Comments on: The Results Are In — Experiment No. 1, Day 30 http://www.raptitude.com/2009/05/the-results-are-in-experiment-no-1-day-30/ The gentle art of sanity amidst civilization Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:44:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gita Madhu http://www.raptitude.com/2009/05/the-results-are-in-experiment-no-1-day-30/#comment-20516 Gita Madhu Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:37:54 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=948#comment-20516 I have not read this post in too great a detail but my father (who was well versed in forms of meditation-both traditional Hindu methods as he was a scholarly Brahmin, and Buddhist methods-he had almost apprenticed with a Buddhist monk friend of his who later became a Theravada) advised very short sessions. In fact, his method was one second meditation. The meditations he personally taught me were: 1. A form of the TM-I used his given mantra of Om Namo Bhagavathe (May I be like Thee). I used to do it in any comfortable posture, 5 minutes with eyes open , reciting the mantra loudly, 5 minutes with eyes closed and reciting the mantra in a lower voice, lastly five minutes with eyes closed uttering the mantra in the mind. He used to ask me to imagine the sound coming from somewhere-maybe a temple 2. Points of contact -few seconds-feel the points of contact of the body. It dispels fatigue among other things. I used this when I had to work on lengthy translations with tight deadlines-day and night work and almost no sleep. 3. Priming the senses meditation-again for a few seconds only (his logic is that we can only focus for a second or two at a time (he himself had sat long hours in dhyan in a room with no fan and mosquitoes etc). Just focus without words or too many words on each of the senses. Again this mode quickly provides a refreshed state both physically and mentally. 3. Panchabhoota-the five elements. He never taught this in much detail but the practice is to identify quickly with the five elements or to meditate on them. This also provides energy. Shavasan or corpse pose meditation combined with total body (part by part awareness) is very handy About sleepiness, I too had experienced this and do recall that Sri Aurobindo has written about it. I really salute you! I wish my father was alive so I could show him your meditation log. He used to always talk about such scientific experimentation as he was a psychiatrist focussed on neuroscience. I have not read this post in too great a detail but my father (who was well versed in forms of meditation-both traditional Hindu methods as he was a scholarly Brahmin, and Buddhist methods-he had almost apprenticed with a Buddhist monk friend of his who later became a Theravada) advised very short sessions. In fact, his method was one second meditation.
The meditations he personally taught me were:
1. A form of the TM-I used his given mantra of Om Namo Bhagavathe (May I be like Thee). I used to do it in any comfortable posture, 5 minutes with eyes open , reciting the mantra loudly, 5 minutes with eyes closed and reciting the mantra in a lower voice, lastly five minutes with eyes closed uttering the mantra in the mind. He used to ask me to imagine the sound coming from somewhere-maybe a temple
2. Points of contact -few seconds-feel the points of contact of the body. It dispels fatigue among other things. I used this when I had to work on lengthy translations with tight deadlines-day and night work and almost no sleep.
3. Priming the senses meditation-again for a few seconds only (his logic is that we can only focus for a second or two at a time (he himself had sat long hours in dhyan in a room with no fan and mosquitoes etc). Just focus without words or too many words on each of the senses. Again this mode quickly provides a refreshed state both physically and mentally.
3. Panchabhoota-the five elements. He never taught this in much detail but the practice is to identify quickly with the five elements or to meditate on them. This also provides energy.
Shavasan or corpse pose meditation combined with total body (part by part awareness) is very handy
About sleepiness, I too had experienced this and do recall that Sri Aurobindo has written about it.
I really salute you! I wish my father was alive so I could show him your meditation log. He used to always talk about such scientific experimentation as he was a psychiatrist focussed on neuroscience.
Gita Madhu´s last [type] ..THE PHYSIOLOGY OF AIM by N.C.Surya

]]> By: Sarah Taylor http://www.raptitude.com/2009/05/the-results-are-in-experiment-no-1-day-30/#comment-13624 Sarah Taylor Fri, 04 Feb 2011 08:07:12 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=948#comment-13624 I loved this! I teach meditation and what you experienced was quite normal. There seems to be a wall people hit and resistance in many forms takes over. But you didn't succumb. You kept showing up and meeting the moment - how you were each day and each moment physically, mentally, emotionally, energetically. And you seemed to release attachment to your practice being "just so". Doubt is one of the hindrances, according to The Buddha. It can arise as doubt in meditation itself, doubt in which practice in which to engage, doubt in one's ability, doubt that the clarity and ease one experienced just the day before was even "real" and on and on and on. Aaaah, doubt. But you kept going! Wise of you to finally pick a practice or method and stick with it, yet allow for movement and flexibility within that. It is often recommended one decides on a practice and then stick to it for 40 days. This is beneficial for many reasons, one of which being that it uproots "grass is greener" craving and you simply have to meet and go deeply in to your choice. Many meditators start a practice and expect the sky to open up and their life to suddenly change. You were wise in noticing the "small" ways awareness, clarity, presence and acceptance began to show itself in your daily life. Meditation has helped change my life, utterly and completely. But it creeps up on you. I'm so glad I found your site. ~ Sarah I loved this! I teach meditation and what you experienced was quite normal. There seems to be a wall people hit and resistance in many forms takes over. But you didn’t succumb. You kept showing up and meeting the moment – how you were each day and each moment physically, mentally, emotionally, energetically. And you seemed to release attachment to your practice being “just so”.

Doubt is one of the hindrances, according to The Buddha. It can arise as doubt in meditation itself, doubt in which practice in which to engage, doubt in one’s ability, doubt that the clarity and ease one experienced just the day before was even “real” and on and on and on. Aaaah, doubt. But you kept going!

Wise of you to finally pick a practice or method and stick with it, yet allow for movement and flexibility within that. It is often recommended one decides on a practice and then stick to it for 40 days. This is beneficial for many reasons, one of which being that it uproots “grass is greener” craving and you simply have to meet and go deeply in to your choice.

Many meditators start a practice and expect the sky to open up and their life to suddenly change. You were wise in noticing the “small” ways awareness, clarity, presence and acceptance began to show itself in your daily life. Meditation has helped change my life, utterly and completely. But it creeps up on you.

I’m so glad I found your site.

~ Sarah

]]> By: Olga http://www.raptitude.com/2009/05/the-results-are-in-experiment-no-1-day-30/#comment-5719 Olga Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:18:14 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=948#comment-5719 Dear David, Yes it is absolutely esential to have a teacher, you cant learn to meditate from books - you need a guide - that is for sure. What I have learned from my own experience is that if you want to try a particular technique, to see if it works, to see if it gives real benefit - try it for extended period - once a week, or even an hour per day is not enough. Few years ago I was lucky to come across Vipasana meditation :). It have changed me so much - gave me insight into many things, into life, into what I call myself. There are 10 day vipasana meditation courses that are held constantly all around the world. There they teach you, there you have a teacher who answers your questions about the technique and gives you instructions. All the details you will find @ www.dhamma.org . Try ;) Be happy! Olga Dear David,

Yes it is absolutely esential to have a teacher, you cant learn to meditate from books – you need a guide – that is for sure. What I have learned from my own experience is that if you want to try a particular technique, to see if it works, to see if it gives real benefit – try it for extended period – once a week, or even an hour per day is not enough.
Few years ago I was lucky to come across Vipasana meditation :). It have changed me so much – gave me insight into many things, into life, into what I call myself. There are 10 day vipasana meditation courses that are held constantly all around the world. There they teach you, there you have a teacher who answers your questions about the technique and gives you instructions. All the details you will find @ http://www.dhamma.org . Try ;)
Be happy!
Olga

]]> By: David http://www.raptitude.com/2009/05/the-results-are-in-experiment-no-1-day-30/#comment-2923 David Thu, 14 May 2009 01:17:19 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=948#comment-2923 @ Angie -- <blockquote>It reminds me of sitting in a classroom and you have the guy next to you who can’t stop shaking his leg, just so he can stand sitting there. </blockquote> This honestly made me laugh out loud Angie. I went to school with that guy too! Actually there were lots of them. I've noticed people doing that very thing (always guys though... hmm) and it made me grateful that I'm not <i>that</i> restless. But sometimes I am, it just manifests itself in other ways. @ Hilda -- No problem Hilda! Thanks for the link. :) @ Lori -- My mind is nuts too. It's disturbing. In fact, sitting down to look at exactly <i>how</i> nuts it is was really scary sometimes. That fascinates me, that something so integral is utterly out of my control. I sure did find out a lot though. @ Alison -- Yeah it felt good to get those negative thoughts down in words. I was really agitated! Experiment No. 2 will be announced on Friday. @ Angie —

It reminds me of sitting in a classroom and you have the guy next to you who can’t stop shaking his leg, just so he can stand sitting there.

This honestly made me laugh out loud Angie. I went to school with that guy too! Actually there were lots of them. I’ve noticed people doing that very thing (always guys though… hmm) and it made me grateful that I’m not that restless. But sometimes I am, it just manifests itself in other ways.

@ Hilda — No problem Hilda! Thanks for the link. :)

@ Lori — My mind is nuts too. It’s disturbing. In fact, sitting down to look at exactly how nuts it is was really scary sometimes. That fascinates me, that something so integral is utterly out of my control. I sure did find out a lot though.

@ Alison — Yeah it felt good to get those negative thoughts down in words. I was really agitated! Experiment No. 2 will be announced on Friday.

]]> By: Alison | Quest for Balance http://www.raptitude.com/2009/05/the-results-are-in-experiment-no-1-day-30/#comment-2904 Alison | Quest for Balance Wed, 13 May 2009 20:07:54 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=948#comment-2904 Hi, David. What an interesting experiment. I especially like that you included your bitter, negative thoughts, because these seem very "real" to me. I also have a hard time letting go of all of the thoughts (and fears, and worries) swirling around my mind at all hours of the day and night, but on those rare (and non-forced) occasions when I *am* able to, it feels quite liberating. I think you are onto something here, and I look forward to reading about public experiment #2! <abbr><em>Alison | Quest for Balance’s last blog post..<a href="http://www.questforbalance.com/2009/05/13/depression-shades-of-blue/" rel="nofollow">Depression: So Many Shades of Blue</a></abbr></em> Hi, David. What an interesting experiment. I especially like that you included your bitter, negative thoughts, because these seem very “real” to me. I also have a hard time letting go of all of the thoughts (and fears, and worries) swirling around my mind at all hours of the day and night, but on those rare (and non-forced) occasions when I *am* able to, it feels quite liberating. I think you are onto something here, and I look forward to reading about public experiment #2!

Alison | Quest for Balance’s last blog post..Depression: So Many Shades of Blue

]]> By: Lori http://www.raptitude.com/2009/05/the-results-are-in-experiment-no-1-day-30/#comment-2676 Lori Sun, 10 May 2009 02:31:44 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=948#comment-2676 Hi David! What a fantastic post. I struggle with meditation because I have a very over-active mind. I can relate to every single one of the lessons you included, especially the ones about wants arising, neglecting my body, and fidgeting to escape the present. I love that meditation reveals to me both who I want to be and who I am actually being; AND makes it easier to bridge the gap by filling me with peace and clarity. Thanks again for sharing these thoughts :) Lori <abbr><em>Lori’s last blog post..<a href="http://seeinggood.com/why-is-aging-seen-as-so-negative/" rel="nofollow">Why Is Aging Seen as So Negative?</a></abbr></em> Hi David!

What a fantastic post. I struggle with meditation because I have a very over-active mind. I can relate to every single one of the lessons you included, especially the ones about wants arising, neglecting my body, and fidgeting to escape the present.

I love that meditation reveals to me both who I want to be and who I am actually being; AND makes it easier to bridge the gap by filling me with peace and clarity.

Thanks again for sharing these thoughts :)

Lori

Lori’s last blog post..Why Is Aging Seen as So Negative?

]]> By: Hilda http://www.raptitude.com/2009/05/the-results-are-in-experiment-no-1-day-30/#comment-2648 Hilda Sat, 09 May 2009 13:01:06 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=948#comment-2648 Hi David, I'm afraid I don't have any online resources to recommend to you. It's teachers are trained by the Chopra centre and they're very particular that it's done through four face-to-face sessions! They do have teachers all over the world, and you can find a listing on chopra.com. They do tend to be expensive (but for me it was worth it). However, Deepak Chopra does describe a mediation using So-Hum as an alternative to PSM in his books The Seven Spiritual Law of Yoga and Synchrodestiny (or The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire in the US). <abbr><em>Hilda’s last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/living_out_loud/~3/gOHA8nok2Ic/the-best-source-of-advice-from-me-to-me.html" rel="nofollow">Advice from my future (and wiser) self</a></abbr></em> Hi David,

I’m afraid I don’t have any online resources to recommend to you. It’s teachers are trained by the Chopra centre and they’re very particular that it’s done through four face-to-face sessions! They do have teachers all over the world, and you can find a listing on chopra.com. They do tend to be expensive (but for me it was worth it).

However, Deepak Chopra does describe a mediation using So-Hum as an alternative to PSM in his books The Seven Spiritual Law of Yoga and Synchrodestiny (or The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire in the US).

Hilda’s last blog post..Advice from my future (and wiser) self

]]> By: Angie http://www.raptitude.com/2009/05/the-results-are-in-experiment-no-1-day-30/#comment-2548 Angie Fri, 08 May 2009 04:26:07 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=948#comment-2548 This was great! I really liked your description of your sensory impulses and how you started noticing those. It reminds me of sitting in a classroom and you have the guy next to you who can't stop shaking his leg, just so he can stand sitting there. Some of us are very sensitive when it comes to sensory issues- it is great that this became apparent to you. When I first tried meditation, my challenges were more mental than physical- these rogue thoughts that made no sense, 'buttercup' duh!!! 'what the??" LOL This was great! I really liked your description of your sensory impulses and how you started noticing those. It reminds me of sitting in a classroom and you have the guy next to you who can’t stop shaking his leg, just so he can stand sitting there. Some of us are very sensitive when it comes to sensory issues- it is great that this became apparent to you.
When I first tried meditation, my challenges were more mental than physical- these rogue thoughts that made no sense, ‘buttercup’ duh!!! ‘what the??” LOL

]]> By: David http://www.raptitude.com/2009/05/the-results-are-in-experiment-no-1-day-30/#comment-2538 David Thu, 07 May 2009 23:05:03 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=948#comment-2538 Thanks Hilda, I'm not sure when I will take the plunge and find a teacher, but I know it's something I will do. I just looked up primordial sound meditation and I'm really intrigued. Do you have any online resources you recommend? Hi Lance. I'm glad this was useful to you. Historically, I've had a tendency to quit things a bit early, and time and time again life shows me that usually there are great rewards just beyond the rough part where I often give up. I hope you do take another whack at it, this was definitely rewarding for me. Thanks Hilda, I’m not sure when I will take the plunge and find a teacher, but I know it’s something I will do. I just looked up primordial sound meditation and I’m really intrigued. Do you have any online resources you recommend?

Hi Lance. I’m glad this was useful to you. Historically, I’ve had a tendency to quit things a bit early, and time and time again life shows me that usually there are great rewards just beyond the rough part where I often give up. I hope you do take another whack at it, this was definitely rewarding for me.

]]> By: Hilda http://www.raptitude.com/2009/05/the-results-are-in-experiment-no-1-day-30/#comment-2536 Hilda Thu, 07 May 2009 21:41:04 +0000 http://www.raptitude.com/?p=948#comment-2536 Hi David, well done on completing the full 30 days. I know how tough that would have been. I struggled on and off with trying to meditate for two years until I did a course in Primordial Sound Meditation, and now, like Nadia, I'm training to be a teacher. I do think it will help you to find a teacher. It was interesting what you were saying about your need for more sleep. What we're taught in PSM is that when people begin to meditate on a daily basis it's quite common for them to feel whacked! And it's good to get as much extra sleep during that time as your schedule will allow. But once your body gets used to having daily meditation sessions, you will then feel energised afterwards instead of tired. Also, they tell us that it's not good to eat before meditating as it slows the metabolism way down - so you're bound to feel sluggish on that front too. Thanks for sharing your experience. Looking forward to the next one :-) Hi David,
well done on completing the full 30 days. I know how tough that would have been. I struggled on and off with trying to meditate for two years until I did a course in Primordial Sound Meditation, and now, like Nadia, I’m training to be a teacher. I do think it will help you to find a teacher.

It was interesting what you were saying about your need for more sleep. What we’re taught in PSM is that when people begin to meditate on a daily basis it’s quite common for them to feel whacked! And it’s good to get as much extra sleep during that time as your schedule will allow. But once your body gets used to having daily meditation sessions, you will then feel energised afterwards instead of tired.

Also, they tell us that it’s not good to eat before meditating as it slows the metabolism way down – so you’re bound to feel sluggish on that front too.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Looking forward to the next one :-)

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