Uses and misuses of mindfulness meditation

[firecat]

Executive summary: It's a tool, and as with many tools, you can either create/repair nifty stuff with it, or you can injure yourself with it.

http://www.tricycle.com/blog/meditation-nation

This helps me understand why, although I love studying Buddhism and listening to dharma talks, I resist the meditation part -- I've done enough of it to sense that there might be a lot of pain to wade through if I do it a lot more. (Not recommending this behavior, just observing.)

Comments

[silveradept]

I think I agree there - the philosophy is interesting, but I think my practice would orient away from meditation because of its intended effects. Might explain the strong Daoist streak that remains in my personal conceptions.

[firecat]

I'm curious to learn more about what you said here but I don't want you to feel pressured to give details in a place you don't control. Have you written about any of this in your own journal?

[silveradept]

I don't think I have, all that much, if at all. I'd have to journal-search myself and see...

...and if I did, I didn't use unique keywords in the text. If you would like, you could search as well, but I'm generally okay with exposition.

[firecat]

I'm curious about these things: What is the intended effect of your practice? How does that tie in with your Daoist streak?

[silveradept]

I don't have much actual deliberate and intentional practice, apart from work being one of those places that offers insight into the universe through unintentionally-funny scenarios, and trying to always be present in all interactions.

The Daoist streak is mostly a white guy trying to grasp at the idea of wu-wei and who has taken it to mean being able to be flexible in the face of obstacles and to be open to noticing nonstandard ways of getting around them.

That, and appreciating the hilarity of life when it presents itself (sometimes in retrospect, as things are sometimes too painful at the immediate moment.

[firecat]

I like your definition of wu-wei.

I used to use the I Ching sometimes. In college I took most of a course on the I Ching, but I couldn't get inspired to write the final paper. So I went to the prof and asked to drop the course. He didn't want me to, but he said "Let's throw the I Ching about it." We did and it said in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS "let her drop the course." I had NEVER gotten a clearer answer out of the I Ching about anything.

[silveradept]

I'm also cureently in the phase of life where wu-wei also means "Bide your time and look for the point where you can use the least effort to apply the greatest leverage."

Glad the I Ching was so clear.