Comments on: The Buddhist Brain http://generallythinking.com/blog/the-buddhist-brain-effects-of-three-types-of-meditation/ Life Articulated Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:00:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Scientia Pro Publica #16: Us, Friends, and Society http://generallythinking.com/blog/the-buddhist-brain-effects-of-three-types-of-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-4513 Scientia Pro Publica #16: Us, Friends, and Society Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:59:09 +0000 http://generallythinking.com/blog/?p=1385#comment-4513 [...] Thinking: What is the brain impact of different types of meditation (focused, open monitoring, [...] [...] Thinking: What is the brain impact of different types of meditation (focused, open monitoring, [...]

]]> By: Scientia Pro Publica #16: Us, Friends, and Society | SharpBrains http://generallythinking.com/blog/the-buddhist-brain-effects-of-three-types-of-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3813 Scientia Pro Publica #16: Us, Friends, and Society | SharpBrains Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:22:10 +0000 http://generallythinking.com/blog/?p=1385#comment-3813 [...] Thinking: What is the brain impact of different types of meditation (focused, open monitoring, [...] [...] Thinking: What is the brain impact of different types of meditation (focused, open monitoring, [...]

]]> By: Warren Davies http://generallythinking.com/blog/the-buddhist-brain-effects-of-three-types-of-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3682 Warren Davies Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:29:27 +0000 http://generallythinking.com/blog/?p=1385#comment-3682 Had a quick look - interesting, I shall look into this in more depth. Cheers, Warren Had a quick look – interesting, I shall look into this in more depth.

Cheers,
Warren

]]> By: Vitali http://generallythinking.com/blog/the-buddhist-brain-effects-of-three-types-of-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3665 Vitali Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:26:14 +0000 http://generallythinking.com/blog/?p=1385#comment-3665 Warren: Look up (even through Wikipedia) a researcher called Ian Stevenson. Fascinating. Warren: Look up (even through Wikipedia) a researcher called Ian Stevenson. Fascinating.

]]> By: Warren Davies http://generallythinking.com/blog/the-buddhist-brain-effects-of-three-types-of-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3594 Warren Davies Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:21:25 +0000 http://generallythinking.com/blog/?p=1385#comment-3594 Kenji, Alright, I'll give 30 minutes a day a try for a while, see how it works out. Yes I've had that 'song in the head' phenomenon too. Thanks for the link, looks very useful. I've tried an mp3 from http://www.mentalworkout.com/, it seems ok so far but I'm going to give it a longer test before could say for sure. I did wonder if using a 'guide' during mindfulness is a bit counter-productive? Kind of like doing weights, but having a spotter take most of the weight. You're not getting a proper workout. I might email them and see what their opinion on that is. Mohinder, Yes it does seem validated. Would be a great trait to have, I feel. Yes I agree that other claims seem far-fetched...things like reincarnations...I don't have a clue how that could even be tested either. Warren Kenji,

Alright, I’ll give 30 minutes a day a try for a while, see how it works out. Yes I’ve had that ’song in the head’ phenomenon too. Thanks for the link, looks very useful. I’ve tried an mp3 from http://www.mentalworkout.com/, it seems ok so far but I’m going to give it a longer test before could say for sure.

I did wonder if using a ‘guide’ during mindfulness is a bit counter-productive? Kind of like doing weights, but having a spotter take most of the weight. You’re not getting a proper workout. I might email them and see what their opinion on that is.

Mohinder,

Yes it does seem validated. Would be a great trait to have, I feel. Yes I agree that other claims seem far-fetched…things like reincarnations…I don’t have a clue how that could even be tested either.

Warren

]]> By: mohinder http://generallythinking.com/blog/the-buddhist-brain-effects-of-three-types-of-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3587 mohinder Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:24:40 +0000 http://generallythinking.com/blog/?p=1385#comment-3587 Thanks for posting that. I had heard about these Buddhist dudes being able to show no sign of reaction under the most provocative of conditions and wondered if any of this had been independently and scientifically validated. Glad to hear its not all just some kind of supernatural nonsense. Though I still have reservations about some of Buddhists more far-fetched claims. Thanks for posting that. I had heard about these Buddhist dudes being able to show no sign of reaction under the most provocative of conditions and wondered if any of this had been independently and scientifically validated.

Glad to hear its not all just some kind of supernatural nonsense. Though I still have reservations about some of Buddhists more far-fetched claims.

]]> By: Kenji Crosland http://generallythinking.com/blog/the-buddhist-brain-effects-of-three-types-of-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3583 Kenji Crosland Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:08:02 +0000 http://generallythinking.com/blog/?p=1385#comment-3583 I've been doing 30 minutes daily. I've noticed that the longer you do it, the more quiet your thoughts get. Several times I had songs stuck in my head when I started meditating. I just concentrated on my breathing and stopped worrying about the music in the background. Eventually the music dissipated. It seems like the more time you give less attention to your thoughts, and more on your breathing, your thoughts seem to slow down and grow more quiet. At least that's my own anecdotal experience. Sometimes it takes 20 minutes for my thoughts to finally quiet down and sometimes it takes less. It depends on how emotionally agitated I am that day. I found this meditation guide very helpful, by the way: http://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/talks/details?num=M10A I’ve been doing 30 minutes daily. I’ve noticed that the longer you do it, the more quiet your thoughts get. Several times I had songs stuck in my head when I started meditating. I just concentrated on my breathing and stopped worrying about the music in the background. Eventually the music dissipated.

It seems like the more time you give less attention to your thoughts, and more on your breathing, your thoughts seem to slow down and grow more quiet. At least that’s my own anecdotal experience.

Sometimes it takes 20 minutes for my thoughts to finally quiet down and sometimes it takes less. It depends on how emotionally agitated I am that day.

I found this meditation guide very helpful, by the way:

http://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/talks/details?num=M10A

]]> By: Warren Davies http://generallythinking.com/blog/the-buddhist-brain-effects-of-three-types-of-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3572 Warren Davies Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:05:55 +0000 http://generallythinking.com/blog/?p=1385#comment-3572 Hey Kenji, How long do you meditate for on each session? I've found that if I do 15 minutes of meditation, I can do it fine for 2-3 days, but after that it becomes really difficult to stay focused during meditation. I was speaking to a guy on my course who was part of a 3 month study (8 hours per day) of meditation, he likens it to exercise, you've got to keep doing it and keep practising to keep the results. Warren Hey Kenji,

How long do you meditate for on each session? I’ve found that if I do 15 minutes of meditation, I can do it fine for 2-3 days, but after that it becomes really difficult to stay focused during meditation.

I was speaking to a guy on my course who was part of a 3 month study (8 hours per day) of meditation, he likens it to exercise, you’ve got to keep doing it and keep practising to keep the results.

Warren

]]> By: Kenji Crosland http://generallythinking.com/blog/the-buddhist-brain-effects-of-three-types-of-meditation/comment-page-1/#comment-3462 Kenji Crosland Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:52:46 +0000 http://generallythinking.com/blog/?p=1385#comment-3462 Interesting. That's the first time I've heard of compassion meditation. I think I'll look into it. Although I've only recently started meditation I've noticed that my mental focus has improved quite noticeably. Awareness of my own emotions and the emotions of others, however, hasn't seemed to have changed much. Interesting. That’s the first time I’ve heard of compassion meditation. I think I’ll look into it. Although I’ve only recently started meditation I’ve noticed that my mental focus has improved quite noticeably. Awareness of my own emotions and the emotions of others, however, hasn’t seemed to have changed much.

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