar from mantra meditation I recon.
Quote Posted by WingedKagouti
However, that was primarily done during therapy sessions, with psychologists running the seance, where people were allowed to react with support from the rest of the group before, during and after meditation.
Interesting. I've always heard of meditation being more of an individual thing, perhaps with a guidance of a counselor. Never been to a group mediation but heard or some do that. Curious how that compares; certainties must make it much more social.
