Poll of the Day > Mindfulness meditation?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Anyone have experience with it?
Is so, hoe has the practice impacted you as a person?
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I wish people would stfu about mindfulness. No offence at all to you TC
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FatalAccident posted...

I wish people would stfu about mindfulness. No offence at all to you TC

Non taken. I would just like a real answer, that's all. And by posting the question here I hope to learn something that a HOW MEDITATION MADE ME AWESOME article won't.
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My astrology/parapsychology books had a few chapters on it... the goal is to somehow become aware of extra-personal things by simultaneously become hyperaware while blocking all stimulus.

Basically, through mediation alone, have an experience similar to a sensory deprivation chamber.

...
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Many times my case workers and even my mom have tried mindfulness techniques with me.

This is my opinion, but I find it to be a load of crap, like all of Buddhism, because it teaches to find bliss in the present moment and shut off all responsibility. Instead of working to solve problems, it teaches people that it's ok to sit on your ass like the great Buddha and do nothing, as long as it feels good. This can lead to mental illness.

"Beware of wisdom that isn't earned" - Carl Jung

minervo posted...

"Beware of wisdom that isn't earned"

Fair point, however I would argue that mindfulness does take time and real effort, and is not an excuse to lazy around.
I have started and dropped it several times due to laziness. It sounds like a no effort kind of deal, but it's so difficult (for me) to sit still and keep returning to the breath when I would rather be jerking off or watching anime. I'm assuming that this kind of discipline somehow makes the mind stronger, although I am not sure in what way.
(I'm hoping to run into someone here who persevered and could tell me whether or not my assumption is true)
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Lokarin posted...

My astrology/parapsychology books had a few chapters on it... the goal is to somehow become aware of extra-personal things by simultaneously become hyperaware while blocking all stimulus.

Basically, through mediation alone, have an experience similar to a sensory deprivation chamber.

...

Ignore this post as a means to a legit answer, please. That may be what some have said about it, but that's not a legit, clinical thing.

Mindfulness is good for improving self-discipline and focus, among other things like patience. It does not give you heightened senses or powers or anything outlandish like that. It will not make you magically better at handling stress either, but it is a good tool for calming down when stressed if you're using it well in conjunction with other stress management tools.

Any site or video claiming to make you some sort of guru or to be able to solve all of your life problems is just trying to get your ad/subscription money. It's nice for relaxing, but it isn't some super special thing to be used in lieu of professional mental health support or necessary medicine. At best, it's a good stress management tool for minor to moderate mental and emotional problems as a coping mechanism, but not for a solution process.

Buddhists have the added advantage that they have been trained from birth to do mindfulness meditation. They were allowed to sit all day and to do nothing early on, so their minds are not plagued by the burdens we westerners face because we were forced to do things like school and work. For most people it's impossible not to have bad thoughts come when meditating like regret, anxiety, etc and that's what leads to distractions like porn and anime. Why don't you go to a Buddhist temple and ask them, it could be a cool experience.

minervo posted...

This is my opinion, but I find it to be a load of crap, like all of Buddhism, because it teaches to find bliss in the present moment and shut off all responsibility. Instead of working to solve problems, it teaches people that it's ok to sit on your ass like the great Buddha and do nothing, as long as it feels good. This can lead to mental illness.

Kind of missed the message there, then. It's not meant to be a solution-focused tool, rather, it's an assist to de-escalating stress to get to a sane mental state where you feel in control and are able to more effectively accomplish things and meet your responsibilities head-on.

You should also take any sort of spirituality or religion with a grain of salt, fam.

I've been a student of mindfulness for over 20 years. It's good stuff.
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GanglyKhan posted...

Lokarin posted...

My astrology/parapsychology books had a few chapters on it... the goal is to somehow become aware of extra-personal things by simultaneously become hyperaware while blocking all stimulus.

Basically, through mediation alone, have an experience similar to a sensory deprivation chamber.

...

Ignore this post as a means to a legit answer, please. That may be what some have said about it, but that's not a legit, clinical thing.

.

Since my post was neutral, defending/attacking neither side - why?
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GanglyKhan posted...

minervo posted...

This is my opinion, but I find it to be a load of crap, like all of Buddhism, because it teaches to find bliss in the present moment and shut off all responsibility. Instead of working to solve problems, it teaches people that it's ok to sit on your ass like the great Buddha and do nothing, as long as it feels good. This can lead to mental illness.

Kind of missed the message there, then. It's not meant to be a solution-focused tool, rather, it's an assist to de-escalating stress to get to a sane mental state where you feel in control and are able to more effectively accomplish things and meet your responsibilities head-on.

You should also take any sort of spirituality or religion with a grain of salt, fam.

I suppose I differ in that I like to dive head-first into things like this rather than dipping my feet, because I am passionate about these things.

minervo posted...

I suppose I differ in that I like to dive head-first into things like this rather than dipping my feet, because I am passionate about these things.

I can respect that. Go big or go home, yeah? I'd say that people should observe and think about things in a very open minded, but also cautious manner until coming to a conclusion, then act. It's at that acting point that going all out helps, with a periodic review of how things are going.

Studies suggest that if you can do it and stick with it it's very good for you.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3679190/

But, like anything else related to something that needs training, you need to actually want to do it and make it work.
If you go in saying it's not going to work and give up after 5 tries it probably won't help you out very much.