The power of meditation or the power of prayer
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Topics not related to music
Forum Name: General Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics not related to music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=110299
Printed Date: February 04 2025 at 07:05
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: The power of meditation or the power of prayer
Posted By: Logan
Subject: The power of meditation or the power of prayer
Date Posted: February 18 2017 at 09:40
|
If it's something else, please mention it in a post. If you practice regular or irregular prayer or meditation, or some other technique, please discuss. My mother-in-law is staying with us and she prays throughout the day. I, on the other hand, have started practicing meditation called mindfulness and have found it to be very beneficial. I have a friend who is a psychologist and he has been swearing by it for a long time. He is also a Buddhist, but one needs no religious affiliation to do it. http://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/" rel="nofollow - http://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-courage-be-present/201001/how-practice-mindfulness-meditation" rel="nofollow - https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-courage-be-present/201001/how-practice-mindfulness-meditation By the way, I've known a few who practice both meditation and prayer, and there is crossover.... Once again, I can't think of a good question to ask for the poll, but choose one that you think applies more to you. |
Replies:
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: February 22 2017 at 13:11
|
I prayed for years for the power to meditate, until I decided the hell with it. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: February 22 2017 at 13:18
|
I haven't done either with enough regularity to really answer, but gut reaction says meditation would be the preferred route. (not that I'm an atheist, mind). ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 22 2017 at 14:44
|
Neither. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: February 22 2017 at 17:09
|
I rarely do either and am not religious but at least prayers are answered in the Yes or No, whereas meditation seems to be largely a lot of lonely contemplation; I do that all the time. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: February 22 2017 at 17:21
Guided ASMR astral travel chakra cleansing meditation 6.3 Hz theta binaural beats for deep relaxation and healing proven method! long version.avi  |
Posted By: Thatfabulousalien
Date Posted: February 22 2017 at 18:04
|
Meditation is actually a good and healthy thing routed in our psychology, prayer on the other hand is just wishful thinking ------------- Classical music isn't dead, it's more alive than it's ever been. It's just not on MTV. https://www.soundcloud.com/user-322914325 |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: February 22 2017 at 18:10
|
The secret to life is to urinate with precision and elegance. If you adhere to these rules then prayer, meditation and religion are unnecessary. If you don't you will burn in a hell of unthinkable magnitude and have to perfrom unthinkable acts on the current USA president. Oh woe is s/he who deviates from that which is required from the universe -------------  https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy |
Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: February 22 2017 at 18:49
  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/331807.How_to_Good_Bye_Depression" rel="nofollow - This may also be helpful. |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: February 22 2017 at 18:55
LOL! For me that only works with fireworks !!!!! ------------- https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy |
Vompatti wrote:Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: February 22 2017 at 20:33
|
As a young man and non-religious, I practiced Yoga and Meditation along with dabbling in Ayurveda. These practices brought me relaxation physically, I felt great after a session, but I would credit the Yoga far more than the Meditation. The latter was almost a let down after having a great Yoga session, but I tried it anyway. I incorporated healthy eating which was fine but it fought an uphill battle against the partying I was putting my body through in those days....had fun though! I recall many nights driving home from my teacher's home, listening to "The Kick Inside" in the car and feeling like I was floating. As an older man I have embraced prayer (and my traditional faith) again and it brings me an incredible sense of peace. I'm afraid I can't exactly articulate the fulfillment this gives me, but I know I'm home, spiritually speaking. I am thankful this aspect of my life turned out as it did. Adrift - in between my young man and old man days I would say that I practiced smoking. When properly appreciated and used, the cigarette can provide a sense of well being, relaxation, and enjoyment that few other vices (or lifestyle quests) can best. I'm sure the old smoke horses here can attest - is there anything like a cig on a foggy morning? Or after a few drinks, late on a summer night? I used to tell my friends, weed and alcohol were just foreplay for the Cigs, who were the real star of the show. Alas, I left my old friend standing on the dock. Not a day goes by that I don't crave him in my lungs again. I'll pray or meditate that I don't fall off that horse again. It's a bitch to get back on.
|
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 23 2017 at 19:02
|
^ Excellent to read post, Jim! Thanks. And I know just what you mean when it comes to cigs. ^^^ Vomps, there's no reason why mindfulness meditation could not be combined with behindfulness -- minding your behind (not to mention contemplating, erm, denting your navel). |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: February 23 2017 at 19:25
|
Thanks Greg. And as far as the meditation goes, I have a feeling it was probably a combination of factors as to why I didn't get much benefit. First I was very young and found it hard to sit still in those days. But second, doing it in combination (right after) a yoga session was perhaps just too much happening in one session....as I recall those sessions were like 60 minutes of yoga followed by 45 mins meditation, something like that. They took place in this wonderful century old brick house with hardwood floors, no air conditioning, which allowed the body to literally melt into the pose. Also I was a young guy surrounded by, largely, a room full of older women (30-40s), which made the after session refreshment and tea go down well. And our teacher, a beautiful woman with a soothing voice. Ahhh, here it is. http://themeditationcenter.org/about-us/history/" rel="nofollow - This is the place I studied meditation It was a magnificent experience, I loved going there. I took some heat from my metalhead friends for choosing Yoga over the social activities some nights but I chose right.  |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 01:52
|
Prayer means nothing to me as an atheist so can't comment on that.. I'm not really sure what meditation is tbh, but if it involves sitting very still for long periods of time and clearing my mind of sh*t, then I won't be able to do it. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 04:49
|
I should try the transcendental meditation à la Bretonne (it seems to involve the use of sacred drinks such as chouchen...) |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 05:26
|
I used to meditate daily but stopped doing it properly about a year ago due to a broken body. I still try my best but have far too many tensions in my back - going all the way down to my left toe. No position feels good. I prefer meditating to music although I don't need it. I see this black rabbit hole of my mind and simply slide into it. First successful attempt was back when I dabbled in kung fu, oh my the memories. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 10:52
|
Some lovely, thoughtful posts here, and that looks like a beautiful centre, Jim. Thanks to all A lot of people perform forms of meditation without even being aware of it. I'm a non-believer (could call myself an atheist or an agnostic), but I do get something out of going to church and Buddhist temples. As for prayer, it's not something I have really practiced, but it means different things and is done differently by different people. My wife was a born again Christian (I regret being such a pain in the arse that she became cynical and jaded) and I got her into the Anglican Church as I felt more comfortable with it than her Pentecostal churches -- in her church everybody expected that I must believe in God and take the bible literally, whereas in my church being agnostic and atheist was fine, and no one gave me a hard time about it in discussion or tried to convert me. I became good friends with the "priest" and even met Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon there when they came to services (they weren't religious either, but all were welcome). The rector was also into Buddhism, and the bishop was very into the multi-faith movement. It was a pretty intellectual church with many brilliant people in the congregation. But I digress.... My mother-in-law prayed by asking God for things for herself, which I felt selfish. She would look at the bible without reading it and ask God to make her win the lottery, and she claimed to believe that she would win the lottery because she asked God for it. She also tried to convert various of my children's friends to her faith which ended some friendships as most of my children's friends are from atheist families. My kids are never willing to go to church now, by the way, since they were ridiculed and chastised at a Foursquare church for questioning Gods existence and the veracity of the bible when my wife was taking them to church. I generally try not to tell my kids what to believe, or what to think, though I do try to help teach them how to think rationally and sceptically. My wife has never tried to force a belief in God on the kids, nor has she tried to make them read the bible. Our faith/lack of faith differences did present challenges early on, but we both agree that if the kids ever want religion then it's better that we don't indoctrinate them and they find it on their own. Partially since my wife is in the sciences, literalism did not make much sense to her despite being in the Pentecostal church. For her the Bible was more about the general message. Anyway, the way my wife prayed was very different from her mother. She didn't ask God to do things for her (God helps those who help themselves), but she would take out her Bible and look at passages from the NT that she felt related to her life and present situation and reflect on those verses. It was quite a meditative approach to prayer, and I've done the same at times.. I do think that there's a lot of good that one can apply to ones life in the New Testament, as there is in many other texts. This is all leading me in a round-about way to Blacksword's query. There are various types of meditation. My mother uses it to clear her mind and de-stress, but since she does it regularly it takes her very little time to achieve the state she wants. I use mindfulness, not every day, and usually spend about 10 to 15 minutes on it at a time on days that I am particularly stressed. I do sit still, but I don't really try to clear my mind. It's more about becoming aware of my thoughts, the process of them, and observing them in an objective way without getting hung up about about them. For me it helps to deal with anxiety, depression and obsessive thinking. I naturally found it very easy to do, and found it helped me greatly the first time I tried it. I think Sam Harris does a good job with his exercises (whatever one thinks of Sam Harris, I happen to love his podcasts mostly -- the recent David Frum one was great and favourite guest of mine of his is Paul Bloom): https://www.samharris.org/podcast/item/mindfulness-meditation" rel="nofollow - https://www.samharris.org/podcast/item/mindfulness-meditation
Since a brain injury about 15 months ago, I have found that I have a terrible short term memory, so it's another reason for me to try it. Good thing that there is much plasticity to the brain, and there are days when my memory is much better than others and I can focus/ have more clarity much better some days than others. Usually music is what I use for achieving a meditative state (various electronic music often) and cigarettes used to do it for me before I quit. Showers also help for some informal contemplation and is great for relaxation. |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 11:08
|
Greg, to continue my last thoughts and address one of yours...anxiety I also practiced M as a relief for anxiety, but forget to mention that I also tried self-hypnosis around the same time. I was taught by a shrink how to do it. It would seem on the surface similar to M but I will say it produced deeper relaxation for sure. Very deep, full body relaxed state that lasted a good part of the day. And I recall the first time she hypnotized me directly in her office. That was a trip. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 11:16
| I've been wanting to try hypnosis for a long time (have tries to self-learn it), ... edited for too much info |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 16:51
Hard to beat Chinese martial arts for body/mind work. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 17:17
| I did Korean martial arts -- Taekwondo , since my kids were into it and it was offered by the community centre so it didn't cost me a broken arm and a broken leg to do it. I stopped when we moved, though we still practice at home sometimes. Funny thing is , to afford a decent house in greater Vancouver we had to move, and I wanted a home so we had a good place to practice it without disturbing the neighbours, but in moving we lacked nearby places to train and so we gave it up, mostly. We daughter would have been a black belt by now. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 17:38
|
very strong faith in God... but never was the praying type. Micky just cog in game of life. If God knows me.. it is only for my legendary cute ass and ability to rock a little black dress in 6 inch heels as no man can while downing a bottle of Jack Daniels and burning a Winston. Meditation though... every day and does the trick. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Thatfabulousalien
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 17:51
If prayer and meditation doesn't work for you then there's always sex and booze!  ------------- Classical music isn't dead, it's more alive than it's ever been. It's just not on MTV. https://www.soundcloud.com/user-322914325 |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 18:00
|
I'm old and settled down now.. however I could trade sex and booze war stories with the best of anyone here in my youth. There was a certain god like feeling in chugging a bottle of vodka, dancing on a pool table to some Foghat song on the jukebox, spying a cute blond who is making eyes at you...throwing her date through the bar's front window to established your tough guy cread.... and then finally taking her home and showing HER a new religion. That sh*t for the young though... today Meditation does the trick for me ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: February 24 2017 at 18:08
I saw it before it vanished..... ------------- ...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell" |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: February 25 2017 at 20:21
|
Back for a moment to martial arts, I'm not big on form-based disciplines but some of these Wushu performances are terrific to watch, a great mix of the physical with the creative -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88u9kpbnF2Y" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88u9kpbnF2Y ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: HemispheresOfXanadu
Date Posted: March 30 2017 at 11:03
|
I try to clear my mind but I just end up thinking about not thinking while having a hypothetical conversation with someone about how I can't clear my mind while comparing the sound of different cars driving past and remembering the quietest times I've known and how quickly and often humorously they were interrupted. ------------- https://twitter.com/ProgFollower" rel="nofollow - @ProgFollower on Twitter. Tweet me muzak. |