Do you meditate?
I mean samatha/vipassana or whatever.
I encounter things relevant to atheism sometimes when I meditate.
Syndicated from the fediverse. Read and engage on the original instance.
View original on thelemmy.clubView original on thelemmy.club
32 replies
What do you mean "encounter"? Also, what kind of "things"?
When I meditate I sometimes perceive strange stuff. That's the encountering.
I have encountered what might be called "spirits" and a "creator". So that's relevant.
Think of it as a telescope or a microscope. It delivers a new way of seeing. Among other things.
Think of it as your idle mind wandering and making stuff up for its own amusement.
I'll keep my own council, thanks anyway.
What's your meditation technique?
Well, you offered advice, I returned the favour. I do progressive muscle relaxation.
Interesting. How effective is it compared to, say, a massage, hot-tub or vicodin?
I've never taken vicodin, I only know it exists from English-language media and the internet. PMR does entirely different things than a massage or a hot bath. It's a very active process to achieve a different body feel and more awareness of your body while also calming your mind. I don't really feel qualified to explain what it does because I still need loads of practice and I only got what the point is after I had practical training.
Have you gotten results?
Nope. That'd be the next religious nonsense.
As an atheist, I love to meditate. Meditating is not something religious. It's just spending time feeling your own body and relaxing
For clarity, are you saying that you think meditation is nonsense? If so, why or what about it do you think it's nonsense?
The part that this particular form of meditation isconnected to Buddhist religious and spiritual practices.
There are perfectly secular or non-spiritual forms of meditation. This is not that.
Could you cite some information on both of those to help me understand exactly what you're referring to?
I apologize, but I'm not the best to explain it, particularly to the specifics of Buddhist meditation. But really, mediation is a catchall for any sort of mental discipline or conditioning. Like practicing mindfulness or simply maintaining a state of calmness, right?
What OP asked specifically about is samatha and vipassana, which are forms of meditation from buddhist teachings. They're inherently buddhist. Samatha is itself not particularly offensive; it's basically a technique for mindfulness and focus. But vipassana? it's the pursuit of enlightnement through meditation and gaining insight into 'reality'.
I'm not particularly surprised by the OP reporting the encounters with "spirits". Deep meditation places you into an altered mental not entirely unlike that of psilocybin. Except meditation is lighter, doesn't last as long, and one has more control of where one's experiences go while on the trip.
I have no reason to believe the OP's encounters with spirits was anything other than their brain falling into an altered state and doing what it could to oblige their beliefs and expectations. not like I can very well interact with their spirits in any meaningfully or tangible way.
Why not just go with it? For conversation's sake.
Because the world is large and we are small and stranger things have happened.
Because why should I?
People’s brains convincing them something stranger has happened isn’t actually all that strange.
Neither is people just making shit up.
Until I have a reason- tangible evidence- for a thing, I’m going to stay skeptical.
Edit: To put this another way, if I indulge this, then I’d have to also indulge Mike Johnson’s insistence god told him he’s the second coming of Moses. Do you see the harm there?
No, I do not see the harm. Lol.
For clarity, I wasn't really looking for an explanation of what they are — I was simply unsure exactly what you were referring to.
Sorry but sitting down and observing your thoughts, or trying to concentrate your thoughts on something non stimulating is the next "religion"?
What exactly are you on about?
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=brainwaves+prayer+meditation&ko=-1&ia=web
https://www.npr.org/2009/05/20/104310443/prayer-may-reshape-your-brain-and-your-reality
Do you ever pay attention? Do you ever concentrate?