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Goodbye Jesus

Practicing Meditation Or "mindfulness" Without Religion


Becks

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Do you have comments on this? Has anyone who may have meditated before as part of either Christianity or other religions, practiced it without any religious context? I heard that Sam Harris may have to see what effects it has on brain waves/ activity. I'm afraid to try because I get a lot of spiritual activity going whenever I do. But I miss the peace and seems to calm me.

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There is nothing religious about meditation. Just sit down, breathe deeply, and clear your thoughts.

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I learned how to meditate as a Christian but I learned it from a non-Christian source.  So I approached it from

 

the perspective that it was just a physical exercise and the religious talk was misguided.  Now that I am an

 

atheist I find meditation to be even more useful.  It is simply a tool.  I mostly use it to control my anxiety and

 

difficult emotions.  Through practice I've reached an advanced level, meaning I can meditate almost anywhere

 

and even while doing certain activities.

 

What are your specific fears?  What do you mean by spiritual activity going?  I can't promise that meditation

 

is right for everyone but I can try to advise you.

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I practiced what I will call meditation as a Christian whereby I slowed down my brain and went into a trance. From there I could "travel" and god or other good beings would speak to me (in my head). I thought it was out of body because the sensation of coming back was so difficult and slightly painful physically. I literally felt like I weighed 600 lbs and could hardly move until my thoughts cleared. After I left Christianity I tried meditating by yoga standards as well as pagan/Wiccan style visualization techniques. I then understood that my experiences were basically the same across the board and concluded none of the religions are real. It's all in my head. I haven't practced meditation for several years b/c I guess I'm afraid of getting sucked into something weird. Idk

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  • Super Moderator

If meditation could be a trigger for you, then don't do it.

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If meditation could be a trigger for you, then don't do it.

I love common sense:)
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  • Super Moderator
 
I love common sense:) 
 

 

It's severely underrated these days GONZ9729CustomImage1539775.gif
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It's just hypnosis. When I visualize something in meditation, such as picking up a crystal ball, for some reason my mind sabotages the visualization breaking the crystal and letting it cut my hands. I don't know why this happens. In the past I thought it was Satan up to his tricks, but now I know Satan doesn't exist. I still don't know why it happens to me.

 

 

That sounds more like imagination than meditation.  When I meditate I absorb the sensations around me.  

 

I'm not visualizing anything.  Rather I pay closer attention to real events; the little details that I ignore while

 

not meditating.

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Is mediation just your mind tricking your mind? This is a real question i have due to the fact i have zero knowledge on meditation. Also, what is the difference between meditation and imagination. Could meditation itself just be imagination, hence your mind tricking your mind question?

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Is mediation just your mind tricking your mind?

 

 

Rather it is a different mode that your brain can work in.  It's 100% software.  But it can be a useful tool

 

for certain goals.

 

 

 

Also, what is the difference between meditation and imagination.

 

Imagination is a generic thing you do when your mind makes up stories or images.  Imagination has no limit.

 

Meditation is your mind operating is a different mode than it typically does.  Meditation has specific results.

 

 

 

Could meditation itself just be imagination, hence your mind tricking your mind question?

 

No.  Meditation is a mental state just like sleeping would be a mental state.  Imagination can be all over the

 

place dreaming up just about anything but meditation is very specific and can be verified by breathing patterns,

 

pulse, blood pressure and brain waves.

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So does the meditative state lie somewhere between being awake and sleeping?

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So does the meditative state lie somewhere between being awake and sleeping?

 

I believe meditation is being completely aware and fully awake. Just present in the moment. Not lost in thought. 

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Do we have a robust definition for "meditation?" It's likely to be hard to pin down as folks have varying thoughts and notions about this concept. As neuroscience matures, we will likely begin to develop more robust definitions for concepts like this. It's amazing what folks are doing with contemporary and emerging techniques. Functional MRI being one of great interest. Additionally, the world is beginning to experience somewhat of a renaissance when it comes to studying consciousness. Particularly, learning from so called altered states of consciousness where restrictions on the use of psychoactive substances are being lifted as folks are looking at novel therapies for disease states such as PTSD, depression and psychological distress and impaired coping in the face of terminal illness.

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So does the meditative state lie somewhere between being awake and sleeping?

 

 

I would put being awake between sleeping and meditation.  Meditation is more alert than normal.

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So does the meditative state lie somewhere between being awake and sleeping?

 

 

I would put being awake between sleeping and meditation. Meditation is more alert than normal.

I see. Thanks

 

It was like RS stated. I have seen the word meditation used with different meanings and what some people consider it, is different than others. I am trying to find out more about it. I know very little of the subject.

 

Could someone post me a trustable link on how to achieve this state? I am interested in trying this.

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Could someone post me a trustable link on how to achieve this state? I am interested in trying this.

 

 

 

It's not the sort of thing you can do on your own with just a website.  Try a class.

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Ok, i will look around to see what there is to offer on the subject. I am pretty sure i could find something in Phoenix or Sedona.

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EyesOpened, you may want to find a class as the instructor can help you relax and get into a peaceful but active state of mind. Some people call this mindfulness where all you are doing is paying attention to your thoughts without judging them or engaging in them.

I think there are different kinds of meditation. When you add visualization I disagree that's its your imagination, at least for beginners. It's like self hypnosis where you introduce a thought to yourself and get into a peaceful state then concentrate on that thought or object. For instance an apple. You try to turn it around in your mind and see the little details. You could even take a bite and sense the taste. Once you finally come out of the meditation, you will notice you were in an altered state because normal sounds and sensations become very distinct where you had blocked them out during meditation. I could go on and on about experiences I've had (drug and alcohol free)and I wasnt actively using my imagination but obviously my brain was doing something in the background b/c startling and wonderful "things" happened.

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Thanks Becks, i am reading some on it today also. As a Xtian i was told all of this was BS so it ended there. This is one of many things Xtianity kept me dumb on. It shows how bad it holds you back in life, and for what? Nothing. Can't wait to learn more.

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