tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post1786473637872135399..comments2024-03-27T23:47:41.656-07:00Comments on Whole Health Source: MeditationStephan Guyenethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09218114625524777250noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-3099126631142851962012-02-26T05:02:35.878-08:002012-02-26T05:02:35.878-08:00I know this post is four years old, but it still a...I know this post is four years old, but it still appears open for comments, and I believe mine is relevant.<br /><br />There is a reason why skilled meditation teachers don't post quick instructions.<br /><br />Such 'teaching' produces only relaxation, at best, not the expansion of consciousness and reduction of trait anxiety that truly improves life.<br /><br />Placing the awareness on the body or on the breathing does not allow the mind to do what it wants most: to transcend thought entirely and experience pure awareness, without distraction.<br /><br />Transcending requires a subtle technique, which in turn requires skilled instruction. It requires a deep understanding of consciousness, the mind, and the nature of stress.<br /><br />But it's worth learning, according to research conducted by hundreds of independent scientists. Even we, a small volunteer organization, have published two papers in peer-reviewed psychology journals on the reduction in state and trait anxiety produced by transcending.<br /><br />Information at www.tm.org for Transcendental Meditation (TM) and at www.nsrusa.org for Natural Stress Relief (NSR), the two principal sources for instruction in transcending.<br /><br />David Spector<br />President,<br />Natural Stress Relief/USADavid Spectorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17730581730107240099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-53448432774167555372011-02-11T08:55:50.630-08:002011-02-11T08:55:50.630-08:00There is also taijiquan "standing" medit...There is also taijiquan "standing" meditation. Same idea - posture, alignment, relaxation, breath observation and relaxation, calmness of mind - but in a standing, rather than a sitting, posture. It takes a good teacher at first to help the posture relax and grow strong. But the end is the same. To practice standing is to begin to learn the heart of taiqiquan.Scotlynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18252894052638140589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-85421743755968805672010-11-19T16:08:59.234-08:002010-11-19T16:08:59.234-08:00Living in China has availed to me, by deliberate m...Living in China has availed to me, by deliberate means, some degree of direct access to "pure" and traditional forms of martial arts of which I seem to only be interested in TaiJi. As I learn TaiJi and its forms, I have quite happily discovered the meditative state that is induced by "doing it right"... as in:<br />moving your hand from left to right quickly connects 2 coordinates. Slow down the same movement requires you connect more coordinates... now slow it down more while maintaining more complete awareness of you body as it to moves as your hand moves... and the coordinates you are connecting seem to be toward infinite.<br />For me and seemingly many others, the result is your mind and body "merge" and intermittently and with increasing duration, thought processes "stop" and the moment lingers in a deepening calm... ever deepening...lostinchinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14950921646722511076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-77283264714884848622010-10-04T19:39:37.293-07:002010-10-04T19:39:37.293-07:00Very good post. An excellent introduction.
I rec...Very good post. An excellent introduction.<br /><br />I recently started sitting zazen and am amazed at the profound effect it has had on my mind throughout the day. (I tend to sit in the mornings.)<br /><br />If you plan on starting to sit regularly, I highly recommend Shunryu Suzuki's, <i>Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind</i>. It is an excellent overview of Zen practice for beginners, but is equally beneficial for those who have tricked themselves into thinking they know what Zen is. I learn something new every time I read it.Trevor H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04152073217664540438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-5710695357126255892008-06-23T15:58:00.000-07:002008-06-23T15:58:00.000-07:00Reid, That's a cool study. I like the quote:"Thi...Reid,<BR/><BR/> That's a cool study. I like the quote:<BR/><BR/>"This attentional blink finding shows a little wedge of what might be a much larger dimension of experience that could be opened up by meditation techniques," said neuroscientist Clifford Saron at the University of California-Davis Center for Mind and Brain. "You can imagine that life is a series of attentional blinks, and we might be missing an awful lot of what's going on."<BR/><BR/><BR/>Yuneek,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the recommendation. I've heard about the exercise-BDNF-neurogenesis link. Intermittent fasting also increases BDNF. I believe the link between neurogenesis and cognitive ability is pretty murky though.Stephan Guyenethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218114625524777250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-32131231403355393772008-06-23T15:07:00.000-07:002008-06-23T15:07:00.000-07:00For those interested in the developing field of ne...For those interested in the developing field of neuroplasticity I highly recommend<BR/><BR/>The Brain That Changes Itself<BR/><BR/>by Norman Doidge<BR/><BR/><BR/>From the LiveScience article:<BR/><BR/>""People know physical exercise can improve the body, but our research and that of others holds out the prospects that mental exercise can improve minds."<BR/><BR/>Actually there is research that shows that physical exercise is one of the most potent developers of new neurons, even over "mental exercise". Complex real world movements being the best as compared with the modern gym world which involves the low level stimulus of sitting down at a machine and moving a lever.Yuneekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12544520482962296834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629175743855013102.post-57352095987960349522008-06-23T14:05:00.000-07:002008-06-23T14:05:00.000-07:00I think what's easier said than done for most peop...I think what's easier said than done for most people is the "clearing your mind" part. Focusing on breathing when the mind drifts is probably the most helpful basic practice. There's also a number of visualization techniques to use depending on what works best for oneself.<BR/><BR/>In modern society we're constantly inundated with information, so in a sense meditation is like an intermittent fast for the mind. Also, benefits of meditation seem to be supported by studies in the field of <A HREF="http://www.livescience.com/health/070507_mental_training.html" REL="nofollow">neuroplasticity</A>.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12825726029706055238noreply@blogger.com