Meditation & science

[Literate Peasant]

In this day and age with massive amounts of information bombarding our mental faculties, the pressures of economic realities, and the worries of a planet that has enough stockpiles of nuclear and biological weapons to wipe out life on this earth the idea of teaching meditation (a tool for quieting the mind and calming the nervous system) is way too rational. Why would we want to teach something like this to our children? I only wish I was taught this very valuable tool early in my life.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

In this day and age with massive amounts of information bombarding our mental faculties, the pressures of economic realities, and the worries of a planet that has enough stockpiles of nuclear and biological weapons to wipe out life on this earth the idea of teaching meditation (a tool for quieting the mind and calming the nervous system) is way too rational. Why would we want to teach something like this to our children? I only wish I was taught this very valuable tool early in my life.

Agreed. I think I would be much better off today if I had learned mediation when I was younger. But, about teaching it to school children, you, and it seemed half joking, half honest, said that it would be way too rational to do so. There is truth to this. Because, in my opinion, the politicians and media incite fear in people, purposely, for a variety of reasons. But fear is the motivating force behind American politics and media. Fear sells. Fear makes money. Calmness, quietness, good health, productivity, these are things the "machine" can do without.

 

[Falvlun]

I'm not even sure this is the right place for this thread, but I wanted to know what are your opinions on the recent findings on the effects of meditation.
I'll post the wikipedia link instead of looking for a nice looking catalogue out of sheer laziness: Research on meditation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The one that most impressed me, even though it's just a preliminary study, is that of the Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn on its effect on telomerase: Intensive meditation training, immu... [Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2011] - PubMed - NCBI

On a rather sour note I must say I've met quite a few people who just dismissed these studies without as much as a single look. As an atheist myself I find this kind of close mindedness rather disturbing, especially since it usually comes from those who are more eager to praise the virtues of rationality and scientific inquiry.

I read the Wiki article, and I find most of that to be unsurprising. From the article: "Meditation is similar to learning other skills like how to ride a bike or play the piano.[12]". That makes perfect sense. Meditation is a physical and mental form of exercise; I would expect it to have physiological effects.

Is it really surprising that someone who trains their mind to focus would have stronger brain waves than the average joe, and that these waves would be even stronger while they were in the process of working the brain out?

As for lowering heartbeat, respiration, et al, I don't practice meditation, but even I know that if I'm stressed out, I just need to take a few minutes to take some deep breaths, blow it out slowly, and voila! I can slow my heartbeat. We are capable of doing this with little training. How much better could we do it if we spent a half hour a day practicing it?

 

[Susan_jane]

I've looked one he was very intelligent in studies as well as in other activities from childhood then suddenly he caught with an mentally ill.. the family took him for an proper treatment and the doctor just said him to meditate 45mins daily.. the guy become healthiest person after getting into the treatment so it will be useful for good health and also who's distracted their mind with tension.

 

[zenzero]

Friends,
Meditation means to be HERE-NOW!
It requires no tool or time or special space.
While attending regular classes in school one can be HERE-NOW.
While sitting in the school bus, eating lunch, playing games anywhere, anytime one can be HERE-NOW!
Being HERE-NOW will enhance creativity, intelligence performance, right behaviour, all positivities will spring forth.

Love & rgds

 

[backwateru]

On a rather sour note I must say I've met quite a few people who just dismissed these studies without as much as a single look. As an atheist myself I find this kind of close mindedness rather disturbing, especially since it usually comes from those who are more eager to praise the virtues of rationality and scientific inquiry.

but what merits a closer look? we only have so many hours in a day, therefore, we haven't time to look at everything. shouldn't we be allowed to pick and choose based on personal interest?

 

[Me Myself]

I agree it should be taught in schools.

Furthermore, I would say opening with meditation as it enhances your mental skills, comprehension, etc.

I don´t think it would be allowed though, most people just think "gnosticism! buddhism! religion in class!" . Well, not most people, but the noisy ridiculous ones that will put ideas in the head of a lot of simple people who don´t really want to think about it too much anyways.

So while meditation helps about pretty much anything, I would be pleasently surprised if they included in schools.

 

[cablescavenger]

I'm not even sure this is the right place for this thread, but I wanted to know what are your opinions on the recent findings on the effects of meditation.
I'll post the wikipedia link instead of looking for a nice looking catalogue out of sheer laziness: Research on meditation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The one that most impressed me, even though it's just a preliminary study, is that of the Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn on its effect on telomerase: Intensive meditation training, immu... [Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2011] - PubMed - NCBI

On a rather sour note I must say I've met quite a few people who just dismissed these studies without as much as a single look. As an atheist myself I find this kind of close mindedness rather disturbing, especially since it usually comes from those who are more eager to praise the virtues of rationality and scientific inquiry.

So someone who does nothing all day is going to be less susceptible to aging diseases than someone who suffers the stresses of everyday life :thud:

Should we be handing in our notice and sleeping all day then? :woohoo: